Child Health News

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Less sleep, more TV leads to overweight infants and toddlers

Infants and toddlers who sleep less than 12 hours a day are twice as likely to become overweight by age 3 than children who sleep longer.

8 Apr 2008

Child sleep problems linked to later behavioral difficulties

Children who sleep less may be more likely to report symptoms of anxiety, depression and aggression later in life, according to a report in the April issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on children and sleep.

8 Apr 2008

Pediatricians alerted to the developmental nature of underage drinking in special journal supplement

In a special supplement to Pediatrics, edited and sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), physicians will have access in one place to the reviews and analyses of current research on biological, behavioral, and environmental changes during childhood and adolescence that foster the initiation, maintenance, and acceleration of illegal use of alcohol by underage youth.

7 Apr 2008

Gymnastics injuries in children more prevalent than thought

More than 600,000 children participate in school-sponsored and club-level gymnastics competitions annually in the United States.

7 Apr 2008

Parents follow pediatrician advice on administering MMR vaccinations

News stories about an allegedly harmful link between the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine and the onset of autism had little effect on whether U.S. parents immunized their children, according to a review of immunization records and news stories.

7 Apr 2008

For children with heart disease, a risk of attention and behavior problems

Schoolchildren who required surgery as infants for congenital heart disease (CHD) run a significant risk of having problems with inattention and hyperactivity, and often require remedial services in school.

7 Apr 2008

Early neglect predicts aggressive behavior in children

Children who are neglected before their second birthday display higher levels of aggressive behavior between ages 4 and 8, according to a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study, published today in the journal Pediatrics.

7 Apr 2008

School-based intervention help curb weight gain in children

Small changes in schools lead to big results when it comes to preventing childhood obesity, according to a study published in the April issue of Pediatrics.

7 Apr 2008

About 31 percent of low-income children ages 2 to 5 have dental cavities that don't get treated

If untreated, the infection (dental caries) that causes tooth decay and cavities can also lead to pain, tooth loss and more serious infections. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check-up at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene.

4 Apr 2008

Hospital follow-up services not necessary for all child cancer survivors

Many child cancer patients will benefit from ongoing follow-up, but others should be allowed to move on and put the experience of cancer behind them, say experts in this week's issue of the BMJ.

4 Apr 2008

Mental health problems in childhood blight adult working life

Their long term mental health was reviewed during childhood at the ages of 7, 11, and 16, using information from teachers and parents, and into adulthood at the ages of 23 and 33, based on personal interviews.

4 Apr 2008

Random drug testing of high school students in public schools

A substantial proportion of the nation's public school districts have instituted random drug testing among their high school students, some possibly going beyond sanctions set by the U.S. Supreme Court, according to a study led by the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE).

3 Apr 2008

Poor kids more likely to be seriously injured on roads as rich kids

Rates of serious injury among child pedestrians in poor areas of England are four times as high as those among children in affluent areas, finds research published ahead of print in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

1 Apr 2008

Fat kids better off doing less intensive exercise if they are to shed the pounds effectively

The researchers assessed the rate at which fat was burned (fat oxidation) during graded leg cycling exercises in thirty 12 year old boys, 17 of whom were obese. The others were lean and healthy.

1 Apr 2008

Bad breakfast habits could harm long-term health

Skipping breakfast and snacking on sugary and fatty foods could be fuelling Britain's rising obesity rates among the under 25s.

31 Mar 2008

Study finds improvement in the care of children with cancer at the end of life

Expanded use of palliative care services is associated with enhanced communications between families and caregivers, improved symptoms management, and better quality of life for children dying from cancer, according to study by researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital Boston.

31 Mar 2008