It’s hardly a scene that conveys fun and frivolity: a parent squinting under the dim glow of a streetlight trying to make out the ingredients in a small piece of candy, trying to determine if the treat will harm their child. And yet for the moms and dads of kids with food allergies, it can be an unsettling ritual that repeats itself every Halloween night.
For a new mother, it can be a frustrating question — why isn’t my baby breastfeeding? The answer may lie under the newborn’s tongue. Ankyloglossia, more commonly known as “tongue-tie,” is a condition where extra tissue is attached to the tongue and limits its mobility. And it can be a primary reason why infants aren’t latching on to their mother and breastfeeding as they should be.
The prevalence of food allergies in children has been rising for more than a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Such allergies affect quality of life because they can interfere with sleep and a child’s ability to interact with others.
Ear infections can occur at any age, but they are diagnosed most often in young children. Five out of six children will have at least one ear infection by their third birthday, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, or NIDCD.
Over 26 million Americans have asthma, and the number is growing every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes more than 6 million children, with roughly 10 percent of all youngsters in the United States suffering from the disease. Parents of asthmatic children may be wary of sending their kids to a sleep-away camp this summer, or even to a day camp. But if asthma is properly treated, parents need not to fret, says Dr. Thomas Murphy, an allergy-asthma subspecialist with Charleston ENT & Allergy.
Does your child snore regularly, or experience difficulty breathing while sleeping? This could be a very serious condition. A child’s body detects a subtle form of suffocation when breathing is disrupted during sleep. It responds by speeding up the heart rate, spiking blood pressure and rousing the child from sleep.
It’s normal for your child to get an ear infection at some point, and while it won’t be pleasant, it’s often nothing to worry about. Sometimes, though, ear infections can be serious — and it might be time to consider ear tube surgery.
Everyone gets a sore throat from time to time, and while definitely painful, it’s usually nothing too serious. But if your child is experiencing severe symptoms, it could be tonsillitis – and it’s important to recognize the signs.
Pets are an important part of most of our lives. In fact, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), over 60 percent of US households have pets, and more than 161 million of these pets are cats and dogs.
It’s almost time to pull out your shorts and tank tops! Unfortunately, that means it’s almost time for some families to pull out the tissues and allergy medicines, too.
If your child is dreading spring weather because of seasonal allergies, it may be worth scheduling an appointment with an allergist so they can live a more enjoyable day-to-day lifestyle.
