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Cataloguing microbes in gut could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

Scientists have for the first time sequenced and reconstructed the genomes of most of the microbes in the gut of a premature newborn and documented how the microbe populations changed over time.

14 Jan 2011

Study reports long-term complications in childhood survivors of bacterial meningitis

Nearly half of children who survive an episode of bacterial meningitis experience persistent behavioral, intellectual, or other complications, reports a study in the January issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

14 Jan 2011

First international conference on pediatric psychological trauma in infants and young children

The First International Conference: Pediatric Psychological Trauma in Infants and Young Children from Illness, Injury and Medical Intervention now available on DVD in its entirety, brought together ten of the most respected, multidisciplinary pediatric researchers and clinicians to present their individual assessments on the status of the care of young children who continue to be victims of psychological trauma from illness, injury and medical intervention.

13 Jan 2011

Antibiotics need to be used only when diagnosis of acute ear infection is certain

A new study showed that antibiotics are more effective than previously thought in the treatment of acute ear infection (namely acute otitis media) in young children. However, half of the children became better without antibiotics. Expectedly, antibiotics caused more adverse events. Antibiotics should be used only when the diagnosis of acute ear infection is certain.

13 Jan 2011

Genetic information from Guthrie cards may serve as valuable resource to diagnose infant diseases

Van Andel Research Institute researchers have developed a method that can yield more information from archived newborn blood that has implications for a vast array of research, including population health studies and answering questions about diseases in infants and children.

13 Jan 2011

Largest long-term examination of children's health and development in the US

The National Children's Study (NCS) has begun inviting women in San Diego to participate in the largest long-term examination of children's health and development ever conducted in the United States.

13 Jan 2011

Maximum Potential Group provides ABA training for parents with autistic children

Parents of children with autism often face a daunting task of paying for the prescribed hours of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy for their children. With the rate of autism listed at 1 in every 110 children, and the average yearly cost of ABA therapy between $10,000 and $30,000, more families than ever are facing an uphill battle to pay for services.

13 Jan 2011

Obesity in children today may contribute to 2-5 year decline in life expectancy

For the first time in history, the next generation will not live longer, or even as long, as their parents. "Diseases such as Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart conditions and joint deterioration - what were once considered 'adult' diseases - are regularly being diagnosed in children, due to the prevalence of obesity," said Jessica Bartfield, MD, internal medicine and medical weight-loss specialist at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital, part of the Loyola University Health System.

13 Jan 2011

Antibiotics for ear infection in kids better than watchful waiting: Study

Findings from two latest clinical trials reveal that a young child with ear infections recovers faster and more completely if doctors give antibiotics right away rather than waiting to see if the kid get better on his/her own. One of the studies was in the U.S. and one in Finland. Earlier it has been debated that for young children with middle ear infections or otitis media whether immediate antibiotic treatment was better than watchful waiting. Current treatment recommendations in the U.S., Canada, and Europe allow for a watch-and-wait approach to suspected middle ear infections in young children. Change is coming, predicts study leader Alejandro Hoberman, MD, of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

12 Jan 2011

Educational psychologist calls for national review of medicating children to treat behavioural issues

According to the NHS Business Service Authority, some prescriptions of amphetamines for children have increased nearly 120 fold between 1994 and 2009. This is causing ongoing concern amongst some educational and child psychologists.

12 Jan 2011

Kaiser Permanente Northwest leads nation in counseling against childhood obesity

Kaiser Permanente Northwest leads the nation among all reporting commercial health plans with top marks in counseling children for physical activity and nutrition, according to the National Committee on Quality Assurance's Quality Compass for 2010.

12 Jan 2011

Baby-led weaning feasible for most infants

Most babies can reach out for and eat finger food by six to eight months, according to a study in the January issue of Maternal and Child Nutrition.

12 Jan 2011

Ascension Health launches project to determine best methods to reduce or eliminate birth complications

Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit healthcare system, is launching a demonstration project to determine best methods to reduce or eliminate birth complications. The project, Excellence in Obstetrics, will take place within the obstetrical care units at five Ascension Health Ministries.

12 Jan 2011

Michael Cuccione Foundation donates $5 million to support childhood cancer research

The Michael Cuccione Foundation is donating $5 million to support the childhood cancer research program at the Child & Family Research Institute at BC Children's Hospital, now named the Michael Cuccione Foundation Childhood Cancer Research Program. The gift, the largest ever to cancer research at BC Children's, was announced during an event at the research institute, where the program is based.

12 Jan 2011

DNA blood test can help rule out Down's syndrome among high risk pregnancies

The blood test could mean that 98% of invasive procedures could be avoided, say the authors. The test uses the latest DNA technology to analyse genetic components in the mother's blood that indicate whether the foetus has Down's.

12 Jan 2011

Aid workers should pay extra attention to girls during food insecurity, say researchers

In situations of chronic food shortage, parents are inclined to give boys a preferential treatment. Anyway, the health of their daughters suffers more from food insecurity. This is shown by research fromp the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Ethiopia, appearing in the journal Pediatrics.

12 Jan 2011

Neurology professor receives MFRF's 'See the Light' award for Tay-Sachs research

Miguel Sena-Esteves, PhD, associate professor of neurology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, was presented with the annual "See the Light" award from the Mathew Forbes Romer Foundation in recognition of his work for leading the fight against children's genetic diseases of the brain.

12 Jan 2011

'MMR doctor' planned scheme to make millions from his health scare

Andrew Wakefield, the disgraced doctor who claimed a link between MMR and autism, planned secret businesses intended to make huge sums of money, in Britain and America, from his now-discredited allegations.

12 Jan 2011

Study supports use of telomerase inhibitors for treatment of childhood cancers

Geron Corporation today announced the publication of preclinical data demonstrating that the company's telomerase inhibitor drug, imetelstat (GRN163L), currently in Phase 2 clinical trials, selectively targets cancer stem cells in pediatric tumors of neural origin.

11 Jan 2011

Breathing tobacco smoke increases blood pressure of pre-school children

If you smoke around your children, they could have high blood pressure or be headed in an unhealthy direction before learning their ABC's, according to research reported in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

11 Jan 2011

Child Health News

Cataloguing microbes in gut could lead to cause of necrotizing enterocolitis

Study reports long-term complications in childhood survivors of bacterial meningitis

First international conference on pediatric psychological trauma in infants and young children

Antibiotics need to be used only when diagnosis of acute ear infection is certain

Genetic information from Guthrie cards may serve as valuable resource to diagnose infant diseases

Largest long-term examination of children's health and development in the US

Maximum Potential Group provides ABA training for parents with autistic children

Obesity in children today may contribute to 2-5 year decline in life expectancy

Antibiotics for ear infection in kids better than watchful waiting: Study

Educational psychologist calls for national review of medicating children to treat behavioural issues

Kaiser Permanente Northwest leads nation in counseling against childhood obesity

Baby-led weaning feasible for most infants

Ascension Health launches project to determine best methods to reduce or eliminate birth complications

Michael Cuccione Foundation donates $5 million to support childhood cancer research

DNA blood test can help rule out Down's syndrome among high risk pregnancies

Aid workers should pay extra attention to girls during food insecurity, say researchers

Neurology professor receives MFRF's 'See the Light' award for Tay-Sachs research

'MMR doctor' planned scheme to make millions from his health scare

Study supports use of telomerase inhibitors for treatment of childhood cancers

Breathing tobacco smoke increases blood pressure of pre-school children

How innovation in dried blood spot testing is transforming neurological disease monitoring

Unlocking live single-cell functional insights

How microRNA is transforming science: From discovery to diagnostics

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