Earaches are very common in early childhood. By age three, two-thirds of children have had an ear infection, and half of this group get them repeatedly. In infants and preschoolers, the middle ear, which...

A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating blood around the body. This is not the same as a heart attack, we’ve discussed the difference in a previous first aid blog post....

Babies, toddlers and preschoolers are highly susceptible to colds. On average, a child may have three to eight colds a year. For unknown reasons, some children are more prone to getting colds than others....

A first aid book is a must-have for any family. Even if you’ve attended a first aid class, it’s impossible to remember everything. Therefore, having an up-to-date first aid book handy is vital.  When...

An inflammation of the bronchioles—small, thin-walled airways leading from the bronchi (which run from the windpipe to the lungs) to the alveoli, the air sacs of the lungs—is known as bronchiolitis. The infection causes...

Between five and ten percent of children in the United States suffer from asthma, a respiratory disorder that causes episodes of wheezing, coughing and breathlessness. In most cases, the symptoms are mild, but some...

Dermatitis, or eczema, is a broad term used to describe dry, itchy inflammation of the skin occurring most commonly among children under the age of two. The two primary types of eczema are atopic...

Also known as heat rash and miliaria, prickly heat is a common problem among children who are still in diapers. Prickly heat is a skin irritation resulting from too much heat and moisture. It...

A rash typically manifests itself as red, inflamed and often itchy skin. There may be Rashescrusty scales, pimples, hives or wheals. It is important for a parent to distinguish between the different categories of...

Disturbances in the brain’s electrical activity cause involuntary muscle spasms and jerky movements known as seizures or convulsions. Seizures are especially common in young children, often occurring during a high fever. Other common causes...

Food poisoning, a type of gastroenteritis (digestive tract inflammation) caused by eating contaminated food, results in severe abdominal cramps, repeated vomiting, diarrhea and muscle weakness. These symptoms develop suddenly between three and 24 hours...

Meningitis refers to the infection of the meninges, the layered membranes that support and protect the brain and spinal cord. It most commonly strikes infants and children between the ages of one month and five...

The rash caused by contact with the poison ivy, oak and sumac plants is perhaps the most common form of allergic contact dermatitis. Almost everyone whose skin brushes up against these plants may experience...

When the body fails to replenish the water lost each day in urine, sweat, and feces, dehydration occurs. Although dehydration can result from inadequate intake of water, it is more commonly caused by abnormal...