Protecting your skin from sun damage

Dr. Patt addresses the notion of a "base tan" and offers tips for protecting your skin.

Growing pains or something more?

How serious is it when a child complains of leg pain? Dr. Patt details the difference between growing pains and something more serious.

Concerns about Tylenol and asthma

Dr. Patt addresses concerns about a possible link between acetaminophen and asthma.

Guidelines for staying home from school

When should you keep your sick child home from school and when is it okay to send her on? Dr. Patt gives her expert advice.

Treating a fever with Advil and Tylenol

Dr. Patt advises on the best way to treat a child's fever using acetaminophen and ibuprofen.

Children and snoring issues

Is your child's snoring a normal issue or could it signify something more serious? Hear from pediatrician Rhonda Patt to find out when you should be concerned.

Don't let cold prevent vaccinations

Q. We have a 7-month-old daughter. I have postponed her vaccines several times because of colds. She is now several months behind on her vaccines. Is it safe for her to receive vaccines when she has a cold or does she need to be completely well when we bring her to a check-up? On average, young children will have six to eight colds per year, largely between October and March. Parents often believe that a minor illness such as a cold prevents receiving vaccines; however, this is not the case....

Dogs aren't hypoallergenic, but may be OK as pet anyway

When to call the doctor for flu

RSV causes lung and airway infections

Flu vaccine and pregnancy

Should the family eat organic food?

Can etherium gold help with ADHD?

What to consider before hiring a newborn care specialist

Q. My husband and I are expecting our first child this fall. We do not have family nearby and are planning to hire a baby nurse or post-partum doula to help us during the first few weeks. Is there anything specific we should be looking for when hiring? What is the difference between a post-partum doula and a baby nurse? A. The joys associated with becoming new parents are boundless; however, the first few weeks of a baby’s life are also full of challenges. First time parents, espec...

Can I stop teeth grinding for my four-year old?

Our 4-year old grinds his teeth at night. Should we be concerned? Is there anything we can do to prevent it? Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a common childhood problem. Three out of 10 children grind or clench their teeth at night. Usually the cause is unknown. Stress, malocclusion (misalignment of teeth) and pain (from tooth eruption or ear aches) may play a role. Bruxism usually resolves on its own without any permanent harm. In some cases, however, it can result in tooth sensitivity o...

Insect repellents and children: What's the buzz?

Q. Are insect repellents safe for children? Are certain types safer than others? Proper use of insect repellent is an important part of summer safety. DEET is one of the most common active ingredients in insect repellents. It has been used for more than 40 years and has a high safety profile. The concentration of DEET varies between products and typically ranges from 10 percent to 30 percent. Using a higher concentration of DEET does not increase its efficacy, however it does make it effe...

Play safe in the heat

I know it’s important for children to play outside every day, but is it safe to play outside in extreme temperatures? How do I know when it is too hot for outdoor play? Physical activity is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. As temperatures climb toward 100 degrees, the risk of heat-related illness increases, creating an obstacle to outdoor play. According to the N.C. Division of Public Health, there were 270 emergency room visits due to heat-related illness between M...

Preventing poison ivy

Tis the season! How to prevent and treat this allergic reaction.

ADHD and diet

Can you control the symptoms of ADHD with diet? A pediatrician weights in.

How to treat Molluscum contagiosum

Molluscum is a common skin virus that affects children between one and 10 and spreads by direct contact.

How I made peace with my bathing suit

You know it’s coming. It starts around April – jackets turn into long-sleeve shirts, pants turn into shorts, clogs into sandals, and suddenly, it’s almost time for it: The Bathing Suit. If I were smart, the second I stopped wearing a jacket, I would start hitting the gym. If I were really smart, I would start wearing a bathing suit under my clothes every day just to know what it’s going to feel like. But the ties would hang out. I remember when I would go with my Mom to ...

When is a cold serious?

Q. Since October, our 2 year-old daughter has had a constant runny nose. We have been to the pediatrician twice, and she was treated each time with antibiotics for a sinus infection. She was symptom-free for about two days after finishing the antibiotics each time, but then the runny nose started again. How do I know when a runny nose is not just a cold?

My 10-year old still wets the bed

Q. My 10-year-old daughter still wets the bed at night. Should I be concerned? What can we do to help her? She has become very self-conscious. Most children develop daytime bladder control between 2 to 4 years old; however, staying dry at night often occurs much later.

Nosebleeds: How to treat them

Q. Every winter, our son seems to have a lot of nosebleeds. Do you have any suggestions for preventing nosebleeds? Also, what is the best way to manage his nosebleeds when he gets them? Nosebleeds in children are common, and the incidence of nosebleeds goes up during the winter months. There are several causes, including allergies, sinusitis, dry air and trauma such as nose-picking.

Predicting a child's height

Q. I have heard you can predict a child’s final adult height by doubling his height at age 2. Is this true? Several factors play a role in determining a child’s final adult height, including genetics, gender, health and nutrition. At each check-up, a child’s measurements are plotted on a growth chart to determine his percentiles for height and weight.

Giving up the nap

Q. My husband and I are both working parents. On the days we work, our 3- year-old daughter will nap for 2 hours at daycare. But then she’s not sleepy in the evenings and will stay awake until 10 p.m. She wakes up at 7:30 a.m. How much sleep does a 3 year-old need? Does she still need a nap? The average 3-year-old child requires 11-13 hours of sleep per day.

Is the HPV vaccine safe?

Q. My 13-year old daughter was offered the HPV vaccine last year, but I’m concerned about its safety and question whether she should have the vaccine at such a young age. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. There are 6 million new cases of HPV per year. Of these cases, 75 percent occur in people between the ages of 15-24.

Are food allergies really on the rise?

Q. I am a kindergarten teacher, and I’ve noticed that more and more children in my class have food allergies. Are food allergies more common than they used to be? If so, why?

Are twins identical or fraternal?

Q. I just found out I’m pregnant with twins. Is there any way to know if they are identical twins? If so, how?

Is that a bed bug bite?

Q. My family just returned from a trip to the beach. On the last morning of our vacation, our 3 year old awoke with several bug bites on her legs. How do I know if it was bed bugs? I am now worried about whether we have brought bed bugs home with us.

Similac worries

Q. I feed my 4-week-old son Similac Advance formula. He has been very fussy and gassy. Could this be related to the recent Similac recall?

When is a child too sick for school?

Q. When should I keep my kids home from school due to illness? If I keep them home for every sniffle and sore throat, their academics will suffer. On the other hand, I don’t want my kids spreading germs.

Ready for flu season?

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Getting rid of the pacifier

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Dental care for kids

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Staying healthy in college

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My son says he can't taste his food

My son complains he cannot taste his food sometimes.   He will complain of the problem for a few days in a row and then his sense of taste returns.   Should I be concerned?   Is there anything we can do to fix the problem?   To sort this out, it will be important to do a little more investigating.   In the majority of cases, a perceived taste issue is really caused by a problem with the sense of smell.   Taste and smell are intimately related. &n...

Coping with motion sickness

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Use caution when teens mow the lawn

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Swimmer's Ear 101

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Medical websites to rely on

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Is storing cord blood worth it?

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Is it safe for my child to be a vegetarian?

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Poison ivy: the scourge of summer

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In case of sunburn ...

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Swimming pool safety

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Is snoring in young child a problem?

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Stay safe from ticks

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What you need to know about medicine recall

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Is son's behavior ADHD?

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Mother worried about baby's misshapen head

Does anti-bacterial soap endanger kids?

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Allergies 101

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Is grandson's gas a problem?

Q: My 5-year old grandson has a lot of smelly gas.

Could leg pains be something serious?

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Recovery from RSV condition can be slow

Q: My granddaughter was diagnosed with something called RSV.

What is the Whooping Cough?

I have heard that someone at my daughter’s school has whooping cough.  What is the whooping cough?  How would I know if my child has it?  What can be done to prevent it?   The “whooping cough” is a respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis.  When a person becomes infected with pertussis, he or she will experience two phases of illness.  The first phase of the illness has symptoms that are indistinguish...

Treating Teenage Acne

My teenage daughter is beginning to have occasional pimples.   I do not feel like that it is severe enough to see a dermatologist.   What is the best over-the-counter treatment for her mild acne?   There are 3 components of acne: increased oil production, bacteria, and keratin plugs.   In order to treat acne, all three of these areas must be targeted.   She should wash her face with a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil.   Then, apply...

Starting Solid Food

  I know a young mother who's been told that babies should get no solids until they're six months old.

When is it okay to go out with a new baby?

We just had our first baby.  How old does she need to be to go out of the house? 

What to do if your child has head lice....

Head lice infestations are exceedingly common, affecting 6-12 million children in the United States per year.  Having a child with head lice creates a lot of anxiety for parents; however, it is neither a health hazard nor a sign of poor hygiene.    Head lice are diagnosed by finding live lice in the hair or nits (lice eggs) on the hair shaft near the scalp.  Live lice are difficult to find because they are fast movers.  To inspect you child’s hair,...

Is Your Preschooler Watching MoreTelevision Than You Think?

According to a recent study published in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics, many preschoolers may be watching more television than parents think.  In the study, researchers at the University of Washington found that preschoolers are watching television in 70% of home-based daycares and 36% of center-based programs.  When looking at the programs that use television, the children watch between 2-3 hours per day at home-based daycares while center-ba...

Family Travel Tips

‘Tis the season for travel…  Here are a few of my favorite holiday travel tips for families.

H1N1 Wrap-Up

I wanted to provide an H1N1 "wrap-up" to address the great questions that have accumulated on the blog.  After this, I promise to move on to a fresh subject.

H1N1 Flu Update

As most parents in Charlotte have already noticed, H1N1 infections are on the rise in our community.  According to the CDC, the number of physician visits for flu-like illnesses are higher...

H1N1: What parents need to know

The H1N1 vaccine is recommended for persons ages 6 months to 24 years of age, pregnant women, healthcare workers, household contacts of children below the age of 6 months, adults over age 65, and other adults who have certain medical conditions.  The first time that a...