A roundup of recent newspaper stories about children's health...
Monday, Sept. 10, 2007:
Suicide Rate Among Children, Teens Jumps, Study Finds.
The suicide rate among children under age 19 increased 14 percent from 2003 to 2004, the biggest one-year jump since the late 1970s, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Illinois . The increase came after federal government warnings that antidepressants may lead to suicidal activity, which prompted a drop in prescriptions for those drugs. Research shows that some suicides could have been prevented by antidepressants, and officials from the National Institutes of Health said the stern warning may have done more harm than good. ( Washington Post, 9/5/07 , by Vedantam)
Editorial: Don't Blame the FDA for Suicide Rate Increase.
This New York Times editorial discusses the recent study outlining an increase in suicide rates, and the possibility that federal warnings on antidepressants may have kept them out of the hands of children who really needed them. While some children may have been better off taking the medications, the editorial notes, it's hard to fault the Food and Drug Administration for implementing the warning. The editorial calls for more scrutiny before deciding what factors are to blame for the increase in suicide rates. (NY Times, 9/7/07 )
NIH Helps Parents Develop a Plan for Asthma.
As children return to school and begin to swap viruses that can lead to respiratory trouble, September is a peak time of year for asthma attacks, experts say. The National Institutes of Health has issued recommendations to help parents develop asthma action plans and prevent attacks. (NPR, 9/6/07 , by Aubrey)
Tooth Decay Increases Among Young Children.
A recent study from the National Center for Health Statistics found that from 1999 to 2004, nearly 28 percent of children had at least one cavity in their baby teeth, a trend that dentists nationwide say is increasing. Dentists say parents need to be more attentive to their young children's eating habits and real hygiene. ( Hartford Courant, 9/4/07 , by Rock)
Experts: Combat Child Obesity by Focusing on Diet, Exercise. Positive reinforcement and an emphasis on diet and exercise at home and at school are the best ways to help reverse or prevent childhood obesity, experts say. Encouraging children to lose excess weight can have negative consequences, including eating disorders and unnecessary plastic surgery. (US News, 8/31/07 , by Kotz)
Have Nutritional Guidelines to Combat Obesity Gone Too Far?
While many schools have cracked down on junk food on campus, some parents say the rules have gone too far. Cafeterias nationwide have adopted federal guidelines for healthier foods, including more fruits and vegetables and fewer fried foods. Some parents, however, say schools go too far when they ban homemade cupcakes for birthdays and Halloween parties, and others say programs funded partially by selling snacks, such as the PTA and some sports, will suffer. (NY Times, 9/5/07 , by Martin)
Study: Bipolar Dis order Diagnosis Among Kid s Skyrockets. The number of U.S. children diagnosed with bipolar disorder increased 40-fold from 1994 to 2003, and some experts say the number has continued to increase since 2003, according to a recent study led by researchers at Columbia University. Other child psychiatry experts say the study indicates that doctors are more aggressively diagnosing the disorder, not that its prevalence has increased. (NY Times, 9/4/07 , by Carey)
Family Therapy Beats One-on-One Counseling for Bulimia
Family therapy works better than individual therapy when treating teens for bulimia, according to researchers at the University of Chicago . After six months of treatment, 39 percent of the teens in family therapy had no symptoms of the disorder, compared to 18 percent of teens in individual therapy, the study found. Additionally, rates of relapse were lower for those in family therapy. (NY Times, 9/4/07 , by Bakalar)
Parents Unaware of Kids' Weight Status, Poll Finds.
Half of parents who have obese or overweight children don't know their kids weigh more than they should , according to a recent Consumer Reports poll, and many experts say they aren't surprised by that finding. Because their kids seem healthy, look like other kids, and they haven't been alerted by a pediatrician, parents may be unaware that their child is overweight, experts say. ( USA Today, 9/3/07 , by Hellmich)
Study: ADHD Kids Not Getting Necessary Treatment.
Nearly 9 percent of American children ages 8 to 15 have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but only a third of those are being treated consistently with medication, according to a study conducted by researchers at Cincinnati Children's Medical Center . Researchers say the findings show that the disorder may not be as over-diagnosed and over-treated as some experts claim. ( Washington Post, 9/3/07 , by Reinberg)
Editorial: Who Should Get SCHIP?
This New York Times editorial discusses income eligibility limits for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The program aims to provide health coverage to families who don't qualify for government assistance but can't afford private insurance, and states are allowed to enroll families whose household income is up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Many states have extended that coverage to families who make more than the limit. (NY Times, 9/2/07 )
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