Is your baby’s stuffy nose and cough just a cold or something more serious? It could be respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of infant hospitalization in the United States, experts say. RSV causes symptoms similar to those of other viruses, including stuffy or runny nose, fever, coughing, sneezing, loss of appetite and irritability.… read on >
Teens with friends are active teens, a new study suggests. “You can build beautiful parks and facilities; but if children don’t have friends to play with, these facilities won’t be enough to increase their physical activity,” said study lead author Sarah-Jeanne Salvy. “Peers and friends are the catalyst of the physical environment,” Salvy added. She… read on >
Boys tend to pay more attention in school when there are girls around, and new research suggests it’s not just about how the girls look. The study found that young men got better reading marks in school when they were outnumbered by young women in the classroom. Researchers reviewed the reading test scores of more… read on >
As challenging as it can be to raise a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research offers biological evidence that calm, positive parenting may help these kids master their own emotions and behaviors. The study was conducted with parents of preschool children with the developmental disorder. The physiological effects of using compliments and… read on >
Before you let your parental frustration get the better of you, a new study suggests you should refrain from spanking your misbehaving youngster. Researchers analyzed data from more than 12,000 children in the United States and found that those who had been spanked by their parents at age 5 had more behavior problems at ages… read on >
Smog might raise a woman’s risk of miscarriage early in her pregnancy, a new study suggests. Chronic exposure seemed to increase that risk by more than 10 percent, according to researchers who tracked hundreds of pregnancies among couples in Michigan and Texas. “We found that both ozone and particles in the air were related to… read on >
Despite safety warnings from drug regulators, some U.S. children are still being given a risky painkiller after having their tonsils removed, a new study finds. At issue is the opioid painkiller codeine. In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a “black box” warning, advising doctors against prescribing codeine to children to control tonsillectomy… read on >
Having a father with depression may put teens at a heightened risk for the mental health problem, a new study suggests. Previous research had linked depression in mothers and in their children. But according to the investigators, this is the first study to find such an association between fathers and their children, independent of whether… read on >
If your child has cancer and is being treated by a team of specialists, frequent and open communication is essential. The American Cancer Society suggests how to talk with team members: Actively take part in your child’s care. Communication should be clear, direct and honest. Treat team members with respect. Provide thorough and accurate information… read on >
A spike in the amount of time teenage girls in the United States spend online is a likely culprit behind the surge in rates of depression, suicide and contemplation of suicide, new research suggests. The finding stems from an analysis of fatal injury data collected between 1999 and 2015 by the U.S. Centers for Disease… read on >
