Under normal circumstances, urine flows from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called ureters. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a condition that causes this flow to be reversed. VUR is most commonly diagnosed in infants and young children. It can be classified as either primary, meaning that the condition has been present since birth, or secondary…
Thanksgiving is a time for families to come together to celebrate the bounty of the season, reconnect and express gratitude for life’s many blessings. It’s much more than turkey, football and parades. Here are some ideas for Thanksgiving traditions you can start doing with your family to keep them healthy and happy beyond the holiday…
Diabetes and Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for children with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes as all the holiday’s rich foods can cause anxiety and present a challenges. What can children and families do to have a happy, healthy diabetic Thanksgiving? Whitney A. Cessna, M.S., RDN, LDN, CDE, registered dietitian nutritionist, diabetes educator…
Every child gets sick with a sore throat, cold or minor illness from time to time. When your child with diabetes is ill, there are simple sick-day guidelines you can follow to help manage blood sugar levels. Being prepared and taking extra measures may help you and your family have a healthier cold and flu…
Walter L. Sobczyk, M.D., pediatric cardiologist with Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the University of Louisville, has treated hundreds of children born with life-threatening heart abnormalities. Thanks to advances in surgery and treatment over the last decades, most of these children are now living into adulthood. “Some of these heart conditions are very serious,…
When it comes to Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes, here are the differences. When people talk about the condition diabetes mellitus, they often use just the word “diabetes.” However, diabetes mellitus describes several types of conditions in which a child may develop high blood sugar (blood glucose). Type 1 diabetes definition Type 1 diabetes…
Going through puberty can be a challenge for any child. But children who experience early puberty can have physical, social and emotional challenges that their peers may not, according to researchers. Early puberty or precocious puberty describes puberty that begins before age 8 in girls and before age 9 in boys. Girls are much more…
Winter brings the holidays, time with family and friends and lower temperatures outside. It also brings cold and flu season. Even the common cold can cause a dreaded phenomenon: a fever. Developing a fever is the body’s natural response to infection from viruses or bacteria. A fever is a good sign that our immune system…
Seven years ago, my younger sister, Samantha, was diagnosed with epilepsy. Who would have thought that fluttering her eyes was actually a seizure? Sam didn’t seem herself, and so our pediatrician ordered a sleep-deprived electroencephalogram (EEG). This is a test that looks at how the brain works when it’s tired. At first, Sam thought it…
How babies develop, before and after birth, is nothing short of a miracle. But what happens when they are born prematurely, before they are ready for the sights, sounds and touches of the outside world? The answer may be in music. Music therapists specially trained to work in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are stepping…
The Festival of Trees & Lights, presented by Republic Bank, has helped kick off the holiday season in Louisville for the past 30 years. The festival and the Snow Ball gala have raised nearly $9.4 million, helping fund technology advancements and care at Norton Children’s Hospital. The Festival of Trees & Lights has become a…
In 2012, 11-year-old Jade Cain was diagnosed with a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM), an abnormal cluster of veins and arteries in her brain. Treatment to cure the life-threatening bleed was successful, but it also caused radiation necrosis, the swelling and dying of brain tissue. As Jade’s condition devolved into extreme headaches, weight gain, and potentially…