ACL Injuries in Young Athletes

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four major ligaments that stabilize the knee joint; ligaments are tough, non-stretchable fibers that hold bones together. The ACL—along with the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), lateral collateral ligament (LCL), and menisci (cartilage pads) —help keep the knee stable from sliding, rotating, and […]

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Tips for College Freshmen

In thousands of households across the U.S., teens who are about to become college freshmen are preparing for the transition from home to campus. They are calling their new roommates to figure out who’s bringing the futon or refrigerator, and hitting local stores with their shopping lists for bedding, sundries and supplies. It’s just as […]

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Swimmer’s Ear in Children

Swimmer’s ear, which doctors call otitis externa, is an infection of the skin inside the ear canal or outer ear. This type of infection occurs most often after swimming or other activities that allow water into the ears. What causes swimmer’s ear? Swimmer’s ear develops because moisture in the ear canal encourages the growth of certain bacteria. […]

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Talking With Children About Tragedies & Other News Events

After any disaster or crisis, families struggle with what they should say to children and what’s best not to share with them. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents, teachers, child care providers, and others who work closely with children to filter information about the event and present it in a way that their child can […]

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Probiotics

Can probiotics help when my child has an infection and needs to take antibiotics? Christine Waasdorp Hurtado, MD, FAAP Answer Antibiotics can kill both good and bad bacteria in your child’s gut. This may throw your child’s gut “microbiome” out of balance. The microbiome is made up of the microscopic organisms—bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites—that […]

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Mental Health Problems

Is this your child’s symptom? Mental health problems that often need urgent help Examples are anxiety attacks, depression, substance (drug) abuse and acting out Resources include hotlines, mental health experts and your child’s doctor Types of Serious Mental Health Problems Suicide thoughts, threats or attempts Homicide thoughts or threats Child abuse Drug or alcohol abuse […]

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