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…
We often give reminders to our kids and family members about washing their hands. After all, it’s a do-it-yourself vaccine that can help prevent flu and other disease, and keep infections at bay. Did you know that when you’re in any kind of medical setting, whether it be your pediatrician’s office or a hospital, you…
Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) made local headlines last year as Norton Children’s Hospital treated three children for the polio-like disease. The rare and mysterious illness typically pops up in late summer and early fall, but more than a dozen cases have already been reported nationwide this year. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control…
Overuse of antibiotics is a worldwide problem, reducing the drug’s effectiveness and making serious bacterial infections resistant to treatment. For its efforts to improve antibiotic prescribing, Norton Children’s Hospital has been named an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence. The Infectious Diseases Society of America awards the distinction to hospitals that effectively prescribe antibiotics and combat…
A Bullitt County toddler is making national headlines after being hospitalized due to Rocky Mountain spotted fever. And while the disease, which is spread by tick bites, does occur in Kentucky, doctors say tick-borne illness are relatively uncommon in children. “Ticks and tick bites are common here, but fortunately most ticks do not carry diseases…
Already in 2019 there have been more measles cases in the United States than any year since the disease was initially declared eliminated in 2000. Nearly two dozen states, including Kentucky, have reported cases. Many parents in Louisville and Southern Indiana are concerned about the risk and exposure to their children. We spoke with Kristina…
In January 2019, 79 individual cases of measles were confirmed in 10 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The states that have reported cases to CDC are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. In a given year, the CDC says, more measles cases can occur…
Alex McCoy shares her story about RSV in babies … This time last year, my husband and I were sitting in the Norton Children’s Hospital ”Just for Kids” Critical Care Center — decorated for Christmas — praying for our daughter’s life. Isla Mae was only 7 weeks old and relying on a ventilator to breathe….
Several outbreaks of AFM — acute flaccid myelitis — have been reported in children in recent weeks, including three in the Louisville and Southern Indiana area. The mysterious polio-like disease causes weakness in the arms or legs and is extremely rare, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AFM affects a person’s…
With a new school year solidly underway, more kids are bringing home “the wrong kind of friends.” No, we aren’t talking about their fellow classmates — we’re talking about head lice. “As children come in close contact during the school day, it’s common to see more instances of head lice,” said Rachel Alexander, APRN, nurse practitioner…
Flu season usually gets underway in October, but local pediatricians are already seeing cases. Last year, a record number of kids died from the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu is more dangerous for children than the common cold. Hospitals see an average of 20,000 children under age…
Good news in the fight against cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV): The vaccination rate for this disease has risen 5 points from 2016 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Yet, only 66 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 have received the first dose, and only 49 percent…