Child Health

Choose a topic to learn more.

• Articles about Child Health - click here.

• Downloadable Medical Information Forms - click here.

• Resource Guides & Parent Information - click here.

• Information on Birth Defects - click here.

• Information on Premature Births - click here.

Featured Website

Bridge Communications - Publisher of The Healthy Newsletters; "Our goal is that children & teens will receive the education & support they need to grow up healthy, safe, and informed about issues that affect them."

Scientists Report Headway With Experimental Strep Vaccine - Scientists say they are making headway in developing a vaccine against a common strep germ, the cause of millions of sore throats as well as a deadly but uncommon flesh-eating disease.

Doctors Urge Testing to Catch Lazy Eye in Babies - Lazy eye is one of the most serious yet correctable eye disorders in babies: Catch it early, from age 6 months through preschool, and it's easily corrected -- but wait too long and one eye can go virtually blind.

Symptoms of Sleep Apnea in Children - Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common problem in children, and is increasing being recognized as a cause of daytime attentional and behavioral problems. Unlike adults with sleep apnea, who are often overweight and frequently wake up at night, children with OSA are more difficult to recognize and diagnosis.

A Pain in the Ear: Ear Infections in Young Children - Babies and toddlers get colds all the time. The worst symptoms of an average cold last just a few days and then taper off. But what if your child begins tugging at his ear, has trouble sleeping and seems more irritable than usual? Chances are your child has developed an ear infection.

Baby teeth need tender, loving care - Dentists want to see kids within 6 months of first tooth

Medical & Developmental History Form (PDF; size=6k) - Simply print and fill out this form so that when you arrive at a doctor's office you won't leave anything important out.  Includes places to write in important information on medications, allergies, developmental history, etc.

Emergency Information Form for Children with Special Needs - click here (pdf size=19kb)

Consent Form for Medical Care/Surgical Care/Emergency Treatment and Child’s Medical Information - click here (pdf size=113kb)

Featured Website: Covering Kids & Families - Covering Kids & Families works to reduce the number of uninsured children and adults who are eligible for public health care coverage programs but not enrolled. To find low-cost and free health care for children call 1-877-KIDS-NOW or visit http://coveringkidsandfamilies.org.

For Parents of Preemies: Commonly Asked Questions - click here.

 
My Sick Newborn (child w/abnormalities): Commonly Asked Questions - click here.

MICHIGAN Family Support Subsidy (FSS) Pamphlet & Information (PDF)
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/brochure00(english)_64038_7.pdf
If you have a child who is labeled (educationally) as AI, SXI, or SMI (see brochure for definitions) you may qualify for a subsidy of $222.11 per month. Comes in the form of a check made out to the parent/guardian each month. Taxable income MUST fall below $60,000 per year. In cases in which the child is not receiving special education services or if it is not known if the child is receiving special education services, parents may contact the director of special education at their local or intermediate school district. They can also call Early On/Project Find at 1-800-252-0052 to be connected with their local ISD, Early On Coordinator, or Project Find Coordinator. For information on Early On, visit http://www.earlychildhoodmichigan.org. For information on Project Find, visit http://www.projectfindmichigan.org. Don't want to download the brochure? Here's another way to get info: CMHSPs (Michigan’s Community Mental Health Services Programs) can provide additional information on the Family Support Subsidy Program. Questions or requests for applications should be directed to your local CMHSP. If you are unable to find the name of the contact person and telephone number at your CMHSP, call the Michigan Department of Community Health Family Support Subsidy Program office in Lansing at 517-335-9480. The TTY number is 517-373-3573.

Michigan Genetics Resource Center - Some birth defects can be prevented. For example, spina bifida is a neural tube defect caused by incomplete development of the spinal cord. Neural tube defects can be prevented by taking enough folic acid before and during the first month of pregnancy. For more information about ways to prevent certain birth defects click here (PDF) to view the Preventing Birth Defects Brochure. If you would like to order a copy of this pamphlet click here.

Birth Defects Quick Reference and Fact Sheet - About 150,000 babies are born each year with birth defects. The parents of one out of every 28 babies receive the frightening news that their baby has a birth defect. A birth defect is an abnormality of structure, function or metabolism (body chemistry) present at birth that results in physical or mental disability, or is fatal. Several thousand different birth defects have been identified. Birth defects are the leading cause of death in the first year of life.
 

Having A Healthy Pregnancy: ABC's...Pregnancy Tips (A-Z) - Not all birth defects can be prevented, but a woman can take some actions that increase her chance of having a healthy baby.  Many birth defects happen very early in pregnancy, sometimes before a woman even knows she is pregnant.  Remember that about half of all pregnancies are unplanned.
 

March of Dimes Resource Center

Phone: 1-888-663-4637

Email: askus@marchofdimes.com

Web: www.modimes.org or www.marchofdimes.com

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Phone: 1-888-232-6789

Web: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/bd/default.htm

Michigan Teratogen Information Service

Phone: 1-877-53-MITIS

Call if you have questions about medications or other exposures during pregnancy.

Michigan's Genetics Resource Center

Responding to the needs of Michigan residents, Michigan Genetic Connection is a central source of information on genetic health care and related topics.  Visit our website or call toll free to find the information and services that you're looking for.

Phone: 1-866-852-1247

Web: www.MiGeneticsConnection.org

Cleft Palate Foundation
A Voluntary health organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals affected by facial birth defects and their families through education, research support, and facilitation of family-centered care.

Phone: 800-24-CLEFT
Web: www.cleftline.org
Email: cleftline@aol.com

Fragile X Research Foundation
Learn more about Fragile X syndrome and the Fragile X Research Foundation which supports research to find a treatment and a cure for Fragile X.

National Birth Defects Prevention Network 
The mission of the National Birth Defects Prevention Network is to establish and maintain a national network of state and population-based programs for birth defects surveillance and research to assess the impact of birth defects upon children, families, and health care; to identify factors that can be used to develop primary prevention strategies; and to assist families and their providers in secondary disabilities prevention.

Estudio Colaborativo Latino Americano de Malformações Congênitas

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA has many responsibilities including monitoring the safety and effectiveness of prescription and over-the-counter drugs that are available in the United States. 

March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
The March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects and infant mortality through programs, research, community services, education and advocacy.

National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition
The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) works to raise public awareness of the basic components of prenatal care--early care, good nutrition, avoidance of drugs including alcohol and tobacco, and promotion of breastfeeding.

Organization of Teratology Information Services (OTIS)
The services that belong to OTIS provide information about exposures during pregnancy and risk assessment to health care professionals and to the public.  There are services located in most states, and a national referral number to answer questions from geographic regions that are not currently covered by a service.

Spina Bifida Association of America
The mission of the Spina Bifida Association of America is to promote the prevention of spina bifida and to enhance the lives of all affected individuals.

Teratology Society
The Teratology Society is a scientific organization whose members study the causes and biological processes leading to abnormal development and birth defects.

Teratology Society - Just for Students
The Teratology Society has developed this section for high school and college students to learn more about teratology. 

Study Finds Smallest Preemies Benefit From Breast Milk - The tiniest premature infants fed with breast milk in the hospital did better on tests of mental development later in life than did others fed only formula, a new study has found. [Free login/registration required.]
 

ADHD 'Linked to Premature Birth' - Danish researchers found babies born at between 34 and 36 weeks were 70% more likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Those born at less than 34 weeks were three times more likely to have ADHD. The study of 30,000 children in the Archives of Diseases in Childhood also found an increased incidence of ADHD in children with a low birth weight.

Premature Birth
Mayo Clinic
 

Most babies are born about 40 weeks after the first day of their mother's last menstrual period. But about 10 percent of babies arrive sooner. A baby born more than 3 weeks before its due date is considered premature.
 
Premature babies have less time to fully develop and build strength in the womb. As a result they're often at increased risk of medical and developmental problems. One of the biggest problems facing premature infants is underdeveloped lungs. If your baby is born early and has trouble breathing, he or she may need help from a ventilator.
 
Your doctor will likely try to delay your baby's birth if you go into labor earlier than around 34 weeks (pre-term labor) into your pregnancy. Even a few extra days can give your baby's lungs a chance to become more mature. But sometimes, in spite of every effort, your baby may be born early.
 
Fortunately, the outlook for premature infants has improved dramatically in recent years. Great advances have been made both in delaying labor and in caring for premature infants, and even babies born as early as 25 weeks now have a good chance of surviving.
 

More Articles Related to Premature Babies

Time May Lessen Brain Woes in Very Small Premature Babies

Hormone Can Help Stop Premature Births - In a groundbreaking study, researchers said Thursday the hormone progesterone can help prevent premature births in a surprisingly high number of high-risk pregnancies.