C-section may raise kids’ asthma risk: study

Children born by cesarean delivery are at increased risk for developing asthma, particularly if their parents have allergies, according to a report published this month. C-section has been thought to be a risk factor for asthma, although the relationship is controversial, Dr. H. A. Smit, from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in Bilthoven, the Netherlands, and colleagues... Read more

Respiratory virus common in U.S. children: study

A highly contagious respiratory virus is far more widespread among children than once thought and puts more of them in the hospital than influenza, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday. They projected that the respiratory syncytial virus, known as RSV, affects 2.1 million children under the age of 5 each year. Over four years, from November through April, the virus was responsible for 20 percent... Read more

Smoking in pregnancy cuts blood flow to the fetus

Smoking during pregnancy reduces blood flow to the developing fetus and, in turn, retards growth, new research suggests. “We have known for 50 years that infants born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy have lower birth weights,” lead investigator Dr. Malene Rohr Andersen, from Gentoffe University Hospital in Hellerup, Denmark, said in a statement. “But this study provides a possible... Read more

Obesity can complicate teen pregnancy

Obesity has been linked to higher odds of several pregnancy complications, and a new study shows that the risks apply to teenagers as well as adults. In a study of teenage first-time mothers who gave birth at one urban hospital, researchers found that obese girls were at greater risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy or requiring a cesarean section during delivery. In the past, some of the main... Read more

Mouse Study Suggests ADHD Drug Might Be Addictive

Ritalin, a drug commonly used to treat children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), caused changes in the brain cells of mice similar to those seen with cocaine, a new study shows. The researchers, from The Rockefeller University in New York City, said the findings suggest that chronic exposure to Ritalin in high doses could prove addictive, and highlight the need for more research... Read more

Childhood Beach Vacations May Boost Melanoma Risk

Vacations at the shore during childhood may boost the risk of the deadly skin cancer melanoma later in life, a new study suggests. Researchers from Denver evaluated 681 children born in 1998 in Colorado, asking their parents about childhood vacation destinations and then conducting skin exams when the children were age 7 to look for nevi — commonly known as moles. These moles are a risk factor... Read more

Common Chemicals May Delay Pregnancy

Chemicals known as perfluorinated chemicals, which are pervasive in food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products, may delay pregnancy, a new study suggests. These chemicals are being phased out in the United States because of their toxic effects, and are expected to be completely gone by 2010. However, they remain in the environment and in the body for decades,... Read more

Gene Discovered for Most Common Form of Epilepsy

Researchers have linked a genetic variation to a common form of epilepsy in children, potentially paving the way toward greater insight into the disorder. “It’s the first step toward developing a diagnostic test, which can help provide a more precise diagnosis and information about which particular drug or treatment may be effective,” said study senior author Dr. Deb Pal, a pediatric... Read more

Child food aid inadequate for nourishment: MSF

The food aid usually given to young children in developing nations is inadequate and should be replaced with products specifically designed for them, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Tuesday. “In the current cupboard of emergency aid, there are foods that are appropriate for adults. But for young children, the foods are powders made from enriched cereals invented 30 years ago,” the leader... Read more

Intensive Insulin Therapy Reduces Mortality in Sick Kids

Intensive insulin therapy may reduce the risk of death, infection and the length of intensive care stays for seriously ill children, a European study suggests. Abnormally high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) often occurs in critically ill infants and children, and increases their risk of secondary infections and death. This study included 700 critically ill patients — 317 infants under 1 and 383... Read more

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