Flu Season Update - Is Flu About to Take Off?
After last year's early and intense flu season, many people have been wondering what happened this year.
By the end of December last year, there was already widespread flu in 31 states. That's certainly much more than the 10 states reporting widespread flu so far this year....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 28, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Safety Roundup
In this week's Safety Roundup, stories of:
a 14-year-old in Helena, Montana who was unintentionally shot in the leg by a 15-year-old friend while hunting rabbits. The friend tripped while crossing a cattle guard, causing her rifle to fire.
a 14-year-old in Fort Worth, Texas who died after he was unintentionally shot in the head by someone in the home who was showing off the gun and didn't know that his gun was loaded.
a 2-month-old in East Lampeter Township, Pennsylvania who died after she was shot in the abdomen, perhaps unintentionally, by an adult relative.
a 14-year-old in Colorado Springs, Colorado who died afte...
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 28, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Safety Roundup
In this week's Safety Roundup, stories of:
a 17-year-old in Nairn, Louisiana who was unintentionally shot in the leg by an 18-year-old friend while they were hog hunting. Another 18-year-old died when he was unintentionally shot in the head when the shooter mistook his friends for hogs.
a 14-year-old in St. Paul, Minnesota who was unintentionally shot in the abdomen by his 15-year-old friend who was playing with a rifle that he may have found in his basement.
a 3-year-old in Avondale, Ohio who is in critical condition after he unintentionally shot himself with a gun that he likely found under the bed.
an 18-month-old...
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 19, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Is Antibacterial Soap Safe? Do We Need It?
I reported back in May that the FDA was going to take a closer look at triclosan, one of the more common ingredients in antibacterial soaps, body washes, and toothpaste.
But while triclosan does provide a benefit in toothpaste, helping to prevent gingivitis, the FDA states that it "does not have evidence that triclosan added to antibacterial soaps and body washes provides extra health benefits over soap and water." And since there are some concerns about triclosan, as animal studies show that it can alter hormone regulation (endocrine disruptor) and that it may help make bacteria resistant to antibiotics, the "FDA b...
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 18, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
The Latest Vitamin News - Why It Isn't Really News
Judging by all of the headlines, many people are just getting the word that they don't need to take vitamins every day:
Research: Vitamins, supplements may not help avoid disease
The vitamin industry swindled us all
Vitamins Lack Clear Health Benefits, May Pose Risks
Multivitamins Found to Have Little Benefit
...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 18, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Monitoring the Future - Good News and Bad News
The 23rd annual Monitoring the Future study from the University of Michigan provided some good news and some bad news about teen drug use.
First the good news. The study, which has been conducted since 1991 with funding from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, found that among teens in grades 8, 10, and 12, there has been:...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 18, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Vaccinations Given to Control Meningitis Outbreaks
The first of two doses of Bexsero, a vaccine imported from Europe, has been given to students at Princeton University in New Jersey. Available on an investigational basis, the vaccine is being given in the hopes of ending a meningitis outbreak...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 12, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Safety Roundup
In this week's Safety Roundup, stories of:
a 14-year-old from Bismark, North Dakota required surgery after a shotgun pellet went through his eye while he was pheasant hunting with his father and they had a "miscommunication."
a 3-year-old in Indianapolis, Indiana who died after he unintentionally shot himself in the head with a loaded gun that he found on a kitchen counter.
an 8-year-old in Leon, New York who was hospitalized after he was unintentionally shot in the chest by one of his brothers who was playing with a loaded .22-caliber gun....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 12, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Flu Vaccine Benefits
Still waiting to get a flu vaccine?
A new report from the CDC, "Estimated Influenza Illnesses and Hospitalizations Averted by Influenza Vaccination -- United States, 2012-13 Influenza Season," will hopefully convince you how important that yearly flu vaccine is....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 12, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
National Influenza Vaccination Week
This year's cold and flu season is under way, and like last year, it looks like we are getting off to an early start.
The CDC reports that flu activity continues to increase in many parts of the United States and we already have regional flu activity in nine states....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 7, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Safety Roundup
In this week's Safety Roundup, stories of:
a 16-year-old in Panama, Oklahoma who died when he was unintentionally shot by his 14-year-old friend while hunting. He was shot in the neck after the other teen tripped, causing his gun to fire.
a 15-year-old in Elizabeth, New Jersey who was unintentionally shot in the mouth by another teen while a group of friends played with a gun.
a 5-year-old in Manchester, New Hampshire who unintentionally shot himself in the hip while playing with a handgun.
a 2-year-old in Amberg, Wisconsin who died in a house fire that was started by children playing with a lighter.
two children, 9...
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 4, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
National Handwashing Awareness Week
"Spread the Word Not the Germs"
That's the theme of this year's National Handwashing Awareness Week.
Help spread the word by teaching your kids about hand awareness and "that putting your finger into your eye, nose or mouth is the most common method for contamination/inoculation causing one's illness."...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - December 3, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Safety Roundup
In this week's Safety Roundup, stories of:
a teen in Clark County, Kentucky who was injured when he unintentionally shot himself in the hip while duck hunting with a group of other teenagers.
a 14-year-old in Mayodan, North Carolina who is in critical condition after he unintentionally shot himself in the leg while preparing to climb into a tree stand while hunting with his uncle.
an 18-year-old in San Angelo, Texas who is in critical condition after a hunting accident.
a 13-year-old in MacClenny, Florida who is in critical condition after he was unintentionally shot in the chest by his older half-brothe...
Source: About.com Pediatrics - November 28, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Happy Thanksgiving
Although it has been a tough year in terms of accidents, tragedies, and diseases, I hope that we can all look at the things that we can be thankful for today....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - November 27, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
Swine Flu Update - Forget the Talk of Hype
It is hard to believe that it has already been four years since the flu pandemic of 2009, when we were hit with the swine flu or new H1N1 flu virus strain....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Pediatrics)
Source: About.com Pediatrics - November 26, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Source Type: news
