A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Jan. 14, 2008:
Children with Cancer Heal by Recording Songs
At the children's cancer center of Baylor College of Medicine
and Texas Children's Hospital, children write and record songs, a form
of psychosocial therapy that has proved to be helpful in their recovery,
doctors say. (NY Times, by Blumenthal, 1/6/08)
Babies'
Allergies Not Tied to Mother's Food Consumption
A report from the American Association of Pediatrics has
found no evidence that avoiding certain foods during pregnancy can prevent
allergies in infants. (AP, 1/7/08, by Johnson)
Study: Mercury Not a Factor in Autism
There is no link between autism rates and the prevalence of thimerosal,
a mercury-based preservative, in childhood vaccines, according to a study
released this week by the California Department of Public Health. The
study found that autism rates in California continued to increase after
thimerosal was removed from vaccinations in 2001. Many autism activists
say they are not convinced by this study's findings. (SF Chronicle, 1/8/08,
by Allday)
Study
May Help Predict Teens at Risk of Psychosis
Mental health experts may be able to identify teens who are likely
to develop a psychotic illness before the onset of a psychotic episode,
according to a study by the National Institute of Mental Health. In a
study of nearly 300 teens with widely accepted risk factors for psychosis,
researchers found that teens with at least two risk factors were 68 to
80 percent likely to develop a psychotic illness within 30 months. The
findings may help doctors more accurately treat mental illnesses and prevent
psychotic episodes, experts say. (CBS News, 1/8/08)
Study:
School Popularity Affects Girls' Weight
Teenage girls who view themselves as unpopular gained more weight over a two-year period than girls who view themselves as popular, according to a study of more than 4,000 girls conducted by researchers at Harvard University . Researchers noted that school programs aimed at combating obesity through fitness and healthful eating may need to add a social skills component to be successful. (NY Times, 1/9/08 , by Parker-Pope)
Study:
Rare DNA Flaw May Lead to Autism
A genetic flaw in DNA that happens spontaneously may increase
the risk of a child developing autism, according to researchers at Harvard
University . In a study released by the New England Journal of Medicine,
researchers said the genetic flaw happens at or near the time of conception
and is extremely rare. (NY Times, 1/10/08, by Carey)
Millions
of Youth Abuse Over-the-Counter Drugs
More than 3 million teens and young adults between the ages of
12 and 25 have used over-the-counter cold and cough medicines to get high,
according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
(AP, 1/10/08)
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