Infants may show early signs of autism, but a diagnosis usually isn’t made until age 3. Now, a new study suggests that jumpstarting therapy might stave off that diagnosis altogether. Researchers say their preemptive, parent-led intervention could have a significant impact on children’s social development and longer-term disabilities. “What we found is that the babies… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Which Kids Are at Highest Risk From COVID?
Older children and kids with chronic diseases are those most likely to wind up in the hospital with COVID-19, researchers have found. Conditions such as obesity, diabetes and neurologic problems, among others, put kids at risk for severe COVID-19, according to a new U.S. study. “There’s a myth circulating out there that children don’t get… read on > read on >
COVID Has Killed More Americans Than the Spanish Flu Did in 1918
As the highly contagious Delta variant has swept across the United States, the country has reached a tragic milestone. COVID-19 has now killed more Americans than the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic did, when roughly 675,000 people died. It didn’t have to be that way. “Big pockets of American society — and worse, their leaders —… read on > read on >
Pandemic Changed Families’ Eating Habits, for Good and Bad: Poll
Over the past year and a half, the coronavirus pandemic has remade so much of everyday life, including the foods families eat. In many families, that’s been a good thing, with half cooking at home more often and two-thirds making healthier food choices, according to a nationwide poll of U.S. parents. For about 20% of… read on > read on >
Neighborhood Gun Violence Means Worse Mental Health for Kids
Living within a few blocks of a shooting increases the risk that a child will end up visiting the emergency department for mental health-related problems, researchers say. The new study found significant increases in mental health-related ER visits in the two weeks after a neighborhood shooting, especially among kids who lived closest to it and… read on > read on >
Doctors Often Miss Signs of Type 1 Diabetes in Kids
Potentially dangerous symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children are not always immediately recognized by primary care providers, new research suggests. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas fails to make enough insulin, the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar used for energy by cells. Between 5% and 10% of cases of diabetes are type 1,… read on > read on >
Watch Their Backs — Don’t Overload Those Schoolbags
After more than a year at home, children are heading back to classrooms across the country. But they’re also toting heavy bags on their backs again. A backpack that fits properly — and is not overloaded with binders and books — will help prevent injury. “With a focus on getting back in the classroom and… read on > read on >
HPV Infection Tied to Higher Odds of Premature Delivery
Pregnant women infected with certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) may have a heightened risk of preterm birth, a new study suggests. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause genital warts. Most of the time, the immune system clears the infection. But some strains of HPV become persistent in a minority of people… read on > read on >
AHA News: Clot-Removing Procedure Appears Safe for Pregnant Stroke Patients
MONDAY, Sept. 20, 2021 (American Heart Association News) — Physically removing a blood clot in the brain is a safe and effective treatment for pregnant women having a stroke, a new study suggests. Stroke during pregnancy remains rare, but the risk increases during pregnancy and for up to 12 weeks after giving birth, or postpartum.… read on > read on >
Lower Dose of Pfizer COVID Vaccine Works Well in Young Children, Company Says
A smaller dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine safely triggers a strong immune response in children as young as 5, the company announced Monday morning. “Over the past nine months, hundreds of millions of people ages 12 and older from around the world have received our COVID-19 vaccine. We are eager to extend the protection afforded… read on > read on >