As summer memories fade and kids settle into their back-to-school routines (whatever that may look like), getting a flu vaccination should be at the top of your family’s to-do list this fall. But many families are wondering if it’s even necessary to get the flu shot this year because of all the extra safety precautions […]
What parents should know about novel coronavirus
Large cities on lockdown. Flights suspended. A rising death toll … a global health emergency. The headlines are anxiety-producing, even for those oceans away from the epicenter of this health crisis. And now the first cases and deaths in the United States have been reported. The spread of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19), first […]
Sinus infection leads to emergency brain surgery
The end of summer was closing in on us and school would be starting back up but it would be a different end to summer for London and our family. I will never forget the night of Aug. 5 or the early morning of Aug. 6 as those days are etched in my memory forever. […]
Sara Mennen’s pivotal nursing role gives her unique perspective on patients’ needs
Sara Mennen is a rare kind of nurse. Usually Akron Children’s nurses are either niched in the inpatient or outpatient setting and don’t do much crossover. But, that’s not the case for Sara, who spends 2 days a week as an inpatient float nurse and 2 days a week in the infectious disease clinic. The […]
Lyme Disease in Children: Why Northern Ohio Kids Are at Greater Risk & What to Do About It
Just a few years ago the incidence of Lyme disease was relatively low in Ohio. But today, it’s a very different story according to Blaise Congeni, MD, director of pediatric infectious disease at Akron Children’s Hospital. “I’m getting calls literally every day related to Lyme disease,” said Dr. Congeni. The statistics are startling: in 2010, […]
Early diagnosis of bacterial infection helps Hudson teen get back on track
By the time most patients receive the diagnosis of the bacterial infection Lemierre syndrome, they are extremely ill in the intensive care unit. But thanks to Dr. Shankar Upadhyayula, an infectious disease specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital, honor student Amanda Gamble had an early diagnosis and a quick recovery and is now back at Hudson […]
