Study refutes testosterone link to anger
A link between high testosterone levels in utero and subsequent aggressive behaviour in children has been disproved by Australian research.
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children
The following articles have the tag children
Pertussis vax to protect earlier
THE timing of pertussis vaccination in infants and children has been moved forward to minimise the risk of infection, according to the latest Australian Immunisation Handbook.
Infant pertussis vaccine moved forward
THE timing of pertussis vaccination in infants and children has been moved forward to minimise infection, according to the latest Australian Immunisation Handbook released today.
Children's attraction to magnet swallowing surging
CASES of children swallowing multiple small, high-powered magnets are surging and could lead to life-threatening gastrointestinal perforation, Canadian paediatricians say.
Beware toxic renal effects of NSAIDs in kids
THE toxic renal effects of NSAIDs in children may be underestimated, researchers warn.
Female GPs earn half as much as men
MALE GPs earn more than double their female counterparts on average, according to new data on the gender gap in wages.
A mother’s kiss can cure all ills
A KISS from mum can be embarrassing to older kids but for toddlers it could spare them surgery.
Orthodontic technique to treat OSA in children
A ROUTINE orthodontic technique could soon be used to treat children with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), according to a dental expert.
Obesity in kids has adult sequelae
CHILDREN with obesity exhibit early signs of worsening cardiometabolic health including end organ effects such as increased left ventricular mass, a meta-analysis shows.
Gut feelings should not be ignored when diagnosing: study
A GP’s ‘gut feeling’ that something is wrong with a child should not be ignored, as it can ensure serious infection is not missed, a study shows.
BPA, obesity link? Maybe it’s just due to fat
A STUDY of American children has found an association between the ubiquitous endocrine-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and obesity.
Quality of life improves for childless
COUPLES with fertility problems who remain childless have a good chance of having a similar quality of life to those who manage to have kids, according to a study.
Warning on echinacea for children
The UK drugs regulator has recommended echinacea should not be given to young children due to the risk of allergic reaction.
Warning on codeine safety for children
THE US Food and Drug Administration has flagged a safety risk with the use of codeine in young children after tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy.
OTC cough medicines to have age restrictions applied
THE TGA has finalised its review on the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, advising restrictions in children but rejecting calls for the drugs to be up-scheduled.
Toddlers' snoring linked to behavioural problems
CHILDREN who snore are more likely to have behavioural problems than other children their age, according to a new study.
Montelukast may improve symptoms of OSA in kids
THE leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast can decrease the severity of mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in children and may help them avoid surgery, doctors say.
Splitting agent 'likely cause' of Fluvax events in children
IT MAY be years before CSL’s Fluvax can be used again in young children, the company said today when releasing a report showing its use of a particular viral splitting agent was likely behind the 2010 adverse events
Aussies back Disney’s junk food ad boycott
AUSTRALIAN obesity campaigners have welcomed a decision to ban junk food advertising during children’s programs on Walt Disney television networks.
World’s first artificial pancreas within the sight of researchers
RESEARCHERS are taking big strides toward development of an artificial pancreas, with results announced this week from a study in the youngest children yet and from the world’s first ambulatory trial in adults.
Aussies throw weight behind Disney's junk food ad boycott
AUSTRALIAN obesity campaigners have welcomed a decision to ban junk food advertising during children’s programs on Walt Disney television networks.
Mowers and kids are not a good mix
CHILDREN should be warned about the dangers of lawnmowers and campfires, surgeons say following research indicating injuries from both are rising
Bullied children three times more likely to self-harm
CHILDREN bullied during their early years at school are up to three times more likely to self-harm than classmates when they reach adolescence, a study shows.
Bullied children more likely to self-harm
CHILDREN bullied during their early years at school are up to three times more likely to self-harm than classmates when they reach adolescence, a study shows.
Children have adverse Fluvax effects despite warnings for under-5s
ONE child has suffered a febrile convulsion and two more have reportedly experienced vomiting and diarrhoea after receiving Fluvax despite repeated warnings the vaccine is not registered for children under five years.
Good news for thong fans
THONGS, condemned as both bogan and bad for feet, may actually be healthy footwear for children for short periods, academics say.
Asthma deaths in children double
ASTHMA deaths among children have more than doubled since 2006, raising concerns that parents may have become complacent about monitoring their child’s illness.
Bald Barbie to help kids with cancer
THE US maker of the famous Barbie franchise will release a bald doll next year in support of children who have lost their hair from cancer therapy, a Mattel spokesman says.
Children sexualised by ads: AMA demands inquiry
DOCTORS have led calls for an inquiry into what has been labelled the “premature sexualisation of children in marketing and advertising”, with the AMA arguing the practice is detrimental to child health and development.
Kids' exposure to alcohol advertising flouts guidelines
AUSTRALIAN researchers have questioned children’s high level of exposure to alcohol ads on TV.
Gaming addiction may cause harm similar to drug abuse
CITING online gaming addiction and sexting as examples, psychiatrists say they are concerned about the potential impact of the Internet, media and technology on the mental health of children.
Hyperactivity linked to sleep disorders
SNORING and sleep apnoea in young children have been linked to the development of hyperactivity and other behavioural problems.
Instead of blaming gaming, use it as a tool to promote good health
GAMING and interactive media should be capitalised on as health promotion tools rather than being avoided, experts say.
Fluvax still restricted for kids
FLUVAX is again missing from the list of seasonal influenza vaccines approved for use in children as young as six months.
Experts divided on cholesterol testing in children
NEW US guidelines recommending routine cholesterol testing for children have received a mixed reaction from both US and Australian experts.
Rise in children on protection orders
NEARLY eight out of every 1000 Australian children are now on care and protection orders, new figures show.
Health message should target supermarkets on sugary drinks
EIGHTY per cent of Australian children are regularly consuming carbonated soft drinks and other sugar-laden beverages – and they mostly do it at home, a study shows.
Medicines need to meet the toddler taste test
THE taste of an antibiotic is not often taken into account when prescribing for children, despite palatability corresponding strongly with adherence, researchers say.
Medicines need to meet the toddler taste test
THE taste of an antibiotic is not often taken into account when prescribing for children despite palatability corresponding strongly with adherence, researchers say.
Ban smoking in cars, doctors tell UK govt
THE British Medical Association (BMA) is calling for a blanket ban on smoking in cars in the UK.
Rebate cuts jeopardise GP role in child mental health
CHILDREN’S mental health visits to GPs have risen dramatically under the Better Access program and cutting the rebates would leave the profession’s role in child mental health care in doubt, new research suggests. An analysis of Bettering the Evaluation and Care of Health (BEACH) data by the research project’s own authors also suggests GP involvement in child psychology has become less prescription-focused under Better Access as the family doctor plays a more active ongoing role in the mental health care of young Australians. The study, published in the latest Australian and New ...
Beauty pageants harmful to child's mental health
CHILDREN participating in beauty pageants are being "exploited" in ways that can be detrimental to their personal development, says the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists. THE RANZCP's Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry chair, Dr Nick Kowalenko, said the competition for a beauty prize where young girls are judged against sexualised ideals can have significant mental health and developmental consequences that impact on identity, self-esteem and body perception. "Sexualisation is a process whereby a child's value is based on their appearance or behaviour to the exclusion of other characteristics, and ...
Infant risk from maternal HSV-1
HERPES simplex virus 1 (HSV?1) is an increasing cause of genital disease in adolescent mothers, putting their babies at risk, a Sydney researcher says. The proportion of neonatal HSV caused by HSV-1 increased by 59% in the 13 years to 2009, said Professor Cheryl Jones from the University of Sydney and the Centre for Perinatal Infection Research at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. “We’re seeing more cases due to HSV type 1 not HSV type 2, and people – GPs, specialists, communities – think that genital herpes is just HSV type 2,” she said. “What’s clear ...
Study refutes steroids risk for kids’ skin
CHILDREN may not be appropriately treated for eczema due to the “corticosteroids phobia” of parents and health professionals, a Sydney researcher warns. Clinical dermatologist Associate Professor Gayle Fischer, from the University of Sydney, showed routine long-term use of topical corticosteroids (TCS) is safe after a study of 92 children with a mean age of 3.2 years receiving treatment on body and face for around 10 months. Ninety-three per cent of patients were using a combination of topical corticosteroids classified as potent (betamethasone dipropionate 0.05%, methylprednisolone aceponate 0.1% or mometasone furoate 0.01% ointments), moderate (betamethasone valerate 0.02% ointment) ...
Food crisis: we’re eating to death
Taskforces, preventive health agencies and bold visions – can they really change our unhealthy eating habits? Karen Percy reports.
Childhood eating disorders linked to familial psychiatric illness
NEARLY one-half of children aged under 13 years with eating disorders have a family member with a psychiatric disorder, a study suggests. The UK study, which found the incidence of eating disorders in primary school age children was around three cases per 100,000, suggested specialised services were needed for young children, the researchers said. They analysed data reported by paediatricians and psychiatrists to two paediatric surveillance systems, finding 208 cases of eating disorders over 14 months. Eating disorders increased with age, with an incidence ranging from 0.21 per 100,000 in children aged six to seven, to ...
Flu vaccine choice limited in children
STRICT guidelines will govern paediatric influenza vaccination this year, with immunisation providers advised to use only two of the six registered vaccines for children younger than 10 years. Only Influvac (Abbott) and Vaxigrip (Sanofi Pasteur) can be used in children aged under five years, the TGA said.And the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) had a “strong preference” that these trivalent seasonal flu vaccines be used up to the age of 10 years. Fluvax (CSL), linked to a ninefold higher than expected rate of febrile convulsions (one in 100) in young children in 2010, has not ...
Chemical burns on the rise in children
THE number of children hospitalised for all types of burns has almost halved in the past 26 years, but admissions for chemical burns have trebled, an Australian study shows. West Australian researchers looked at children younger than five hospitalised for burns between 1983 and 2008, showing a decline of 44%. Nearly half of the 5398 admissions were for children aged between one and two years. More than half of admissions were caused by scalding, they found. "Scald injuries caused by hot beverages continue to carry significant morbidity and are an important paediatric public health issue," ...
Five tips to keep patients hydrated
Sunshine, sweating and air-conditioning in summer, and wind and heating in winter, can cause fluid loss in children, the elderly and athletes. Here are five tips to prevent dehydration. 1. Keeping children cool in the summer months Children’s temperature regulation and sweat glands are still developing, so they are more likely to overheat.1 Kids aged 4–18 need about 1.4–1.9 litres of fluids a day depending on gender.2 Water is best, but if they are playing sport outside on a hot day, an electrolyte sports drink will provide energy, fluids, sodium and potassium which is lost through ...
Hong Kong children spot dementia in elderly
SCHOOLCHILDREN in Hong Kong are being trained to spot signs of dementia in their elderly relatives, in an innovative project that has attracted Australian attention. The pilot program involved 43 schools in which children filled out questionnaires with their parents to identify possible dementia in elderly family members. The survey asked about noticeable declines in the memory of elderly family members over the previous two years and if they had ever complained of losing personal belongings or accused a family member of stealing. The survey found 17% of respondents had an elderly family member with ...
Junk food advertising regulation a step closer, paper suggests
A RECENTLY released parliamentary paper has suggested government regulation of junk food advertising that targets children may soon become a reality. The paper indicates the move away from industry self-regulation might take place “as a result of... growing public demand for intervention and a shift in health policy more towards preventive health than has been emphasised in the past”. The paper comes amid fresh calls for government regulation of junk food advertising following the release of a report examining advertisements for junk food being aired during children’s television programs. The report released last week by the ...
Steroid sprays an option for kids with obstructive sleep apnoea
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY drugs may benefit children with mild obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and provide an alternative to adenotonsillectomy, a Cochrane review suggests. Reviewers identified three small randomised controlled trials comparing intranasal fluticasone, intranasal budesonide or oral montelukast with placebo in children with mild to moderate OSA. Fluticasone and budesonide were each shown to lower the apnoea-hypopnoea index in children with OSA after six weeks of treatment. However, there was insufficient evidence to comment on the effect of the oral montelukast, the authors said. Clinical Associate Professor Dominic Fitzgerald, paediatric respiratory and sleep physician at the Children’s ...
Paracetamol link to asthma in kids remains controversial
AUSTRALIAN experts have challenged findings from a New Zealand birth cohort study linking paracetamol use with the development of asthma and atopy. In the study, children administered paracetamol before the age of 15 months were more than three times more likely to be sensitised to allergens as children who had no paracetamol, said Professor Julian Crane and colleagues from the University of Otago. Data from the study of 1400 children also showed those who took paracetamol more than 10 times between five and six years of age had double the risk of asthma compared to those not ...
Alcohol ad restrictions need tightening to protect children
AUSTRALIAN alcohol advertising restrictions appear to be inadequate with research finding three-quarters of children recognise the link between the Bundaberg Rum Bear and alcohol. The study asked 156 WA primary and secondary school children to correctly match images of eight characters used to advertise various foods and drinks with a collection of generic products. The Bundaberg Rum Bear, regularly featured in Australian alcohol television advertisements, was correctly associated with an image of a generic bottle of alcohol by 75.4% of the children. Of children aged nine to 12 years, 66.7% made the association, rising to 84.2% ...
UNICEF-Cadbury deal not so sweet
UNICEF has been hit by a wave of criticism from nutrition experts slating the organisation’s unlikely partnership with chocolate manufacturer Cadbury in Canada. The organisation has brokered a deal with Cadbury Adams Canada in which the chocolate manufacturer provides them with C$500,000 ($A492,000) to build schools in Africa in exchange for Cadbury being allowed to feature the UNICEF logo on its packaging. However, some health experts believe UNICEF has made a poor choice partnering with a company synonymous with producing high-calorie food targeted at children, particularly when the charity promotes nutrition for children in developing countries. ...
Risk factor profiles of kids with obesity mirror those of adults
Obese children have similar cardiovascular and metabolic risk factor profiles to those observed in obese adults, research suggests. A longitudinal study of 7589 UK children (average age 10 years) found an incremental, linear relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and biomarkers similar to those in adults with obesity. Children with obesity had more than 10 times the risk of hypertension and three times the risk of dyslipidaemia compared to their peers in the healthy weight range. The study also showed graded associations with biomarkers including apolipoproteins A1 and B, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein. Professor Louise Baur, from ...
ADHD in kids raises depression and suicide risk
CHILDREN aged 4-6 years with ADHD may be at increased risk of depression, dysthymia and suicide later in life, research reveals. Compared to their peers, children with ADHD had a four times greater risk of depression and three times the risk of suicidal ideation or attempts. Researchers followed two cohorts of US children with ADHD through to age 18 for the study.They found 18.4% of those with early ADHD made at least one suicide attempt compared to 5.7% of matched controls. Those with several concurrent disorders, such as depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder and/or conduct disorder, ...
Cochrane review
Vitamin D supplements fail to improve bone density REVIEWERS have found vitamin D supplements fail to improve bone density in healthy children with adequate vitamin D levels. The review of six randomised trials, including 1000 children and adolescents, found healthy children randomised to vitamin D supplementation for at least three months had no statistically significant improvement in bone density at the hip, lumbar spine, forearm or of the whole body compared with those given placebo. However, the authors, from the University of Tasmania, said the findings suggested children with vitamin D deficiency might derive a “clinically ...
Kids admitted more for influenza vax reactions than flu
CSL’s paediatric flu vaccine caused more hospital admissions for febrile seizures than would have eventuated from children getting the flu, researchers say. A new study shows the risk profile for Fluvax/Fluvax Junior (CSL) far exceeded the other main paediatric trivalent vaccine, Influvac (Solvay). The estimated risk of a febrile convulsion after receiving CSL’s vaccine was 0.39% compared to 0% for the Solvay product, said the researchers from the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and the WA Communicable Disease Control Directorate. Using data from hospitalisation of children in WA, they estimated that if the admission rate for ...
Age 30 mooted as starting point for statins in high-risk patients
THE debate on when statin therapy should be initiated in high-risk patients continues, with a US expert arguing that initiation at age 30 may be an option. Professor Daniel Steinberg, an endocrinologist at the University of California, said statins could be initiated in patients aged 30 years who had a lifetime cardiovascular absolute risk of 35% or more. He argued the estimated 10-year Framingham risk at age 30 could be misleading because it didn’t take into account that cardiovascular risk increases progressively as patients age. An American College of Cardiology Foundation statement said initiating ...
Child mental health targeted
ADVOCATES for children’s mental health have launched a united front ahead of the election, kicking off a campaign to ensure children are not overlooked in the scramble for health funding. The new Children’s Mental Health Coalition is calling on all political parties to boost mental health funding for the 0-12 age group and invest seriously in early intervention and prevention strategies. The six-group coalition is also calling for the establishment of Kids Life Centres, to offer help and support to children with anxiety and behavioural problems, their parents and carers. Coalition leader Professor Louise Newman, president ...
Suspension of flu vaccination continues for under-fives
ADVICE against seasonal flu vaccination of children younger than five years of age will remain, with an extensive inquiry failing to identify a cause of this year’s spate of febrile seizures. The TGA said there were 100 confirmed cases of post-vaccination febrile convulsions in young children, including 58 from Western Australia. “CSL’s Fluvax or Fluvax Junior was used in all 66 cases where the brand of the seasonal influenza vaccine was reported,” the authority said. The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer suspended use of trivalent seasonal vaccine in children younger than five years in late April and ...
Mental health intervention should start in childhood
AUSTRALIA could substantially reduce the burden of mental illness by doing more to protect the mental health of its children, advocates say. With 50% of mental disorders emerging before the age of 16, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is urging the Government to consider children in ongoing health reforms. Dr Phill Brock, chair of the RANZCP’s faculty of child and adolescent psychiatry, said infants and children needed specific services beyond those provided for adults. “Inpatient, sub-acute and specialised community mental health care for young people is under-funded and access to primary ...
Psychotropic drug risk in pregnancy
ANALYSIS of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in very young children has raised fresh concerns about the use of psychotropic medicines in pregnancy. Among 429 psychotropic-related ADR reports over 10 years in Danish children, one in five were in children younger than two years. Reactions included convulsion, feeding disorders, neonatal priapism, apnoea and ventricular septal defects. While some were reported explicitly as “maternal drugs affecting foetus”, many other ADRs were likely also due to mothers’ use of psychotropics as the indications for use included depression and schizophrenia, the researchers said. More than half of the ADRs ...
No cancer legacy from mums’ exposure to mobile phone towers
A MAJOR British study has found no links between cancer in young children and their mothers’ exposure to mobile phone towers during pregnancy. While concerns about living close to towers have been raised due to reported cancer clusters, no systematic epidemiological investigation of prenatal exposure has ever been undertaken, the researchers said. All registered cases of cancer in children aged up to four years in Great Britain from 1999-2001 were assessed for pregnancy exposure to the nearest mobile phone base station. The researchers, from Imperial College London, examined almost 1400 cases of cancer – including leukaemia, ...
Child injury presentations to EDs are on the rise, study shows
THE number of injured children presenting to hospital emergency departments has escalated in recent years, according to a new study. A review of Brisbane hospital data found that between 1998 and 2005 the incidence of under-13s presenting to EDs rose by 56 per cent. Low falls were the most common cause of injury across all ages. Burns and collisions were the next most common in under-5s, whereas over-5s tended to be injured from high falls, collisions and transport-related accidents. The top culprit activity was playing, which was involved in almost 40% of injuries. The ...
Flu vaccine considered safe for five year olds
FIVE-YEAR-OLD children can safely be given the seasonal influenza vaccine, but younger children should be offered Panvax, health authorities say. Chief medical officer Professor Jim Bishop last week advised that seasonal flu shots for children younger than five years would continue to be suspended following a nine-fold increase in febrile convulsions. Earlier advice was to avoid the vaccine in children “aged five years and under”, but the slight change reflected the findings of a joint investigation by the TGA and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation that the most severe adverse reactions were confined to under-fives, ...
Suspension of child flu vaccine extended
CSL has launched a voluntary recall of its remaining stock of paediatric influenza vaccine following this year’s nine-fold increase in post-vaccination febrile convulsions. Chief medical officer Jim Bishop announced yesterday that use of any trivalent seasonal vaccine in healthy children younger than five years old would remain suspended. An investigation found the rate of febrile convulsions in young children in the 24 hours after receiving Fluvax was about nine per 1000 doses whereas the expected rate was <1 per 1000 doses. “The alternative for both healthy children and those with risk factors is the swine flu ...
Check BP in children with familial hypertension
HYPERTENSION in children is increasingly common, researchers say, highlighting the need for blood pressure checks in children with obesity or a family history of cardiovascular disease. A US/Canadian cross-sectional study of 2000 paediatric primary care practice visits in children aged three to 20 years of age without a history of hypertension found 726 (36%) of children had elevated BP. However, as many as 87% of cases of elevated BP were not recognised by clinicians, most likely in children with more modest BP elevations. “Although obvious signs… may prompt providers to recognise BP elevation in children, cases ...
US Childhood Obesity to Rise
NATIONAL forecasts over the next decade show obesity rates among American children will continue to climb, while adult obesity rates will stabilise. The study, published in the journal Medical Decision Making, used a simulation model to project BMI distributions based on gender, age and race from national figures from 2000 to 2004 and 2005 to 2006. Researchers predicted that over the next decade, obesity rates would surge in children, predominantly in boys aged six to nine years. Obesity was also expected to rise in the African American population, specifically in children aged 10 or older and ...
Bumper flu fears as GPs, patients shun vaccination
AUSTRALIA could face a horror flu season if an unexplained spike in paediatric adverse reactions to the seasonal flu vaccine leads GPs and the public to shun flu jabs altogether. A crisis in confidence is already noticeable leading doctors warn, as some GPs abandon vaccination for children and adults alike, and practices are swamped with calls from concerned parents. Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop recently ordered GPs to suspend seasonal flu vaccination of children under five. The moratorium followedreports of up to 400 cases of fever and 77 convulsions linked to the trivalent vaccine in WA and ...
Seasonal flu vaccine suspended in kids after severe reactions
The TGA will convene an expert scientific advisory panel to investigate adverse reactions to the seasonal flu vaccine following a spate of severe reactions among children in Western Australia. It was revealed yesterday that 45 children younger than five years old had presented to hospitals with high fever and in some cases febrile convulsions after vaccination. GPs Australia-wide are advised by the Federal Government to withhold the seasonal flu vaccine from all children younger than five until further notice. This advice was endorsed by the RACGP. A spokeswoman for CSL – supplier of the seasonal flu vaccine ...
Smoking grandmothers pass down cancer risk to grandkids
A CHILD whose grandmother smoked has double the risk of childhood cancer as the grandchild of a non-smoker. This increased relative risk of cancer added to the evidence that damage from tobacco smoke might be passed down through generations of a family, researchers said. The study of 128 children with cancer and 128 matched controls was conducted in Spain by Spanish and American researchers. Exposure and use of tobacco was determined over three generations, with the smoking habits of mothers and maternal grandmothers being assessed. Sixty per cent of mothers of children with neuroblastoma were ...
Smacking tots linked to child aggression later
A NEW study links the smacking of young children to increased aggression later in childhood. Children who were frequently spanked or slapped by their mother at the age of three years tended to be more aggressive by the age of five compared to children not subjected to corporal punishment, the US study showed. Almost 2500 mothers took part in the population-based birth cohort study of children from 20 large cities. The researchers, funded by the National Institutes of Health, found that almost half of the mothers interviewed reported no use of corporal punishment in the previous ...
Strong magnets causing injuries in children
THE increasing availability of very strong magnets in small sizes is proving a hazard to children, physicians warn. Reported injuries in Australia include bowel perforation following ingestion, and trauma from sensitive body parts being clamped between two magnets. Data representing a quarter of all Queensland hospital emergency departments shows 105 children required treatment following magnet ingestion or injury in the past ten years, with 70% occurring in the last five years. The report, in the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit Bulletin ( QISU Bulletin No. 109, March 2010 ), follows a case series on three Queensland children who ...
Swine flu may cause encephalopathy, experts warn
CLINICIANS should be alert to the potential neurological complications of swine flu, experts warn. Specialists from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW, have published details of two cases of severe encephalopathy in previously healthy children who were positive for H1N1. A five-year-old girl presented with hemiplegia and fever and required mechanical ventilation, anticonvulsants, oseltamivir and steroids before recovering fully. A five-year-old boy presented with ascending paralysis and fever, and was quadriplegic and comatose within 24 hours. After treatment with oseltamivir, immunoglobulin and steroids, he was discharged a month later with mild left arm weakness. “We ...
Children from asbestos town more likely to die of cancer
PEOPLE who lived as children in the former asbestos mining town of Wittenoom, Western Australian, have up to four times the cancer death rate of the general WA population, a new study shows. Professor Bill Musk and Associate Professor Alison Reid, from the University of Western Australia, examined 228 deaths in a cohort of 2500 people who spent the first years of their life in Wittenoom. Although the children would have had less asbestos exposure than the miners, 40 of them (17%) have died from malignant mesothelioma, Professor Musk told the annual scientific meeting of the Thoracic ...
Cough helps vax pain
IMMUNISATION pain can be overcome in children by using a simple coughing technique, according to US researchers. Asking children to do a ‘warm-up’ cough, followed by a second cough when the vaccine is injected reduced the pain of immunisation by almost half in the study. Researchers carried out the technique in 68 children aged 4-5 and 11-13 years attending for routine vaccinations under the US immunisation schedule. The cough technique reduced self-reported pain intensity by 40% on a visual analogue scale. The technique, although not successful in all children, could easily ...
Tainted milk linked to kidney disease long term
A SIGNIFICANT proportion of children exposed to melamine-contaminated dairy products during the health disaster in China last year have long-term kidney damage. Ultrasounds revealed that 12% of 7933 children investigated as part of a follow-up study into the contaminated milk scandal in 2008 had kidney abnormalities. The children were living in Shijiazhuang City and were under three years old at the time of the scandal. In September 2008, melamine-contaminated infant formula, primarily manufactured by Sanlu Infant Milk, killed six children and hospitalised 50,000 additional children. The company had intentionally added melamine, commonly used ...
Call for kids’ food marketing code
AN internationally agreed code on marketing food to children would assist efforts to prevent childhood obesity, a leading Australian researcher says. Professor Boyd Swinburn, director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Melbourne, said international codes for controlling tobacco and marketing baby formula might be suitable models. Despite a decade of efforts to prevent obesity, advocates were “still virtually at the starting line”, he said, adding it took more than 50 years to rein in cigarette marketing. In a commentary, Professor Swinburn warned obesity prevention was underfunded compared to other health problems. “The ...
Improvements needed for kids' palliative care
AUSTRALIAN children with cancer are more likely to die peacefully at home and receive fewer aggressive interventions than those in other countries, new research has found. Sixty-one per cent of patients treated at the Children’s Cancer Centre in Melbourne, the largest specialist paediatric oncology centre in Australia, died at home, compared to 49% in the US and just 29% in Japan. However, the study did highlight some areas for improvement, with 84% of children reported to be suffering “a lot” or “a great deal” during the last month of life. While the authors believed the findings ...
Excess TV viewing by toddlers linked to violent behaviour
RECOMMENDATIONS may be needed to restrict children’s TV viewing, say US experts who have linked aggressive behaviour to higher levels of TV exposure. A study of 3128 children from 20 US cities has found direct TV exposure and household TV use were significantly associated with childhood aggression. This association remained after controlling for other factors. Around two-thirds of parents reported their three-year-old child watched more than two hours of TV per day. Children were exposed to an average of 5.2 hours of household TV use per day as well. Aggression was assessed using a 15-item tool. ...
Heat is on: hair straighteners cause burns in children
INCREASING numbers of children are suffering contact burns caused by hair-straightening devices, Australian experts say. Data from the Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane, and the Queensland Injury Surveillance Unit revealed 22 paediatric patients treated for hair-straightener injuries between January 2004 and June 2009, with 16 of these cases occurring in the last two years. Most injuries were to the hands or forearms, and in all cases burns were significant, with 19 partial-thickness burns and three full-thickness burns requiring surgery. Nine children required long-term scar management. “In toddlers (16 patients aged 9-48 months) the main mechanism of injury ...
Kids’ lipids up before ruled overweight on BMI
LIPID abnormalities might appear in children whose weight is below accepted BMI cut-offs for overweight and obesity, US research suggests. Data from 8000-plus children aged between six and 17 years revealed the presence of significantly elevated cholesterol began in children at the 80th BMI percentile, whereas the cut-off for overweight was the 85th percentile. After controlling for age, race, ethnicity and income, the researchers found the risk for high cholesterol was greater at the 80th percentile, low HDL at the 85th percentile and high LDL and high triglycerides at the 90th percentile. “Our findings indicate that ...
Use of topical corticosteroids in children
THERAPEUTIC Guidelines: Dermatology version 3 includes information on important considerations when using topical corticosteroids to treat atopic dermatitis in children. Topical corticosteroids should be used on all inflamed areas until complete clearance. Use an ointment base rather than a cream, as this is more moisturising and causes less stinging. Once-daily application is usually sufficient. Select a topical corticosteroid of suitable potency for the area: face – hydrocortisone 1% is the most appropriate preparation, but short-term use (up to one week) of stronger preparations such as methylprednisolone aceponate 0.1% or mometasone ...
Long-term safety of inhaled steroids in kids unclear
FEW studies are available to establish the long-term safety and efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in children with asthma, say UK researchers. Most studies of these drugs focussed on short-term disease activity, and failed to address quality of life and long-term consequences of asthma, they said after reviewing 159 randomised controlled trials of ICS in children. This was largely due to pharmaceutical industry-funded trials being designed to meet the demands of regulatory authorities, they said. They found that none of the trials measured long-term disease outcomes or progression although two used FEV 1 to assess ...
New advice on managing concussion
REFRAINING from sporting activity after concussion may not be the only restriction required, according to experts, who also recommend reducing mental stimulation. A new international Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport stated concussion might be caused by a blow anywhere on the body resulting in “an impulsive force” being transmitted to the head. It results in the rapid onset of short-lived, spontaneously resolving impairment of neurological function, and a graded set of clinical symptoms that might involve loss of consciousness. The experts agreed there were important differences in evaluation and management of children, especially ...
Babies in daycare no less likely to develop childhood asthma
DAYCARE attendance in infancy is not protective against asthma in later childhood, research shows. Despite suggestions that childcare could reduce later development of allergic diseases, a Dutch study of 4000 children found no decrease in airway hyperresponsiveness, allergies or asthma among those attending childcare. The study, which followed the children prospectively until age eight, was the first to look at the links between childcare and airway hyperresponsiveness. It found that children in daycare younger than two years developed wheezing earlier than children never in daycare. The wheezing resolved by the age of four so there was ...
Safety alert on motion sickness drugs in kids
DESPITE products being marketed for the prevention of motion sickness in children, their use should be avoided because of a lack of evidence for safety and efficacy, an expert says. Linda Graudins, a pharmacist with the University of NSW paediatric therapeutics program, said the medications should be used cautiously in children because specific paediatric data for the use of antihistamines and anticholinergics in motion sickness was lacking. She said recommended dosing had been extrapolated from adult studies. “Given their... potential to cause serious adverse drug reactions, such as hallucinations, agitation and breathing difficulties, antihistamines should not ...
Suicidal ideation in children
Therapeutic Guidelines: Psychotropic version 6 includes a new section on suicidal ideation and behaviour in children and adolescents. Adolescents with psychiatric disorders, particularly depressive disorders, have a greatly increased risk for suicidal ideation and behaviour. The prevalence of depressive disorders among adolescent suicide victims is 49% to 64 per cent. This shows the importance of effectively treating these disorders. For some time, there has been concern about the potential for increased risk of suicidal ideation and behaviour among children and adolescents being treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). While estimates vary, ...
Fund flu vaccine in all kids
A NATIONAL influenza vaccination program should target children from six months to 15 years of age, because of the increased risk of severe complications in this age group, Australian experts say. This approach would potentially reduce the “significant burden of seasonal influenza on children and on health services”, said Dr David Lester-Smith, a staff specialist in general medicine and a research fellow at the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit, the Children’s Hospital at Westmead. Dr Lester-Smith and other researchers conducted a seasonal surveillance study of severe complications of influenza in children, which revealed low rates of vaccination. ...
Managing nocturnal enuresis
Q: What is the place of drug therapy for bedwetting in children? A: Enuresis alarms are the first treatment of choice for primary nocturnal enuresis. 1,2 They are at least as effective as drug therapy – without the risk of rare but serious adverse effects – and are more likely to have a sustained effect. 3 About two-thirds of children become dry at night while using an enuresis alarm, and about half of those relapse when the alarm is withdrawn. 3,4 Children usually outgrow bedwetting at a rate of ...
World report - 15 May 2009
• FURNITURE-RELATED KIDS’ INJURY RATES CLIMB CAREGIVERS need to be reminded of the risk posed to children from heavy furniture, US experts say. Their research revealed a dramatic rise in paediatric emergency department (ED) visits for furniture-related injuries. Data from the US National Electronic Injury Surveillance System revealed ED visits after furniture tip-overs climbed by 41% from 1990 to 2007 among children aged 17 or younger. An estimated 264,200 children were admitted over this period, an average of 14,700 per year. About 75% of these admissions occurred in children aged six or younger. The ...
Type 1 diabetes rising but causes remain unclear
AUSTRALIA has one of the highest rates of paediatric type 1 diabetes in the world, according to the first study of the national incidence of the disease. Data collected by Australia’s National Diabetes Register showed type 1 diabetes incidence among 0-14 year olds increased from 19.8 per 100,000 person years in 2000 to 23.4 per 100,000 in 2006 – an average increase of 2.8% per year. Researchers said the rate was very high compared to many other countries, and trailed only Finland, which has the world’s highest rate (40.9 per 100,000 years). However, what was causing the ...
Plan for parents to initiate steroids in severe asthma
GUIDELINES on managing acute asthma in school-age children may be revised in light of Australian research showing benefit from the use of parent-initiated oral prednisolone. National Asthma Council guidelines reviewer Professor Colin Robertson said the results of a new study in children aged 5-12 years would be assessed by an expert committee meeting next week. The randomised controlled trial of 230 Victorian children found that symptoms improved and visits to GPs reduced when parents initiated oral steroids in children with severe episodes of asthma. “I would anticipate rewriting the guidelines... but this will be discussed at ...
The aftermath
How do survivors cope after experiencing traumatic events like bushfires? Kirrilly Burton reports. “I KNEW it was the end... I was looking at Judy, and she went from a person I knew to a skeleton, and all the flesh just fell straight off her.” Wayne Griffith is recounting the horrific image that continues to invade his thoughts four years after his wife Judy and grandchildren, Jack and Star, perished in the South Australian Eyre Peninsula bushfires on 11 January 2005. Traumatic experiences like these are almost certain to haunt survivors of Victoria’s four major ...
Study supports free child flu vaccination
MOMENTUM is building for the inclusion of paediatric influenza vaccinations on the National Immunisation Program (NIP), with new data showing free flu vaccinations have dramatically reduced paediatric influenza hospitalisations. Results from the 2008 Western Australian Paediatric Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Study have coincided with the release of data showing that the national burden of influenza in children younger than two years is now seven times higher than in the elderly. The WA study is Australia’s first trial program of universal paediatric immunisation against influenza. Dr Gary Dowse, WA acting director of communicable disease control, said the findings ...
A2 milk benefits rejected
SUGGESTIONS that A2 milk protects against autism in children, as well as against a range of other conditions including schizophrenia and diabetes, have been dismissed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). Proponents of A2 milk, which is produced by certain breeds of cattle, such as Guernseys, say that its beta-casein proteins are protective against a range of diseases, especially for people with impaired digestive and immune systems. In contrast, there have been suggestions that A1 milk – the most common form available in Australia – is linked to a higher risk of autism, diabetes and heart ...
Australian researchers identify predictors of cerebral palsy risk
NEWLY described predictors of cerebral palsy (CP) in babies born at term may pave the way for earlier diagnosis and intervention, researchers say. In one of the few studies to assess children with cerebral palsy who were not admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), Australian researchers found that a range of variables alone or in combination were associated with the disorder. Currently, admission to an NICU was a strong predictor of cerebral palsy in term infants, however 70% of cases had not been admitted to an NICU, the authors said. “We wanted to see ...
Junk food at sporting events sends wrong message to kids
CHILDREN are receiving inconsistent health messages when visiting sporting venues, public health experts say. A telephone survey of 402 parents with children aged 5-17 years found more than half considered that the outdoor sports fields or swimming pools their children attended sold mostly unhealthy food and beverages. Almost 63% agreed that there should be restrictions on the types of food and beverages sold at children’s sporting venues. While acknowledging that the finding was based on parental self-reporting, the authors, from the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health and Cancer Council NSW, said ensuring physical activity ...
Fever without focus in children
THE latest version of eTG complete has a section on fever without focus in paediatric patients. A febrile child with no focus of infection may have occult bacteraemia and subsequently develop a serious bacterial infection, such as meningitis or septic arthritis. The greatest risk of serious bacterial infection is in infants younger than three months of age. Febrile infants younger than 28 days should be presumed to have a serious bacterial infection, and must be admitted to hospital for a full sepsis work-up and empirical antibiotics. If a febrile infant between one ...
Obese kids at risk of large left atrium
OBESITY is causing structural changes to the heart in children as young as five and it is unknown whether the changes are reversible, according to Australian research. Dr Julian Ayer, a paediatric cardiologist from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, compared ultrasound measured changes in the left atrium with BMI among almost 1000 children aged between five and 15 years. Increased left atrial size was a known risk factor for hypertension, acute MI, stroke and atrial fibrillation in adults but the risks associated with its enlargement in children were unknown, he said. After adjusting for height, ...
ADHD stimulant therapy may avert future substance abuse
USING stimulants to treat children with ADHD does not increase the risk of future substance use disorders and cigarette smoking and may also protect against them, say researchers. Researchers followed 114 children and young adults aged 10-24 years over five years and found those exposed to stimulants were 73% less likely to develop a substance abuse disorder, and 72% less likely to smoke in the future compared to subjects who did not receive stimulants. “These results should allay lingering concerns among clinicians and families about future substance use problems when prescribing stimulants to a child with ADHD,” ...
Call to ban sale of energy drinks to children
THE sale of popular energy drinks to children younger than 16 should be banned, a leading researcher says, because there is insufficient evidence to show their high caffeine content and other ingredients are safe for young people to consume. Energy drinks are banned in Denmark, have their sale restricted to pharmacies in Norway, and are coming under increased scrutiny elsewhere, according to Dr Scott Willoughby from the Cardiovascular Research Centre at Royal Adelaide Hospital. He said current warning labels in Australia were inconsistent and insufficient to prevent over-consumption of the high-caffeine products. “A ban on sale ...
Complex regional pain syndromes in children
THERAPEUTIC Guidelines: Analgesic version 5 includes a new section on complex regional pain syndromes and children. Complex regional pain syndromes are seen in young children, but are more common in adolescents. The presenting features in children and adolescents are similar to those in adults; however, the demographics and pattern of injury are different – there tends to be an even greater predominance of girls (4:1) compared with boys, and the condition tends to involve the lower limb more than the upper limb. Complex regional pain syndromes tend to occur in children who participate ...
Uptake of free kids’ flu vaccine falls short
ONLY one-third of children offered free influenza vaccine in Western Australia last winter received the required two doses. The findings, and data showing a quarter of parents were advised not to immunise by their GP, have led to calls for education campaigns aimed at both the public and health professionals. The vaccine was offered free by manufacturers following a bad flu season the previous year in which three infants in WA died. About half of the eligible children – aged six months to five years – had at least one dose under the program. Paediatric immunologist ...
Meningococcal disease the leading infectious cause of death in infants
MENINGOCOCCAL disease is now the number one infectious cause of death in Australian children aged up to four years. As the seasonal peak approaches, paediatrician Dr Nick Wood, from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in NSW, told the Public Health Association of Australia's 11th National Immunisation Conference at Surfers Paradise, Queensland, last week that vigilance for signs of meningococcal disease, particularly septicaemia, was still required despite the impact of the meningococcal C vaccine introduced in 2002. Dr Wood, who is also with the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), and Dr Jane Jelfs (PhD), NCIRS ...
Call to limit paracetamol in kids after asthma link found
PARENTS should be advised to avoid using paracetamol in infants and young children, except in high fever, after a study found it raised the risk of asthma, rhino-conjunctivitis and eczema. A multivariate analysis of 205,487 children from 31 countries found use of paracetamol for fever in the first year of life was associated with a 46% increased risk of asthma symptoms at age 6-7 years. Current use of paracetamol was associated with a dose-dependent increased risk of asthma symptoms in this age group – 61% for medium use (once or more in the past 12 months), and ...
Active computer games get kids’ hearts pumping
ACTIVE computer-based gaming burns more calories and raises the heart rate significantly more than seated games, a study suggests. Hong Kong-based researchers compared energy expenditure and heart rate in 18 children playing so-called “exertainment” interactive computer games and compared them to measures taken after they played a seated computer game. The traditional version of a 10-pin bowling game required the mouse to be held down and then released to bowl, whereas the active bowling system requires participants to swing a wireless ball attached to their wrist over sensors in order to knock down pins. Another active ...
Scrutiny of junk food ads
THE practice of advertising junk food to children is set to come under the scrutiny of federal Parliament with the tabling of a new Bill. Introduced last week by Greens Senator Bob Brown, the Protecting Children from Junk Food Advertising (Broadcast Amendment) Bill aims to remove such advertisements from television during children’s viewing hours. It would also ban junk food ads in schools. “Ending the multi-million-dollar campaign by junk food companies aimed directly at children is one huge step in the urgent strategy required to tackle rampant obesity,” Senator Brown said. The Bill comes as both the Queensland and South Australian governments ...
Child ADHD medication is declining: report
PRESCRIBING rates for stimulant medications used to treat ADHD in children may be falling, according to state-based data. More adults than children are now taking ADHD medication, according to the latest WA Department of Health figures. Public health physician and WA Department of Health spokesperson Dr Margaret Stevens said in 2007 there were 6997 adults compared to 6188 children prescribed medicines such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) or dexamphetamine for ADHD. This represented a decrease of more than 2000 children since monitoring began in 2004, after a WA parliamentary committee report estimated that as many as 11,000 children ...
Procedure-related pain in children
THERAPEUTIC Guidelines: Analgesic version 5 has an updated section on procedure-related pain in children. Pain caused by investigative and treatment procedures in children is an enormous issue, particularly in the hospital setting. Venepuncture, lumbar puncture, bone marrow aspiration, dressing changes, cannula and catheter insertions can become very distressing events, especially if they occur repeatedly. Poor analgesia for an initial procedure can diminish the efficacy of analgesia for subsequent procedures. The key to managing procedure-related pain in children is anticipation. Adequate systemic and/or local analgesic should be given long enough before the procedure for ...
Parents need better education on topical steroids: expert
INCORRECT corticosteroid prescribing may be causing non-compliance with treatments for atopic dermatitis in children. Research presented at last week’s Australasian College of Dermatologists 41st Annual Scientific Meeting in Sydney showed that only a third of families with children who had atopic dermatitis adhered to treatment advice over an eight-week period. Presenter Dr Anne Halbert, a dermatologist at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children in Perth, said incorrect GP prescriptions and pharmacist advice might be major factors driving non-compliance. Conflicting information and a lack of confidence in prescribing topical therapies among GPs could contribute to parental fears about ...
Subsidised flu vaccine for UK tots likely soon
BRITAIN is likely to subsidise influenza vaccination for children aged from six months to two years, according to the head of the government-funded national GP surveillance unit. Dr Douglas Fleming, director of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Birmingham Research Unit, said cost-effectiveness was a stumbling block to subsidised universal vaccination in the UK for this age group. “I don’t think anybody disputes that vaccination is clinically effective, with the potential benefits being maximal in children less than two years [but older than six months]. Our problem is deciding whether it is cost-justifiable.” Dr Fleming told ...
Push for expanded vax program
AUSTRALIAN immunisation experts will consider broadening funded influenza vaccinations to all high-risk groups. Professor David Isaacs, a member of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), said a working party on influenza vaccination would present its initial report in June. While high-risk groups currently received subsidised influenza vaccinations, only the elderly and Indigenous people older than 50 years were part of the National Immunisation Program (NIP). “We would like to extend that to everybody at high risk,” Professor Isaacs said. “It would make sense if they were all on the immunisation program, but the ...
Clearing kerion
Dr Adrian Lim’s approach to a scalp fungal infection. A SIX-year-old girl presents with a scalp ‘abscess’ that has not responded to multiple courses of oral antibiotics as well as recent surgical incision and drainage. The lesion is boggy and exudative with overlying crust and hair loss (see below). Despite the striking appearance, the lesion is relatively painless and the child is not unwell. Occipital lymphadenopathy is present on examination. PROVISIONAL DIAGNOSIS Kerion Scalp fungal infections (or tinea capitis) have a spectrum of presentations ...
Psoriasis in children
Psoriasis is often missed in children. Dr Gayle Fischer advises on its diagnosis and treatment. PSORIASIS is a very common genetic disorder. Although it is understood that the mechanism of the skin lesions is too-rapid turnover of the epidermis, the exact pathogenesis remains unknown, as does the exact mode of inheritance. Nevertheless we know that psoriasis runs strongly in families. Psoriasis is usually considered to be a condition with onset in young adulthood, but it can and does present in children from infancy onwards. The prevalence in children is unknown. ...