Blinds and window coverings might seem harmless, but their cords can be deadly for young children and infants. The best way to keep children from becoming entangled in these cords is to replace your blinds with cordless versions, advises the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). “Children have strangled to death on the cords of window… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Study Confirms Rise in Child Abuse During COVID Pandemic
FRIDAY, Oct. 8, 2021 (HealthDay News)– Physical abuse of school-aged kids tripled during the early months of the pandemic when widespread stay-at-home orders were in effect, a new study finds. Exactly what triggered the surge is not fully understood, but other studies have also reported similar upticks in child abuse. A pediatrician who was not… read on > read on >
CDC Urges Flu Shots as Survey Shows Half of Americans Don’t Plan on It
A new survey showing that nearly half of U.S. adults are not likely to get a flu shot this season has prompted federal health officials to urge all Americans to get the flu vaccines. Even more troubling is that the poll of 1,110 respondents aged 18 and older also found that nearly 1 in 4… read on > read on >
Stimulants Like Ritalin May Be Gateway Drugs for College Students
Use of stimulants among college students was once thought to be a problem among high achievers seeking energy and focus to study. Not so, according to new research that links misuse of these so-called “study drugs” to binge drinking and marijuana use. The stereotype of students bumming a prescription medication like Adderall or Ritalin to… read on > read on >
For Kids, Accidental Burns Another Scar of the Pandemic
Accidental burns among U.S. children rose by one-third during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study. “COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders inevitably created a new dynamic between children and their social environment. One result was the increased risk of burns those children experienced,” said Dr. Christina Georgeades, a study author and… read on > read on >
Social Distancing Kept Kids From Getting Flu, RSV
Social distancing and mask mandates during the pandemic nearly eliminated cases of the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among children, a new study finds. “Numbers don’t lie. Face masking, and proper hygiene and isolation, can be effective means to protect the vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and young children, during the respiratory virus… read on > read on >
Could an App Help Kids With Severe Ear Condition Avoid Surgery?
A pair of special headphones plus a free app might help kids with hearing difficulty due to “glue ear,” a new, small study suggests. Glue ear is slang for a condition called otitis media with effusion (OME), where thick fluid builds up in the middle ear. It’s very common in young children but strikes older… read on > read on >
Picky Eating, Social Phobia Often Linked in College Students
Parents frazzled by their little ones’ finicky food choices often sigh in exasperation, thinking: “They’ll grow out of it by college.” Maybe not, suggests a new study from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Some young people continue their picky eating into early adulthood, often restricting their diets to 10 foods or even fewer. Such… read on > read on >
Pfizer Seeks FDA Emergency Approval for COVID Vaccine in Younger Kids
Pfizer Inc. announced Thursday that it has asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for emergency approval for its coronavirus vaccine to be given to children between the ages of 5 and 11. “We’re committed to working with the FDA with the ultimate goal of helping protect children against this serious public health threat,” the… read on > read on >
Over 140,000 U.S. Children Have Lost a Caregiver to COVID-19
It is an excruciating statistic: One in every four COVID-19 deaths in the United States leaves a child without a parent or other caregiver, researchers report. The analysis of data shows that from April 2020 to July 2021, more than 120,000 children under the age of 18 lost a primary caregiver (a parent or grandparent… read on > read on >