By Michelle Bailey, MD First of all, families need to discuss risks and benefits of traveling by car or plane. I understand the desire to see your grandparents at Thanksgiving and Christmas. My own Grandma is in an assisted living center and I hav...

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...

COVID-19 cases are increasing at Cook Children’s Medical Center and across North Texas. As of Oct. 12, the number of patients who have tested positive reached 1,657, with four of those patients currently in the hospital. Pediatric cases of COVI...

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 ...

Throughout the COVID-19 health crisis, Cook Children’s has made every effort to keep you safe while following the latest guidelines provided to us from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and other governing bodies. The latest change be...

With kids going back to school, new questions are coming up on when kids should be tested for COVID-19 and when they can return to school. Keep in mind there are some conflicting and confusing pieces of advice out there and this is only promised t...

By John M. Robertson, M.D. Moderate to severe asthma is a possible risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a COVID-19 infection can cause a flare up of even mild asthma. COVID-19 is ...

Being a new parent is hard. Being a new parent today is even harder. With the limitation of visitors, changes to doctor’s offices, and lack of ability to get out of the house (among many other challenges), being a parent in COVID-times is causi...

Generally, I’m not too concerned about the exact number of your child’s temperature. “Felt warm” is usually more than enough for me to know my kid has a fever. But, like many things in medicine, that has changed in the world of COVID-19. Ma...

Our School-Based Virtual Health program is bringing the expertise of Cook Children's pediatrics to schools throughout the area. It's fast, easy and convenient. The school nurse simply connects virtually to a Cook Children's board certified pediatrici...

Fifteen years ago, I accepted my first job out of college at Cook Children’s. I never dreamed that this anniversary would fall during a pandemic. This has been one of the most challenging experiences to date as a parent and as a human, but I have sur...

Scott Carlton is an 11-year-old Arlington boy who typically smiles with his whole face, loudly giggles contagious belly laughs and always enjoys applause and music. But by July 14, Scotty’s bodily systems started to shut down or go haywire, one by...

We know questions about COVID-19 are at the top of every parent's mind. To provide the most up-to-date information regarding symptoms, testing and going back to school, we've compiled and answered some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs). ...

When it comes to drownings, the summer of 2020 is a year for the record books. For the first time since at least 2012, Cook Children’s saw a total of 17 pediatric drowning patients in June and July. To put that in perspective, that’s less than half o...

For parents who have a child starting school in person, it’s normal to have some anxiety about the entire process, staying informed and connected may reduce these feelings and can give you a way to express concerns that you have regarding practices a...

As the fall semester approaches we know how hard it has been for parents and families to decide the mode of learning for their children. Some school districts have opted for a hybrid model in which the school year will start with ALL students in the ...

As we continue to worry about the spread of COVID-19, now we hear that positive West Nile Virus mosquito activity is at record high levels in Tarrant County. It seems 2020 is not quite ready to give us a break any time soon. Tarrant County Publ...

By Hannah Chong, M.D., FAAP The next time you visit one of our clinics or hospitals, you may notice a slight change to our mask policy. We still require all patients, accompanying family members, and staff to wear a mask when they enter any of our...

As COVID-19 continues to circulate widely in Texas, the upcoming flu season has taken on a greater sense of urgency among health care workers. Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference Thursday at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to discus...

For Leah Vann, wearing a mask and keeping social distance is nothing new. While many of us are adjusting to this way of life, she adopted these practices 10 years ago as a young cancer patient at Cook Children’s. She says that experience has prepared...

By Michelle Bailey, M.D. Sleep, it’s important, right?! Has your kid's new COVID-19 schedule got them going to bed after midnight and sleeping until noon? Well it’s time NOW to start getting back into a normal sleep schedule for school, even...

By Michelle Bailey, M.D. Is it necessary to get a sports physical this year? After all, are we even going to have sports this year? Plus, in the age of COVID, you may feel hesitant to bring your child to a pediatrician’s office right now. I ...

Por Dra. Bianka Soria-Olmos, D.O. Como muchos ya saben el condado Tarrant a visto un incremento de casos del Coronavirus (COVID19). El juez del condado Tarrant anuncio una orden en la que las mascarillas serán requeridas en lugares públicos a part...

During the early months of the pandemic and related closures, your child may have had a dentist appointment postponed. But now, the office is calling to reschedule that visit. You might be wondering if it is a good idea to visit the dentist right now...

Since the arrival of COVID-19, a desperate search for a vaccine to fight the pandemic has ensued worldwide. However, despite this present-day example of the importance of vaccination, immunization rates at Cook Children's have dipped. From March 1...

Recently, I wrote a post titled, “Is Going Back to School or Online Learning Best for Your Child?” A Pediatrician Shares what Parents Should Consider?” Following that initial article, we received a lot of questions from you all. I wanted to take t...

You may have seen stories on the news and social media recently about so-called “COVID parties,” where people are intentionally exposing themselves and/or their children to the novel coronavirus. Over the weekend, news of the death of a patient in hi...

By Audrey Johnson, M.D. Over the past few months, most of us have thought of nothing more than the COVID-19 pandemic and everything that comes along with it: keeping your kids safe, keeping your kids entertained and keeping your kids from destroyi...

By Justin Smith, M.D. “What’s school going to look like in the fall?” “Should I send my child or keep them at home?” These are the questions that every parent is probably already asking as school districts roll out their plans for re-opening sc...