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Paediatrics
Gene therapy success with immune condition
Patients with the most severe form of the immune condition Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome have been successfully treated using gene therapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London.
Therapeutic hypothermia does not improve survival
A large-scale, multicentre study has shown that emergency body cooling does not improve survival rates or reduce brain injury in infants and children with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, more than normal temperature control.
Extended breastfeeding delivers brain benefits
Longer duration of breastfeeding is linked with increased intelligence in adulthood, longer schooling, and higher adult earnings, a Brazilian study following a group of almost 3,500 newborns for 30 years has found.
The 'golden hour' in paediatric cancer tx
Paediatric cancer patients who receive antibiotics within 60 minutes of reporting fever and showing neutropenia, have decreased intensive care needs and lower mortality.
Higher arsenic levels in formula-fed infants
In the first US study of urinary arsenic in babies, Dartmouth College researchers found that formula-fed infants had higher arsenic levels than breast-fed infants.
Peanut allergies can be reversed – study
A study from King's College London shows that the number of children developing a peanut allergy can be drastically reduced if children are introduced to peanuts as soon as they begin to eat solid foods. Researchers say new public health guidelines are needed.
Energy drinks fuel hyperactivity
Middle-school children who consume heavily sweetened energy drinks are 66% more likely to be at risk for hyperactivity and inattention symptoms, a Yale-led study has found.
Study confirms WHO's 'breast is best' mantra
A US study found that babies fed only breast milk have microbial communities that seem more ready for the introduction of solid foods, providing support for World Health Organisation recommendations to breastfeed exclusively during the first six months of life.
Morphine link to respiratory threat
Treating post-operative pain with morphine can cause life-threatening respiratory problems in some children who have had their tonsils and/or adenoids removed, Canadian research has found.
PHT kids still a high risk surgical group
Despite effective new treatments for their disease, children with pulmonary hypertension (PHT) are still a high-risk group for serious complications and death related to anaesthesia and surgery. "The risk for adverse events during anaesthesia in patients with PHT remains high, despite newer disease-modifying treatments," Science Daily reports the study by Dr Katherine Taylor and colleagues of the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto found. Younger children and those with more severe disease are at higher risk, but larger studies will be needed to understand the risks of anesthesia in the era of modern treatments for PHT, researchers said.
Brain development boosted by being read to from birth
With the increased recognition that an important part of brain development occurs within the first three years of a child’s life, a new policy...
Overweight smokers more likely to give birth to obese children
Women who smoke during pregnancy and are overweight early in pregnancy are more likely to have children who become obese as toddlers and stay...
Lack of sleep in children could cause health problems later
In a new study, children who regularly got too little sleep had worse physical, emotional and social health than those who slept the average...
Message on SIDS not getting through
Since 1994, parents have been urged to put their babies to sleep on their backs to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome...
Older mothers who smoke increase babies’ chance of heart defects
Babies born to women over 35 who smoke are at greater risk of having specific heart defects, reports BBC News. A new study adds...
Tdap vaccine appears safe in pregnant women
New research Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, suggests that vaccinating pregnant women during their third trimester to prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis in their...
Mother’s diet can alter function of baby’s genes
A mother’s diet before becoming pregnant can alter the way her baby’s genes function, potentially leading to ‘permanent, lifelong effects’ on its health. The...
Sedative drugs effective in treating seizures in children
The sedative drugs diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan) are equally effective in treating the prolonged seizures known as status epilepticus in children, according to...
Swedish parental perceptions a problem in child obesity
The findings of part of a European study show that one out of two parents of overweight children feel their child’s weight is normal,...
Poorly planned heath initiatives costing billions
Chronic illnessesexact a heavy toll on businesses, budgets and economies. According to a World Economic Forum report, they account for the lion’s share of...
Obesity-fighting programmes can help lower children’s BP
Programmes designed to prevent obesity in children may help lower their blood pressure, according to a new review of past studies. Researchers found that...
Cooling therapy helps oxygen-deprived babies
Research suggests that cooling babies deprived of oxygen at birth improves their chances of growing up without disabilities such as cerebral palsy, reports BBC...
Preschoolers benefit from participating in family routines
Preschoolers who sing, tell stories and eat dinner with their families tend to be emotionally healthier and better adjusted socially than kids who don't...