Latest Health Articles for Pediatrics

• Largest turtle-linked salmonella outbreak detailed

  article 2009-10-19  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  Two girls who swam with pet turtles in a backyard pool were among 107 people sickened in the largest salmonella outbreak blamed on turtles nationwide, researchers report.The 2007-08 outbreak involved mostly children in 34 states; one-third of all patients had to be hospitalized. In many cases, parents didn't ...

• More than half million kids get bad drug reactions

  article 2009-09-28  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  More than half a million U.S. Children younger than age 5 are most commonly affected. Penicillin and other prescription antibiotics are among drugs causing the ...

• Teen trippin' on ADHD drugs can be a real downer

  article 2009-08-24  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  Calls to poison control centers about teens abusing attention-deficit drugs soared 76 percent over eight years, sobering evidence about the dangerous consequences of prescription misuse, a study shows.The calls were from worried parents, emergency room doctors and others seeking advice on how to deal with the problem, which can be ...

• Study finds rise in student injuries in gym class

  article 2009-08-03  |  Author: Carla K. Johnson
  Injuries to American children during physical education classes increased by 150 percent from 1997-2007, a new study finds, a possible drawback to a movement encouraging more vigorous exercise in schools.Yet that may have less to do with lively gym programs than with lack of adult supervision, experts said. ...

• IV tube chemical linked to preemie liver woes

  article 2009-07-27  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  A chemical used in many plastic products and already under scrutiny for potential health risks is suspected of raising the risk of liver problems in premature babies, according to a new study.The small study in a German hospital suggests a chemical known as a phthalate, used in some intravenous feeding ...

• Kids' lower IQ scores linked to prenatal pollution

  article 2009-07-20  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  Researchers for the first time have linked air pollution exposure before birth with lower IQ scores in childhood, bolstering evidence that smog may harm the developing brain.The results are in a study of 249 women who wore backpack air monitors for ...

• Top pediatric doctor at Boston hospital dies at 55

  article 2009-03-12  |  Author: Mark Pratt
  Dr. Michael Shannon, an internationally known specialist in the study and treatment of the effects of poisons in

• Some good news: Fewer kids have high lead levels

  article 2009-03-02  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  In a stunning improvement in children's health, far fewer kids have high lead levels than 20 years ago, new government research reports — a testament to aggressive efforts to get lead out of paint, water and soil.Lead can interfere with the developing nervous system and cause permanent problems ...

• High rate of autism signs found in children born extremely prematurely, researchers find

  article 2008-04-02  |  Author: Lindsey Tanner
  A small study of toddlers finds that about one-quarter of babies born very prematurely had signs of autism testing wasn't done. But the results are provocative, suggesting that tiny preemies may face greater risks of ...

• Snow and germs: You might not want to eat the white snow, either

  article 2008-03-04  |  Author: Melissa Rayworth
  To the list of simple childhood pleasures now endangered, add this: eating snow.A recent study found that snow — even in relatively pristine spots like Montana and the Yukon — contains large amounts of bacteria.Parents who warn their kids not to eat dirty snow (especially the yellow variety) are left ...