Patient Stories
Answers for Isaac: A family’s journey to treat vascular anomalies
Early on, Jinah and her husband knew their son Isaac was battling something complex, but they couldn’t figure out what it was, even after seeing numerous specialists. Their search for answers spanned the globe and eventually brought them to the Vascular Anomalies Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. It was in Boston that they not only ... Read More about Answers for Isaac: A family’s journey to treat vascular anomalies
Research
A new symptom of COVID-19 in young children: Croup
During the Omicron surge, pediatricians and emergency departments (EDs) began noticing something new: a surge in croup among infants and young children. Marked by a distinctive “barking” cough and sometimes noisy, high-pitched intakes of breath, croup can happen when colds and other viral infections cause the voice box, windpipe, and bronchial tubes to become inflamed ... Read More about A new symptom of COVID-19 in young children: Croup
Patient Stories
Logan shows off ‘big personality’ while overcoming cleft lip and palate
Three-year-old Logan Hatfield doesn’t simply ask to watch “The Lion King.” He lets out a loud roar and follows with a soft “king.” It’s one of the many cherished memories he has created for his parents, Jenna and Brad, and his two older siblings. It’s also a welcomed contrast to the months before and after ... Read More about Logan shows off ‘big personality’ while overcoming cleft lip and palate
Research
Using genetics to glimpse newborns’ future with congenital heart disease
Aside from infections, congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of infant mortality. Informed by babies she sees in the NICU, Sarah Morton, MD, PhD, attending physician in the Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children’s, has devoted her career to understanding CHD’s genetic causes. Her findings are shedding light on what parents and ... Read More about Using genetics to glimpse newborns’ future with congenital heart disease
Research
Genetic risk factors for PCOS act independently of ovarian function
It’s estimated that as many as 10 percent of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that produces symptoms such as infertility, irregular menstrual periods, and excessive body hair growth. Women with PCOS are also at increased risk for cardiometabolic dysfunction, as evidenced by insulin resistance and obesity. Yet, despite extensive studies of PCOS, ... Read More about Genetic risk factors for PCOS act independently of ovarian function
Patient Stories
‘Worth the trip’: Aiden and his family found help for chronic pain in Boston
Aiden Kozak loves playing volleyball — and he’s good at it. He was even recently named one of the top 50 student volleyball players on Long Island. It’s a huge change from four years ago, when walking was so painful that he relied on a wheelchair. That wasn’t always the case. Until he was 12, ... Read More about ‘Worth the trip’: Aiden and his family found help for chronic pain in Boston
Clinical Care
Kids with special health care needs can take small steps toward dental visits
This is the second of a two-part series offering dental advice to the parents of children with special health care needs. A visit to the dentist can be an overwhelming experience for children with special health care needs. Like many people, they might feel uncomfortable with dental picks and drills. Or, favoring the rhythm of ... Read More about Kids with special health care needs can take small steps toward dental visits
Research
Real-time genomic surveillance of bacteria could improve antibiotic therapy
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are increasingly hard to treat, causing more than a million deaths annually around the world. Hospitalized patients with pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, or abdominal infections are especially at risk. Like a game of Whac-A-Mole, bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance mutations within days of starting an antibiotic, only to be replaced ... Read More about Real-time genomic surveillance of bacteria could improve antibiotic therapy
Research
Sudden, unexplained child deaths often have a genetic cause
When a baby or toddler dies without warning, parents often blame themselves. A study at Boston Children’s may provide some insight into sudden, unexplained child deaths and perhaps a measure of closure. It suggests that at least 10 percent of children who die suddenly have an undiagnosed genetic condition that caused or contributed to their ... Read More about Sudden, unexplained child deaths often have a genetic cause
Clinical Care
Parents: Start dental care early for children with special health care needs
This is the first of a two-part series offering dental tips to the parents of children with special health care needs. The texture of a toothbrush’s bristles can be enough to make dental hygiene an uncomfortable undertaking for children with special health care needs. And because children with autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other conditions are ... Read More about Parents: Start dental care early for children with special health care needs