"Does my child have a tapeworm?"  This is a surprisingly common question in my Pediatric Gastroenterology clinic.  The simple answer... if you live in the United States and don't have pet pigs or cows, then probably "No."  Tapeworm infection is more common in some underdeveloped areas of the world, especially in Central America, Africa, India, Southeast Asia and China.  A common misconception is that tapeworm infection is a common cause of weight loss in North American children.  It is true that severe tapeworm infection can cause some symptoms (usually mild) such as weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.  Most children with tapeworm infection have few or no symptoms!  Tapeworm infection is typically diagnosed with the passage of  worm segments (proglottids) in the stool.  These may look like a roll of stamps (several proglottids or an entire tapeworm), or a tan, flat, rubbery square piece of tissue (a single worm segment).  Tapeworm infection is typically caused by the beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata) or the pig tapeworm (Taenia solium) and is easy to treat and cure with oral medicines.

As a parent, I can't tell you the number of times my children have bonked their heads.  I'm sure I hit my head a few times as a child also.  Head injury is very common in children.  Small bumps, bruises and knots typically don't require special treatment.  More severe head trauma may be life threatening.  It is often difficult for a parent or pediatrician to determine the extent of injury, especially when the trauma was unwitnessed.  So when does a child need to be seen by a doctor?  When does a child need an ambulance or a visit to the emergency department?  What is the risk of developing complications after a head injury?  Is the skull fractured?  Is there bleeding inside or outside the skull?  Was there any brain damage?  What is a concussion?  What if my child gets "knocked out?" I will address these questions with a discussion about common approaches to minor head injury in children.

Normal children may have up to 8 upper respiratory tract infections (URI's) per year.  Some sources state that up to 12 URI's per year may be normal, especially for children in daycare.  Even though this may be normal, parents often become worried when their child is sick as frequently as once per month.  So when should parents and pediatricians worry?  Does your child have an abnormal immune system?  Could this be asthma?  Could this be another chronic illness?  Should my child have an x-ray or bloodwork?  The purpose of this article is to explore an approach to these common questions.