6647 Views	Institutional Autism, secondary to orphanage living conditions. By : George Rogu M.D. I have heard the term "institutional autism" as being a complication of living in an institution or orphanage. Autism sounds like a very scary word and I am nervous about this condition. Could you explain this diagnosis and what are the expected outcomes for these children?
6147 Views	Signs that a Child Has Been Sexually Abused? By : George Rogu M.D. What are some of the signs and behavioral presentations exhibited by a sexually abused child?
5243 Views	Reader's Question on Thalasemia... By : George Rogu M.D. We have been referred a 5th child that we just found out has HbH disease ( a kind of Thalassemia intermediate). The orphanage in Taiwan says that the parents are denying being carriers and are being genetically tested and that the other 3 children of the birthparents do not have the condition. Is this a life threatening ailment or a chronic medical condition that may be medically managed?
5035 Views	RAD is a common yet under diagnosed entity in internationally adopted children. Could you explain this condition? By : Nicholas Rogu M.D. RAD is a common yet under diagnosed entity in internationally adopted children. Could you explain this condition?
4457 Views	Post Adoption Peculiar Behaviors By : George Rogu M.D. I have heard that many Institutionalized children exhibit many peculiar behaviors shortly after arriving home. Can you described some of these behaviors and what does a new adoptive parent need to do to help over come these behaviors?
4425 Views	Goldenhar Syndrome By : George Rogu M.D. I have a referral of a little boy that is suspected of having Goldenhar Syndrome. After a lot of research, I have found that he does not have many of the features of this syndrome (no hearing or vision problems reported). How is this diagnosis made and what is the outlook for a child with this problem?
4078 Views	What are some of the adoption issues teenagers face? By : Leslie Zindulka LCSW-R What are some of the adoption issues teenagers face? While it is difficult to make a general statement about such a diverse group as adopted teenagers, it can be said that adopted persons generally lead normal healthy lives that are no different from the lives of non- adopted persons. They may; however have experiences that are unique to being adopted, and these issues may have an impact on their lives at varying times.
3863 Views	Malnutrition as a cause of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Developmental delays. By : George Rogu M.D. Do malnourished internationally adopted children suffer from Iron deficiency anemia? Could this be a probable cause of the child's developmental delay? What do I as an adoptive parent need to be aware of?
3849 Views	psychological evaluations of the adoptive parent By : Dr. Mark Lerner I have heard that parents who seek to adopt children are often required to undergo extensive psychological evaluations? Is this true? And, if it is, what should my husband and I expect in this process?
3834 Views	Ethiopian Adoption: Preparing to Know Your Child By : ROBERTA KALMAR LMSW Preparing to Know Your Child
3819 Views	Persistent diarrhea in orphan child. By : George Rogu M.D. My child who is 20 months old has a problem with persistent diarrhea. H e had the post-adoption medial workup and nothing came back positive. I just do not understand why his bowels are so loose if there is nothing medically going on with him?
3787 Views	Lactose Intolerance in Asian Children By : George Rogu M.D. Because a high percentage of internationally adopted children are Asian and therefore naturally prone to lactose intolerance issues, can you discuss Giardia’s effects on a child’s ability to digest lactose?
3787 Views	psychological screening tests and evaluations for the newly adopted post-institutionalized children By : Dr. Mark Lerner What are the recommended psychological screening tests and evaluations for the newly adopted post-institutionalized children?
3625 Views	Reader's Question on Microophthalmia... By : James Reilly M.D. There is an orphan available with a condition called MICROOPHTHALMIA. She is 18mos old and is blind in one eye. Can you tell me more about this condition? Can anything be done to regain her vision? Is this condition linked with a syndrome that may not be showing yet?
3548 Views	You have introduced Adoption Stress. Is this the same as Post-Adoption Depression? Who is likely to By : Dr. Mark Lerner You have introduced Adoption Stress. Is this the same as Post-Adoption Depression? Who is likely to experience it and how can it be prevented?
3417 Views	Post-Adoption Medical Examination By : George Rogu M.D. What are the Recommended Screening Tests and Evaluations for newly adopted Post Institutionalized child?
3213 Views	How to choose a Pediatrician for your Internationally adopted child? By : George Rogu M.D. How to choose a Pediatrician for your Internationally adopted child?
3175 Views	Small head size, is it a problem? By : George Rogu M.D. We just received a referral for a 14 month-old Russian girl. Her orphanage medical records are surprisingly detailed. I am concerned about her head measurements (microcephaly?) as they are consistently below the 3rd percentile on the CDC charts. I have read that it is easier to make measurement mistakes erring to the small side than to the large side. Perhaps I am making too much of this; but I have read several articles stressing the significance of this condition when it exceeds 2 Standard Dev
3129 Views	Preparing for International Travel to pick up adoptive child By : George Rogu M.D. We will be traveling to Russia to pick up our beautiful baby boy. What specifics in regards to travel do I need to know about in order to make it a safe and pleasant experience?
3128 Views	International travel tips By : George Rogu M.D. I am journeying overseas to adopt Internationally. I will hopefully be taking my toddler and adolescent on this trip. What can I do to ensure a healthy and enjoyable trip for my family?
3098 Views	Adoption Stress and International Adoption By : Dr. Mark Lerner At a recent presentation, I heard Dr. Lerner use the words, "Adoption Stress." Could he explain the concept here?
3096 Views	Intestinal Parasitis in the orphan child By : George Rogu M.D. Are Intestinal parasites common in orphan children? What do I as an adoptive parent need to know?
3086 Views	Malnourished orphan children and Iron Defciency Anemia By : George Rogu M.D. Do malnourished internationally adopted children suffer from Iron deficiency anemia? Could this be a probable cause of the child's developmental delay? What do I as an adoptive parent need to be aware of?
3032 Views	Reader's Question on Streptodermia By : James Reilly M.D. I have a video and medical on a 10 year old little girl from Russia. She appears very normal and healthy.Her medical history says she has had streptodermia and acute glomerulonephritis (hematuria type). Chronic glomerulonephritis in remission. What is this medical problem?
2998 Views	Positive PPD in the Internationally Adopted child By : George Rogu M.D. I adopted a child from Russia and on my Post-Adoption evaluation it was discovered that he has a positive PPD. Does this mean that he is contagious to my family and what is the course of treatment for my child?
2978 Views	"The two-year old boy we have been referred, has a diagnosis for diabetes on his medical. We are open to special needs, but what would this entail in this case? By : George Rogu M.D. "The two-year old boy we have been referred, has a diagnosis for diabetes on his medical. We are open to special needs, but what would this entail in this case?
2726 Views	"My referral's medical info states that the child tested positive for syphilis at birth? What further questions should I ask - can I still consider this referral?" By : George Rogu M.D. "My referral's medical info states that the child tested positive for syphilis at birth? What further questions should I ask - can I still consider this referral?"
2718 Views	Positive Test for Hepatitis C on the Adoption Medical Abstract By : Nicholas Rogu M.D. Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. The virus causes liver inflammation, which interferes with proper liver function. It can eventually lead to severe, permanent liver damage and cirrhosis and may be complicated by liver cancer. Because the initial symptoms are mild, hepatitis C often goes unnoticed until years later when liver damage is discovered. Maternal-infant transmission is not common.
2703 Views	Zinc Deficiency and the orphan child By : George Rogu M.D. I have heard than many orphanage children that has developmental delay may also suffer from Zinc deficiency? Is this correct and what can we do to manage it ?
2671 Views	Reader's Question on Leukemia in Chinese girls By : George Rogu M.D. "Is Leukemia is a problem specific to children adopted from China? Is there a test that could be performed for leukemia prior to adopting, and most importantly, does hereditary a play a key factor in the diagnosis?"
2559 Views	Reader's Question of Tethered Cord... By : George Rogu M.D. When I adopted my daughter (dob 12-28-01), the orphanage doctor emphasized that I should have her evaluated by a pediatric neurologist. Initially, I did not see any reason for it, but then she had an MRI for evaluation of a possible tethered spinal cord. It was inconclusive, and she is scheduled for a second MRI in mid-February. The area on her back that caused her pediatrician to suspect the condition seems slightly larger than it did in September. If she does have this condition, can you tell me anything about the surgery to correct it--what to expect, recovery, long-term effects of the condition, etc?
2440 Views	Are eye problems and other visual disturbances more prevalent in the internationally adopted child when compared to the general population? By : George Rogu M.D. Poor visual acuity is one of the most important medical factors that can contribute to poor behavioral, developmental and academic achievement in a child if left untreated. The actual country of birth of the child is irrelevant, but there has been a documented increased prevalence of eye problems such as Strabismus and ambyopia in the internationally adopted child, especially the ones that were adopted from Eastern European countries.
2406 Views	Reader's question on Bedwetting By : James Reilly M.D. "Enuresis: Our newly adopted 4 year old son wets his bed every night, even when we withdraw liquids before bedtime, what can we do?"
2369 Views	Guatemala Adoption Medical Issues By : George Rogu M.D. What are some the medical concerns and health issues associated with International adoption from Guatemala?
2338 Views	Impact of Traumatic Stress on Parents By : Dr. Mark Lerner You write frequently about the impact of traumatic stress with adoptive children. Could you address the impact of traumatic stress experienced by the parents of adoptive children?
2318 Views	Question on Orphanages and Development By : George Rogu M.D. What is it about Institutions and Orphanages that make them so detrimental to a child’s overall health and development?
2231 Views	Should an Internationally adopted child be screened for H. Pylori even if he/she seem asymptomatic? By : George Rogu M.D. Should an Internationally adopted child be screened for H. Pylori even if he/she seem asymptomatic?
2211 Views	Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) on the Adoption Medical Report By : Nicholas Rogu M.D. While reviewing the adoption medical abstract you may come across a cardiac finding that may require further investigation. It is important to determine if there is any cardiac abnormality which may affect the development of the child. There are some congenital heart conditions (those that you are born with) which can occur for a variety of reasons. Some may be due to maternal infections during the pregnancy, medical conditions like Diabetes or Lupus, or result from maternal drug or alcohol use.
2202 Views	Oligophrenia in the Biological mother By : James Reilly M.D. " The little girl that My husband and I may be adopting from KAZAKHSTAN was taken away from her mother because her mother was DX with oligophrenia and was unable to care for her. (this scares me because I teach mentally handicapped children and I know many of them have low IQ parents. I also know that environment is a factor. The little girl is almost 2 and she is described as normal development but does have a dx of rickets. What are the chances of oligophrenia being hereditary???"
2202 Views	Please let me know if a child with a diagnosed "sponge kidney" would By : James Reilly M.D. Please let me know if a child with a diagnosed "sponge kidney" would have serious health concerns in the future?
2184 Views	Internationally adopted child who is a carrier of Hepatitis C antibodies. By : James Reilly M.D. We are considering adopting a child who is a carrier of Hepatitis C antibodies. We have other children at home. Are we posing a risk to our other children?"
2180 Views	Hepatitis B infection in the Institutionalized the child. By : George Rogu M.D. My referrals initial Hepatitis B screen was positive at birth, but a follow-up screening test showed a negative result what does this mean?
2171 Views	Tuberculosis Screening in the Internationally Adopted Child By : Nicholas Rogu M.D. Tuberculosis Screening in the Internationally Adopted Child
2140 Views	"Medical Issues of the Post Institutionalized Child" By : George Rogu M.D. What are some of the medical issues encountered in children adopted internationally?
2096 Views	I have heard that Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is more common among adoptive children than the general population. Is this true? And, if so, why? By : Dr. Mark Lerner I have heard that Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is more common among adoptive children than the general population. Is this true? And, if so, why?
2055 Views	Salmonella infection in the Internationally adopted child By : James Reilly M.D. I would like to know about Salmonella in a institutionalized child. Our child had acquired it twice....first at 4 mos....then again was hospitalized for it at 8 months. Is there a deficiency that we should be aware of that keeps him from not contracting this? Also, should we be aware of serious long term effects of Salmonella?
2040 Views	Can immunization records from orphanages be relied upon By : George Rogu M.D. Can immunization records from orphanages be relied upon, given that vaccinations in third-world nations often are not on par with accepted standards?
2011 Views	Reader's Question on Giardia Infection By : George Rogu M.D. On the post-adoption medical examination, my son who was adopted from Russia had something called Giardia in the school. Why did he get this disease and how serious is it?
1979 Views	"What challenges can be expected when arthrogryposis is indicated on the adoptive child's medical record?" By : James Reilly M.D. "What challenges can be expected when arthrogryposis is indicated on the adoptive child's medical record?"
1859 Views	Reader's Question on HIV Infection... By : George Rogu M.D. "We are in the referral stage of an adorable 15 month old baby girl. Her medical reports state that she has had perinatal contact with HIV. The baby has since been tested Negative twice for HIV. What should we know before we proceed?"
1784 Views	Children Grown Up: Teenage and Adolescent Bedwetting By : Urinating while asleep, also called nocturnal enuresis, is common in children. It is messy and upsetting, but as it is unintentional, it is simply a sign of a developing body growing adapted to sleeping without diapers. Bedwetting in teenagers and adolescents, however, may be worrisome for parents; it can be awkward for older children, and is considered a physical symptom of deeper troubles in a teenager or adolescent.
1603 Views	Developmental Milestones for Children Ages Birth to Three Years Old By : Lilya Popovetsky, MA SpEd. Although every child grows differently and there are variations of what is considered developmentally “within normal limits”, there are specific milestones that all children should reach by certain milestones ages.
1532 Views	PAKISTANI GUARDIANSHIP “ADOPTIONS” for Muslim Families By : ROBERTA KALMAR LMSW Pakistani/American families who want to rear a Pakistani infant orphan from their country are increasingly doing so under the rules of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
1528 Views	Psycho-medical and social effects of natural disasters By : Dr. Mark Lerner What are some of the psycho-medical and social effects of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina on children living through this traumatic event?
1514 Views	Congential hip dysplasia in the orphan child By : George Rogu M.D. We just received a referral of a 1 year old child to evaluate. The report states that she has "dysplasia of coxofermoral joints". I'm wondering if this is the same as "hip dysplasia" which I understand appears on a lot of referrals.
1502 Views	Strategies to wean child off of Institutional care living By : George Rogu M.D. What are some strategies that I as parent can implement to help my child rehabilitate from the institutional care setting?...
1501 Views	I have heard that many internationally adopted children are at risk for Reactive Attachment Disorder. What is this disorder and what are some of the signs that parents should look for? By : Dr. Mark Lerner I have heard that many internationally adopted children are at risk for Reactive Attachment Disorder. What is this disorder and what are some of the signs that parents should look for?
1442 Views	Reader's Question on Blind international adoption referrals. By : George Rogu M.D. I have a Blind referral but I would feel more comfortable if a medical professional reviews my child’s data and video while I am traveling overseas. How can I prepare the medical package and how do I get the data back home in a timely fashion?
1428 Views	China Adoption Medical Issues By : George Rogu M.D. What are some of the health concerns and social issues associated with international adoption from China?
1377 Views	Why is sleeping a major issue with my internationally adopted child? By : George Rogu M.D. Why is sleeping a major issue with my internationally adopted child?
1363 Views	My child was born with a cleft lip/palate deformity, what do I need to know? By : George Rogu M.D. My child was born with a cleft lip/palate deformity, what do I need to know?
1332 Views	What To Do About Head Lice By : John Rouque The small parasites that reside on our scalps and lead to a great deal of itchiness are called head lice. They live on the blood they manage to suck from our heads. It is due to this that head lice that have no human hosts do not live for a long time. A mother louse usually births about six eggs per day. Eight days from such, baby lice are hatched and transform into full adults after two weeks. A person infested with lice will usually have a dozen of them adults living in his head at a single time, but there are generally hundreds of eggs around just waiting to hatch.
1267 Views	Reader's Question on Orphanage to family life Transition period By : George Rogu M.D. "After arriving home how can I help ease the transition from orphanage life to family life?"
1257 Views	Worries with HIV + orphan By : James Reilly M.D. "I would like to know if anyone should adopt a child that is HIV- (tested at birth and at 10 mos both neg) but born to a mom HIV +, What worries should we have if we accept this referral? "
1249 Views	Reader's Question on Perinatal Lesions CNS or Perinatal (prenatal) encephalopathy By : George Rogu M.D. We were just referred a 7 month old boy that was born at 35-36 weeks. The medical report we received says that the neurologist diagnosed him as having "perinatal lesion of central nervous system." In June and August, the notation "early recovery period" was on the report. In October, the notation was "late recovery period." Is "perinatal lesion of CNS" something that you frequently see? How concerned should we be?
1229 Views	Orphanages as the cause for ADHD By : James Reilly M.D. I am wondering how you differentiate a child suffering from ADHD from a child who was raised for 2.5 years in an orphanage and has very limited early life data.
1132 Views	Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder and the Internationally adopted child By : Nicholas Rogu M.D. Childhood Onset Bipolar Disorder and the Internationally adopted child
1122 Views	Medical issues encountered in Internationally Adopted Children By : George Rogu M.D. What are some of the medical issues encountered in children adopted internationally?
1109 Views	Help! My Child Won't go to School By : "How do I get my nine-year-old daughter to school? She seems to have tummy aches or headaches constantly, and misses several days of school each week. Any suggestion that she must go and she screams and cries and seems to be genuinely afraid of going to school. What can we do?"
1054 Views	Is child Abuse More Prevalent in International Adopters? By : George Rogu M.D. Is child abuse more prevalent in parents who adopt a child Internationally as opposed to parents who have biological children?
1046 Views	Recommended Medical screening test for the Internationally Adopted Child By : George Rogu M.D. "What are the Recommended Screening Tests and Evaluations for newly adopted Post Institutionalized children?"
1037 Views	Adopted granddaughter is obsessing about her birth mother By : Dr. Mark Lerner Adopted granddaughter is obsessing about her birth mother.
1035 Views	Parenting Advice: Children Who Lie By : Nothing creates adult anger like children lying. It's ironic since it's usually adults who set the child up to lie. This is how it works:
1020 Views	Reader's Question on FAS... By : George Rogu M.D. Can Fetal alcohol syndrome be distinguished by doctors and is there a test that can be performed to help with the diagnosis?
1011 Views	Hepatitis A infection in the orphan child By : George Rogu M.D. Is Hepatitis A infection something that I should worry about in my internationally adopted child?
988 Views	VIETNAM ADOPTION: THE ADOPTION HOME STUDY By : ROBERTA KALMAR LMSW VIETNAM ADOPTION: THE ADOPTION HOME STUDY AND MEETING THE ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
977 Views	How important is it to maintain the child’s original language, especially if the Adoptive child is older when he arrives home? By : George Rogu M.D. How important is it to maintain the child’s original language, especially if the Adoptive child is older when he arrives home?
968 Views	Dealing with the Other Difficult Parent By : Q. I have a stepdaughter who is four years old. Her real mother whom she visits on weekends is in and out of jail; she has 86 felonies. Each visit leaves the child distraught; she gets depressed and sinks into her shell.
966 Views	Adoption Travel Options By : Leslie Zindulka LCSW-R Adoption Travel Options So many questions come to mind. So many variables to consider.
959 Views	Rickets in the Orphan child By : George Rogu M.D. I am considering this sibling group from Russia (Vladimir), two girls 5 and 8 years old. On the medical report of the younger child, it states that she has had Rickets but her health is now good. It does not state what caused rickets. My concern is that she will have future medical problems from this. What do I need to know and what should I expect?
955 Views	Russian medical jargon or real medical problems? By : George Rogu M.D. I am adopting a 3 ½ y/o child from Russia. From a parents point of view, this child looks pretty normal yet his medical record is full of scary diagnosis. Can you explain what these diagnosis actually mean and do they really mean something or can they just be dismissed as just non-relevant medical jargon?
951 Views	Do Your Children Whine? By : Nathalie Kretzmann M.S Is your children's whining driving you crazy? Why do they do that?! Because they've learned that it gets them what they want. (You've inadvertently taught them that.) To get them to change their behavior, you will have to change yours: you will have to respond differently.
945 Views	What is post-traumatic stress and how does it manifest in the young institutionalized child? By : Dr. Mark Lerner What is post-traumatic stress and how does it manifest in the young institutionalized child?
930 Views	When Your Child is Afraid to go on Sleep-Overs By : Children love to go on sleep-overs with their friends - or to camps and other special events for kids. But for some children their fear of sleeping away from home overshadows the daytime fun - perhaps even to the extent that they simply won't go. If your child is struggling with such a fear, perhaps this will help you to help her.
928 Views	What can I do if there isn’t a RAD therapist within 100 miles of my home? By : Dr. Mark Lerner My pediatrician believes that my child has Reactive Attachment Disorder. What can I do if there isn’t a RAD therapist within 100 miles of my home?
923 Views	How to Bring Up Your Children To Become Excellent By : dechenlau Childhood years are the best times to learn. Somehow, a person’s comprehension is at its peak during childhood. Parents should take advantage of these learning years to ingrain the values of life in their children.
915 Views	What symptoms suggest that an adoptive child has been exposed to a significant traumatic event? By : Dr. Mark Lerner What symptoms suggest that an adoptive child has been exposed to a significant traumatic event?
911 Views	Newborn screening program for babies adopted internationally from Guatemala By : George Rogu M.D. Why is the newborn screening program important for babies being adopted internationally from Guatemala?
909 Views	Medical requirements for Adopted child with Tetrology of Fallot By : George Rogu M.D. This handsome little guy looks healthy and happy. He has a wonderful smile for those he knows but he tends to be more of a serious baby. This little boy "was born with a heart condition that has been diagnosed as Tetrology of the Fallot (TOF). " What medical requirements might this child have?
897 Views	What can the adoption community do as a whole in order to better prepare their families for International adoption? By : George Rogu M.D. What can the adoption community do as a whole in order to better prepare their families for International adoption?
894 Views	Russian Diagnosis are they real? By : George Rogu M.D. I am adopting a 3 ½ y/o child from Russia. From a parents point of view, this child looks pretty normal yet his medical record is full of scary diagnosis. Can you explain what these diagnosis actually mean and do they really mean something or can they just be dismissed as just non-relevant medical jargon?
893 Views	What Impacts the Home Study: Who May Adopt By : Leslie Zindulka LCSW-R What Impacts the Home Study: Who May Adopt
887 Views	HOW DO I PREPARE FOR THE FIRST POST-PLACEMENT SUPERVISORY INTERVIEW? By : ROBERTA KALMAR LMSW The challenges facing first time parents are overwhelming. It is because of the evolving questions that deal with child rearing, personal development, and family dynamics that post-placement supervision comes at this most opportune time, for with the post-placement period marks the onset of family and the transition to parenthood.
886 Views	Is honesty the best policy during the home study? By : Leslie Zindulka LCSW-R Parents with a drug possession misdemeanor 30 years ago, can this affect the home study?
867 Views	Reader's Question on Club Foot deformity... By : George Rogu M.D. My referral is a special needs newborn with bilateral clubfoot. What is this condition and is it correctable?
861 Views	Parenting Tips: What To Do When You're Told, "You're not my Dad! By : Q. "My son's father left us five years ago. Since then, I have remarried to a lovely man. David, my husband, has tried hard to make friends with Nathan, and left all the disciplining to me. Yet, though we have been married three years, my son still refuses to do anything that my husband asks. How do I get him to listen to his step father?"
856 Views	Early Intervention Process: What should I Expect? By : ROBERTA KALMAR LMSW The process of receiving an Early Intervention (EI) Evaluation for children birth to three years old consist of four steps. The four steps are: 1. referral, 2. meeting your initial service coordinator (ISC), 3. initial evaluation and 4. Indiviualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) if your child is eligible.
850 Views	Manage Your Stress In 7 Days By : In what way you start tearing your hair out because of frustration, grief, anxiety and, yes, stress? They say there's more than one way to skin a cat. They're right. The same thing applies to your dealing with frustration, grief, anxiety and stress. It's a state of mental conditioning that is like taking that bitter pill down your throat, causing you to lose your sense of self, and worse your sanity. Just thinking about it can drive anyone crazy.
848 Views	impact of traumatic stress experienced by the parents of adoptive children? By : Dr. Mark Lerner You write frequently about the impact of traumatic stress with adoptive children. Could you address the impact of traumatic stress experienced by the parents of adoptive children?
832 Views	Make travelling with children enjoyable By : You're planning a long trip and the children will be going. Maybe it's a visit to your sister or a summer vacation. You know you will have a good time when you get there but the car ride, well that's a different story. You've done it before and the memories... Well let's just say you survived.