Child Health News and Research

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Benadryl does not improve infant sleep

An antihistamine often recommended to parents whose infants do not sleep through the night may not be effective in reducing nighttime awakenings or improving parents' happiness with their children's sleep.

3 Jul 2006

Evidence that environmental factors such as common infections may be a trigger for diabetes

A major study has added weight to the theory that environmental factors such as common infections may be a trigger for diabetes in children and young adults.

3 Jul 2006

Doctors say lives are in jeopardy because the public has been misled over MMR vaccine

Britain's top paediatricians and childhood vaccination experts have come out in force to condemn how the public has been misled over the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

29 Jun 2006

Aussies trial promising bird flu vaccine

An Australian vaccine against the deadly bird flu has shown such good results in preliminary trials that researchers are about to test it on volunteers.

29 Jun 2006

Australian team test new bird flu vaccine

Australian researchers have begun a trial to test the effectiveness of a new vaccine to protect against the potentially deadly bird flu.

28 Jun 2006

New push to tackle priorities in sexual and reproductive health

Leaders of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, are coordinating action to reverse the global trend of deteriorating levels of sexual and reproductive health and reduce the adverse impact on mothers, babies and young people.

20 Jun 2006

Who is to blame for the measles epidemic in Britain?

Health officials in Britain say the country is in the grip of the worst outbreak of measles and have blamed the 20-year high on a loss of confidence in the MMR vaccination.

19 Jun 2006

Overweight first-graders come from over strict parents

According to a new study having a strict parent may result in children becoming overweight by the time they reach first grade, while parents who show concern but are flexible produce offspring who retain a more normal weight level.

6 Jun 2006

Discovery of protein associated with severe preeclampsia

Researchers have identified a second protein which, in combination with sFlt1, escalates preeclampsia to a severe - and life-threatening - state.

6 Jun 2006

Heel prick test can cause unnecessary parental stress

Virtually all babies in the U.S. have their heels pricked soon after birth to get a blood sample for genetic testing.

5 Jun 2006

Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy in relation to child development

Many cultures hold that stress during pregnancy affects a woman's unborn child. However, there has been surprisingly little research on the topic.

17 May 2006

Boys more vulnerable and emotionally engaged in romantic relationships than previously thought

Teenage boys have feelings, too, and when it comes to matters of the heart, they may not be so fleeting after all. Not far beneath the bravado often on display is an unsure adolescent who finds it hard to express emotions that, while new, are nonetheless often sincerely felt.

10 May 2006

US infant mortality rates show no significant improvements

Nearly 28,000 babies died before their first birthday, according to new infant mortality statistics for 2003 released by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).

8 May 2006

Study highlights increased passive smoking risk at home

Most non-smoking mothers recognise the need to protect sick children from smoking husbands, but persuading their spouse to quit isn't always an option, according to research published in the latest Journal of Advanced Nursing.

8 May 2006

Many children still exposed at home to tobacco smoke - exposure linked to behavioral problems

According to research in the U.S. even though most Americans are in agreement with smoking restrictions in public places, many adults still expose their children to significant health risks by smoking cigarettes at home.

3 May 2006

Analysis of 'virginity pledges'

Adolescents who sign a "virginity pledge" and then go on to have premarital sex are likely to disavow having signed such a pledge

3 May 2006

Link between colicky babies and postpartum depression

A compelling connection exists between colicky babies and postpartum depression, according to a study conducted by a Brown Medical School professor and Rhode Island Department of Health family health experts.

3 May 2006

Burch colposuspension can prevent urinary incontinence after prolapse surgery

Women who undergo surgery to correct pelvic organ prolapse - a condition in which the vagina and nearby organs lose support and fall out of position - often find that the surgery comes with a bothersome tradeoff: urinary stress incontinence.

19 Apr 2006

New tool taps drool for clues to childhood stress

In four separate studies of mothers and their infants, preschoolers, kids and teens, a multi-university research team has shown, for the first time, that a simple test of a little drool can provide new insight into the role of social stressors, including relationships with parents and teachers, in child development.

19 Apr 2006

Research highlights importance of teachers and parents working together in the child's best interest

Researchers have generally believed that teachers are better than parents at evaluating the behavior of school children, because teachers have a bigger group of children for comparison.

11 Apr 2006