The first reported case of a cat giving COVID-19 to a person shouldn’t alarm pet owners, but a Canadian expert says it’s a reminder to take precautions. “I think it’s important for us to recognize this virus still can move between species,” veterinary specialist Dr. Scott Weese recently told the New York Times. The case…  read on >  read on >

The expression “plays well with others” is often tossed around to describe people who are less likely to ruffle feathers, and new research shows these sandbox skills really matter. It turns out that kids who play well with others in preschool are less likely to experience mental health issues as they grow up. The findings…  read on >  read on >

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory panel will decide on Tuesday whether to recommend the agency approve the emergency use of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 6 to 17. The panel will analyze Moderna’s two-dose vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 at half the strength of the adult shot, and for…  read on >  read on >

Bouncing on a trampoline is always risky, but kids are more likely to suffer serious injuries at a trampoline center than at home, according to researchers who are calling for mandatory safety standards at the centers. U.S. emergency departments treat nearly 100,000 children a year for trampoline injuries. The popularity of trampoline centers has soared…  read on >  read on >

Hot flashes are one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause and they can be severe and frequent, happening throughout the day and night over several years. Researchers say they have found a new, effective treatment that could provide relief and an alternative to existing therapies. “The simple truth is for many years, we did…  read on >  read on >

Antibody levels suggest that three doses of Pfizer’s pediatric COVID vaccine help guard children under 5 against infection, a new analysis from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows. It was posted online Sunday ahead of an FDA advisory panel meeting scheduled for Wednesday. On that day, the panel will weigh whether the FDA should…  read on >  read on >

It’s OK to drink coffee soon after taking a liquid thyroid medication, a new study finds. Current product labels and treatment guidelines recommend patients take thyroid hormone replacement therapy on an empty stomach, but this new research shows that absorption of liquid levothyroxine is not affected by consuming coffee shortly after taking the medication. “The…  read on >  read on >

Of all the health harms the pandemic brought, new research has uncovered one positive effect: For the first time in 30 years, teens’ consumption of junk food fell following school closures, social restrictions and more parents working from home. The study included 452 participants, aged 13 to 19. It found that after COVID-19 restrictions were…  read on >  read on >

If you have a family history of cancer and are considering genetic counseling to measure your risk for the disease, an expert offers some advice. Genetic counseling can help you understand your family’s cancer history and how it applies to you, said Tanya Eble, an associate professor of molecular and human genetics and a genetic…  read on >  read on >