Children's Health

This rash sounds like it can be a contact allergy if it recurs. I would worry about an infection if it seeps. Since allergic rashes and infections are treated with completely different creams or even pills, I w... continue reading  about  My daughter has had a horrible rash around her eyes and sometimes ears for the past two years. The rash is not itchy, gets really dry and seeps at times. Do you have any suggestions?

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarian and vegan diets can meet all nutrient needs for infants and children. Diets for infants and children should contain enough calories to support gro... continue reading  about  Is it healthy for children to be vegetarians or vegans? I am a vegetarian, but I have some concerns that my children (4 and 8) might not get enough nutrients.

The short answer to your question is that for healthy kids, melatonin is probably safe and effective in small doses, under the direction of a physician, for two to four weeks. Outside of these conditions, thing... continue reading  about  My sister-in-law's pediatrician recommended melatonin to help her three-year-old go to sleep at night. She says it works well. But how safe can this type of thing be for toddlers?

Energy drinks are advertised to give a person a boost of energy. A lot of that claim comes from the effect of the caffeine and sugar content of the drink. Sugar content in energy drinks vary by brand, but somet... continue reading  about  My kids drink those energy drinks every day. Is this bad for their health? How would I convince them of that?

Swimmer's ear is a term commonly used to describe an infection of the ear canal. People who repeatedly wet the ear canal (swimming, surfing, scuba diving) can develop persistent dampness that allows either bact... continue reading  about  What is "swimmer's ear" and what is the best way to deal with it?

As it stands now, the AAP does not actively endorse routine circumcision, but is leaning more in favor of recommending circumcision to expectant parents of boys. Current evidence suggests the medical benefits t... continue reading  about  I chose not to circumcise my son. Now the AAP issued a policy statement that actively endorses circumcision. While my son is only two years old, I worry that I made the wrong decision. Should I have him circumcised now?

It is normal for the site of the tattoo to have a little swelling, due to skin irritation, immediately after the procedure. This may last up to 48 hours. However, anytime the skin is broken - whether due to a p... continue reading  about  My 17-year-old son got a tattoo about two weeks ago. The skin is now looking red and bumpy. Could this be an infection ot just a skin irritation? Should he see a doctor?

Children can be tested as young as birth with special tests called Auditory Response Brainstem testing (ABR). Other names for this test are: BSER (Brainstem-Evoked Response testing) and AEP (Auditory-Evoked Pot... continue reading  about  How old must a child be before a reliable hearing test can be done?

Rosacea is very uncommon in children. It is much more common for children to have facial redness due to being born with very fair skin that is easily damaged by the sun. The classical child with concerns about ... continue reading  about  Can children get rosacea? I just read your article about it and think my 13-year-old might have it. Please let me know if that is possible. She has fair skin and red cheeks almost all the time. Sometimes her cheeks burn and they feel warm to the touch.