Most parents understand the frustration of a cranky toddler. At some point, every parent has experienced the “BAD” response: First you’re bewildered, then agitated and finally default to pleading. Even the comforting, patient parent has moments that escalate to bewilderment, embarrassment, anger and eventually defeat. Health educators with Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness are offering…
For families with a history of certain cancers, storing a baby’s cord blood can be an attractive option. Is it right for you? And how do you go about it? Cord blood contains stem cells that can be used if someone needs a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. Stem cell transplants treat leukemia, lymphoma,…
A toddler’s or baby’s concussion symptoms are generally the same as other ages, but since children can’t communicate like adults, here are signs to watch for: Baby concussion symptoms Any persistent behavior change, such as irritability or distractedness Any change in the baby’s sleeping habits — sleeping more or less Any behavior, such as vomiting,…
Two-year-old Gift Mbwali and her mother traveled more than 7,600 miles from their home in Uganda to Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the University of Louisville, where surgeons repaired a heart defect she has lived with since birth. Her family was well aware of the high stakes. Her older brother, Patrick, made the same…
Signs and symptoms of cancer in children can vary and the warning signs may not always be obvious, according to Ashok B. Raj, M.D. Dr. Raj is an oncology and hematology specialist with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the University of Louisville. He shared some common symptoms parents should watch for and have checked…
Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD) among young women ages 15 to 19. Nationally in 2016, 18,285 teen girls were diagnosed. In Kentucky, the number of cases rose 30 percent from 2011 to 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Even more alarming, pediatric/adolescent gynecologists in Louisville and Southern…
If you’ve just learned your child needs surgery, his or her health is your first concern. Here are some questions to ask before you decide where to have the surgery performed. Ask Norton Children’s The Norton Children’s surgical unit specializes in caring for kids. Meet our team What is the surgeon’s history with the procedure,…
When a parent has a newborn, child or teen with a congenital heart condition that needs surgery, they want to know where the operation should happen and which hospital has a record of success. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) operates a database that rates congenital heart programs based on patients’ outcomes. Users can look…
Nearly every car seat inspected by Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness technicians need some type of adjustment to keep children safe. “Locally, our car seat technicians make adjustments to 90 percent of the car and booster seats we see,” said Sharon Rengers, R.N., manager, Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness, which is funded by the Children’s…
When many people think of hip issues, an elderly person might come to mind. But every year, thousands of babies in the U.S. are born with hip dysplasia. Hip dysplasia is the medical term for a hip socket that doesn’t fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone. This allows the hip joint to…
Have you ever seen a baby in headgear and wondered, but didn’t want to ask mom “Why do babies wear helmets?” Also called a cranial orthotic, helmet therapy is a type of treatment prescribed for infants to help correct an abnormal skull shape. About 75 percent of brain growth happens by age 2. To accommodate…
Caleb McKenzie has been getting physical therapy for cerebral palsy since he was about 9 months old. Now 4, Caleb goes to therapy four times a week to master walking. “It is something the rest of us take for granted, and he has difficulty with every single step he takes,” said Laura K. Jacks, M.D.,…