Pediatrics Now for Parents

A recent case involving the death of a teenage cheerleader has prompted a review of energy drinks and cardiovascular risks for children and adolescents. These drinks are increasingly popular, sold in school vending machines, and many high schools now offer coffee bars, giving teens easy access to high-caffeine beverages.
Host Holly Wayment talks to pediatric cardiologist Elaine Maldonado, who warns that high caffeine and stimulant intake can cause palpitations, fast heart rates, chest pain, and may worsen undiagnosed heart conditions. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children should not consume energy drinks, and parents are encouraged to promote sleep, hydration, regular meals, exercise, and to seek urgent care for persistent rapid heart rate or chest pain.

Host Holly Wayment talks to this pediatric neurosurgeon and mom who explains why it's important to have a baby's unusually shaped head checked early.  
She also shares how raising a child with special needs deepened her empathy for families.

Holly Wayment and Dr. J.B. Cantey  discuss salmonella in babies and children, explaining why infants are at higher risk of sepsis, common sources of salmonella (animals, food, daycare), and the symptoms to watch for.
They cover prevention tips—hand hygiene, safe food preparation, pet precautions—hydration guidance, and clear warning signs (fever, decreased intake, lethargy, bloody stools or seizures) that mean you should seek urgent medical care.

This episode host Holly Wayment interviews spurs orthopaedic surgeon Leah Brown and she explains how to recognize and initially assess concussions in youth, including common early signs such as headache, mental fog, nausea, and light or noise sensitivity, and reminds listeners that concussions can happen during play, biking, and everyday activities.
It stresses the importance of not returning to play while symptomatic to avoid a dangerous second hit, lists red flags that require emergency care, and urges parents, coaches, and providers to trust medical guidance and prioritize brain health over performance.

In this episode Host Holly Wayment and infectious disease doctor Deena  Sutter explain the recent cruise outbreak involving the Andes strain of hantavirus, why public risk is considered low, and what makes this strain unusual due to rare person-to-person spread.
Dr. Sutter and Wayment review symptoms, incubation times, prevention tips (rodent control, safe cleanup, hand hygiene), and how clinicians and parents should monitor exposed people—reassuring families while emphasizing public health vigilance.

Host Holly Wayment and Dr. Lisa Carnell of NASA discuss how the recent moon mission will improve pediatric care.  The  Avatar bone marrow organ chips flown on Artemis II, personalized from astronaut blood to study radiation and deep-space effects on human tissues will change healthcare as we know it.  Wayment and Carnell discuss how this will directly personalize care.
The episode explains how these microphysiological systems can protect astronauts, guide long-duration mission health strategies, and translate to improved, less invasive pediatric care and cancer treatments on Earth.

Journalist Benjamin Hall joins Host Holly Wayment of  Pediatrics Now from London to recount his 2022 injury in Ukraine, the rescue and medical care that followed, and the vital role his family played in his recovery. They reflect on resilience, teamwork, and the strength he found in unimaginable crisis.
They also discuss turning his experience of being in a horrible and deadly bombing in Ukraine into a children’s book about courage, truth, and standing up for others.  He shares his practical and inspiring messages about resilience and supporting loved ones through hardship.

Parents Lisa and Craig recount their son Ryan’s sudden, devastating onset of PANS—extreme OCD, emotional contamination, refusal to leave home, or even the couch.
Today we’re talking about PANS and PANDAS. These are conditions in which a child’s immune response to an infection—sometimes strep—can trigger sudden changes in behavior or psychiatric symptoms like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, or tics. It’s uncommon, but when it happens the changes can be dramatic, which is why awareness among parents and pediatricians is important.
Immunologist Dr. Anthony Infante describes using targeted autoimmune testing (Cunningham panel) and IVIG antibody infusions, which gradually restored Ryan’s sleep, hygiene, and social life and ultimately returned him to a healthy, functioning young adult.

Host Holly Wayment talks to Pediatric GI specialist Dr. Anandini Suri who explains that constipation in children is often behavioral, frequently starting with rushed toilet training. She recommends patient toilet training, proper toilet posture with a stool under the feet, limiting screen time during bathroom visits, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, adequate fluids, and regular outdoor activity.
For belly pain, try simple breathing exercises (for example, inhale 6 seconds, hold 3, exhale 8) and seek medical care if pain is severe, sudden, or accompanied by blood. See a pediatrician if your child has fewer than three to four soft stools a week or if home measures don’t help. Probiotic or prebiotic drinks are generally safe but not proven to relieve constipation.

In this episode Host Holly Wayment talks with pediatric oncologist Dr. Shafqat Shah explains why most lumps and bumps in children’s necks are caused by common infections and usually resolve with time and supportive care. She reviews where lymph nodes are located, typical symptoms, and home care tips.
Dr. Shah also covers warning signs that need prompt evaluation — persistent or growing nodes, hard or fixed lumps, supraclavicular locations, prolonged fevers, weight loss, or other systemic symptoms — and explains when to call your pediatrician or seek emergency care.