Medical Issues: Article Index

Serve up the classic Thanksgiving dessert without endangering your child with food allergies.

Latex allergies can be life-threatening, but it's hard to find out for sure whether products contain the rubbery substance or not. Here are some tips for finding the information you need to keep your child safe.

The debate rages over whether vaccines are safe and necessary for anyone, but even those who argue in favor of vaccinations admit that there are situations in which they should be withheld or given with caution. Is your child's disease or disorder on the list?

You want to get rid of head lice. But do you want to put something on your child's head that could cause neurological damage or cancer? Proceed with caution.

A mom and a psychologist share advice for parents on continuing a pregnancy even though their baby may die before or shortly after birth.

Victims of "the #1 misdiagnosed intestinal disorder" tell their stories.

Review of a memoir about a mother's fight for her son with severe cerebral palsy.

The author, who both has diabetes and is the father of a child with diabetes, examines the progress of the disease and of efforts to treat and cure it.

The worldwide obesity epidemic is causing a surge in Type 2 diabetes even among children. In this book, a past president of the American Diabetes Association tells what we must do to stop it.

The worldwide obesity epidemic is causing a surge in Type 2 diabetes even among children. A past president of the American Diabetes Association tells what we must do to stop it.

Review of a book that offers Q&As for teens living with chronic illness and disability.

A review of a comprehensive patient and family guide on epilepsy, now in its third edition.

Those advocating euthanasia promote it as a way to help someone who no longer wishes to live find release -- but does that help ever come in the form of a push? Wesley Smith presents disturbing evidence that what may start out as a humanitarian impulse can quickly turn into survival of the fittest.

Read more about the exercise, diet and weight-loss plan from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Everything you always wanted to know about injections and monitoring and meal planning and lifestyle changes but were afraid to ask.

Review of a book that gives parents practical and specific information on keeping their food-allergic children safe.

Father's account of his daughter's dwarfism mixes personal observations with historical background.

A neuropsychologist specializing in traumatic brain injury offers families a detailed description of injury, recovery, and rehabilitation.

Review of a book that offers a guided journal for noting the details of your child's medical treatments, and examples of questions to ask along the way.

Essays by doctors, researchers and parents explain the ways in which the health-care system works for children with special health care needs, and the ways in which it falls short.

A helpful handbook for parents of children with medical disabilities applies the Love and Logic behavior management approach to issues such as taking medication and following through on treatments.

In a series of short essays, adults with disabilities share the decisions their parents made for them, and how things might have been different -- for better or worse.

Review of a book about a girl with a neurological disorder that keeps her from speaking, and her parents' battle to find answers and words for her.

Learn about this informative, calming guide to seizure disorders, which addresses both the medical and practical concerns parents may have when their child has a seizure.

Review of book that offers parents 25 steps to dealing with news of a child's serious illness through coping with the death of a child.

Growing up with a sibling with Cystic Fibrosis is the subject of this tough and perceptive memoir.

Review of a book in which "a former fat kid weighs in on living large, losing weight, and how parents can (and can't) help."

Oliver was in a vegetative state from birth, unable to see, hear, move or interact. Yet he inspired all who knew or heard of him to an increased appreciation of the value of all life. This is his brother's story of Oliver's life, and all the lives he touched.

Review of a memoir about a child's struggle for life and a family's love and support.

The friendliest pediatrician you'll ever meet leads you through the ins and outs of basic child care, and a few not-so-basic topics as well.

The incredible saga of the Yurcek family, from nurturing one child through a catastrophic illness to adopting five more with emotional and mental health struggles.

Review of Katherine Schneider's light-hearted book on living with blindness.

The former director of the Mayo Clinic's Pediatric ICU shares stories about critically ill children to advise parents on what to expect when a health crisis occurs.

Parents and family members of children with chronic or terminal illnesses need special support, advice and direction. These books can help.

Browse reviews of parenting books on diabetes from the Harried Parent's Book Club.

Browse reviews of parenting books on obesity from the Harried Parent's Book Club.

In addition to the normal dietary restrictions that come with Passover, your child with diabetes may have extra limits on what he or she can safely eat. These sites and downloads offer tips and recipes to help diabetics have a safe and meaningful Passover.

Make Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from a recipe in "The Gak's Snacks Allergy Cookbook: Baked Treats for All Occasions."

If milk or eggs are a problem for your child, you don't have to put brownies off-limits. Whip up one of these recipes that use soy milk, tofu, oil, fruit puree, and other ingrediates as substitutes for dairy products.

If your child can't have milk or dairy products, try these recipes that substitute oil, garlic and other flavorful ingredients.

Scalloped potatoes are an Easter favorite, but if your child or other family member can't tolerate milk or cheese, your traditional recipe may not work. Try one of these dairy-free adaptations to keep the dish on your table.

Bake up some no- and low-sugar cookies to make the holidays brighter for kids and adults with diabetes.

Fill out a form to share information about the allergy plan your school has developed, so that other parents can lobby for that at their own schools.See submissions

Those with egg allergies can still enjoy eggnog with these recipes that use pudding, ice cream or tofu to replace eggs.

Looking for specialized apparel and accessories for a child with special needs? Consider these online stores run by parents just like you. They've taken what worked for them and marketed it to help other parents; maybe their discoveries will work for you, too.

Looking for specialty items for a child with diabetes? Consider these online stores run by parents of children with diabetes. They've taken what worked for them and marketed it to help other parents; maybe their discoveries will work for you, too.

Looking for specialty items for a child with food allergies? Consider these online stores run by parents of children who are also allergic to nuts and other foods. They've taken what worked for them and marketed it to help other parents; maybe their discoveries will work for you, too.

Books on medical issues and other more general books in the Harried Parent's Book Club have information for parents of children with special health needs. Read some excerpts to see what they have to offer.

In an excerpt from "The Smart Parent's Guide to Getting Your Kids Through Checkups, Illness, and Accidents," a pediatrician offers advice for checking out emergency rooms before you need them so you'll know just where to go in a crisis.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with cancer.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with celiac disease.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with diabetes.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with cleft lip and palate.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with diabetes.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with dwarfism.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with neurofibromatosis.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with phenylketonuria.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with a peanut allergy.

A handful of easy, quick suggestions to help you get a fast start on helping your child diagnosed with Fragile X.

Staying focused can be hard at your annual well-child visit, with the doctor asking questions and your child demanding attention and the whole thing rushing by. A little organization helps a lot.

How do you let people know that your child has food allergies and needs to be fed carefully? Dress him or her in one of these cute T-shirts that gets the message across in a fun way.

Make Fudge Sandwich Cookies from a recipe in "Sophie-Safe Cooking."

Controlling your child's weight is more than just a health concern -- extreme obesity is more and more being looked at as child abuse, and some parents have lost custody. If your child's weight seems out of control, follow these dos and don'ts from a doctor.

Wondering if a food item is safe for your child? Here's what to say when you call the manufacturer.

Cool clothing and accessories for kids in wheelchairs make great gifts for holidays, for birthdays, for any day you want to say, "You're special."

Having asthma is no fun, but that doesn't mean there's not fun asthma-related stuff out there to help kids stay healthy. Add some of these cool tools to your child's gift list.

Give a child battling cancer, or a cancer survivor, a special gift that reflects his or her courage, faith, and spirit.

Children with diabetes need a certain amount of gear to stay healthy, but that doesn't mean they can't have a little fun with it. Cute pump packs, meter covers, and beaded alert bracelets make great gifts for kids who are just too sweet.

Brownies are a delicious treat, but for kids with wheat allergies, they may be off limits. These recipes from around the Web take the wheat flour out but leave all that chocolatey goodness in.

Where to find lists of candies that are safe for children on a gluten-free diet.

Giving up gluten doesn't mean giving up Christmas cookies. Follow these links to recipes for crunchy, festive goodies that can be enjoyed even by kids on gluten-free diets.

Being able to avoid fruitcake might seem like the rare good thing about a gluten-free diet, but these recipes let you leave out the wheat and opt for treats rich in dried fruit and low on dry cake.

Whether it's building a house, making a man, or sitting plump on a plate with some whipped cream on top, gingerbread is a sweet and spicy holiday tradition. Don't skip it if your child has to avoid gluten -- whip up one of these gluten-free versions and start a tradition of your own.

Listing of eight sites with gluten-free, wheat-free recipes for Passover favorites.

From "The Kid-Friendly ADHD and Autism Cookbook" comes a recipe for pumpkin bread that's free of gluten, milk, soy, corn, and nuts.

Bread cubes are traditional for Thanksgiving turkey stuffing, but problematic for people with wheat allergies, Celiac disease, or a need for a GFCF diet. These recipes will help you make stuffing that's delicious and safe.

Looking for good Halloween costume ideas for a child in a wheelchair? These sites offer inspiration, photos, and specific instructions for outfits that either disguise the ride or use it as part of the ensemble. Use them to get your little goblin in fine trick-or-treating form.

For children with diabetes, food allergies, Prader-Willi syndrome, and other special needs, gorging on Halloween candy can bring more than a tummy ache -- it can be a serious health risk. These sites offer suggestions, strategies, and recipes for making the night less spooky for kids whose diet needs to be carefully watched.

The authors of "Raising a Sensory Smart Child" offer suggestions for helping children with sensory integration problems tolerate nit-picking and head-lice treatments.

Have you found a good technique for vanquishing head lice? One that works well for children with special needs? Share your lice-battling wisdom here.

There's more to picking a pediatrician for a child with special needs than finding the finest physician. You'll also want to think about things like how far you'll drive, how long you'll wait, and how well you'll be listened to. Learn more about the five factors you should consider before choosing your child's doctor.

One non-toxic way to deal with head lice is to put a substance on the head that kills lice by smothering them and also makes the nits easier to comb out. Learn how to put this plan into action.

A look at the controversy surrounding the film, which some have accused of promoting euthanasia and unfairly depicting life with disabilities.

Latkes are a favorite Hanukkah tradition, but traditional recipes contain ingredients that children with diabetes, Celiac disease, or food allergies will need to avoid. These recipes from around the Web cater to restricted diets while keeping the crispy classic on the holiday table.

Reduced-sugar and no-added-sugar recipes make yams and sweet potatoes safer for kids who need to limit sugar intake.

Keeping track of records, reports, hospitalizations, doctor's names, prescriptions, and all the other details of a special-needs child's medical care can be a daunting task. Putting everything together in a notebook -- with the help of downloadable forms -- can help you feel more organized and in control.

Use this alphabetical index to find information on your child's medical issues, or a diagnosis you're curious about.

Find safe sweets for your child who's allergic to nuts at these online retailers, run by parents and family members of children with food allergies.

The Passover specialty Charoset is traditionally made with fruit and nuts, but if your child has a food allergy, that dish will need a do-over.

Nutty as a fruitcake? Not these fruitcake recipes! Instead of adjusting recipes to accommodate your nut-allergic child, try one of these variations that leave the nuts out from the start.

There's more to picking a dentist for a child with special needs than finding the top tooth expert. You'll also want to think about things like how far you'll drive, how your child will be restrained, and how well you'll be listened to. Learn more about the five factors you should consider before choosing your child's dentist.

School can be a difficult place for children who have seizures -- academically, behaviorally and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with albinism -- academically, socially and behaviorally. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with Angelman Syndrome -- academically, socially and behaviorally. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with celiac disease -- physically, socially and emotionally. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with cerebral palsy -- physically, socially and academically. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with congenital heart defects -- academically, physically and behaviorally. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with craniosynostosis -- academically, behaviorally and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with cystic fibrosis -- physically, academically and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with Fragile X -- academically and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with metachromatic leukodystrophy -- academically, physically and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with phenylketonuria -- physically and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and healthy with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with an Prader-Willi Syndrome -- physically, socially and academically. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with Primary Immune Deficiency Disease -- academically, socially and behaviorally. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

School can be a difficult place for children with spina bifida -- physically, academically, and socially. Let the school know what your child needs to be safe and successful with these tips and printouts.

A look at a notebook-and-portfolio set made for keeping track of all your child's medical paperwork and records.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with albinism.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Angelman Syndrome.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with asthma.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with cancer.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Celiac Disease.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with cerebral palsy.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with CHD.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Dandy-Walker Syndrome.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with cystic fibrosis.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Fragile X.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with hemophilia.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with kidney disease.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Muscular Dystrophy.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with neurofibromatosis.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with phenylketonuria.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Start with these recommended resources for finding facts, strategies, and advice on parenting children with epilepsy.

Browse reviews of parenting books on medical issues from the Harried Parent's Book Club.

The Dandy-Walker Alliance surveyed sixty families of children with Dandy-Walker Syndrome about school-related issues, and shared these graphs of the results.

A video from the Epilepsy Foundation with straightforward, non-alarmist information on what epilepsy is (and isn't) and what seizures look like.

The internet is a great place to get information to help your family, but it can also be a place to share information about your family -- to inspire or inform others, to gain support, to facilitate communication, to make dreams come true.

No Nits policies aim to keep lice infestations under control, but can keep kids out of school, and parents out of work, for extended periods. This is a particular concern for kids in special education, who may miss out on needed services and therapies, suffer for lack of routine, and have a hard time tolerating head lice treatments. Is No Nits...

Listing of sites on diabetes that have been featured as an About Parenting Special Needs Site of the Day.

Each of the following resources on celiac disease and food allergies needs has been featured as a Site of the Day on About.com Parenting Special Needs.

Listing of sites on medical special needs that have been featured as a About Parenting Special Needs Site of the Day.

Profile of an online store selling apparel with food-allergy warnings (and cute little skulls and crossbones).

Profile of an online store offering dog tags and wristbands for easy identification of children with food allergies.

Profile of an online store selling specialized shirts and dresses that can be personalized to warn of a child's allergies or medical needs.

Profile of an online store selling accessories for children with diabetes, including insulin pump cases, ID bracelets and books.

Profile of an online store offering books and apparel to encourage self-management in children with food allergies.

Profile of an online business selling ID bracelets, run by parents of kids with diabetes.

Profile of an online store selling underwear with pockets for insulin pumps.

Profile of an online business selling ID bracelets, run by the parent of two children with diabetes.

Profile of an online business, started by a parent of a child with special needs, that offers educational materials on food allergies.

Profile of an online store selling fun and creative ways to carry an insulin pump, co-owned by the mother of three children with diabetes.

Profile of an online store selling accessories for young people with diabetes, including "radical" insulin pump cases.

Profile of a store selling T-shirts, buttons and stickers for kids to wear to alert those around them to their food allergies and other sensitivities.

Profile of an online store selling allergen-free baked goods.

Taking the sugar out of brownies doesn't have to make them less of a treat. These recipes from around the Web use sugar substitutes and fruit to help you keep your child in chocolate.

Head lice often feel like something the child gets and the parent has to deal with. But taking the time to teach your child about head lice -- how she got them, what they're doing there on his head, what you'll have to do together to get rid of them -- can help him or her tolerate the treatments better and get a little scientific education, too.

Whether your child has a serious weight problem or you want to make sure he or she never does, healthy eating habits are a wonderful lesson for you to teach. Use the book "Get a Healthy Weight for Your Child" to provide nutritional instruction in a fun and fruitful way.

The dangers of pesticide shampoos have left parents looking for natural solutions to the problem of head lice. Tea tree oil shampoo can chase the bugs away and keep them away.

In an excerpt from "Epilepsy: Patient and Family Guide," Dr. Orrin Devinsky writes about the safety of video games for children with seizures, and precautions parents can take.

Does your child need to avoid certain foods, shrink from certain sensory experiences, or otherwise require people to know what not to do to him or her? Print out one of these warning labels, tape or pin it on your child's shirt, and put everyone on alert.

A definition of Fragile X Syndrome, with a link to more information.

A definition of Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1a, with a link to more information.

Definition of holoprosencephaly, a range of brain-related birth defects.

A brief definition of hydranencephaly, with a link to more information.

A definition of Primary Immune Deficiency Disease, with links to more information.

Cases of parents battling hospitals for the continued care of their children have been turning up in the media lately. But parents have been feeling disrespected and misunderstood by the medical profession for a lot longer than that. Here are eight things medical professionals could do to improve relationships with parents, and care for their...

The much-debated case of Terri Schindler Schiavo is at heart a disability rights issue. Do the cognitively impaired have rights? Can those rights be waived? Parents of children with special needs, as caretakers of the helpless and voiceless, need to make sure their children's rights are being respected. Here's a look at the issues involved.