Patti Neighmond

In 1987, NPR's Patricia Neighmond first profiled Archie Harrison, a young man living with HIV. What followed was a year of highs and lows, of recovery and acceptance.

Patti Neighmond, an outgoing health policy correspondent who has worked at NPR for 40 years, remembers her favorite story — about a young quadriplegic woman dependent on a ventilator.

Early in the pandemic, people were advised to disinfect everything they touched. But now that scientists understand more about how COVID-19 spreads, all that scrubbing down may have been overkill.

Many favorite holiday traditions could be treacherous this year because of the coronavirus. Here's how experts view the risks — and some creative, safer alternatives to keep up a festive mood.

Research shows having a pet improves both physical and mental health. But economic hardships are making it hard for some families to keep their pets. Animal welfare groups are trying to help.

"Relationships with animals are simple," notes one researcher. In a year when life feels fraught, pets have been healers, helping human companions get exercise, quell anxiety and make new friends.

The nationwide increase in pet adoptions during the pandemic is good news for orphaned animals. It's also good for humans. Research shows pets can improve both physical and mental health.

As in-person schooling returns in some districts, mental health professionals say many children will face difficulties as a result of the isolation and worry they experience during the pandemic.

A new report highlights the disproportionate harm the pandemic has done to Black people, Latinos and Native Americans, and systemic factors behind it. It lays out steps to repair the problems.

Some people have skipped care because of finances or fear of the virus, doctors say. Others find medical practices closed to new patients. Many are suffering health consequences, an NPR poll finds.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds the vast majority of children dying from COVID-19 are children of color.

According to data reported to the CDC, 121 children died from COVID-19 between February and July of this year. And 78% of the children who died were Hispanic, Black or Native American.

In major cities, at least 1 in 5 Americans reported being unable to get medical care or delaying medical care for serious problems due to the pandemic, according to a new poll by NPR and two others.

Some COVID-19 patients have mild to moderate symptoms and recover quickly, but others suffer for months. And scientists don't know why some are more susceptible to having prolonged symptoms.

As schools weigh the risks of reopening, many are making plans to lower the risks of coronavirus transmission. Here's how to vet your school's proposals.

In wake of George Floyd's killing and the Black Lives Matter protests, conversations about race in America have a new urgency. Here's how Black parents are having 'the talk' with their children today.

For children, the distress shows itself in difficult moods, stomachaches or even regression to behaviors from earlier childhood. Here are seven ideas to help anxious kids feel better.

As gyms open for business, new rules aim to limit the spread of COVID-19, including spacing equipment, regular cleanings and limiting attendance. But experts say it's still safer to exercise at home.

Children keep staying mostly at home, as the pandemic continues with hot spots emerging around the country. With daycare and summer camps up in the air, many children are facing confusion and stress.

Two families talk about their experiences with psychological problems arising in their children because of the stress of racism and the recent protests. Psychologists provide perspective.