By Diane Arnaout, M.D. I got to spend some time with my buddy and colleague Samson Cantu, M.D., and his wife Clara (a former educator) last month, along with 18 local high school juniors and seniors. We had an awesome time together and I wanted to...

Valentine’s Day can be stressful even for couples who have been together for years, much less kids. Every Valentine’s Day, KidsHealth asks kids questions about love. The more than 4,300 participants of the survey said they feel uncomfortable when:...

In one year, 1.5 million young people began using e-cigarettes according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC looked at tobacco product use among U.S. youth from 2017 to 2018 and the results are alarming, wi...

We know writing about measles and the need for vaccination usually causes debate on our social media channels. But it also raises important questions that need to be addressed. Last week after the article 12 Facts About Measles You Need To Know...

Denton County Public Health confirmed a measles case, making it the first case for 2019 in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. This was the seventh case confirmed in Texas this year. Five have been confirmed in southern Texas, including four under the age of...

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40 percent of kids ages 3 to 6 use too much toothpaste. The CDC states that fluoride found in toothpaste prevents dental tooth decay (caries or c...

It seems these days that CBD (cannabidiol) oil can fix all that ails you – as CBD containing products are found everywhere from corner stores to hair salons, to farmer’s markets. Many times the vendors of these oils make wide-reaching claims to their...

Daniel Guzman, M.D., will never forget the spring break of 2017 when he and the rest of the Cook Children’s Emergency Department saw 5 unintentional gun injuries. “That week highlighted my concern for gun awareness and safety,” Dr. Guzman said. “I...

Bah-bah. Binky. Button. Nip-nip. Num. Paci. Sassy. Soothie. Wubbanub. Whatever you call it, parents have lots of questions about pacifier use. Let’s look at some of the most common: 1. When is it OK to start a pacifier? A pacifier can be ...

A measles outbreak near Portland, Ore., has caused health officials in nearby Clark County, Wash., to declare a public health emergency, warning that infected people have visited airports, schools, churches, dentist offices and area retail outlets. ...

The dashcam video is shocking. A toddler strapped into a car seat falls out of a moving vehicle and onto a busy street in Minnesota. Miraculously, the child was safe. The Mankato Department of Public Safety said in a press release that the 2-year-...

By now you may have seen the tragic story of Journey, a diabetic alert dog who died of a gunshot wound outside of her family's home.  Diabetic alert dogs like Journey are specially trained to detect high or low levels of blood sugar for kids like ...

The other night my son absolutely insisted on mac and cheese (one of his few, uh, acceptable entrees). And it couldn’t be that “healthy” natural organic kind. It had to be the neon orange kind. He’s sensitive to colors and textures and can spot that ...

Meals should be a happy and pleasant childhood experience. In our busy lives, it might be one of the few times when we all slow down and check in with one another. But I hear from my patient families all the time that it's anything but relaxing. ...

"Never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow." And yes folks, that means Q-tips. Look at what our medical director of Emergency Services has to say: “Q-tips and cotton-tip swabs cause numerous ER injuries we see at Cook Children’s,” ...

By Caroline Weber When your child looks and acts healthy, it’s hard to understand how they could have a condition that, without proper treatment, could cause them to have a heart attack or stroke before the age of 50. Maria Gutierrez found herself...

Butterflies in the stomach before a test, the pounding of the heart before asking someone on a date or the worry due to a sick pet. These are common problems in the lives of a child. But thanks to cyberbullying, the pressure to make it into col...

Raise your hand if your kid has a runny nose right now. Ok, EVERYONE can put your hands down now. But, does your child have a cold or allergies? After all, the mountain cedar pollen count is the highest it's been all season in North Texas and i...

In The Media At 2 p.m. CST on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, Jamye Coffman, M.D., will be a featured expert on Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy on 'The Dr. Oz Show.' The episode will explore the case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, whose mother (Dee Dee Blanchard)...

Last week, 484 kids tested positive for Influenza A 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 happens every year. It...

More than 480 children tested positive for Influenza A at Cook Children’s Medical Center during the week of Dec. 23 through Dec. 29, 2018. Flu A usually arrives prior to the B strain and is usually more severe than Flu B. Of the 1,141 children ...

More than 1.5 million people visited checkupnewsroom.com. We thought we would take a look back at our most popular stories written in 2018. Let's start the countdown: 10. Couple Fights To Give Child Abuse Victim, Foster Chlid Forever Home: We begi...

Most of us know someone who has had cancer. That’s because we are all at risk for developing the disease. Usually it’s by chance. But in some cases, cancer develops because of our genetics and that means some of us are predisposed to developing diffe...

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 ...

“My baby spits up all the time.” “My baby never spits up, but seems like they are fussy all the time." I know this sounds like reflux, but the truth is spitting up can be normal. Even if it’s with every feed, even if it seems really bad. May...

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...

It should be the most wonderful time of the year, but you don’t want to spend it in the emergency room. New decorations and experiences can cause accidents and pose a danger for your child. Here are 12 day-ngers of Christmas: Fireplace - Ligh...

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union recently spoke about their difficult journey to becoming parents of their daughter, Kaavia James Union Wade. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the couple revealed they had nine miscarriages before choosing surroga...

Is your 6 month old sleeping through the night? Maybe not and that’s OK, at least for your baby. You, on the other hand, may need some rest. Let's start with your baby. Does their lack of sleep pose any risk to their health or development? A...

More than 12 million pounds of raw beef has been recalled due to risks of salmonella, according to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS). JBS Tolleson Inc. is recalling the “raw, non...