Start by assessing your child, not only the thermometer When your child has a fever, pause and look at the whole clinical picture. A fever is commonly defined as a temperature of 100.4°F or 38°C or higher, but the child’s…

Choose the right thermometer and route The first step is matching the thermometer method to the child’s age and the clinical situation. For infants and toddlers, rectal temperature is considered the most accurate estimate of core body temperature, particularly in…

Understanding fever: the number is only part of the story Fever is usually defined as a temperature of 100.4°F or 38°C or higher, depending on the measurement site and clinical context. In children, fever most often reflects an immune response…

Understanding concern without panic Children have wide normal variation in appetite, sleep, temperament, growth velocity, and developmental timing. A toddler may eat very little for a day, a school-age child may complain of stomach pain before a stressful event, and…

A healthy child shows steady growth and functional energy One of the most reassuring signs of child health is not a single height or weight number, but a consistent growth pattern over time. Pediatric clinicians follow growth curves because a…

What makes child mental health a concern Child mental health is not only the absence of a psychiatric disorder. It includes emotional regulation, relationships, learning, sleep, appetite, behavior, and the ability to participate in family, school, and community life. A…

Immune development begins before birth The immune system starts forming very early in gestation. Immune cell development has been described as beginning by about four weeks of pregnancy, long before birth. Hematopoietic stem cells give rise to multiple immune lineages,…

What emotional sensitivity means in preteens Emotional sensitivity in preteens refers to a tendency to notice, feel, and respond to emotional cues intensely. A sensitive preteen may cry after a correction, ruminate about a friend’s tone of voice, become overwhelmed…

Depression in children can be easy to miss Children and adolescents do not always describe depression as “sadness.” Some say they feel empty, bored, numb, angry, guilty, tired, or “not like myself.” Younger children may show distress through stomachaches, headaches,…

Why childhood depression can be hard to recognize Childhood depression is a mood disorder, but in children the outward signs may be subtle, mixed with behavior changes, or mistaken for laziness, defiance, puberty, stress, or a difficult temperament. Children may…