Teen Topics

38 Percent of Kids Have Received the Only Vaccine that Can Prevent Cancer

If you could protect your child from getting cancer, we know you’d want to do whatever you could, right? Sadly, the majority of kids have not received the only vaccine proven to protect against several types of cancer. As pediatricians, we have to believe that a lack of education has caused parents to unknowingly prevent […]

Understanding the Warning Signs: When to Get Help for Your Child’s Suicidal Thoughts

It is normal for kids and adults to have feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression. But how do you know when these feelings require you to step in? How do you know if your child is suicidal? And what do you do if your child is having suicidal thoughts? This blog addresses the most common […]

Eating Disorders Among Young Males Increased by over 400 Percent

Eating disorders among young males have become a growing concern in recent years. A recent study published by JAMA Network Open found that hospitalizations due to eating disorders among young males increased 416 percent between April 2002 and the close of March 2020. In addition, hospitalizations among males aged 12 to 14 increased 196 percent […]

Bullying Doesn’t Just Impact the Victim

Understanding the Lasting Impact of Bullying and Putting an End to It It’s bullying prevention month, so let’s talk about it. Bullying doesn’t always appear as it does in the movies. There isn’t always an aggressor beating up a kid on the playground. Today’s bullies can hide behind a screen and torment their victims. The […]

Tips for Helping Teens Practice Self-Care to Improve Mental Health and Well-being

The phrase “self-care” has gained popularity as we realize stress and anxiety’s profound impact on our bodies. According to Wikipedia, self-care is the process of establishing behaviors that ensure a holistic wellbeing to promote health and manage illness when it occurs. Self-care is critical for helping attain balance and wellness in one’s life. Teenagers are […]

The Skinny on Pediatric Obesity

Every visit to the pediatrician results in a check of some critical factors for health – specifically your child’s weight and height. This information is checked to monitor their growth and as a glimpse into their overall health. Pediatric obesity is a significant problem in North Carolina – a problem that we are addressing head-on […]

A Pediatrician’s Perspective on How to Keep Your Child Safe

Today posted an article last month citing the seven things ER doctors never let their kids do. As pediatric providers, it is our responsibility to help keep children safe. So it is the perfect time to chime in on some things parents should avoid letting their kids do to help keep them safe. Here are […]

The Importance of Pediatric Wellness Exams

Pediatric wellness exams are essential to maintaining children’s health and well-being. These exams are typically conducted annually and are designed to assess a child’s growth, development, and overall health. One of the most important reasons to prioritize pediatric wellness exams is that they provide an opportunity for early detection and prevention of health problems. During […]

Pediatric Mental Health Crisis in America

In 2021, amid the chaos of the pandemic, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the Children’s Hospital Association declared a national emergency. The cause for the emergency: pediatric mental health. It is widely known that mental health disorders are a growing issue in America, especially among our youth. The mental health needs […]

Childhood Obesity is a Growing Problem in North Carolina

There is a growing plague impacting children across the country. And one of the most prevalent places it can be found is in North Carolina. Childhood obesity is a significant problem in the US. The stigmas and prejudices placed on children with obesity are only a part of the problem. The bigger concern is the […]

Your Child Wants a Cell Phone, But Are They Ready?

“But mom, I am the only person I know that doesn’t have one.” Oh, kids can be very good at throwing guilt around. But before giving in, consider if your child is ready to have a cell phone. This blog will discuss cell phones for tweens and teens and how to determine if your child […]

How Your Child’s Sugar Cravings Are Making Them Sick

Does your child have a sweet tooth? Do their sugar cravings create issues with mealtime? If you’re trying to instill good health habits in them by encouraging them to play sports, eat their veggies, and drink water, then don’t let their desire to eat sweets undermine those efforts. This year is already becoming a doozy […]

Mental Health Crisis in America: How to Help Your Kids Manage Feelings of Despair

We are facing a mental health crisis. An alarming number of children and teens are struggling with feelings of hopelessness and depression. Many are also having thoughts of suicide. During the height of the pandemic in 2020, the number of children who went to the Emergency Department for mental health issues increased by 24 percent […]

Preventing the Spread of Pink Eye – Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Back to school means gearing up for the year ahead and making obligatory trips to the store to stock up on school supplies and a new wardrobe. But back to school also means taking preventive measures to keep your kiddo healthy. Pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis, is a prevalent eye infection that can spread […]

Signs Your Child May Have a Vision Problem

During your child’s annual well visit, we check their vision to ensure there aren’t any problems. As preventative medicine specialists, we are responsible for identifying potential issues as early as possible. But since we don’t see your kids more often, it is essential for families to know the red flags that their child may have […]

Pediatric Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome: What Parents Should Know

Your teenager complains that they get dizzy when standing and feel faint. They complain of nausea and vomiting but aren’t sick. And they’re sleeping a lot more than what is typical for a teen. You want the best for your child and are concerned about this sudden change in health. So you make an appointment […]

Rainbow Pediatrics Opens Strong Kids Nutrition Clinic in Fayetteville, NC

Make Food Your Strength, Not Your Weakness. As parents and caregivers, we want the very best for our children. But there is a rising number of children who are overweight or obese in North Carolina, and that number has been growing steadily since 2012. The latest data shows that 19.8% of youth ages 10 to […]

Understanding Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) in Kids and How You Can Help

We want our kids to be healthy and strong. However, some are prone to stomach issues. While almost every child will get a stomachache, constipation, or diarrhea, kids with irritable bowel syndrome, also known as IBS get it more often. What is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)? IBS is a digestive disorder that can happen in […]

Why Getting the HPV Vaccine for Your Child Helps Prevent Cancer

With the COVID pandemic so prevalent in our minds, it can be easy to forget about other commonly transmitted illnesses. Despite mask-wearing and hand-washing, there are still viruses out there that parents should be concerned about. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of those very common viruses that spread easily and can infect 80 percent […]

How to Keep Your Kids Safe from COVID Now That School is Back in Session (and While Waiting for Vaccine Approval)

School is back in session, which means kids, both vaccinated and not are in close quarters. As one would expect, and quite frankly feared, COVID-19 cases have risen nearly 240% since July. Thankfully, despite the high number of COVID cases, children continue to make up a very small percentage (1.6% to 4%) of hospitalized patients. […]