Two new studies looked to explain an increased risk of respiratory infections like coughs and colds in babies and young children, finding city living to be among the culprits. Young children who grow up in towns and cities instead of the countryside suffer more respiratory infections, according to research presented Monday at a meeting of…  read on >  read on >

Patients with hepatitis C should consider being vaccinated again for hepatitis B, because their immune response to the initial shot may be inadequate, a new study suggests. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School urge those who have hepatitis C to be checked for hepatitis B immune protection. If none is present, they should…  read on >  read on >

Global warming has been linked to higher rates of asthma, heart disease and other health concerns. Now, new research suggests that rising temperatures across the planet may place pregnant women at greater risk for severe pregnancy-related illnesses, especially in their third trimester. And this is likely to get worse in the near future, said study…  read on >  read on >

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common viral infection that affects people of all ages, with infants and older adults being particularly vulnerable to severe complications. Preventing the spread of RSV requires a multi-pronged approach that includes vaccination, good hygiene practices and public health initiatives. You may have seen recent reports about newly approved vaccines…  read on >  read on >

While it doesn’t prevent infection altogether, new research shows the mpox vaccine does reduces the severity of disease in those who fall ill from the virus. An international team of scientists found that those people who had either mpox vaccination or a previous infection in 2022 had less severe disease. The researchers studied 38 mpox…  read on >  read on >

Just like adults, kids face daily stressors. Luckily, a new study suggests that teaching them creative thinking can help them manage it all. Researchers found that when school-age children learned some “narrative creativity” techniques — such as shifting your perspective and imagining “what if” scenarios — they quickly became better problem-solvers. After a week-long creativity…  read on >  read on >