Raging wildfires, droughts, floods and record-breaking heat brought on by climate change are taking a toll on kids’ already fragile mental health. This is the main message from a new report by the American Psychological Association and the climate advocacy organization ecoAmerica. These effects may start before kids are born and worsen with age, and…  read on >  read on >

In rare cases, some patients may develop an autoimmune disease following a bout of COVID, Korean researchers report. Conditions such as alopecia (hair loss), psoriasis, vitiligo (white skin patches), vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, adult-onset Still’s disease (painful skin rash), Sjogren’s syndrome (autoimmune disease), ankylosing spondylitis (spinal arthritis) and…  read on >  read on >

Teens and young adult women who survive cancer appear to have higher odds of delivering babies with birth defects, according to a new study. Knowing this, young women making decisions about pregnancy and prenatal care should receive appropriate counseling and surveillance, said study lead author Caitlin Murphy. “Concerns like the health of future children are…  read on >  read on >

Young children who are close to their parents are more likely to grow up to be kind, caring and considerate. These kids may also have fewer mental health problems during early childhood and adolescence, a new study finds. By contrast, children whose early relationships with their parents are emotionally strained or abusive are less likely…  read on >  read on >

Croup can be a scary thing for new parents to watch their babies struggle with, so here is a primer on what it is and how to best treat it. Croup is a common respiratory illness, characterized by a narrowing of the main airway (the trachea), just below the vocal cords. It can be caused…  read on >  read on >

Catching breast cancer early is key to making it easier to treat and survive, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The organization aims to highlight early detection, noting that screening with mammography has helped breast cancer death rates drop 43% since 1989. “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women (after skin cancer)…  read on >  read on >

It’s time to get the flu shot. They’re important not just for adults, but also for children, and keeping the whole family safe, according to an expert in pediatrics. “You never know how bad a flu season will be,” said Dr. Mona Patel, attending physician in the department of general pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Los…  read on >  read on >