In recent years, the most wonderful time of the year became … complicated. In 2020, it was safest to stay apart from family and friends. In 2021, the availability of COVID-19 vaccines made gathering safer, but the highly contagious omicron variant was roaring to life. This year, most people have returned to a largely normal…
If you feel like your house has been full of runny noses, congestion and coughs since the cooler weather began, you’re not alone. “Child viral illnesses are really concentrated during the cooler weather from October through March,” says UNC Health pediatrician Priyanka Rao, MD. “When children experience back-to-back sickness, parents sometimes wonder if something is…
This holiday season, many people will want to make up for lost time, traveling to be with their families or to a favorite destination they might not have been able to visit during the height of the pandemic. Of course, COVID-19 is still with us, and still taking the lives of hundreds of Americans each…
Have you seen the TV commercials for testosterone boosters? They’ll make you think these over-the-counter products will have your muscles bulging and your sex drive humming. Some commercials say that the supplements will help you become “the man you used to be.” But you’d be hard-pressed to find a urologist recommending these gimmicky, untested products.…
It’s a statistic that no parent wants to think about: Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for children ages 1 to 13, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It’s no surprise that keeping your child buckled in a car seat or booster seat is the best way to…
Babies, Children's Health, Safety, Toddlers and Preschoolers
Everyone gets sick once in a while. Fortunately, our bodies have amazing immune systems to fight off bacteria and viruses that make us feel bad. But when a child’s immune system is weakened because of another illness or medicines they are taking, extra precautions are needed to avoid additional infections, says Eveline Wu, MD, a…
With another school year just around the corner, parents, children and teachers can add a fourth “R” to reading, (w)riting and (a)rithmetic—reducing your risk of getting sick. Common illnesses such as colds, the flu and COVID-19 can run rampant anywhere lots of people gather, and schools are no exception. Omicron variants of COVID-19 are still…
It may seem like everyone you know has COVID-19 right now—even people who are vaccinated and boosted or have had COVID-19 before. So, what gives? While facing yet another surge is frustrating—especially if you have tried to be very careful in protecting yourself and your loved ones—the emergence of this new, even more contagious subvariant…
Finally, virtually every American will be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, with protective shots available for children younger than 5—a year and a half after the oldest Americans started getting immunized. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines for children ages 6 months to 5 years; previously,…
Mask mandates are lifted. Crowds are gathering for sporting events, concerts and graduation ceremonies. People aren’t required to stay 6 feet apart. This return to semi-normalcy is cause for celebration for most healthy people, especially those who are vaccinated, boosted and exercise a little caution. But for people whose immune systems are weak, letting down…
For the first time in more than two years, people are coming face-to-face. And while it’s nice to see smiles again, the risk of COVID-19 infection is still very real. If no one else is wearing a mask at the grocery store or on an airplane, is there any benefit to wearing one yourself? Yes,…
If you’re pregnant, you have a lot to do to stay healthy for you and your unborn baby—take a daily prenatal vitamin, eat a healthy diet and attend routine checkups, to name a few. It’s also critical to stay up to date on your vaccinations, since being pregnant puts you at a higher risk of…
