As we enter 2014, many families will decide to be healthier this year.  One way to be on top of your health is to be knowledgeable.  The problem is that there is so much information out there, it can be overwhelming.  Even worse, a lot of the advice is misleading, incomplete, trying to sell a product, or just plain wrong.

What to do, then, if you’re looking answers to your pediatric health questions?  We have a few sites we trust that you may find helpful.

Your first stop should be here, on our own website.  There you’ll find 21 links that we trust to provide good information, on everything from general health and pediatrics to a few common illnesses and conditions, such as allergies, asthma, and disabilities.  Here are a few of the best:

• American Academy of Pediatrics.  If you read our blog, you know that we refer to the AAP regularly.  They are the go-to organization for reliable information on the health of children and teens, including physical, social, psychological, and intellectual health.  Some of their pages are full of statistics and medical jargon, but check out healthychildren.org.  It’s very readable, practical, and up-to-date. You can search your topic or question by typing it into the search box.
• The National Institutes of Health has a huge amount of information.  Some of it is written for health professionals, but much of it—particularly the medline plus section—is also written for the general population.  It’s a great source of health information for all ages, birth to old age.  You can even sign up here to receive e-mail updates on children’s health topics.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives you an alphabetized list of topics and diseases for your research.

If you have a particular issue you’re interested in researching, check with your pediatrician, who can suggest additional specific resources.

Happy internet hunting, and Happy New Year!

Artwork by Audrey

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