Clinical Care
A lifeline for families with asthma
Nilda Gabin knows how terrifying it is to rush to the hospital with a child who is having trouble breathing — fortunately, that hasn’t happened to her in two years. “The scariest part is to see your child struggling to breathe and you can’t do anything to help them at home,” says Nilda, who recalls ... Read More about A lifeline for families with asthma
Our Community
Fostering the future
May is National Foster Care Month, an important time to raise awareness about the needs of children and youth in foster care and their families, while also celebrating the contributions of dedicated foster families and other caring individuals and organizations that are already supporting these young people. My journey to becoming a foster parent As ... Read More about Fostering the future
Patient Stories
When even experts can’t figure you out: CNS-restricted HLH
At first it seemed like motion sickness when 5-year-old Emily threw up after spinning around outside, or during car rides. No one thought much of it. But gradually, she also developed headaches and stomachaches. Her walking and balance started to falter. She became lethargic, and complained about something in her eye. Her face took on ... Read More about When even experts can’t figure you out: CNS-restricted HLH
Research
Children wait for new cancer drugs 6.5 years longer than adults
A 20-year analysis finds that FDA-approved cancer drugs took a median of 6.5 years to go from the first clinical trial in adults to the first trial in children. That’s not good enough for researchers at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, who are calling for expanding children’s access to experimental cancer therapies. “It’s ... Read More about Children wait for new cancer drugs 6.5 years longer than adults
Patient Stories
Jillian’s story: Finding care, support, then a diagnosis
Eighteen-year-old Jillian Allair is funny, independent, sarcastic, and the charmer of the family. She loves music, especially top 40, and little kids, with a soft spot for those with medical challenges. Jillian knows a thing or two about medical challenges herself — she’s been a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital since she was 8 weeks ... Read More about Jillian’s story: Finding care, support, then a diagnosis
Our Community
Pawprints: Sophie makes the rounds
My name is Sophie, one of the Pawprints therapy dogs here at Boston Children’s Hospital. I’m a 13-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and I love making my rounds at the hospital. I’ve been a therapy dog at Boston Children’s for about four years. I don’t want to brag, but being a therapy dog takes some ... Read More about Pawprints: Sophie makes the rounds
Research
After GWAS studies, how to narrow the search for genes?
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) look at large populations to find genes that contribute to common, multi-gene traits like height or obesity. These comprehensive investigations frequently turn up large numbers of tiny genetic variations that show up more often in people who are tall, obese, etc. But this association doesn’t mean the variant actually helps cause ... Read More about After GWAS studies, how to narrow the search for genes?
Research
Hidden part of flu virus yields hope for better vaccines
The annual effort to create a flu vaccine is like a high-stakes game of Whack-a-mole. Even if public health officials develop a vaccine that offers wide protection, the ever-changing influenza virus pops up again the next year in a new guise, often different enough to thwart the body’s defenses. And while most people recover, influenza ... Read More about Hidden part of flu virus yields hope for better vaccines
Clinical Care
Better evaluation needed for BRUEs
Previously known as apparent life-threatening events, brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) are episodes marked by choking, paleness, blue spells (cyanosis), and limpness. They tend to occur in previously healthy infants and send worried parents racing to the emergency department (ED). Although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequently implicated in these patients, pediatric gastroenterologists are often ... Read More about Better evaluation needed for BRUEs
Clinical Care
Stool transplant found safe, effective for ‘C. diff’ in children
Diarrhea caused by Clostridiodes (formerly Clostridium) difficile infections is on the rise among children; one population-based study found a 12.5-fold increase in incidence from 1991 to 2009. For reasons that aren’t clear, C. difficile is more frequently striking children without the usual risk factors, such as hospitalization or antibiotic exposure. One thing that is known ... Read More about Stool transplant found safe, effective for ‘C. diff’ in children