2022
September
16,
2022
|
09:49 AM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D., Cook Children’s Medical Advisor for Digital HealthNo doubt – the HPV vaccine (Gardasil) is the vaccine I hear the most hesitancy about. And yet I convince parents each and every day to get it – with patience, understanding, an...
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August
11,
2022
|
12:22 PM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D., Cook Children’s Medical Advisor for Digital HealthAugust is National Breastfeeding Month.And as much as I hate the word “journey,” allow me to tell you about my breastfeeding journey.I figure there’s a lot of curiosity out the...
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April
27,
2022
|
14:10 PM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D.I remember scrolling through a Facebook group for physicians a few years ago, and a popular post rolled onto my screen, written by a confused pediatrician.“What the heck is up with all these moms wanting their baby’s tongues cut...
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2021
March
01,
2021
|
12:01 PM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D.When I graduated from my pediatric residency 11 years ago, I knew there would be questions from parents daily about their child's growth, development, illness, behavior, etc. "What’s this new movement?""Is this behavior normal?"...
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2020
July
29,
2020
|
10:59 AM
America/Chicago
Hi, new moms. I write this for you.
Newborn Notes From a Pediatrician:
The hiccups are normal.
The sneezing is normal. It’s not allergies.
The booty is going to get red (baby's, not yours). This is from the constant wiping and moisture. If ...
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June
15,
2020
|
10:32 AM
America/Chicago
At my house, the 4- and 6-year-old natives are growing restless. The backyard isn’t cutting it anymore, biking up and down the street is growing old, and running around in the sprinkler now holds as much joy as a root canal. The parks are calling our...
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May
18,
2020
|
13:05 PM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D.
As Cook Children’s pediatricians, we are getting the forms daily. And the questions that come along with it.
“Can my kids go to summer camp this year?”
“Are we putting ourselves at risk by letting them go?”
While CL...
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May
11,
2020
|
13:29 PM
America/Chicago
Previously, I covered the bascis about infant reflux. If you missed that article, please click here.
I have a few, more specific topics I promised I would go over in my previous post.
Should We Try a Medication for My Baby’s Reflux?
This i...
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May
08,
2020
|
10:21 AM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D.
Normally, this is the time of year where I would write a heartfelt letter to moms for Mother’s Day. But given our unique, uh, pandemic situation … nothing is normal. So, instead, let me tell you what my heart feels.
Since...
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May
06,
2020
|
10:19 AM
America/Chicago
Handwashing is a very important part of combatting infections of novel coronavirus but it's hard to find clear advice on what works and what doesn't, especially for younger children like infants, babies and toddlers. Diane Arnaout, M.D., a Cook Child...
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February
05,
2020
|
08:56 AM
America/Chicago
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the beautiful process of a fever. Yes, I’m a mega-dork for the functions of the human body ... and yes, I think fever is a great thing in most settings.
Fever has been recognized as being around for thousands of y...
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January
22,
2020
|
14:57 PM
America/Chicago
By Diane Arnaout, M.D.
When I first met little Pierce a few days after he came home from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I noted two things: Pierce was a tough little guy, a real fighter, and his parents were two of the most caring, loving and e...
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2019
December
05,
2019
|
09:11 AM
America/Chicago
Last week, 255 kids tested positive for the flu (24 for Flu A, 231 for Flu B) at the medical center. So, I thought now would be a good time to look at some quick facts about the flu.
What The Flu Is
The flu is a respiratory illness.
The flu ...
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October
24,
2019
|
12:06 PM
America/Chicago
Parents get croup and whooping cough mixed up all the time at my office.
I think it’s really important to know the difference – one is fairly common, and the other is much more rare – and can be deadly.
Croup is a common viral infection I see d...
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September
27,
2019
|
17:30 PM
America/Chicago
1. When a child has a sore throat, in general, there is a 37 percent chance that it is strep (Group A Strep, aka, Streptococcus pyogenes)
2. Fifteen-20 percent of kids WITH NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL will be POSITIVE FOR STREP if tested. This means 15-20 ...
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May
02,
2019
|
10:41 AM
America/Chicago
The mosquitos are out there. And obviously they like to feast on me (see my gorgeous, itchy leg to the right). So I'm right there with you trying to figure out the best next steps.
Let’s talk about the satisfaction of avoiding the world’s most ann...
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May
01,
2019
|
10:07 AM
America/Chicago
This is my sweet patient Olivia.
Olivia is 7 years old and has fought a battle that most 7 year olds (and 70 year olds) have never and will never face.
Olivia has spent the last two years in and out of Cook Children’s battling neuroblastoma. It...
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April
16,
2019
|
15:41 PM
America/Chicago
My family and I got to spend an amazing afternoon at the new Dream Park at Trinity Park in Fort Worth!
What makes this park so special? Well, it’s not your typical run-of-the-mill playground. It’s a park for “children of all abilities.”
Childre...
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April
01,
2019
|
11:46 AM
America/Chicago
THE GREEN DUST COATING HAS BEGUN
The time has come. You and your kids spent time at the park on a beautiful spring afternoon. A few hours later, at home, the symptoms start (cue M. Night Shyamalan strange horror music). Or heck, for those really a...
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2018
November
19,
2018
|
10:23 AM
America/Chicago
Lots and lots of viruses out there right now. I know so many of you are frustrated with how long your kiddo's been sick, and how much they've been coughing.
Lots of RSV. Last week of the 422 kids tested at Cook Children's, 137 had RSV and six had ...
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September
18,
2018
|
15:45 PM
America/Chicago
Let’s talk about infant walkers – pediatricians don’t like them, and we never have. I’d like to explain why!
We worry about them because kids get hurt in them sometimes. It’s also because they actually don’t encourage walking –they hinder the natu...
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August
07,
2018
|
10:25 AM
America/Chicago
I always hear the "Jaws" music playing in my head when I see these little ones toddle into my office. Dun dun...there's the rash....dun dun....fever too....dun dun...won't eat or drink much....dun dun...my diagnosis is given...DUN DUN..."What! Hand F...
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July
31,
2018
|
10:09 AM
America/Chicago
Heart murmurs.
Parents worry SO much when I hear one in their kiddo's chest and I tell them about it.
But I am here to help you not freak out!
I feel like I need to add "Parental Freak-Out Support and Management" to my resume. Maybe undernea...
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May
04,
2018
|
15:35 PM
America/Chicago
If I could show you the vast distance that the arms of my dorkyness could reach, you'd be astonished.
That is why when Cook Children's asked me to write something about what Star Wars means to me today, what with it being Star Wars Day (May the 4t...
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April
03,
2018
|
09:46 AM
America/Chicago
Ok let's figure it out - Is it allergies or is it a cold?
Both allergies and colds share a lot of similar symptoms:
Sore throat
Runny nose
Sneezing
Coughing
Feeling tired
Feeling achy
Honestly, it can be hard even for us to tell...
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March
01,
2018
|
10:10 AM
America/Chicago
On March 1, 2018, your Cook Children’s pediatrician’s offices, specialist clinics, urgent care centers, ER and medical center will be using a new computer system called Epic. We are getting rid of the old medical records system and replacing it with ...
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2017
December
27,
2017
|
09:53 AM
America/Chicago
OK. Tamiflu. Let's talk about some facts.
At Cook Children's, 921 kids were tested for the flu the week before Christmas and 353 kids were positive (314 Flu A, 39 Flu B). So the flu has arrived in our area.
Every year our office gets inundated ...
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October
25,
2017
|
13:41 PM
America/Chicago
Let’s talk about periods.
Aunt Flo. The Red Tide. Shark Week.
I know. Everyone’s favorite topic.
If you have a daughter, I know it’s crossed your mind. "Is my kiddo’s body normal?" "This seems too young!" "What if she has questions?" "How do...
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October
18,
2017
|
10:00 AM
America/Chicago
Dark circles under the eyes. If there is one sign on a child that parents believe is the harbinger of all awful, deadly, and scary things...it's dark circles under the eyes.
Let me make you feel better.
Dark circles under a child's eyes are usu...
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August
08,
2017
|
09:39 AM
America/Chicago
I'm gonna get a little personal with this one.
And while I typically write about pediatric health issues on this page, I'm going to broaden things to include adult health too right now.
Did you know you could literally save someone's life by sw...
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