Blog | Page 69 of 158 | Boston Children's Answers

Is the Delta variant worse for kids? Answers to your questions

Posted on August 31, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Health and Parenting

As kids across the country return to in-person school, the COVID-19 pandemic looks a bit different from last year. Children and teens ages 12 and older are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and as a result, some states have relaxed certain public health restrictions, such as mask mandates. Enter the Delta variant. Believed to ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, mis-c

Helping your child cope with separation anxiety

Posted on August 27, 2021 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: primary care alliance

When your baby can’t seem to fall asleep in their crib after weeks of trying, or daycare drop-off always sparks a toddler tantrum, your child may be experiencing separation anxiety. “Separation anxiety is very common,” says Angelica Espinosa-Louissaint, MD, a pediatrician and co-founder of Commonwealth Pediatrics in Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance. “It often starts ... Read More

Tagged: primary care alliance

Bringing the Ozaki procedure to the world to repair children’s aortic valves

Posted on August 26, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical Care, Specialty Care

Tags: cardiac research, cardiac surgery, global health, heart, heart center, medical training, surgery

Children with aortic stenosis or regurgitation often need surgery to reconstruct or replace the aortic valve. However, existing bioprosthetics can fail over time, and mechanical leaflets and valves require lifelong anticoagulant therapy. Christopher Baird, MD, director of the Congenital Heart Valve Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, saw a promising alternative emerge in adult cardiac surgery: aortic ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac research, cardiac surgery, global health, heart, heart center, medical training, surgery

Back to school in 2021: Three families share their stories

Posted on August 25, 2021 by Joanne Barker | Patient Stories

Tags: coronavirus, mental health

It’s been a long year-and-a-half for students since schools first shut down due to COVID-19. Thrust into a situation none were prepared for, students, parents, and teachers have struggled emotionally and academically. After a long period of untraditional schooling, what can parents and students expect, and how can they gear up for the coming school ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, mental health

A kiss from their sister: A family’s journey with cleft lip care

Posted on August 24, 2021 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

Tags: cleft lip, craniofacial, plastic surgery

Kelly and Ben’s experience with cleft lip care at Boston Children’s Hospital spans multiple years and multiple children. Two of their daughters, Molly and Annie — five years apart in age — were born with an incomplete unilateral cleft lip. The couple won’t shy from admitting that receiving the diagnosis doesn’t get easier. “It’s a ... Read More

Tagged: cleft lip, craniofacial, plastic surgery

Taming reentry anxiety: How to prepare kids for a back-to-school like no other

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Katie Paradis | Health and Parenting

Tags: bullying, coronavirus, psychiatry

After more than a year and a half of remote, hybrid, and home-schooling, it’s time to gear up for a return to full-time, in-person school. But for many kids, this “return to normal” comes with a unique set of concerns. Here, Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, answers questions ... Read More

Tagged: bullying, coronavirus, psychiatry

Growth and Nutrition Program works with schools to support kids with feeding challenges

Posted on August 20, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Health and Parenting

Tags: ADHD, feeding therapy, g tube, nutrition

Returning to school doesn’t just mean stocking up on pencils, paper, and new clothes. For some children, going back to school also involves special nutritional needs. Kids with feeding difficulties — as well as those who rely on a feeding tube for nourishment — require care that doesn’t end when the school day begins. The ... Read More

Tagged: ADHD, feeding therapy, g tube, nutrition

Unpacking the body’s interferon response to COVID-19

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

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

Interferons are potent natural antivirals, rallying other parts of the immune system to defend against viruses. Some clinical trials have tested interferons as a treatment for COVID-19, but results have been mixed. And the science has been unclear about whether interferons are helpful or harmful. Key takeawayAn early, protective interferon response in the upper respiratory ... Read More

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

Why do some children get MIS-C after COVID-19? Some early clues

Posted on August 19, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Clinical, Research

Tags: coronavirus, genetics and genomics, immune disorders, immunology, infectious diseases, mis-c

Several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, a small number of children began to develop a cluster of mysterious symptoms. These included rashes, red eyes, gastrointestinal symptoms and, most worrisome, heart problems. Why does this serious illness, now known as multisystem inflammatory disorder in children (MIS-C), strike some previously healthy children? And who is most at ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, genetics and genomics, immune disorders, immunology, infectious diseases, mis-c

Global services: Coordinating care for international families

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Alice McCarthy | Our Community

Tags: gene therapy, global health

In most years, more than 2,500 families living outside of the United States seek care at Boston Children’s Hospital. To help guide the process, the Global Services team — a group of medical and administrative professionals — manages all the details. Their mission is to help coordinate care between families, medical professionals in their home ... Read More

Tagged: gene therapy, global health