Molluscum contagiosum is a very common viral skin condition in children.
“Molluscum” are small dome-shaped bumps on the skin that have a central white or “waxy” core. They can affect any area of skin, but are prone to spread in areas of friction, such as the armpits and the creases at the elbows and behind the knees.
Recently the Environmental Working Group published a report on the amount of sugar in children’s cereals.
In Houston alone, 50 babies are diagnosed with sickle cell disease every year and 800 to 1,000 are followed by Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine physicians. More public awareness and education about sickle cell disease is critically important. Although many are aware of the disease, the causes, effects and treatment aren’t widely understood.
Up to 10% of all newborns will spend some time in a neonatal intensive care unit. They will often just spend a few days there due to jaundice or being born as “late preterms” at 34-36 weeks gestation. However, they may have much longer hospital stays due to being very low birth weight (VLBW, <1500 g at birth) or having congenital health problems. The vast majority of these babies will go home and do well, but they may have unexpected feeding problems.
As the calendar turns from November to December, frost and the sounds of the holidays fill the air. However, each year brings a common pathogen, respiratory syncytial virus, better known as RSV. Last fall, I wrote about RSV in conjunction with the flu and respiratory illness; this season seems to be very active so far, resulting in mild to severe disease in scores of small children in the clinics, emergency rooms and hospital floors.