By Justin Smith, M.D. aka The Doc SmittyThere’s been a ton of surprises related to the COVID pandemic and skipping flu season last year was another one I never saw coming.Masks and social distancing definitely played a role but the absolute lack of c...
Unusual for this time of year, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is hitting children hard across the south including at Cook Children's. The medical center recorded 184 cases last week, continuing the climb of infections that first started in April. ...
By Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O. With the beginning of summer well underway, I have seen many kiddos in the office with a very typical summer rash. It’s a rash that usually appears on the hands, feet, and around the mouth, giving it the name Hand, Foot, ...
“I feel like my child has been sick for 3 months.”“When will this cough ever go away?”These and similar questions have been the topic of the last month at my practice.And while I know parents are annoyed and I’m annoyed and the kids are annoyed - eve...
This year has been especially difficult, but in the midst of the pandemic, there’s one silver lining.As of Dec. 5, hundreds of children have been tested for flu and RSV at Cook Children’s Medical Center, and none have come back positive. Ramon Kinloc...
**Updated with latest numbersCOVID-19 rates are soaring in Tarrant County and cases among children are no exception. As of Wednesday, Nov. 11, over 8% of all COVID-19 tests performed among physician offices, urgent care locations and the medical cent...
If your child has been exposed to COVID-19, you may be wondering what happens next.
All patients with exposure to COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, will need to quarantine for 14 days. This is required, regardless of test results, because COVID-1...
Man…it’s going to be a doozy of a winter.
And while I’m confident that we’ll get through it together, I need your help.
Ruling out COVID-19 for kids with symptoms (some mild, some more severe) has become the biggest reason for kids visiting our...
Today is Global Handwashing Day, and thanks to the pandemic, this observation has never felt more imperative.
“It’s important to wash your hands before and after you eat, it’s important to wash your hands after you go to the bathroom,” said Mary S...
“It’s just a virus.”
I hate that phrase and I know it never gives parents comfort when they hear it from doctors.
Doctors (I’ll admit I’ve said it too) usually say “it’s just a virus” to let parents know we don’t see anything that suggests a ba...
Tragically, 7 children have died as a result of a rapidly spreading, severe infection in a New Jersey rehabilitation center. The infections have been caused by a virus called adenovirus which is a common childhood infection. Three children tested pos...
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...
Zika has gained attention from not only the CDC, but the World Health Organization.
Leaders from the Who called Zika a “public health emergency of international concern,” earlier in the week, because how fast the virus is spreading and the continu...
Are we there yet? “No.”
Are we there yet? “No. 5 more minutes.”
Are we there yet? “No. I will tell you when we get there!”
Did anyone hear this or something like it last week?
We’ve been asking a similar question to our favorite Cook Chil...
Hand hygiene is important year-round, but it's critical during winter when the spread of virus peaks. Plant the seeds of cleanliness early by modeling proper hand washing for toddlers - 20 seconds of scrubbing from wrists to fingernails does the tric...
Warts are one of the most annoying problems.
They are not caused by holding (or kissing) frogs but, instead, are caused by viruses.
The virus that causes warts is contagious, but that does not necessarily mean that if your child touches a wart ...
Along with vaccinations, hand-washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent flu. Alcohol based hand sanitizers are not effective against enterovirus 68, only good, old fashioned hand-washing.Hand hygiene is especially important while children ...
A mosquito has tested positive for West Nile virus in Tarrant County for the first time in 2014, according to the Tarrant County Public Health Department.
The mosquito was recently trapped in Benbrook, near the southwestern border of Fort Worth, a...