As a parent, I can't tell you the number of times my children have bonked their heads.  I'm sure I hit my head a few times as a child also.  Head injury is very common in children.  Small bumps, bruises and knots typically don't require special treatment.  More severe head trauma may be life threatening.  It is often difficult for a parent or pediatrician to determine the extent of injury, especially when the trauma was unwitnessed.  So when does a child need to be seen by a doctor?  When does a child need an ambulance or a visit to the emergency department?  What is the risk of developing complications after a head injury?  Is the skull fractured?  Is there bleeding inside or outside the skull?  Was there any brain damage?  What is a concussion?  What if my child gets "knocked out?" I will address these questions with a discussion about common approaches to minor head injury in children.

Normal children may have up to 8 upper respiratory tract infections (URI's) per year.  Some sources state that up to 12 URI's per year may be normal, especially for children in daycare.  Even though this may be normal, parents often become worried when their child is sick as frequently as once per month.  So when should parents and pediatricians worry?  Does your child have an abnormal immune system?  Could this be asthma?  Could this be another chronic illness?  Should my child have an x-ray or bloodwork?  The purpose of this article is to explore an approach to these common questions.

Kids cough... a lot.  The question we have as parents, and me as a parent and Pediatrician, is "Why is my child coughing?" and "Does my child need to see a doctor?"  The most common cause of cough is an upper respiratory tract infection, typically caused by a virus.  But what about couging that lasts for several weeks, or is so severe that my child is vomiting, or is disrupting her sleep or schoolwork?  When does coughing represent a chronic illness, such as cystic fibrosis or asthma?  When does cough represent a serious illness such as influenza (the flu) or pneumonia?  The purpose of this article is to explore some of these common questions.