Constipation

Infant botulism is an illness that can occur when an infant ingests bacteria that produce a toxin inside the body. The condition can be frightening because it can cause muscle weakness and breathing problems. But it is very rare: Fewer than 100 cases...

Mary Roach has cultivated a reputation as someone who can't be grossed out. She has built a career examining bodily functions rarely discussed in polite company. Her earlier books have delved into sex ("Bonk") and death ("Stiff"). When "Packing for...

Have a question for Dr. Blythe? Write to her at AskThePediatrician@tribune.com. For more information on Dr. Blythe, go to pediatricassociates.com. April 29, 2013 Q: My 5-year-old daughter just had her adenoids and tonsils removed because of snoring...

Constipation hits everybody at some point. The uncomfortable condition can be caused by many things, including a bad diet and dehydration. Dr. Vaibhav A. Parekh, director of Medstar Harbor Primary Care, talks about how to prevent and treat constipation,...

Of the countless painful decisions surrounding a loved one's end-of-life care, among the trickiest is how to provide physical comfort in a way that also provides a dignified ending. "For end of life, the opioids are very important for pain management,...

Dear Pharmacist: I heard you recommend a drug called Lactulose as a laxative, but you said it helped with brain fog too. How can it work at both ends? — J.C., Decatur, Ill. Dear J.C.: It's true. The prescription medication called Lactulose is...

 Massage isn't just beneficial for adults, but for babies too. It can help with everything from congestion to constipation. Now a new class is being offered at Carilion for new parents. Kristen McNamara is a new mother who learned infant massage and she...

The term "pelvic floor" was not part of polite conversation a generation ago, when women with pelvic floor disorders, or PFDs, often suffered in silence. Fortunately for the millions of women who know this acronym all too well, times have changed....

Q: Every time my 2-year-old granddaughter feels a bowel movement coming, she does everything she can to hold it in. She cries and is obviously in a lot of pain, but she refuses to go. A warm bath sometimes helps, but not always. Could there be something...

A parent emailed me via our iPhone App recently to ask if her child's constipation, which started as he was transitioning from formula to whole milk, could be a sign of lactose intolerance. She was concerned because her son was having very hard stools....

When your child complains of a stomachache, you want to help. Maybe you worry that the tummy trouble is a sign of something serious. It could be, but most tummy aches in children call for nothing more than a little rest. Recognizing trouble Rarely,...

Nearly everyone has at least rolled their eyes while going through airport security, now an Alaska lawmaker -- who had a bad experience -- wants to tell the Transportation Security Administration "hands off." Last year, State Rep. Sharon Cissna (D-...