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Pediatric Associates of Austin Blog View all posts

Seasonal Allergies and Treatment
If you've lived in Austin for long, you've likely experienced some symptoms of seasonal allergies. These symptoms can be miserable! Read more to learn how to better manage these symptoms.
Mar 1st, 2023

The dreaded stomach virus
This spring it seemed that everyone in Austin had an awful stomach virus! Viruses causing vomiting and diarrhea are unfortunately very common in children! In this blog post, My Friend The Pediatrician offers tons of useful information about this illness.
Nov 1st, 2022

Car Seats: From turning around to moving to the front seat
In honor of Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week we wanted to review the AAP recommendations for car seat safety which are even more stringent than Texas state law. Because child safety is our top priority, we follow their recommendations.
Sep 19th, 2022

Infant feeding support: fed is best!
Infant feeding is rarely the perfect picture we imagine. While this can be true, it can be more challenging than we anticipate. Feeding your baby will be a journey with highs and lows, but having support along the way is crucial. We are here to help!
Aug 1st, 2022

Is it infected? Guidance for mosquito and tick bites.
In this article, Dr. Martin, a pediatrician at Cook Children's explains how to determine if an insect bite is infected or is instead something known as 'Skeeter Syndrome' or a large local reaction. She also reviews how best to handle tick bites
Jul 1st, 2022

Drowning Prevention
In this post Dr. Diane Arnaout, a Pediatrician at Cook Children's discusses a topic we must keep at top of mind at all times, especially in the summer when swimming is such a common activity to keep us out of the Texas heat.
Jun 2nd, 2022

Farewell from Dr. Mowry
Dr. Mowry was such an amazing part of our PAA family and we wish her all her family all the best in Denver, CO. She wanted her patients to know how much she treasured the relationships she had with each of you. Her farewell letter is below.
May 19th, 2022

Tongue Ties
Dr. Diane Arnaout, a pediatrician with Cook Children's consults with a speech language pathologist, a dentist, a lactation consultant, and an ENT and synthesizes the most up-to-date data on tongue ties.
May 4th, 2022

COVID-19 Antibody Testing FAQ's
This blog answers the questions we receive most often about antibody testing: what is it, which antibodies are tested, and what the results mean.
Nov 2nd, 2021

Fifth Disease
Fifth Disease is a harmless childhood viral rash that is quite common in late winter and early spring. Read more to learn the symptoms.
Apr 5th, 2021

Returning to sports after COVID-19 illness
COVID-19 has changed almost all aspects of our lives. For kids, one area that has been changed, is returning to sports participation. Please read below to find out how we determine when and if a child is safe to return to these activities.
Mar 9th, 2021

COVID-19 Vaccine
Though the COVID-19 vaccine has every indication to be the blessing we have been looking for, we acknowledge that there are still many questions and concerns, which we will do our best to answer in this blog.
Feb 1st, 2021

COVID-19: What we have learned through 2020
We have learned much from 2020 and now have more knowledge and are more empowered to face COVID-19 in 2021.  Below you will find a summary of what we’ve learned through 2020. 
Jan 5th, 2021

Screen time and eye health in light of COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic we have all spent much more time looking at screens than ever before. Though in most scenarios, we cannot change school requirements, we can feel empowered to help our kids use screens with certain guidelines.
Sep 1st, 2020

Concussion baseline testing
It is so easy to do baseline concussion testing at home. It is immensely helpful for any child or teen in contact sports and the test should be done before they start their contact sports season.
Aug 1st, 2020

Molluscum Contagiosum: What is that?!
This condition with a big name describes a very small skin growth, caused by a virus. Molluscum contagiosum is common in childhood; though it is harmless, many parents and kids find it to be a nuisance. Read below to learn more about this condition.
Jun 2nd, 2020

'Pink Eye'
Conjunctivitis is the medical name for ‘pink eye.’ Read below to find out how to determine if it is caused by allergies, virus, or bacteria and how to help your child if he/she develops 'pink eye.'
Apr 6th, 2020

Dispelling myths about pediatric illnesses
Each of us has received advice about an illness from a friend, family member, doctor, nurse, pharmacist, etc. Often the advice we receive is welcome and helpful, but other times, we wonder if the given guidance is accurate. Read more to find out.
Dec 3rd, 2019

Caring for your child’s cold
If you or your child has recently suffered a cold, you know how frustrating this annoying viral illness can be. Below we discuss what remedies are worth trying and which are worth avoiding as we enter cold and flu season.
Nov 4th, 2019

Tips for eczema and dry skin
We see eczema flare up at this time of year due to the cooler temperatures. Read below to find out how you can help care for your child’s dry skin.
Oct 29th, 2019

What to do if you suspect a concussion
Though it does not yet feel like fall in Austin, fall sport season is here. In Texas, one of our most loved fall sports is Football. Though concussions can happen in numerous ways, we unfortunately see them most due to football injuries. Below we explain
Sep 11th, 2019

Our favorite internet resources for parents
Parents should have lots of questions about their growing child. We welcome all questions and are happy to offer advice. Though, we do have a nurse on call day and night, when a nurse call is not needed, you can turn to these websites for trusted advice.
Aug 7th, 2019

Sun Safety
Though we love being outside in our beautiful city, our summers are HOT!  It’s so important to protect our skin in the hot Texas sun.  Read more below to choose the right sun protection for you and your loved ones. 
Jul 24th, 2019

Swimmer's Ear
Austin is beautiful in the summer and we love getting outside in the water to cool off on hot days. Though swimming is a perfect summer activity, it can lead to a very painful condition called swimmer’s ear. Read below to find out more about this common!
Jun 17th, 2019

Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Hand, foot, and mouth is a common childhood virus that is seen in our office this time of year. Read more to find out answers to the questions we hear most often.
May 13th, 2019

Strep Throat
Strep throat is going around. Read below to find out more about this common illness.
Apr 23rd, 2019

Fever
This blog gives answers to our most commonly heard questions about fever.
Mar 20th, 2019

Bronchiolitis
Pam Dietrich, one of our wonderful AHK nurse practitioners, does a wonderful job explaining bronchiolitis and RSV so that parents can understand how to care for their child during this common respiratory illness.
Jan 31st, 2019

Influenza
This article explains the signs and symptoms of the influenza virus, complications of the flu, and offers helpful information about seasonal flu vaccines. Thank you Jen Tiller, PNP at After Hours Kids, for writing this post.
Jan 2nd, 2019

Croup

Croup is common during winter months. Below is a classic croup story and some answers to our most commonly heard questions. Thank you to Annie Croft, PNP, from After Hours Kids, for writing this post.
Dec 7th, 2018

Flu Vaccine FAQ's
Below are the answers to our most commonly asked questions about the flu vaccine.
Nov 16th, 2018

Back to School!
Important reminders about getting your kids ready to go back to school!
Aug 7th, 2018

Allergies and Asthma
Brief explanation of the importance of talking with your child's provider about allergies and asthma
Jul 20th, 2018

Car Safety!
Tips to keep your kids safe in and around cars
Apr 20th, 2018

Welcome to the Pediatric Associates of Austin blog.   We are glad you found us!

Our goal in this blog is to help answer common questions relating to childhood illnesses and development.  We strive to provide relevant information to address current parent questions and community happenings.   Our advice typically comes from either our providers’ experiences in caring for children through the years, or from other reputable blogs and pediatric resources.  These are not limited to, but include:  American Academy of Pediatrics parenting website, Two Peds in a Pod, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Additional helpful parent information can be found on our website on either of these pages: Most commonly asked questions of our nurses or Newborn and infant handouts.  If you have suggestions of topics you’d like us to address on the blog, please email patientcare@pediatricassociates.net.  We’d love to hear from you.  

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