Record numbers of children and tweens now take melatonin for sleep, potentially doing harm to their development, a new study warns. Nearly one in five school-aged kids are popping melatonin to help them rest, often with the help of their parents, researchers reported in the Nov. 13 issue of the journal JAMA Pediatrics. But safety…  read on >  read on >

Air pollution could be harming the development of children, reaching into the womb to alter their healthy growth, a new study reports. Researchers say certain air pollutants appear to negatively alter a specific measure of prenatal exposure to hormones. “These findings suggest air pollution may interfere with normal hormone activity during critical periods of prenatal…  read on >  read on >

Pesticide exposure appears to be linked to lower sperm concentrations in men around the world, a new large-scale evidence review has concluded. A review of 25 studies spanning nearly 50 years found consistent links between lower sperm concentrations and two widely used classes of insecticides, organophosphates and N-methyl carbamates, researchers said. “This review is the…  read on >  read on >

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15, 2023  Chalk up a surprising benefit to government housing assistance. Breast cancer screening is higher among some low-income women who get government help with housing compared to those who do not, new research shows. “Receiving housing assistance has been associated with several positive health outcomes and health behaviors in past research, and…  read on >  read on >

Children stricken with influenza aren’t receiving the flu-busting antiviral drug Tamiflu even though it’s recommended for them, a new study says. Three of five children with the flu aren’t prescribed Tamiflu, researchers report online Nov. 13 in the journal Pediatrics. “We found that young children, less than 5 years old and especially those 2 years…  read on >  read on >

The Thanksgiving table is typically loaded down with turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and all kinds of pie, but nutritionists say kids should also be encouraged to eat fresh fruit and vegetables during the holiday meal. Precious few children eat enough fruits and vegetables the rest of the year, so the Academy of Nutrition and…  read on >  read on >

An old scourge, syphilis, is returning with a vengeance in the United States, affecting not only adults but also the most vulnerable — newborns. Rates of congenital syphilis soared 10-fold between 2012 and 2022, according to new data released Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The congenital syphilis crisis in the…  read on >  read on >