Laryngomalacia is a congenital anomaly – meaning it is present at birth – of the larynx, or voice box, and is the most common cause of a particular kind of noisy breathing called stridor in infants. This occurs when the tissues of the voice box collapse inward when taking in a breath.
The noisy breathing associated with laryngomalacia is quite distinctive, and has a high-pitched, squeaky or fluttery quality. It may be noticeable constantly, or only some of the time, and is often worse with feeding, agitation, and when the baby lies on his or her back (rather than on their stomach).
While the exact cause of laryngomalacia is...
PHOTO: Courtesy of patient, Michela
Bubbly. Vivacious. Gregarious.
These are the words that spring to mind when you meet Michela Durrette. She’s had a long road and endured a tough-fought journey, but what an inspiration she is to those around her, and we hope, to families facing similar circumstances.
Michela’s medical journey began with a symptom many of us can relate to; she struggled with recurring headaches. It’s not something she gave much thought or credence to, after all, headaches were something...
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Supracondylar Humerus Fracture
Overview
We’re in full swing of summer break. This means your child is as active as ever—running, playing, climbing, jumping, and skipping indoors and out. When children are active, playing on the monkey bars, or jumping off play structures, they can accidently lose their balance and fall. If your child lands with enough force, a bone around the elbow can break.
A common injury children can sustain when falling on an outstretched arm is an elbow...
What is an undescended testicle (UDT)?
An undescended testicle, also known as cryptorchidism, is when a child’s testicle has not made its way down into the scrotum but stopped somewhere along the way. UDT is the most common congenital abnormality of the genitourinary tract.
Most baby boys will have both testicles in the scrotum at birth. Occasionally, one or both testicles will not have descended within the scrotum at birth. The newborn incidence of UDT is 3-5% (15% of which are bilateral). Newborns who were born premature and...
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Over 12,000 children go to the ER for choking emergencies in the U.S. yearly. Parents should be aware, children ages 6 months to 3 years old are at the highest risk for choking. Small, round and cylindrical objects are the most common choking hazards.
Any household item that can be passed through an empty toilet paper roll is considered a choking hazard. So, for your child’s safety, it’s important to educate yourself about choking.