Parents: You may think temporary tattoos are harmless for children. But kids who decorate themselves with these transfer tattoos may be disrupting the skin’s protective barrier, Spanish researchers report. They looked at the effects on skin of permanent tattoos and temporary transfers. The surprising takeaway: Temporary transfer tattoos do more damage. More moisture was lost… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Getting Kids Eyeglasses Boosts School Grades: Study
New glasses are helping kids in Baltimore see more success in school. A three-year clinical study found that students who got new eyeglasses through a school-based program had higher reading and math test scores. “The glasses offered the biggest benefit to the very kids who needed it the most – the ones who were really… read on > read on >
Biden to Strengthen Push for Vaccine Mandates in New COVID Plan
President Joe Biden is slated to announce an ambitious six-point plan to double down on a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, including more pressure on government, business and schools to implement vaccine mandates, news sources report. A speech outlining the new plan is scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, The New York… read on > read on >
Judge Rules Against Florida’s Ban on School Mask Mandates
School districts in Florida can require their students to wear masks, despite the governor’s order blocking mask mandates – for now at least. A circuit court judge in Leon County ruled Wednesday that the state can’t enforce Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ban on school mask mandates, CBS News reported. “We’re not in normal times. We are… read on > read on >
Mom-to-Be’s ‘Leaky’ Heart Valves May Pose More Danger Than Thought
Leaky heart valves can put pregnant women at serious risk, according to a large study that runs counter to established practice. The condition used to be considered relatively harmless during pregnancy. But this analysis by Johns Hopkins University researchers of more than 20,000 individual medical records reveals that heart valve disease puts women at risk… read on > read on >
Few Kids Get Dental Fluoride Treatments, Though Insurance Will Pay
Very few privately insured young children get recommended dental fluoride treatments at health wellness visits, even though insurance typically covers them, a new study finds. “Medical providers are not required to do this; it’s like a mammogram,” said lead author Kimberley Geissler, an associate professor of health policy and management at the University of Massachusetts… read on > read on >
Eczema Can Take Toll on Child’s Mental Health
Eczema doesn’t just irritate kids’ skin. The often disfiguring condition may also be tied to depression, anxiety and sleep difficulties, new research warns. A study of more than 11,000 British children and teens found that those with severe eczema were twice as likely to become clinically depressed as eczema-free kids. “Eczema is an itchy red… read on > read on >
U.S. COVID-19 Cases Now Top 40 Million
There have now been more than 40 million cases of COVID-19 recorded among Americans, according to a database maintained by The New York Times. That’s nearly one-fifth of the global total of cases. With the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus cutting a swathe through the United States, and about 47% of the eligible population… read on > read on >
Mom’s Exercise in Pregnancy May Help Baby’s Lungs
Exercising during pregnancy can benefit babies’ lungs, Scandinavian researchers report. “This study offers a fascinating hint that increased physical activity of mothers is associated with better lung function in their babies and, therefore, possibly their health in later life,” said Jonathan Grigg, head of the European Respiratory Society Tobacco Control Committee, who was not involved… read on > read on >
Adults With Autism, Mental Illness May Be at Higher Risk for Severe COVID
Adults with autism, intellectual disabilities or mental health disorders are at increased risk for COVID-19 and severe illness, researchers report. Being aware of the heightened risk is important in prioritizing COVID-19 prevention measures, such as vaccination, testing, masking and distancing for these groups, the researchers said. “These high-risk populations should be recognized by clinicians, and… read on > read on >