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Guidebook helps adults identify and cope with teen stress

Returning to school can be a stressful time, especially for teens. Many teens face stress from the new demands of school, puberty, changing relationships, family responsibilities and safety issues in their neighborhoods. However, teen stress is not always recognized by adults.

20 Oct 2004

Strong relationship between kids academic achievement and fitness

The health benefits of exercise – across the lifespan – have been well documented. More recently, scientists have begun to demonstrate that exercise also may improve cognitive functioning in older adults.

19 Oct 2004

Insulin pumps effective for children with diabetes

Pre-school youngsters with type I diabetes can be treated as successfully with insulin pumps as with daily injections, researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine report.

18 Oct 2004

FDA issues warning on adolescent use of antidepressants

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Public Health Advisory announcing a multi-pronged strategy to warn the public about the increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior ("suicidality") in children and adolescents being treated with antidepressant medications.

18 Oct 2004

Measuring a child's IQ is an obsolete way to determine intelligence

Building on a theory he began researching almost 20 years ago, Dr. J.P. Das has developed ' rules and tools of intelligence' which point to factors other than IQ (Intelligence Quotient) in measuring how 'smart' a child is.

18 Oct 2004

Anesthetics are effective in reducing the pain of circumcision in newborns

Anesthetics are effective in reducing the pain of circumcision in newborns, judging from the baby’s heart rate and time spent crying after the procedure, a new analysis finds.

18 Oct 2004

Mothers must breastfeed for at least four months without using formula to reduce obesity risk in preschool children

Pediatric obesity researchers from Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh have found that for breastfeeding to reduce the risk of obesity in preschool children, mothers must breastfeed for at least four months without using formula or for at least six months if they are also formula feeding.

13 Oct 2004

Back to Sleep campaign renews efforts to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in the African American community

The Back to Sleep campaign marks its tenth anniversary this October with renewed efforts to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the African American community by reminding parents and caregivers to always place infants on their backs to sleep.

13 Oct 2004

Soccer greatly improves the health profile of growing boys

Regular and long-term participation in soccer greatly improves the health profile of growing boys, according to new research published by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

12 Oct 2004

Exposure to tobacco smoke and pollutants increases childhood risk of asthma

Children prenatally exposed to pollutants, such as motor vehicle exhaust, and postnatally exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) may be more likely to suffer from asthma and related symptoms early in life.

11 Oct 2004

Shortage of pediatric rheumatologists often leads to improper diagnosis and treatment

More than 150,000 children in the United States are affected by rheumatic diseases such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and systemic vasculitis.

10 Oct 2004

New research tackles child obesity through the introduction of a computerized nutritional tool known

With government figures estimating 30 percent of all U.S. children are overweight or at risk for being too heavy, there is a necessity for innovative new strategies to prevent these young people from becoming overweight or obese adults.

10 Oct 2004

Africa is fighting back against vitamin and mineral deficiencies

A report released yesterday says that Africa is fighting back against vitamin and mineral deficiencies, saving millions of women and children from death and debilitation through simple, cost effective strategies such as fortifying staple foods. But millions of children can still be helped if current strategies and partnerships are extended to reach every country and every child.

8 Oct 2004

Global under-five death rate far below targets agreed to by world leaders

New country-by-country data reveals alarmingly slow progress on reducing child deaths despite the availability of proven, low-cost interventions, a UNICEF survey revealed today.

8 Oct 2004

Over 5% of parents reported having smothered, slapped, or shaken their baby

Doctors and other health-care professionals should be more aware of the association between infant crying and potentially abusive parental behaviour, conclude authors of a research letter in this week’s issue of THE LANCET.

8 Oct 2004

Child heart deaths at Bristol fall below national average

Child heart deaths at the Bristol Royal Infirmary have fallen markedly, to below the national average, finds a study in this week's BMJ.

8 Oct 2004

Children who have problems breathing during sleep tend to score lower on tests of mental development and intelligence

Children who have problems breathing during sleep tend to score lower on tests of mental development and intelligence than do other children their age, according to two studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Both studies appear in the October issue of Journal of Pediatrics.

7 Oct 2004