A pregnant patient’s race, social status, access to medical care and living conditions all can affect whether they are more likely to deliver a baby weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces (low birth weight), according to Scott D. Duncan, M.D., MHA, neonatologist with Norton Children’s Neonatology. According to the Centers for Disease Control and…
Choosing a pediatrician for your first child, because you’ve moved or are looking to switch for any reason, brings up a lot of questions. Here are some tips for how to choose a pediatrician –– so you can build a relationship that works for your family. Building a relationship with a pediatrician is crucial for…
A child with a fever can be scary in normal times. These days, it’s especially so. Here are some steps to take when it happens, and how to know when a fever is too high for a child. Is it really a fever? First, make sure it’s really a fever. As with adults, a child’s…
During the past 70 years, great strides have been made in developing treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF). A child born with the disease once had little hope of attending school, but today they are living into adulthood, graduating from college, having successful careers and getting married. In Louisville, children diagnosed with CF now have access…
While an abbreviated major league season is just getting underway, much younger pitchers and catchers have been playing at baseball fields across the U.S. As baseball is one of the youth sports where it is somewhat easier to practice social distancing to prevent spread of the coronavirus, many programs have continued this summer. So have…
With the COVID-19 outbreak still going on in the community, new parents may wonder: Can we delay the baby checkup schedule a little bit? The baby is eating well and is healthy. Is it worth going out? The answer is that the well-baby visit schedule — the appointments in a child’s first two years of…
With youth sports returning to action with precautions amid the coronavirus pandemic, pediatricians are conducting yearly sports physicals to make sure kids are healthy and fit to engage in physical activity. A sports exam includes a health history questionnaire and a check of vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, temperature and respiration. “As…
Norton Children’s Medical Center is celebrating 10 years of service. The unique regional facility is designed just for kids and brings the compassionate, skilled pediatric care of Norton Children’s to families in northeastern Jefferson County and the surrounding area, including Southern Indiana. “This is such an exciting milestone for Norton Children’s Medical Center,” said Kathy…
Many families in Louisville and Southern Indiana struggle to provide healthy meals for children. This is due to many factors, including cost, living in a “food desert” — an area where it’s difficult to find affordable fresh food — and being unable to travel to a grocery. Food insecurity has negative effects for a child’s…
Even though we are all staying safe at home, there may be a time when your child needs nonemergency medical help. Perhaps you need to follow up with your pediatrician or pediatric specialty physician. Maybe you need some medication guidance. We also want to protect our family, medical professionals and at-risk individuals from COVID-19, and…
Many children and families come to Norton Children Hospital at their most vulnerable time. Children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and children with conditions such as congenital heart disease and childhood cancer may have extended stays. Forging memories, building relationships with caregivers and collecting special keepsakes — all can be a part of the…
When your child comes down with strep throat, you may be inclined to think, “Who’s next?” That doesn’t have to be the case. While this illness can be passed easily from one person to another, there are ways to prevent strep throat from spreading. The bacteria that cause strep throat are in the nose and…