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Scientists find MODS technique most accurate for testing tuberculosis in children

An international team of researchers comparing recently-developed methods for diagnosing tuberculosis in children in resource-poor countries has concluded that the best test for high-risk children is the microscopic-observation drug-susceptibility (MODS) technique using two gastric aspirate specimens from each child tested. MODS detects the presence of bacteria causing tuberculosis using microscopes to detect typical growth patterns in culture broth.

27 Jul 2010

Parents can boost story-telling skills by engaging children in narratives: Study

Children with brain injuries have difficulty developing story-telling skills even though other language abilities, such as vocabulary, tend to catch up with other children as they mature, research at the University of Chicago shows. Our findings suggest that there may be limitations to the remarkable flexibility for language functions displayed by children with brain injuries.

27 Jul 2010

Anti-vaccination group declared unsafe

A Bangalow, NSW based group known as the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) had earlier maligned the nation’s immunization campaign calling vaccines unsafe on their website. The New South Wales Health Care Complaints Commission had then issued a warning to them to include a disclaimer that the contents of the sites webpages should not be taken as medical advice. AVN failed to heed to the warnings and now the HCCC has issued a safety warning against the group.

26 Jul 2010

Seaside Therapeutics reports positive data from STX209 Phase 2 study in fragile X syndrome

Seaside Therapeutics, Inc. announced today data from the largest randomized, placebo-controlled study conducted to date in individuals with fragile X syndrome. In a Phase 2 study of STX209, clinically meaningful improvements on global and specific neurobehavioral outcomes were observed in the general study population. The improvements were statistically significant in pediatric patients with more severe impairments in sociability -- a core symptom of fragile X syndrome.

26 Jul 2010

FDA approves Perrigo's OTC Cetirizine Cherry Syrup

Perrigo Company today announced that it has received final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market over-the-counter (OTC) Cetirizine Cherry Syrup, 1mg/ml. Shipments will begin in the Company's fiscal first quarter 2011. Cherry joins the currently available grape flavor cetirizine syrup in Perrigo's product portfolio, giving patients a choice of store brand flavors.

26 Jul 2010

Kindergarten puppet show reduces anxiety of kids with cancer

THE PUPPET SHOW IS PART OF THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL PROGRAM AT DANA-FARBER CANCER INSTITUTE IN BOSTON. IT'S DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE ANXIETY OF CHILDREN LIVING WITH CANCER. LISA SCHERBER (SHER-BURR) HEAD'S UP THE PROGRAM.

26 Jul 2010

School program to help children continue normal educational activities during treatment

Treatment for cancer and other catastrophic disease can last months or years and often makes it impossible for young patients to keep up with their local school curriculum. Teachers in the St. Jude School Program Presented by Target help patients continue their normal educational activities while away from their local schools. They are also part of the health care team that provides opportunities to continue normal educational activities through homebound or hospital-bound educational services. In addition, the team provides school re-entry services to ease the transition back to the community school.

26 Jul 2010

Sec. of State Clinton signs 5-year AIDS control partnership agreement with Vietnam

During her trip to Vietnam, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton "engaged in health diplomacy by visiting the Ngoc Lam Pagoda orphanage for AIDS-affected children," Foreign Policy's blog "Madam Secretary" reports.

26 Jul 2010

Report on neuropsychological effects after surgery for acyanotic heart defects

School-aged children who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) during surgery for less complicated congenital heart defects do not appear to suffer any impairments in neurocognitive abilities, such as intelligence, memory, motor skills and behavior.

26 Jul 2010

Researchers recommend six steps for shared decision making in sex development disorder surgery

A shared decision-making process would assist doctors and parents who are facing the extraordinarily complex, challenging and controversial choices presented when infants are born with genetic or anatomical anomalies in sexual development and are being considered for elective corrective surgery, a new research paper suggests.

26 Jul 2010

AANMA recommends a written asthma action plan before child self-medication

Students with asthma and allergies will pack more than just a lunchbox and bookbag when they start school this year: They'll be devising ways to keep their life-saving medications close at hand should they need them. No longer do they have to be locked up in the nurse's cabinet or the office. Laws passed in all 50 states now ensure students have the right to carry and use their asthma medications at school.

26 Jul 2010

AU Summit panel focuses on water, sanitation to meet MDG targets in Africa

African countries should focus on preventing diarrhea - the biggest killer of children in Africa - in order to achieve Millennium Development Goal targets, Yunia Musaazi, WaterAid's East Africa policy advisor, told delegates at the 15th African Union Summit, PANA/Afrique en ligne reports.

26 Jul 2010

Some insurers ending children-only coverage because of health law

UnitedHealth Group and other insurance companies have stopped offering or are considering dropping children-only health coverage in several states "because of the potential added costs of insuring sicker youngsters under the new U.S. health-care law," Bloomberg reports.

26 Jul 2010

Seven practical tips to help parents encourage kids to eat well during, after school

According to the Centers for Disease Control, the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. This astronomical rise has led many advocates to focus their energies on improving nutritional conditions in schools, including reforming cafeteria lunches and eliminating junk food in vending machines. While the debate is being staged at the national level, with Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative focusing a spotlight on the issue, there are steps that parents can take to maintain or improve their child's diet and nutrition while at school.

26 Jul 2010

Inequalities in premature mortality continue to rise in Britain: Study

The level of inequalities in premature mortality between different areas of Britain has almost surpassed those seen shortly before the economic crash of 1929 and the economic depression of the 1930s, according to a new study published on bmj.com today.

23 Jul 2010

Choice between late-term abortion or keeping an unhealthy foetus

Most pregnant women whose foetus is proven to have a genetic abnormality choose to have an abortion, but reaching that decision is a painful, exhausting process for most of them. "The women's doubt, pain and sorrow make abortion more moral - in the eyes of society as well as her own," says Sølvi Marie Risøy, a researcher at the Stein Rokkan Centre for Social Studies, University of Bergen.

23 Jul 2010

Health bodies to discuss steps to further reduce mother to child HIV transmission

Transmission of HIV to children before or at birth has dropped dramatically around the country in the last decade since the advent of powerful new therapies. That certainly is true for Florida, where each year, fewer than 10 babies are born with the disease despite the fact that more than 600 HIV-positive women each year, on average, give birth.

23 Jul 2010

Pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria cause death of 6 million of world's poorest children

A Johns Hopkins University scientist, whose team of researchers recently identified pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria as the primary causes of death of 6 million of the world's poorest children, today called on leaders in donor and developing nations to take action to address the terrible death toll.

23 Jul 2010

BDSRA designates Nationwide Children's Hospital as Batten Disease Center of Excellence

Nationwide Children's Hospital has been selected as a Center of Excellence by the Batten Disease Support and Research Association (BDSRA), the largest research and support organization in North America for families that have children with Batten disease. BDSRA chose Nationwide Children's because of its clinical and research history with the disease and its ability to provide comprehensive care for these unique children.

23 Jul 2010

Bullied children are at risk for developing emotional problems

Bullying victimization is common among children of school age, although its consequences are often anything but benign. The recent death of a Massachusetts teen by suicide prompted state lawmakers to pass one of the most far-reaching anti-bullying laws within the U.S. Whether such legislative actions result in measurable decreases in physical or emotional distress among school peers remains to be seen.

23 Jul 2010

Child Health News

Scientists find MODS technique most accurate for testing tuberculosis in children

Parents can boost story-telling skills by engaging children in narratives: Study

Anti-vaccination group declared unsafe

Seaside Therapeutics reports positive data from STX209 Phase 2 study in fragile X syndrome

FDA approves Perrigo's OTC Cetirizine Cherry Syrup

Kindergarten puppet show reduces anxiety of kids with cancer

School program to help children continue normal educational activities during treatment

Sec. of State Clinton signs 5-year AIDS control partnership agreement with Vietnam

Report on neuropsychological effects after surgery for acyanotic heart defects

Researchers recommend six steps for shared decision making in sex development disorder surgery

AANMA recommends a written asthma action plan before child self-medication

AU Summit panel focuses on water, sanitation to meet MDG targets in Africa

Some insurers ending children-only coverage because of health law

Seven practical tips to help parents encourage kids to eat well during, after school

Inequalities in premature mortality continue to rise in Britain: Study

Choice between late-term abortion or keeping an unhealthy foetus

Health bodies to discuss steps to further reduce mother to child HIV transmission

Pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria cause death of 6 million of world's poorest children

BDSRA designates Nationwide Children's Hospital as Batten Disease Center of Excellence

Bullied children are at risk for developing emotional problems

From street to lab: Advancing controlled substance testing with handheld Raman and FTIR

Reimagining light scattering for biotherapeutics

Empowering genomics research with cloud-based innovation

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