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
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
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
Weight affects white, Hispanic kids’ mental health
A new study adds to evidence that overweight teenagers are more prone to depression and anxiety, but suggests the effects vary by race and ethnicity. Researchers found that among more than 35,000 U.S. teenagers in a national health survey, white and Hispanic teens who were overweight were more likely to have symptoms of depression or anxiety than their thinner counterparts. However, this was not true... 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
Sports safe for most kids with disabilities
A new study suggests that most disabled teenagers who take part in school sports programs have a low rate of injury, though some may be at relatively higher risk. Many special education programs in the U.S. offer competitive and non- competitive sports for students with mental and physical impairments. Whether these children are at particular risk for sprains, concussions and other injuries has not... Read more
Recess Makes for Better Students
As a pediatric resident in a hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., Dr. Romina M. Barros sat in on a regular first-grade class at a local elementary school. Classes started at 8:30 in the morning, lasting till noon, with one 10-minute break during which children were not allowed to talk or move from their chairs. “It was winter, and I thought maybe they didn’t go outside because of the weather,”... Read more
Preschool Lunch Doesn’t Always Pack Nutritious Punch
When parents pack their preschoolers’ lunches, they may be sacrificing nutrition by giving the children food they like. That’s one of the conclusions of a new study in the January issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The study also found that 71 percent of packed lunches didn’t have enough fruits and vegetables, and that one in four preschool tots didn’t... Read more
MRSA rising in kids’ ear, nose, throat infections
Researchers say they found an “alarming” increase in children’s ear, nose and throat infections nationwide caused by dangerous drug-resistant staph germs. Other studies have shown rising numbers of skin infections in adults and children caused by these germs, nicknamed MRSA, but this is the first nationwide report on how common they are in deeper tissue infections in the head and... Read more
Vicks VapoRub can harm children under 2
Vicks VapoRub, a common cold remedy, can cause respiratory distress in children under 2 when inappropriately applied directly under the nose, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday. They said using the Procter & Gamble Co product in this way can cause a young child’s tiny airways to swell and fill with mucus, triggering severe breathing problems. “The only problem we’ve seen is in... Read more