http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/children's_health/ Learn valuable parenting tips and information on parenting toddlers through teens. Find out about children's health issues such as learning disabilities, weight problems and other common health problems with children. en-us Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT Sat, 26 May 2012 13:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/children's_health/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200749.htm Caesarean section delivery may double the risk of subsequent childhood obesity, finds new research. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:07:07 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200749.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200252.htm Infants ignore information that is too simple or too complex, focusing instead on situations that are “just right,” according to a new study. Dubbed the “Goldilocks effect” by the people that discovered it, the attention pattern sheds light on how babies learn to make sense of a world full of complex sights, sounds, and movements. Wed, 23 May 2012 20:02:02 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523200252.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523161941.htm Mothers who had fevers during their pregnancies were more than twice as likely to have a child with autism or developmental delay than were mothers of typically developing children, and that taking medication to treat fever countered its effect. Wed, 23 May 2012 16:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523161941.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523135523.htm Researchers have shown in mice how immune cells in the brain target and remove unused connections between brain cells during normal development. This research sheds light on how brain activity influences brain development, and highlights the newly found importance of the immune system in how the brain is wired, as well as how the brain forms new connections throughout life in response to change. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523135523.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133136.htm Children are more likely to have more body fat during childhood if their mother has low levels of Vitamin D during pregnancy, according to scientists. Low vitamin D status has been linked to obesity in adults and children, but little is known about how variation in a mother’s status affects the body composition of her child. Wed, 23 May 2012 13:31:31 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523133136.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114728.htm More physical education in schools leads to better motor skills and it can also sharpen students’ learning ability, new research shows. The differences are especially clear among boys. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523114728.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102839.htm A study of toddlers suggests that exposure to potentially toxic flame-retardant chemicals may be higher in nonwhite toddlers than in white toddlers. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523102839.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523101841.htm The number of viral infections during infancy is not associated with wheezing later in childhood, according to a new study. Wed, 23 May 2012 10:18:18 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120523101841.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522134946.htm Getting a flu shot during pregnancy provides unanticipated benefits to the baby, according to the authors of a large population-based study examining the issue. Specifically, the study showed that H1N1 vaccination during the pandemic was associated with a significantly reduced risk of stillbirth, preterm birth and extremely small babies at birth. Tue, 22 May 2012 13:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522134946.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522115034.htm Researchers have found folic acid fortification of grain products in the United States may have an impact on lowering some childhood cancers. The new research shows fortification does not appear to be causing childhood cancer rates to increase, and also finds a notable decrease in two types of childhood cancer. Tue, 22 May 2012 11:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522115034.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522115024.htm Researchers have developed a map of the human brain that shows great promise as a new guide to the inner workings of the body's most complex and critical organ. Tue, 22 May 2012 11:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522115024.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522110303.htm New research suggests that a significant proportion of children with asthma failing Step 4 or greater therapy may have severe asthma with fungal sensitization. Tue, 22 May 2012 11:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120522110303.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120521104625.htm Inhaling concentrated saline (salt water) mist does not reduce how often infants and young children with cystic fibrosis need antibiotics for respiratory symptoms, according to new findings. This trial is the largest study of concentrated, or hypertonic, saline therapy in infants and preschoolers. Mon, 21 May 2012 10:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120521104625.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120521104253.htm Folic acid fortification of foods may reduce the incidence of the most common type of kidney cancer and a type of brain tumors in children, finds a new study. Incidence reductions were found for Wilms' tumor, a type of kidney cancer, and primitive neuroectodermal tumors, a type of brain cancer. Mon, 21 May 2012 10:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120521104253.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133616.htm The link between prenatal exposure to air pollution and childhood lung growth and respiratory ailments is well established, and now a new study suggests that these prenatal exposures can be especially serious for children with asthma. Sun, 20 May 2012 13:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133616.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133614.htm A new study shows that the health risks associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among children whose parents smoke persist well beyond childhood, independent of whether or not they end up becoming smokers. Sun, 20 May 2012 13:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133614.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133612.htm Treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children normalizes disturbances in the neuronal network responsible for attention and executive function, according to a new study. Sun, 20 May 2012 13:36:36 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133612.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120519213236.htm Preliminary results from an ongoing, large-scale study shows that oxytocin -- a naturally occurring substance produced in the brain and throughout the body -- increased brain function in regions that are known to process social information in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Sat, 19 May 2012 21:32:32 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120519213236.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120518132812.htm Findings suggest that the effects of exercise on memory depend on the age of the exerciser; underlying genetic mechanisms matter, too. Fri, 18 May 2012 13:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120518132812.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516195405.htm A pill designed to zero in on abnormal genes that drive specific cancers has produced encouraging early results in children with an uncommon but aggressive type of lymphoma, as well as in children with a rare form of neuroblastoma. Wed, 16 May 2012 19:54:54 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516195405.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516173721.htm A new study suggests that head impacts experienced during contact sports such as football and hockey may worsen some college athletes’ ability to acquire new information. Wed, 16 May 2012 17:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516173721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152444.htm Taiwanese doctors have restored some movement in four children bedridden with a rare, life-threatening neurological disease using gene transfer. The first-in-humans achievement may also be helpful for more common diseases such as Parkinson's. Wed, 16 May 2012 15:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516152444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516135504.htm In a new study analyzing Internet usage among college students, researchers have found that students who show signs of depression tend to use the Internet differently than those who show no symptoms of depression. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516135504.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131321.htm Child abuse or neglect are strong predictors of major health and emotional problems, but little is known about how the chronicity of the maltreatment may increase future harm apart from other risk factors in a child’s life. Scientist have now taken a closer look at how chronic maltreatment has impacted the future health and behavior of children and adults. Tue, 15 May 2012 13:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131321.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131317.htm Researchers have found new clues in the pathogenesis of skull and skin birth defects associated with a rare genetic disorder, Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome (BSS). Tue, 15 May 2012 13:13:13 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515131317.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515094132.htm Scientists have discovered that mice that lack a gene called Snf2l have brains that are 35 percent larger than normal. The research could lead to new approaches to stimulate brain regeneration and may provide important insight into developmental disorders such as autism and Rett syndrome. Tue, 15 May 2012 09:41:41 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120515094132.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161614.htm What goes bump in the night? In many U.S. households: people. About 3.6 percent of US adults -- or upward of 8.4 million -- are prone to sleepwalking, new research shows. The work also showed an association between nocturnal wanderings and certain psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety. A large number of people reported sleepwalking in childhood or adolescence making the lifetime prevalence of sleepwalking 29.2 percent. Mon, 14 May 2012 16:16:16 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514161614.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514152954.htm In today’s technology-driven world, batteries, especially button batteries, are everywhere. They power countless gadgets and electronic items that we use every day. While they may seem harmless, button batteries can be dangerous if swallowed by children. A new study found that the annual number of battery-related emergency department visits among children younger than 18 years of age more than doubled over the 20-year study period, jumping from 2,591 emergency department visits in 1990 to 5,525 emergency department visits in 2009. The number of button batteries swallowed by children also doubled during this period. Mon, 14 May 2012 15:29:29 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514152954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514144651.htm A new study examined pediatric injuries associated with baby bottles, pacifiers and sippy cups. Researchers found that from 1991 to 2010, an estimated 45,398 children younger than three years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments for injuries related to the use of these products. This equates to an average of 2,270 injuries per year, or one child treated in a hospital emergency department every four hours for these injuries. Mon, 14 May 2012 14:46:46 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514144651.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134301.htm Nice guys do finish last at least when it comes to procreation, according to a new study that answers the question of why women choose bad boys. New research has demonstrated that hormones associated with ovulation influence women's perceptions of men as potential fathers. Mon, 14 May 2012 13:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514134301.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122844.htm Water could change the way we eat. That's the conclusion of new research. Mon, 14 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514122844.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104945.htm Nearly one in five lower-income parents report costs forced their children to cut back on sports. Mon, 14 May 2012 10:49:49 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120514104945.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144531.htm That overweight during pregnancy can lead to overweight children and adolescents has been known for some time, but new research indicates that excess weight before and during pregnancy can have long-lasting health consequences for the offspring of such mothers even later in life. Sun, 13 May 2012 14:45:45 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120513144531.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120511175011.htm Researchers have uncovered a new way to stimulate activity of immune cell opiate receptors, leading to efficient tumor cell clearance. The researchers have been able to take a new pharmacological approach to activate the immune cells to prevent cancer growth through stimulation of the opiate receptors found on immune cells. Fri, 11 May 2012 17:50:50 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120511175011.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510224440.htm Researchers examined the distribution of child deaths globally by cause and found that 64 percent were attributable to infectious causes and 40 percent occurred in neonates. Thu, 10 May 2012 22:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510224440.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510132713.htm A student-made invention, Dino-Might, was designed to help children with cerebral palsy restore strength and flexibility to their hands and wrists. Thu, 10 May 2012 13:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510132713.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510122806.htm A recently evolved pattern of gene activity in the language and decision-making centers of the human brain is missing in a disorder associated with autism and learning disabilities, a new study shows. Thu, 10 May 2012 12:28:28 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510122806.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510113526.htm A new report shows that 21.8 percent of pregnant white women aged 15 to 44 currently (within the past 30 days) smoked cigarettes. The study also showed that cigarette smoking levels among pregnant white women were significantly higher than the levels among pregnant black women (14.2 percent) and pregnant Hispanic women (6.5 percent) in the same 15 to 44 age range. Thu, 10 May 2012 11:35:35 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510113526.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510100353.htm To better understand the cause of ADHD and to identify methods to prevent and treat it, researchers have developed a new form of specially bred mouse that mimics the condition. Thu, 10 May 2012 10:03:03 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510100353.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510095936.htm By comparing the testosterone levels of five-month old pairs of twins, both identical and non-identical, researchers were able to establish that testosterone levels in infancy are not inherited genetically but rather determined by environmental factors. “Testosterone is a key hormone for the development of male reproductive organs, and it is also associated with behavioral traits, such as sexual behavior and aggression,” said the lead author. Thu, 10 May 2012 09:59:59 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510095936.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509123746.htm Researchers have discovered a way of identifying which women are most at risk of postnatal depression (PND) by checking for specific genetic variants. The findings could lead to the development of a simple, accurate blood test which checks for the likelihood of developing the condition. Wed, 09 May 2012 12:37:37 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509123746.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508142544.htm Women who are obese before they become pregnant are at higher risk of having children with lower cognitive function - as measured by math and reading tests taken between ages 5 to 7 years - than are mothers with a healthy prepregnancy weight, new research suggests. Tue, 08 May 2012 14:25:25 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508142544.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508124455.htm Sildenafil, also known as the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, may give a boost to underdeveloped hearts in children and young adults with congenital heart defects. Tue, 08 May 2012 12:44:44 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508124455.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508112748.htm New research has shown physical changes to exist in specific brain areas implicated in schizophrenia following the use of cannabis during adolescence. The research has shown how cannabis use during adolescence can interact with a gene, called the COMT gene, to cause physical changes in the brain. Tue, 08 May 2012 11:27:27 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508112748.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508103919.htm Advanced high-speed gene-sequencing has been used in the clinical setting to find diagnoses for seven children out of a dozen who were experiencing developmental delays and congenital abnormalities for mysterious reasons. Tue, 08 May 2012 10:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508103919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508094354.htm A large neonate brain, rapid brain growth and large frontal lobes are the typical hallmarks of human brain development. These appeared much earlier in the hominin family tree than was originally thought, as anthropologists who re-examined the Taung child’s fossil cranial sutures and compared them with other fossil skulls now demonstrate. The late fusion of the cranial sutures in the Taung child is also found in many other members of the Australopithecus africanus species and the earliest examples of the Homo genus. Tue, 08 May 2012 09:43:43 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508094354.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508093926.htm With summer just around the corner, pediatricians are sounding the alarm on a disturbing trend: A growing number of teenagers and young adults diagnosed with skin cancer. Tue, 08 May 2012 09:39:39 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120508093926.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507165557.htm The peak risk for misusing prescription pain relievers occurs in mid-adolescence, specifically about 16 years old and earlier than many experts thought, according to a new study. The results, based on recent nationwide surveys of nearly 120,000 US adolescents, suggest prevention programs may need to be introduced earlier, in childhood and early adolescence. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:55:55 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507165557.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164223.htm Television viewing and unhealthy eating habits in U.S. adolescents appear to be linked in a national survey of students in the fifth to tenth grades, according to a new report. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164223.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164221.htm A study of mothers and their toddlers suggests that mothers of overweight toddlers often had inaccurate perceptions of their child's body size, according to a new report. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164221.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164217.htm Surveys of U.S. adolescents suggest that the estimated peak risk of using prescription pain relievers for extramedical use, such as to get high or for other unapproved indications, occurs in mid-adolescence, according to a new report. Mon, 07 May 2012 16:42:42 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507164217.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507131944.htm Landscape architects are creating a schoolyard that can become a therapeutic landscape for children with autism. They have designed a place where elementary school children with autism can feel comfortable and included. Mon, 07 May 2012 13:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507131944.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507102227.htm Like their healthy peers, children with disabilities may spend too much time in front of a video screen. For children with cerebral palsy (CP), this leads to an even greater risk of being overweight or developing health issues such as diabetes or musculoskeletal disorders. A group of scientists has found that video games such as Nintendo's Wii offer an enjoyable opportunity to promote light to moderate physical activity in children with CP, and may have a role to play in rehabilitation therapy. Mon, 07 May 2012 10:22:22 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120507102227.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504172018.htm Fifth graders in California public school districts that comply with the state’s mandatory physical education requirement are more likely to have better fitness levels than students in districts that don’t comply, according to a new study. Fri, 04 May 2012 17:20:20 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504172018.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504171919.htm Parents can have a significant impact in steering young children away from too much time spent in sedentary pursuits. Fri, 04 May 2012 17:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504171919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504171915.htm A new study suggests clinicians might be able to identify children at risk of later emotional or behavioral problems by paying attention to a few key signs during early well-child check-ups. Fri, 04 May 2012 17:19:19 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120504171915.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503142643.htm Researchers have discovered a pair of defective genes that cause a rare congenital malformation syndrome that can make it impossible for the child to breathe or eat properly without reparative surgery. Thu, 03 May 2012 14:26:26 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503142643.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503142426.htm New discovery of a genetic mutation in congenital asplenia may lead to genetic prenatal screening in patients with the rare, but deadly, disorder. Thu, 03 May 2012 14:24:24 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503142426.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503104705.htm In two separate studies, researchers examined the stability and satisfaction of intimate relationships among college students with a history of childhood emotional maltreatment. The studies suggest that emotional abuse as a child impacted relationship fulfillment due to self-criticism. Thu, 03 May 2012 10:47:47 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503104705.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502184833.htm A new study suggests that exposure to estrogenic chemicals in the womb or during childhood could have a long-term effect on female fertility. Limiting such exposures, including minimizing use of soy-based baby formula, would be a step toward maintaining female reproductive health. Wed, 02 May 2012 18:48:48 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120502184833.htm