There is increasing evidence that severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in young children can have long-term effects such as wheezing and asthma, according to Ronald L. Morton, M.D., pediatric pulmonologist with Norton Children’s Pulmonology. A recent review of research into long-term effects of asthma found wheezing can persist into adulthood and appears to be…
University of Kentucky freshman Said Zakaria certainly seems set up for success. Determined to one day be a dual-certified general and orthopedic surgeon, Said completed 21 hours of prerequisites through a dual-credit program at Butler Traditional High School his senior year so he could start classes in his major, biology, immediately. What makes his achievements…
For most families, having a child who wets the bed is a common part of childhood. But bed-wetting can be frustrating and uncomfortable for you and your child. It’s often difficult to know when bed-wetting becomes an issue that needs treatment from a pediatric urologist. Some common bed-wetting questions and when a child’s accidents could…
Speech delay in toddlers is very common, along with other developmental delays in children such as motor skills, listening, understanding or social development. About 15% to 20% of children nationally are affected by developmental delays. Children can outgrow those delays later in childhood, especially when delays are addressed early. The opportunity to treat developmental delays…
An active 9-year-old couldn’t have asked for a better summer. Alaina Kenney enjoyed playing softball in the perfect, hot summer sun. She loved boating and tubing frequently on Rough River Lake with her family. After one particularly perfect day, Alaina spent the night with her grandparents, who were planning to take her to school the…
As Audrey Sims talks on the phone, her 7-year-old twin boys can be heard enthusiastically enjoying the video game they are playing upstairs. “We picked up video games when the pandemic hit,” Audrey said. “It is something they could do while quarantined and inside. They also like Legos. Luckily, neither of them is ever alone,…
Childhood cancer fact: Childhood cancers make up less than 1% of all cancers diagnosed each year, accounting for about 10,500 children in the United States under the age of 15. Childhood cancer rates have been on the rise for the past few decades. Here are some facts: 10 childhood cancer facts After accidents, cancer is…
The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreak of 2021 brought unprecedented summertime levels of the infection to states like Kentucky, raising some concerns about the traditional cold-weather season for RSV. At Norton Children’s, health care providers are seeing some children infected with both RSV and COVID-19, said Kristina A. Bryant, M.D., physician with Norton Children’s Infectious…
Sometimes known as a “PKU test,” a genetic screening for newborns actually checks for a wide range of genetic disorders. PKU, an abbreviation for phenylketonuria, is a rare inherited disorder that causes the phenylalanine amino acid to build up in the body and can lead to brain damage. It’s caused by a genetic defect that…
Flu and COVID-19 symptoms can be the same, leading to confusion and anxiety for parents with children feeling under the weather. If your child experiences symptoms such as a fever and cough — or if you do — here are some steps to help prevent the spread: Stay home except to get medical care. Get…
Tests to diagnose muscular dystrophy generally look for genes associated with inherited muscle diseases and include measures of muscle strength and neurological tests along with other examinations to rule out other causes of symptoms. Before any complex tests are conducted, your pediatrician or specialist physician will ask about your child’s symptoms and whether any other…
Christa Taylor was born with Ebstein anomaly, pulmonary atresia and pulmonary stenosis, all forms of congenital heart disease (CHD). She manages her adult congenital heart disease with care from Norton Children’s Heart Institute — the same team and hospital where she had her heart care for more than 30 years. Growing up with congenital heart…