For the sick or elderly, a urinary tract infection (UTI) can prove deadly. With many vulnerable patients developing UTIs post-discharge, a new study suggests that better monitoring is needed after leaving the hospital. Researchers at Oregon State University explored more than 3,000 at-risk patients. The study revealed that the risk of infection tripled once patients… read on >
Teens who use Spice, K2 or other synthetic marijuana products may risk medical harm, including coma and seizures, researchers report. A review of emergency department records in the United States also found that those who mixed the manmade “marijuana” with other drugs, such as stimulants, could become dangerously agitated. “These findings suggest that teens are… read on >
As America grapples with an opioid epidemic, it has become even more important to dispose of your leftover prescription medications properly, one pharmacist says. “Many people don’t realize that simply throwing away leftover medications or flushing them down the toilet is actually very dangerous,” said Karen Youmbi, manager of pharmacy regulatory surveillance and outpatient pharmacies… read on >
Every day, more than 300 children are treated in emergency rooms for burn-related injuries, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To help prevent your child from being burned, the CDC suggests: Install and maintain smoke alarms at home. Supervise children’s use of stoves, ovens and microwaves. Set your water heater’s thermostat to… read on >
Getting ears pierced must be done with sterile equipment, and parents and kids need to know how to take care of new piercings at home, says Riley Hospital for Children. To avoid infection, the hospital suggests: Never pierce the ears of newborns. Make sure sterile procedures are in place. Choose hypoallergenic metals. Don’t neglect new… read on >
Somewhere between the Mom who obsessively wipes down every knob and toy her child might touch, and the Dad who thinks rolling in the dirt is “good” for kids, there’s a healthy medium, British experts say. “We have to find a way to protect against infectious diseases and harmful microbes, whilst at the same time… read on >
Social media is helping spur the e-cigarette epidemic among America’s teens, a new study suggests. Nearly 15,000 Instagram posts related to Juul, the most popular e-cigarette brand, were released between March and May 2018, researchers found. More than half the posts focused on youth culture or lifestyle-related content that would appeal to teens, according to… read on >
The anti-vaccination movement is now a global crisis, an international panel of scientists say, and everyone must do more to combat it. “We are alarmed that the WHO [World Health Organization] this year declared vaccine hesitancy a top-10 international public health problem. This is a man-made, dangerous and wholly unnecessary crisis,” said Dr. Scott Ratzan.… read on >
When babies are born without one heart chamber, a special surgery can save their lives. But a new study shows that these patients face lifelong health issues that require special care. Still, a new American Heart Association (AHA) scientific statement says, they can have rich and fulfilling lives. A normal heart has two lower chambers,… read on >
Kids whose moms don’t get enough sunshine during pregnancy may be more likely to develop learning difficulties, researchers report. The finding stems from data on more than 422,000 school-aged children in Scotland. Low levels of exposure to UVB rays — but not UVA sunlight — during the entire pregnancy was linked to learning disabilities later… read on >
