The hot days of summer can mean getting caught off guard by heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, over 9,000 high school athletes are treated for heat illnesses each year.Many medications and underlying medical conditions, such as…
Australia just experienced one of its worst flu seasons on record, and experts are warning this could mean an early and rough flu season for the United States. Flu season in Australia usually spans from June to September and peaks in August. Officials say it started early this year, however, and the number of confirmed…
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it is investigating 805 possible cases of electronic cigarette-related lung disease across 46 states, and one U.S. territory, including Kentucky and Indiana. The CDC confirmed 12 deaths, including one in Indiana. The CDC is cautioning consumers not to use e-cigarettes. If your kids are vaping, what…
If you or your child needs help If you suspect a child might need help dealing with stress, depression or other mental health issues, contact your child’s physician. If you need a physician, call (502) 629-KIDS (5437) or find one today. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a list of mental health professionals and resources…
The Rev. Rick Forest, chaplain and bereavement care coordinator at Norton Children’s Hospital, and Bryan D. Carter, Ph.D., clinical pediatric psychologist at Norton Children’s Hospital and University of Louisville Physicians offer thoughts on how to talk to kids about mass shootings. For younger children especially, find out what they already know. That way you know where they’re…
It’s finally summer. With the warm temperatures here to stay, many families are heading to swimming pools. Before you jump in, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a warning: Pools can carry many waterborne diseases, including cryptosporidiosis, an illness caused by ingesting cryptosporidium, a fecal parasite. In fact, the CDC reports that during…
For the first time in eight years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its recommendations for children recovering from concussions, easing restrictions on electronics and physical activity. The AAP is no longer recommending complete removal of electronic devices, such as television, computers and smartphones, following a concussion. In addition, the guidelines support children…
A recent debate about feeding infants solid food before 6 months of age has become a point of conversation among new mothers. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, mothers should exclusively breastfeed for the first four to six months, however a recent study has questioned whether starting solid food earlier leads to better sleep….
Spending time outdoors in the summer means there’s a risk for ticks. Jameel T. Clark, M.D., with Norton Children’s Medical Group – Dixie notes that you may not notice a tick bite right away. But that doesn’t mean you should start worrying once you notice a bite. While ticks sometimes spread diseases, merely getting a…
This story was originally published on April 2, 2015 and has been updated. It had been in high school, over 10 years ago, when I had last seen Angela Roberts. It wasn’t under the greatest circumstances that we reconnected, but she was still the same as I had remembered — a smile from ear to…