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Flu vs. COVID-19: How to Tell If Your Child Is Sick and What to Do By John R. Schreiber, MD, MPH: This article was originally published in September 2024. Updated in February 2025. With flu season here, Connecticut Children’s infectious disease pediatrician John R. Schreiber, MD, MPH, fields an important question: is it the flu or COVID-19?

How to Talk to Kids About Their Own Cancer Diagnosis By Kelly Muccino: When it comes to teaching children about their own cancer diagnosis, a step-by-step approach can be helpful. Talk to your child about each step of the treatment process as it’s happening. Connecticut Children’s Child Life team explains…

Hope Blooms: The Foxglove Plant's Impact on Pediatric Brain Tumors By Michael Isakoff, MD: Our research capabilities are growing constantly, breakthroughs are happening more frequently, and we are able to not only save more and more children, but also to help them thrive as cancer survivors. We believe hope may be on the horizon for medulloblastoma, a common pediatric

Urgent Care Is Here! After-Hours Care From the Pediatric Experts You Trust Here’s a familiar scene: Your pediatrician’s office just closed for the day when you discover your child has a mysterious rash, twisted ankle, fever or another health surprise. This doesn’t quite call for a trip to the hospital, but your child needs care. What do you do? Now, you

What to Do With Kids This Winter: Outdoor Activities and Cold Weather Tips During COVID-19 By Stacy Chandna, MS, CIP: During the COVID-19 pandemic, families have been forced to find creative ways to keep kids active while still avoiding high-risk activities. With some youth sports canceled, the colder, winter months are pushing that creativity to new lengths. Stacy Chandna, co-director of Kohl’s

When Resources Are Connected, Families Feel the Difference Last week, North Hartford Ascend hosted its Summer Programs Fair, “Plan Your Summer, Secure Your Spot!” Families from across North Hartford gathered to explore local summer programs, ask questions, and begin applications before spots fill up. The event focused on summer planning

Mycoplasma Pneumoniae in Kids: What to Know About this Bacteria Mycoplasma is on the rise right now in Connecticut, crowding emergency rooms, and parents have questions. Connecticut Children's has the answers.

Pfizer’s COVID-19 Vaccine Is Now Authorized for Ages 12 and Up. Here’s What Parents Need to Know By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: This post was last updated November 4, 2021. In June 2021, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12 to 15. Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, answers common questions about

Putting the Pieces Together: Morgan’s Story One of the scariest parts of any health journey is the beginning: All you have are questions, and all you want are answers. Jennefer Aquavia and Paul Willis know that feeling. This past summer, their 10-year-old daughter, Morgan, starting having seizures – but not like any

Can Math Teach Us to Strengthen Systems to Help Children and Families? By Scott Orsey: By: Scott Orsey Change is hard, especially where structure creates imbalance in perspectives, power and impact. When years of good intentions yield underwhelming results for children and families, it is time to question the approach. In this four-part blog series, Scott Orsey

Ankle Sprains: A Common Challenge for Basketball Players Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries in basketball athletes of all ages. And all too often, many players have to sit most of the season out depending on how severe the injury. This is a situation no athlete and their parents, understandably, want to face. >Related

Tips for Better Sleep for Mental Health in a Challenging World By Alyssa Nycz, MD: We all know sleep is a necessary part of life, especially at a younger age. Kids need sleep for healthy growth, development, behavior and overall success in society. But, did you know? Children 6 to 12 years old need between nine and twelve hours of sleep a day— naps and

Is Your Child Online? Follow 6 Steps for Social Media Safety By Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA: Children turn to social media to stay connected with friends – through messaging and video chats, sharing photos and videos, and playing video games. For many, this is happening at a younger age than their parents originally planned. That can be okay, since it’s important for

Grow Competitive: Jordan’s Story For eight years, every time Jordan DeMatteo stepped onto the soccer field or basketball court, she didn’t just brace herself for competition. She braced for pain. At any moment, her right kneecap could shift out of alignment, an issue she’d dealt with since age 8. It was