Child health includes any health issues in children from preschoolers to pre-teens.
Dr. Chrostoph Correll, MD, and associates observed 272
children aged 4 to 19 taking atypical antipsychotic medication for the first
time. Drugs/Medications included olanzapine (Zyprexa), quetiapine (Seroquel),
risperidone (Risperadol) and aripiprazole (Abilify)—drugs sometimes used to
treat children with autism, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Children’s weights were monitored over a 12-week period.
During the last two weeks of the study, nearly all experienced significant
weight gain. Average gain was as follows: 18.7 pounds with onanzapine, 13.7
pounds with quetiapine, 11.7 pounds with risperidone, and 9.7 pounds with
aripiprazole. Children in the control group gained less than half a pound (.44
pounds) on average.
“(E)ffects such as age-inappropriate weight gain, obesity,
hypertension, and lipid and glucose abnormalities are particularly problematic
during development because they predict adult obesity, metabolic syndrome,
cardiovascular morbidity, and malignancy,” authors of the study write.
Doctors were so concerned over weight gain in children
taking onanzapine that they stopped treatment before the study was completed.
“Each antipsychotic was associated with significantly increased fat mass and
waist circumference,” authors write. “Altogether, 10 percent to 36 percent of
patients transitioned to overweight or obese status within 11 weeks.”
As more children—some younger than 5-years-old—are diagnosed
with bipolar and “disruptive behavior” disorders (such as ADHD), there is
also a rise in atypical antipsychotic prescriptions. These medications are
generally effective for children with autism and schizophrenia, but they may
not be the best treatment for other conditions.
The authors suggest seeking alternative treatments. They
write that, in view of the negative health outcomes, the benefits of using
these medications “must be balanced against their cardiometabolic risks”, and
say the results suggest including in prescription guidelines closer monitoring
during the early months of treatment.
They also plan on researching whether or not diet
restrictions and additional medications for weight and glucose control will
help balance the potential negative effects of the drugs.
The review examined the
2007-2008 dental records of U.K. children, 211 of whom were Plymouth
five-year-olds. This number was just under the national average of 30.9
percent, but other regions were significantly worse.
The United States had similar
rates. Almost half of children ages 12 to 15 and about one in four American
children aged 2 to 5 is affected by tooth decay. Overall, it affects 4 million
children in the U.S. alone. Americans consumed an average of 23.8 pounds of
candy each in 2008, and with the
holiday season approaching, parents should be on the watch for cavities.
As Halloween approaches,
candy consumption is likely to skyrocket, but there are plenty of ways to
protect trick-or-treaters from tooth decay. Try these five tips to help reduce
the amount of sugar:
1. Choose reduced-sugar or sugar-free candies. Most stores carry equally tasty sugar-free or
reduced-sugar versions of Halloween favorites, including chocolate, peanut
butter cups and various filled or hard candies. These options won’t completely
eliminate the risk of tooth decay, but they can significantly cut sugar intake.
2. Give out unconventional goodies. When it comes to candy, sugar-free gum is your safest
bet. Candies that can melt and/or stick to teeth are the worst. Other ideas
might include stickers, press-on tattoos, plastic rings, or other small toys.
3.
Go to a Halloween program or event.
Choosing alternatives to trick-or-treating significantly cuts the candy haul.
These events are a great place for adults and children to socialize while
enjoying snacks and fun activities.
4. Set a limit. Put a limit on the amount of candy a child is allowed daily. This
helps prevent candy binges while reducing sugar consumption. Candy can also be
used as a reward for good behavior.
5. Donate excess candy. Many communities have programs that will send it to
troops or donate $1 for every pound of candy donated. Candy can also be donated
to fire stations, schools (for rewards), or other offices in the community.
Regularly brushing teeth and
reducing sugar intake can help prevent cavities. Consuming fewer sweets can
also help decrease children’s risk for obesity and diabetes. Dentists and parents
alike recommend that candy be consumed in moderation.
According to a report in The New England Journal of Medicine, sugar consumption has risen 30 percent over the last decade. For teens and children, soda accounts for 10-15 percent of total calories consumed. By removing just ¼ of the sugar in sweetened beverages, consumers can reduce annual caloric intake by 8,000 calories. This figure equates to roughly two pounds of weight in a year.
“Americans consume about 250 to 300 more calories daily today than they did several decades ago,” according to authors Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., and Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Though no single intervention will solve the obesity problem, that is hardly a reason to take no action.”
Such a high rate of sugar intake can do more than expand the waistline. It can also increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other problems as a result of poor nutrition and weight gain. The objectives of those in support of a tax are twofold—to lower consumption, and to encourage soft drink producers to decrease the amount of caloric sweeteners in their products.
There are strong arguments on both sides. People arguing against the tax point out that food is necessary to survive. They believe raising prices will make it more difficult for low-income families to eat. Others argue that the poor would benefit the most. As the price of fresh produce and other healthier options goes up, soda and junk food prices are going down. People with tighter budgets consume more of the cheap but less nutritious foods and beverages.
“As Coca-Cola prices increased by 12 percent, sales dropped by 14.6 percent,” Frieden and Brownell wrote. Analysts believe that a 1 cent-per-ounce price increase could reduce consumption by as much as 10 percent. Justin Wilson, senior research analyst for the Center for Consumer Freedom, argues that such a tax is manipulation against the consumer. “The tax code should not be used as a method for social engineering, and that’s what this is,” he said. Legislators see the issue a little differently.
Higher prices have been used effectively in the past to reduce tobacco sales, and any revenue from a tax on soda could raise up to $14.9 billion per year. This money could be used to support health reforms or other programs. New Yorkers’ support rose by 20 percent when lawmakers suggested using these funds for obesity prevention programs.
Vitamin
D deficiency can result in conditions such as rickets in children (usually
<11 ng/mL), and osteomalacia and osteoporosis in adults (typically levels
<25 ng/mL). Low levels of vitamin D also increase the risk of bone and heart
disease, and are also associated with higher blood pressure and lower calcium
and HDL cholesterol levels in later life.
Children classified as
“insufficient” had 15-29 ng/mL, while those who were classified as “deficient”
had levels of 15 ng/mLor less. Normal range, according to the National
Institute of Health, is 30-74 ng/mL.
The study is the largest of
its kind to date, gaining nationwide rather than just regional data. "We
expected the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency would be high,” says lead
author Juhi Kumar, M.D., M.P.H., of the Children's Hospital at Montefiore
Medical Center, “but the magnitude of the problem nationwide was
shocking."
Vitamin D deficiency is more
common for female children, those that are older, obese, drink less than one
glass of milk week, and those who spend four hours or greater on the computer
or watching television per day. African-American and Mexican-American children
also had a greater risk.
Melamed,
co-leader of the study, attributes part of this problem to lifestyle,
recommending parents send their children outdoors. One source of vitamin D is
UV-B sunlight, which converts cholesterol in the skin into vitamin D. She also recommends ditching
the sunscreen for a while: “Just 15 to 20 minutes a day should be enough…don't
put sunscreen on them until they've been out in the sun for 10 minutes, so they
get the good stuff but not sun damage.” Individuals with darker skin and those
who live in northern regions with less sun exposure should spend more time
outdoors.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children and teens get at least 400 IU per day, double the previous recommendation of 200IU per day. Good sources of vitamin D include fish, milk, eggs, cod liver oil, and fortified foods. Vitamin D levels can also be increased with the use of supplements.
The study's abstract is available online, and will be published in September's issue of Pediatrics.

It’s not always easy to find time to eat together, but a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health found that frequent family meals improve the eating habits and attitudes of middle school-aged children. Students who dined with their families six or seven times a week consumed fewer soft drinks, ate breakfast more often, ate more healthfully, and exhibited less concern about undue weight gain.
Researchers report that adding one half cup of bleach to children’s bathwater can help ease skin irritations associated with atopic eczema. A University of Colorado study published in the current issue of Pediatrics found that bleach dilute baths drastically decreased prevalence of bacterial infections associated with the skin disease in patients from 6 to 17 years of age. The study showed that suppressing the growth of the bacterium responsible for the skin irritations helped reduce problems associated with eczema.
While obesity prevention has long been the focus of figure-conscious adults, a new Harvard Medical School study suggests that parents should also monitor the weight of their infant children. The study, released Monday and published in the April issue of Pediatrics, found that rapid weight gain during the first six months of life may put children at risk for obesity by the age of three.
Researchers may have found a way to cure children of severe peanut allergies, the most dangerous food allergy. The small study is the first to show that food allergies, dangerous reactions to certain foods that can result in death by anaphylaxis, may be overcome by controlled daily doses of the offending food. However, as this is a preliminary study, parents and physicians should NOT attempt this treatment yet.
Scientists were able to induce long-term peanut tolerance by exposing a small group of children with severe peanut allergies to increasing amounts of peanut flour over a period of months. The technique, called oral immunotherapy, is similar in principle to the "allergy shots" available for airborne allergies: the body is exposed to small amounts of an allergen and over time, the body adapts to it.
In the study, 29 children with severe peanut allergies spent a day in the hospital swallowing very small but slowly increasing doses of a specially-prepared peanut flour, up to the point where they started to have a reaction. After that, the children and their parents were sent home with a supply of the peanut flour and instructions on how to take a daily dose just under the amount that caused a reaction. For the severely allergic, this is usually around the equivalent of 1/1,000th of a peanut. Over a period of eight to ten months, the daily dose of peanut flour was gradually increased until the children could tolerate the equivalent of 15 peanuts worth of peanut flour. Thereafter, the children continue to take a constant daily maintenance dose.
Some of the children in the study have been on maintenance therapy for 2.5 years. After completing a series of challenge tests involving real peanuts, four of these children were able to stop the daily treatments and eat peanuts normally.
The children were also tested for their levels of peanut-specific IgE antibodies, the body molecules that cause them to react to the peanuts in the first place. At the study outset, most of the children had IgE levels greater than 25. At the end of the study, their peanut IgE levels were less than 2 and have remained low.
The researchers caution that the technique is still under study and warn parents and physicians NOT to attempt it on their own. Because only a small number of individuals participated in the study, more research is needed before scientists can be confident in the results. Also, it is possible that some patients may have allergy symptoms so severe that the treatment may not work.
Only time will tell if the effects of the treatment continue to last. For now, the four children who were able to stop the daily peanut flour doses have been instructed to eat the equivalent of a tablespoon of peanut butter each day to ensure that they remain allergy-free. A study currently underway is examining the effect of the peanut flour treatment compared to a control group not receiving the treatment.
Want to learn more about food allergies? Join the Healia Support Group Community for Food Allergy. You can also read the Healia Health Guide to Allergies. For information on seasonal allergies, consult the Healia Health Guide to Outdoor Allergies.
Photo: EuroMagic, Flickr, Creative Commons
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