Health news and policy impacting pediatric wellness
Pediatric Health
Experts Warn of Drowning Risks Ahead of Holiday Weekend
MADERA, Calif. – Experts at Valley Children’s are emphasizing the need for families to take proactive steps to keep children safe around pools, lakes, rivers and other bodies of water. The push for awareness comes ahead of Memorial Day weekend, when…
Officials Urge E-Bike Safety as Youth Injuries Rise in Central Valley
FRESNO, Calif. – As youth injuries from e-bikes continue to rise on both a national and local level, health and safety leaders gathered at Bullard High School to bring attention to the dangers of riding without proper preparation and protection. Officials…
What is Rotavirus? Symptoms, Risks and How to Protect Kids
MADERA, Calif. – Rotavirus cases are climbing across the United States, outpacing last year’s numbers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. High concentrations of cases have been detected in wastewater in northern and southern California over the past…
Why Is Vitamin K So Important for Newborns?
MADERA, Calif. – Pediatricians at Valley Children’s Hospital are urgently reminding parents of the important role of the vitamin K shot given shortly after birth. It’s one of the simplest, safest and most effective ways to prevent severe and potentially life-threatening bleeding in newborns, experts…
Unseasonable Heat Wave Poses Extra Risk for Children, Doctors Say
MADERA, Calif. – With an unusual early-season heat wave gripping central California this week, health experts are warning parents to be vigilant, saying children’s bodies haven’t had time to adjust to the sudden spike in temperatures. The National Weather Service (NWS)…
Fewer Pregnant Women Getting Early Prenatal Care; Experts Say Don’t Wait
FRESNO, Calif. – A quarter of pregnant women in the United States are delaying prenatal care or forgoing it completely, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 2021 to 2024, the rate of women beginning…
Whole, Low-Fat or Plant-Based? Making Sense of Milk for Kids
MADERA, Calif. – Breast milk and infant formula are the primary sources of nutrition for newborns and infants. But what happens once your infant becomes a toddler? Should dairy milk or milk alternatives play a major role in their diet after…
What Are the Best Ways to Protect Kids From Walking Pneumonia?
MADERA, Calif. – An uptick in cases of mycoplasma pneumonia – also known as “walking pneumonia” and “atypical pneumonia” – is prompting physicians to urge parents to watch for symptoms and take precautions to limit its spread. The illness is a…