Many American teens and young adults underestimate the risk of sexually transmitted infections from unprotected oral sex, and that’s especially true of young men, a new survey shows. Doctors say oral sex can transmit herpes, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV and human papillomavirus (HPV), which can lead to cervical cancer, and head and neck cancers. While… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Parents: What You Need to Know About Kids & COVID-19
As the number of U.S. children with COVID-19 continues to surge, there are a number of things parents should know, a pediatric infectious disease expert says. “What used to be the average number of children with COVID for the whole hospital is now the average just for the intensive care unit,” said Dr. Jessica Ericson,… read on > read on >
More Evidence Pot Use in Pregnancy Is Bad for Baby
So, you’re pregnant and battling nausea every day. What harm could come from smoking a joint to settle your stomach? Plenty, according to a new study that suggests women who use pot while expecting put their infants at risk for some serious health problems. The problems included premature birth, small size and low birth weight,… read on > read on >
Pfizer Will Ask FDA to Approve Its COVID Vaccine for Kids Under 5
Pfizer Inc. plans to ask the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as soon as Tuesday to authorize its COVID vaccine for emergency use in children aged 6 months to 4 years old. If approved, the two-shot regimen would become the first approved for use in children this young; older children are already eligible for the… read on > read on >
Young Americans Lost Almost 1.5 Million Years of Life to Opioids Between 2015 and 2019
The U.S. drug epidemic continues its death march, with new research showing American teens and young adults have lost nearly 1.5 million years of life due to drug overdose deaths in recent years. For the study, the researchers examined years of life lost — the difference between a person’s expected lifespan and when they actually… read on > read on >
Airborne COVID Virus Drifts Outside Isolation Rooms at Home
Telling people to isolate in a bedroom when COVID-19 strikes may not be enough to keep the virus from spreading to others in the household, a new study suggests. Airborne coronavirus particles were found both inside and outside the rooms of people with COVID-19 who were supposed to be self-isolating at home, according to researchers… read on > read on >
The ‘Oreo Test’ and Other Ways to Help Kids’ Oral Health
Worried your kid isn’t brushing his or her teeth properly? You might want to try the Oreo test. “If the child eats an Oreo and brushes their teeth and the parent can still see the Oreos, they need to be checking and helping them brush,” said Elise Sarvas, a clinical associate professor of pediatric dentistry… read on > read on >
‘Stealth’ Version of Omicron Variant No Cause for Alarm, Experts Say
The so-called “stealth” variant of Omicron isn’t likely to cause another devastating wave of COVID-19, experts say. The new version of the variant, called BA.2, doesn’t appear to cause more severe disease and vaccines are just as effective against it as against the original Omicron variant (BA.1), but BA.2 does show signs of spreading more… read on > read on >
Screens Near Bedtime Bad for Preschoolers’ Sleep
It’s crucial to keep preschoolers away from screens and other sources of light in the hour before bedtime if you want them to get a good night’s sleep, researchers say. That’s because even a little bit of light exposure can trigger a sharp drop in the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, according to the research team at… read on > read on >
Getting Your School-Age Child Into a Healthy Sleep Routine
Most parents have dealt with having to hurry a sleepy child out the door on a school morning, but experts say taking the time to establish good sleep routines for your kids is worth the effort. Amid the pandemic, there can be a great deal of uncertainty around school, but a set sleep regimen can… read on > read on >