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Most children with infective conjunctivitis (pinkeye) do not need treatment with an antibiotic

One in eight school children have an episode of conjunctivitis every year. This amounts to more than 1 million episodes in the UK and more than 5 million in the USA. Diagnosis of the condition is usually straight forward but doctors find difficulty in differentiating a viral cause from a bacterial cause.

21 Jun 2005

Smoking ban planned for many public areas in the UK

The British Government is all set to implement smoking bans in many public areas.

20 Jun 2005

Protocol used to treat the first known survivor of rabies without prior vaccination published

The protocol used to treat the first known survivor of rabies without prior vaccination is published in the June 16, 2005, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. It is hoped that this approach can be replicated, tested, and provide a guide for treating this fatal condition, especially in parts of the world where the incidence of rabies is rampant.

15 Jun 2005

Survey reflects need for continued focus on patient safety

A survey of Calgary Health Region employees and physicians indicates the Region continues to make progress in improving patient safety, but further action is required to address specific areas of concern such as the reporting of hazards.

15 Jun 2005

12-year-old cancer victim taken into care after parents block treatment on religious grounds

State Child Protective Services in Texas are going to court on June 15 to try to get custody of a 12-year-old girl suffering from advanced Hodgkin's disease.

9 Jun 2005

Research looks at palliative care services in hospitals

In more and more hospitals across the U.S., patients turn to palliative care specialists to provide relief from pain, help in making difficult medical decisions and support for their families and those who care for them.

9 Jun 2005

Northern Ireland is leading the way with a strategy aimed at reducing the impact of respiratory disease

'A Healthier Future: A Strategic Framework for Respiratory Conditions', is a consultation document which sets out a 10-year framework for preventing respiratory disease, and for improving treatment and care for people with respiratory conditions.

9 Jun 2005

Finances are leading cause of stress

Asked to identify their leading cause of stress, 23 percent of respondents selected “finances” and 21 percent chose “job/career” - the top two responses to an online poll conducted by LifeCare, Inc., the exclusive provider of Life Event Management Services. The poll was open to employees of LifeCare's 1,500 client companies nationwide via its web site, www.lifecare.com, during the month of April.

2 Jun 2005

Children in residential institutions desperately vulnerable to abuse

Violence against children in residential institutions can be found across Europe and Central Asia, according to research gathered by UNICEF in the run-up to a major conference on violence against children. The research also reveals glaring gaps in knowledge and data.

1 Jun 2005

Half of NHS stafff come from outside the UK and Europe

Almost half of the recent 16000 staff expansion of the NHS came from the recruitment of health professionals trained outside the UK and Europe, states an article in this week’s issue of The Lancet.

26 May 2005

Practice of defensive medicine widespread among physicians in specialties at high risk of lawsuits

More than 90 percent of surveyed physicians in Pennsylvania reported defensive medicine practices such as over-ordering of diagnostic tests, unnecessary referrals and avoidance of high-risk patients, according to a study in the June 1 issue of JAMA.

25 May 2005

UK Chief Medical Officer updates heatwave plan

The dangers of heat were today highlighted by the Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson with the publication of an updated heatwave plan and new public information leaflets.

11 May 2005

Help needed for chronic care

Many general practitioners are keen to adopt a team-based approach that promises better treatment for patients with chronic conditions, but they face a number of significant obstacles, according to research in the School of Commerce at Flinders University, Australia.

10 May 2005

Children's experiences at home can have a direct impact on their performance at school

Recent findings from the South Wales Family Study suggest that the quality of relations between parents not only affects children's long-term emotional and behavioural development but also affects their long-term academic achievement.

9 May 2005

$Soft tissue injuries can predict risk of facial fractures in trauma patients$

Soft tissue injuries can predict risk of facial fractures in trauma patients

Trauma patients with specific types of facial soft tissue injuries should have a CT (computed tomography) scan of the face as well as a standard head scan to determine the presence and severity of facial fractures, according to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.

8 May 2005

$577 million provided for new Alberta health and learning centre

Alberta has committed $577 million to build a world-class health and learning facility that will change the way patients are diagnosed and treated and how medical students are trained.

28 Apr 2005

RCN nurses demand prostitution be decriminalised

A dynamic slogan designed to grab attention "Be bold. Be daring. Be caring and support decriminalisation," has been used in an attempt by the Royal College of Nursing in the UK, to call on the government to decriminalise prostitution in order to protect the health of vulnerable women and men who feel unable to access NHS and social services.

27 Apr 2005