Children's Health News & Features
- Parents, Be Warned About Button Batteries: Doctor
When a doctor in the Netherlands tweeted this stark X-ray shot of a “button” or “disk” battery lodged in a child’s esophagus, people took notice. Her post has been retweeted more than 8,000 times since early January.
- Viral X-Ray Photo Shows Dangers of Eating Grapes for Kids
An Australian blogger posted a photo on Facebook that apparently shows an X-ray of a grape lodged in a child's airway.
- Help Your Child Use a Nebulizer
If your child has asthma, their doctor may recommend a device called a nebulizer. Learn how the nebulizer works, and get tips and tricks from a parent and experts.
- Does Your Kid Reach for Cookies or Fruit First?
For school-age kids, maintaining a healthy weight is as important as earning good grades -- maybe more so.
- Is Your Kid Sick or Just Faking It?
Many kids pretend to be ill to skip school, but some symptoms you just can’t hide. We tell you how to know if your kid is sick or faking it.
- Strength Training Isn't Just for Adults
Kids can get started with light weights early for stronger muscles, bones, and bodies.
- Help Your Child Heal a Broken Bone
Get tips on how to take care of your child after he breaks a bone, including when to apply ice, what to do about itchy skin under a cast, and how to ease pain.
- Does My Child Need Surgery for a Broken Bone?
Learn some of the reasons why your child's doctor may suggest an operation to help heal his broken bone.
- 7 Serious Symptoms in Babies and Toddlers
Does your baby or toddler have a rash, a fever, or breathing problems? Learn when she should be seen by a doctor.
- How to Treat Your Baby’s Stuffy Nose
Learn some safe and effective strategies for clearing up your little one’s congestion. Know the signs when a stuffy nose may require a doctor’s care, too.
- Have a Healthy Vacation
Keep your kids infection-free at busy tourist destinations.
- What Is 'Dry Drowning'?
How to recognize the warning signs of "dry drowning" and "secondary drowning," which can happen hours after your child has left the pool.
- Living With a Severe Digestive Disorder
Tips to help parents of kids with digestive disorders get through the day. How to manage school, care for other siblings, work out transportation issues, arrange for ongoing care, monitor nutrition, and more.
- Watching Your Child’s Nutrition and Growth
When your child has a digestive disorder, it can be hard to make sure he's getting good nutrition. Get details on how much you kid should eat, whether or not he needs supplements, how to handle setbacks.
- Managing a Severe Food Allergy
How to avoid allergens, find hidden triggers, and give your child proper nutrition.
- 9 Childhood Illnesses: Get the Facts
The facts on 9 childhood illnesses you may not know about: RSV, fifth disease, croup, scarlet fever, impetigo, Kawasaki disease, Reye's syndrome, whooping cough, and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
- 5 Ways to Help Your Child With Hearing Loss
Hearing loss poses an extra challenge for kids. But it doesn't have to hold them back. You can help. Here’s how.
- Taking Care of Your Child's Fever
All kids get fevers. Learn how and when to treat them and when to go to your doctor for help.
- October Is Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Learn the basics about this genetic condition -- and some of its biggest advocates for continued education and research.
- X-Rays, Scans, Radiation, and Kids
WebMD reports on radiation from X-rays and CT scans, and when children might not need these tests.
- How to Take Care of Your Kid if They've Got the Flu
Here's how to make your child more comfortable when sick with the flu.
- The Truth About Sensory Processing Disorder
Is SPD a real childhood crisis or just the latest trend in diagnoses?
- How to Teach Your Child Healthy Digestive Habits
Healthy digestive habits to teach your child every day.
- 5 Signs Your Child’s Digestive Health Needs Help
Signs that your child should see a digestive health specialist.
- A Nutritionist Speaks: How to Promote Your Child’s Digestive Health
Tips from a nutrition expert on how to promote good digestion for kids.
- Germs in the School Room
10 tips for parents to help their children avoid cold germs at school.
- What Can Parents Do About Antibiotic Overuse?
Learning which illnesses benefit from antibiotics (and which don't) is just the first step, our expert says.
- Is Poinsettia Really Poisonous?
Every holiday, parents worry about their little ones eating poinsettia leaves. But eating this plant isn't as bad as you might think.
- Q&A With Royal Pains' Mark Feuerstein
Actor Mark Feuerstein tells us about his TV doctor role, the real doctors who saved his daughter's life, and his parenting philosophy.
- Can Your Child's Sleep Habits Make Him Gain Weight?
New research shows that a lack of sleep in childhood can contribute to obesity later on.
- 5 Serious Symptoms in Children to Never Ignore
Wondering if your child’s condition is serious or not? WebMD discusses the possible signs of a serious health problem and what to do in case of a health emergency.
- Playtime for Children With Physical Disabilities
Help your child with physical disabilities learn and thrive through playtime.
- When Your Child Has Allergies
How to avoid common triggers around an allergic child.
- Taking Care of Baby's Sensitive Skin
Worried about chemicals like phthalates and parabens in your baby shampoos, soaps, and lotions? See what the experts say.
- Keeping Your House Clean Without Harsh Chemicals
Tips on keeping your house germ-free.
- Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Ozone, and Children's Eyes
Avoiding irritating fumes that can make eyes red and watery.
- What's In Your Personal Care Products?
Many personal care products contain controversial chemicals. What do experts say about making healthy choices?
- Whooping Cough: What You Need to Know
WebMD asks CDC expert Tom Clark about whooping cough and its causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
- Obesity and Early Puberty: What's the Risk?
Can obesity in children as young as 2 or 3 raise the risk of early puberty? See what the experts think.
- Want to Help Feed America's Hungry Children?
Want to help feed America's hungry children? Here's how to donate time, money, and food to make sure kids get the nourishment they need.
- Scarlett Johansson Feeds Hungry Children
2009 WebMD Health Hero Scarlett Johansson is on a mission to feed hungry kids for a very personal reason. She used to be one of them.
- The Truth About Stomach Flu
Stomach flu isn’t really a ‘flu.’ It’s gastroenteritis and can be caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite. Learn more about what to expect when your child or todler has the stomach flu.
- Is It Really Food Poisoning?
Your upset stomach could be caused by a food intolerance or irritation -- your GI tract and creme brulee simply don't get along.
- Children and Heart Disease: What's Wrong With This Picture?
As more children become obese, pediatric heart disease is becoming more common.
- Summer Safety: Protecting Your Family from Environmental Health Risks
WebMD provides information about common toxins in swimming pools and at the beach and how you can avoid them.
- The Dangers of Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
A guide to whooping cough, or pertussis: its symptoms, danger signs, prevention, and treatment.
- Swine Flu Prevention: Tips for Parents
WebMD talks to pediatricians for answers to common questions parents have about the H1N1 swine flu.
- Actor Anthony Edwards Builds a Hospital
Actor Anthony Edwards is helping to build a children’s hospital in Kenya.
- How Are the Quaid Twins Doing?
With more recent horrifying headlines about heparin drug errors harming children—and even, tragically taking the lives of two babies at a Texas hospital—WebMD recently sat down with Dennis and Kimberly Quaid.
- What to Do When Your Child Has Lice
Expert tips on getting rid of head lice.