Health

About Over The Counter Medicine

pandaroo — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:26:07 +0800

You may want to look at the packaging twice the next time you take out Over The Counter (OTC) medication for your child.

A group of researchers from University of Sydney reported that the results of testing close to 100 adults including moms, dads and day care workers, on their ability to give children the correct OTC medication in the case that their children fell ill. They were tested on their ability to use a suitable measuring device to determine the correct dosage. As redOrbit reports, 44 percent of those tested were unable to measure out the correct dosage.

A Million Misdiagnosed

bjkid — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:38:00 +0800

So your child is young? He can’t sit still? Do adults call him immature? Your child might have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Or not.

Last week, a Los Angeles Times article expressed doubt over the accuracy of diagnosed ADHD cases in young children. Research conducted by Michigan State University suggests that 1 million children in the United States could be misdiagnosed with ADHD. The study shows that a main cause for this is simply because of age. Younger children in the classroom tended to be more frequently labeled with ADHD.

Depression in Preschoolers?

bjkid — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:00:00 +0800

“Nothing is fun. I’m bored.”

“Mickey lies. Dreams don’t come true.”

“I can’t do Legos. I will never do Legos. I am not a Legos person. You should take them away.”

All of these statements came out of Kiran’s mouth before he was diagnosed with ‘preschool depression’, also called early on-set depression, at age five.

To many, depression at age five is shocking, but the concept of childhood depression is gradually becoming more widely accepted. Today, numerous child psychiatrists and developmental psychologists believe early on-set depression can even occur in two and three year olds. Child psychiatrist and epidemiologist Helen Egger of Duke University, child psychiatrist professor Joan Luby of Washington University School of Medicine who diagnosed Kiran, in addition to other researchers say 84,000 of 6 million preschoolers in America could be clinically depressed.

Free Measles Shots in September

beijingkids — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:36:24 +0800

The Global Times and other Chinese media outlets have announced free measles (ma(2) zhen(3), 痲疹) shots for kids from September 11-20 for "children from 8 months old to 14 years old at 535 vaccination sites and 178 hospitals" due to an anticipated outbreak this fall.

What Did You Say?

bjkid — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0800

Boston.com lately reported that as many as one in five teenagers are suffering hearing loss characteristic of a 50 of 60 year old.

After testing teenagers on ability to hear a range of quiet whispers, researchers found the resulting ratio to be a third more in comparison to teens in the early 1990s. Though the hearing loss observed relatively slight in contrast to hearing in our everyday lives, Director of Diagnostic Audiology of Children’s Hospital Boston Brian Fligor says that their hearing will only steadily worsen. By the time the teenagers tested are in their 40s, their hearing may have progressed to causing troubles listening in conference calls, he says.

Exercise: More Than Meets The Eye

bjkid — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:00:00 +0800

Exercise doesn’t just keep you in shape or help you shed those extra pounds. A multitude of other benefits that can motivate you to keep up a regular exercise regime remain under the radar.

Studies have repeatedly shown exercise as a key to strengthening immune systems and even fighting off viruses and bacteria. Now, it has been proven to lower the risk of stroke by 27% and reduce the occurrence of diabetes and high blood pressure by 50% and 40% respectively. The risk of recurrent breast cancer is reduced by 50%, and the risk of colon cancer is slashed by over 60%. Exercise also cuts the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by 40%. In addition, it has been shown to be just as effective as Prozac or behavioral therapy in decreasing depression.

Secondhand Smoke May Be the Reason for Your Child’s Poor Grades

bjkid — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 08:00:00 +0800

A recent study by researchers of the University of Hong Kong suggests that the effects of secondhand smoke on children living in a household with smokers could affect their academic performance.

Sunscreen Basics: What you need to know

Zhen — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:41:07 +0800

These days there is an overabundance of sunscreens on the market: Creams, sprays with or without retinol, with SPF30, 50, 100! How do you choose one that is safe and effective for you and your loved ones? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

A good sunscreen should block out both UVA and UVB light, in other words it should be labeled as broad-spectrum. Most sunscreens do a good job of blocking UVB, but aren’t so great when it comes to UVA.

Is It Really Organic?

bjkid — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:00:46 +0800

Do you hand your daughter an unpeeled apple as an afterschool snack, or cut up carrot sticks to pack in a lunch for your son under the premise that the fruits and vegetables you buy are organic?

We have all heard of the benefits of eating organic foods: they are environmentally conscious, boost the business of small local farms, arguably contain more nutrients and are all raised sans the nasty pesticides that are commonly used to grow fruits and vegetables. You might pick up peaches or apples claiming to be organically grown at your nearby farmers’ market, Carrefour, Wal-mart or Jenny Lou’s. But how organic are these fruits?

Healthy Sun Protection: Summer isn't over yet!

Zhen — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:27:00 +0800

Summer means lazy weekends, hot temperatures and outdoor activities. Good sun protection is important to prevent dehydration, burns, and the development of skin cancer. Children need to be especially well protected because their skin is thinner and more sensitive. According to the Canadian Cancer Society children and teenagers who get a severe sun burn before the age of 18 are at an increased risk of getting skin cancer as adults.