Website all about child health—in Spanish

(HealthDay)—Language difficulties may prevent Hispanic parents living in the United States from learning all they can about child health. Now they have a new option: a Spanish-language website launched by a leading group of pediatricians.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' new website, known as HealthyChildren.org en Espanol, offers general information about children's health, answers to parents' specific pediatric problems and insight on disease prevention and treatment.

"Until now there has never been a reliable Spanish-language resource I could recommend to the Spanish-speaking parents whose children I care for," Dr. Joanna Betancourt, an AAP spokeswoman, said in an academy release. "With the launch of HealthyChildren.org en Espanol, pediatricians can direct Hispanic families online to find culturally relevant information based on their children's ages and health topics."

The website, explained in detail in the June 3 online edition of Pediatrics, is an effort to address the health needs of Hispanics—the largest minority in the United States. There are several interactive tools and features on the website, including:

• KidsDoc Symptom Checker: This allows parents to enter information on their child's symptoms. Parents and caregivers can also learn how to distinguish between a minor illness that can be treated at home and something more serious that needs medical attention.
• Ask the Pediatrician: A tool that allows parents to ask a question or read a list of other common questions.
• Find a Pediatrician: A tool that helps parents find a local, Spanish-speaking AAP-member pediatrician.
• Ages & Stages: Information on the health issues and developmental milestones of children of all ages.
• Healthy Living: Current guidelines on fitness, sports, oral health, emotional wellness and nutrition.
• Safety & Prevention: Parents and caregivers learn how to prepare for health issues that can develop at home, in school or on the go. This section also provides detailed information on childhood immunizations.
• Health Issues: An A-to-Z list of more than 300 health care topics.

"Given the growth of the Hispanic online market, HealthyChildren.org en Espanol was created to help meet the demand for readily available child health information in Spanish," Dr. Thomas McInerny, AAP president, said in the news release. "It is more than just an information portal; it is a virtual extension of the pediatrician whom Hispanic parents have always turned to as a trusted source of advice."

HealthyChildren.org en Espanol is partly supported by Procter & Gamble's Safe Home Campaign, Kellogg Co., and Merck & Co., Inc.

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