2021
November
05,
2021
|
09:20 AM
America/Chicago
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...
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2020
October
06,
2020
|
10:45 AM
America/Chicago
With COVID-19 still circulating in North Texas, now is the time to start planning alternative Halloween activities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is discouraging trick-or-treating nationwide, calling it a high-risk activity ...
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2019
November
26,
2019
|
10:39 AM
America/Chicago
Germs are gross.
Kids are gross.
Germs and kids are doubly gross.
As parents, we know this is true, especially during this time of year. The illness visits are piling up in my office and throughout the Cook Children's system. The days off sc...
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October
16,
2019
|
14:40 PM
America/Chicago
“His cough is sooo croupy!”
When parents report a croupy cough, it means different things. Some parents call bad/deep/dry/wet/rattly coughs croupy.
When I think of “croupy cough,” I mean “barky” like a dog or a seal. We are seeing quite a bit o...
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July
23,
2019
|
09:30 AM
America/Chicago
Previously, I looked at the safety and research of essential oils and children. Today, I will answer more questions asked on my Facebook page.
Effectiveness/General Use
Do they really work or is it a mind over matter thing?
I think that ther...
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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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2017
December
21,
2017
|
00:00 AM
America/Chicago
Thank you to my patients for allowing me some time with my family during the holidays.
It hasn't always been easy for us this year. At 4 a.m. or so during Thanksgiving, I heard the telltale "croup cough" coming from my daughter's monitor. It's su...
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October
20,
2017
|
10:24 AM
America/Chicago
My child's been coughing all winter…all summer…all year…
Yep, it’s possible and it’s probably true. It might make you anxious. But, it might not mean there is anything to worry about.
Most children with a cough that lasts one week or less have ...
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February
13,
2017
|
14:41 PM
America/Chicago
Trying to decide if a cough is dangerous or not? Requires a doctor’s visit or not? Requires treatment or not?
It can be really hard to determine the cause of a cough just because of the sound. But here are some different types of coughs and the cl...
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January
17,
2017
|
14:56 PM
America/Chicago
It’s that time of the year when coughing, sneezing and sniffling noses are seemingly everywhere. If you’re like most parents, you have a stockpile of meds in a cabinet ready to deploy on the household. But there’s one you should skip – cough medicine...
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2016
January
11,
2016
|
03:09 AM
America/Chicago
The last week in my house has been terrible.
Currently, I am the lone survivor of the war on Smith-Summertime-Flu-Like-Illness-2015.
You name the symptom and someone in my family has had it: fever, cough, runny nose, congestion, headache, sore ...
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2015
November
30,
2015
|
14:30 PM
America/Chicago
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...
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October
13,
2015
|
15:43 PM
America/Chicago
"My child has a cough."
What should you do?
In today's My Kid Minute, Doc Smitty explains the most common causes of a cough and when you should be concerned. Take a minute and learn about your kid's cough....
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May
18,
2015
|
15:33 PM
America/Chicago
When your dad’s The Doc Smitty, you don’t get to keep the turtle that wanders into your pool (see photo to the right).
Here's why:
There has been an outbreak of severe flu among dogs in the Midwest. Cases of the H3N2 strain have now been seen i...
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March
16,
2015
|
07:00 AM
America/Chicago
You won’t need me to tell you it’s allergy season. The runny nose, itchy throat and watery eyes give it away. Our clinic in Arlington will be full of children dealing with allergies of their own.Unfortunately, for many children, allergies are simply ...
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2014
September
17,
2014
|
11:24 AM
America/Chicago
By Lizy Varughese, M.D.
The flu season is upon us once again ... what do you need to know as a parent?
1.What are symptoms of the flu?
The flu may start like the common cold with symptoms of cough, congestion and runny nose, but may also be ...
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August
07,
2014
|
11:33 AM
America/Chicago
“What temperature should we go to the ER for?”I must get this question three to four times a day in the office and it's one of those things that keeps you up all night wondering what you should do. The answer, "There is no fever you should go to the ...
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