Blog | Page 56 of 158 | Boston Children's Answers

A new kidney for Kira

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Joanne Barker | Patient Stories

Tags: kidney failure, nephrology, transplant

Kira Walker knows how to turn a Zoom call into a party. Soon after her mom starts talking, the 8-year-old appears on the screen in a purple dress worthy of Princess Elsa in Frozen. She loves that movie, plus surprise toys, painting her nails, and her “K for Kira” necklace. “All of this is new,” ... Read More

Tagged: kidney failure, nephrology, transplant

Drawing on data to revolutionize pediatric urology

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Jessica Cerretani | Research

Tags: artificial intelligence, urinary tract infection, urology

At first blush, data analytics — sifting through raw data to discover patterns and draw conclusions from them — seems far afield from the practice of pediatric urology. One discipline involves crunching numbers at a computer, while the other involves caring for patients in the clinic or operating room (OR). But for members of Boston ... Read More

Tagged: artificial intelligence, urinary tract infection, urology

Climate and children’s health: A conversation with Dr. Aaron Bernstein

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical Care, Primary Care

Tags: asthma, climate change, health equity, mental health, obesity, primary care, research

When Boston Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Aaron Bernstein was in medical school, he was told that climate change — an interest of his since 7th grade — belonged in the realm of politics, not medicine. One professor told him flat out, “You’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” But another professor ... Read More

Tagged: asthma, climate change, health equity, mental health, obesity, primary care, research

One family, two very different clubfoot experiences

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Joanne Barker | Patient Stories

Tags: clubfoot, international, limb lengthening and reconstruction, lower extremity, orthopedics

Theresah Boateng and her daughter Eno Agyapomaa Agyemang both have strong wills and outgoing personalities. Both were born with a foot deformity called clubfoot, and both received treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital. Yet their experiences differ in many ways. Theresah’s treatment started when she was 15 years old and lasted more than two years. Eno’s ... Read More

Tagged: clubfoot, international, limb lengthening and reconstruction, lower extremity, orthopedics

Nutrition equity: How to give nutrition advice to diverse families

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Joanne Barker | Clinical Care, Primary Care

Tags: health equity, martha eliot, nutrition, primary care

If nutrition advice were easy to follow, the number of children with type 2 diabetes and obesity would be going down, not up. But as many pediatricians and nutritionists know, food cravings, picky eaters, and hectic schedules pose serious challenges. Add language barriers, a lack of accessible food choices, or food insecurity to the mix, ... Read More

Tagged: health equity, martha eliot, nutrition, primary care

Miles for Jack: Robin sequence and the bond between a family and doctor

Posted on April 14, 2022 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories, Specialty Care

Tags: cleft palate, craniofacial, plastic surgery, Robin sequence, sleep

For runners and non-runners alike, next week’s Boston Marathon is extra special. It marks a beloved tradition for the city, and for many, it’s a chance to once again run for those who can’t and bring awareness to causes worth fighting for. For 6-year-old Jack Ryan, this year’s marathon is a chance to cheer on ... Read More

Tagged: cleft palate, craniofacial, plastic surgery, Robin sequence, sleep

When a critically ill child is homeless

Posted on April 12, 2022 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical Care, Research

Tags: complex care, critical care, health equity, poverty

On a single night in 2020, roughly 172,000 in families with children and 34,000 unaccompanied youth under age 25 were homeless, according to government figures. Many more families are housing insecure amid skyrocketing rents. A large body of research finds that both situations put children at increased risk for health problems. Parents may have ... Read More

Tagged: complex care, critical care, health equity, poverty

Helping your child understand puberty

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: primary care, primary care alliance, sex education

We all remember the changes — and awkwardness — of puberty. But helping your child navigate puberty is a whole different matter. For answers, we turned to Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance physician Caitlyn Hark, MD, at Framingham Pediatrics, and Frances Grimstad, MD, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist in the Division of Gynecology at Boston ... Read More

Tagged: primary care, primary care alliance, sex education

How COVID-19 triggers massive inflammation

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: cellular and molecular medicine, coronavirus, immunology, infectious diseases

Why do some people with COVID-19 develop severe inflammation, leading to respiratory distress and damage to multiple organs? A new study in the journal Nature provides an explanation: the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects and kills critical immune cells in the blood and lungs, which set off powerful alarm bells as they die. Judy Lieberman, MD, PhD, ... Read More

Tagged: cellular and molecular medicine, coronavirus, immunology, infectious diseases

Clinical trials in children: Is there racial equity?

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical, Research

Tags: clinical trials, health equity

The treatments and interventions used in medicine are often based on the results of clinical trials. But trials involving adults haven’t always represented the population as a whole, tending to recruit mostly white middle-class people. As a result, it’s not clear how well the findings apply to people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Do ... Read More

Tagged: clinical trials, health equity