People of all ages get sick with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID-19, but dealing with these diseases can be especially trying for parents of young children. Fortunately, in most cases these viruses cause mild illness that can be treated at home by managing fever and pain and drinking lots of clear fluids. In [...]
On a beautiful Saturday morning recently, more than 100 Arizona foster children began their new lives when they were adopted by loving families. A team from the ADHS Bureau of Vital Records was there to help. Maricopa County Superior Court’s National Adoption Day was part of a nationwide event held each year to raise awareness [...]
This time of the year, many adults and children catch the common cold. Sometimes, what looks like a cold can actually be RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Many people recover quickly from RSV in a week or two, but it can be potentially more serious for others such as infants and elderly individuals. Arizona is [...]
For most children, trick-or-treating is a fun way to dress in costumes and collect their favorite candy. But for children with food allergies, this weekend's festivities can present a tempting danger. The Teal Pumpkin Project is a simple way to make trick-or-treating safer and more inclusive for the one in 13 children living with food [...]
You may have heard about adverse childhood experiences, potentially traumatic events that could have lifelong health consequences. But there is increasing attention focused on positive childhood experiences that help children build resilience and recover from significant adversity or trauma. Researchers have noticed that children with resilience have better health outcomes and develop the ability to plan [...]
Children ages 5 and older may now receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters targeting Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 as well as the original coronavirus. This is important news for parents of kids in this age group who are vaccinated, as this bivalent booster includes protection against the highly transmissible and immune-evading variants that dominate [...]
I’m happy to hear that so many parents are planning to vaccinate their children younger than 5 years old against COVID-19. Among other age groups, vaccines have been safe and highly effective at preventing severe illness. Now COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for everyone starting at 6 months of age. For parents of those younger than [...]
This is an exciting week for me and many other parents of young children. Following the Food and Drug Administration’s authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for children at least 6 months old, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending vaccination for all children. Nearly 400,000 Arizona children in this age group are now [...]
As a public health professional and mother of young children, I am happy to see the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) begin formal consideration of COVID-19 vaccination for children as young as 6 months. The key to this federal review is determining if the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh any potential adverse effects. The FDA [...]
Arizona experienced the tragic deaths of 22 children due to drowning in 2020, according to the Arizona Child Fatality Review Program. Nearly all of them were children ages 1 to 4. Every one of those drowning deaths was preventable. To promote water safety, ADHS joins organizations around the country urging adults to help reduce drownings [...]
