Big Rise in U.S. Teens Identifying As Gay, Bisexual

• Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
• June 15, 2021
• Full Page

TUESDAY, June 15, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- More teens in the United States are reporting their sexual identity as gay, lesbian or bisexual, nationwide surveys show.

Between 2015 and 2019, the percentage of 15- to 17-year-olds who said they identified a...

Gun Suicides Are Rising Steeply Among American Youth

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• June 14, 2021
• Full Page

A rising number of young Americans, including children, are taking their own lives using firearms, a new study finds.

Researchers found that between 2008 and 2018, gun suicides showed an "alarming" increase among Americans aged 5 to 24. And while those suicides remain ra...

Babies Produce Strong Immune Response to Ward Off COVID-19: Study

• Robert Preidt
• June 14, 2021
• Full Page

British researchers report that babies have a strong immune response to the virus that causes COVID-19, based on a new, small study.

For the research, the investigators assessed the immune systems of four infants under 3 months of age who had recovered from COVID, and c...

There Are Many Good Reasons for Kids to Get the COVID Vaccine

• Robert Preidt
• June 14, 2021
• Full Page

Parents need to know that COVID-19 shots are safe and effective for kids age 12 and older, an expert says.

While the Pfizer vaccine is approved in the United States for emergency use in this age group, parents may need reassurance, said Dr. Jessica Ericson, an infectious...

Child Drownings in U.S. Pools, Spas Are on the Rise

• Robert Preidt
• June 9, 2021
• Full Page

Pool and spa drowning deaths among U.S. children are spiking upwards, and restrictions related to the COVID pandemic may also mean that fewer kids are getting the swimming lessons that might keep them safe, the Consumer Product Safety Commission warns.

On average, there ...

Girl's Tragedy Has Parents Calling for Changes to Car Design

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• June 8, 2021
• Full Page

Jay-Fay Fraser was in the back seat of her father's sedan, heading home from feeding the homeless on Thanksgiving 2016, when another car rear-ended them on the highway.

The driver's seat collapsed backward from the sudden force of the rear impact, slamming into Jay-Fay's...

Summer Water Fun Can Bring Drowning Risks: Stay Safe

• June 5, 2021
• Full Page

As you seek to cool down in a pool or at the beach this summer, always keep water safety for yourself and others in mind, an expert urges.

"With children, I always recommend starting swim lessons at an early age and having parents put on floaties or life vests on their c...

Summer Safety Tips for the Great Outdoors

• May 30, 2021
• Full Page

As you head into the great outdoors this summer, keep safety in mind, an expert says.

Drowning is one of summer's risks. It only takes a few seconds and can happen without an obvious struggle, according to Dr. Seth Hawkins, a wilderness medicine expert and assistant prof...

Debunking Myths That Have Some Parents Resisting COVID Vaccines for Teens

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• May 28, 2021
• Full Page

Many health experts hailed the recent approval of the Pfizer vaccine for those aged 12 to 15, but some parents have been hesitant to take their kids in for a shot.

"Parents naturally worry more about their children than they do about themselves -- I think that's parentin...

Another Study Finds Routine Vaccines Safe for Kids, Adults

• Robert Preidt
• May 28, 2021
• Full Page

If more proof of the safety of vaccines is needed, a new study delivers fresh evidence that they carry few harms for children, adults and pregnant women.

"This in-depth analysis found no evidence of increased risk of serious adverse events following vaccines, apart from ...

More Pot-Linked Poisoning Cases as Edibles' Popularity Booms

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• May 25, 2021
• Full Page

Newfangled marijuana products -- edibles, concentrates, vapes -- are driving an overall increase in pot-related calls to U.S. poison control centers, a new study shows.

There were more than 11,100 calls related to marijuana use in 2019, up from about 8,200 in 2017, resea...

Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Highly Effective in Kids 12 and Older

• Robert Preidt and Robin Foster
• May 25, 2021
• Full Page

Moderna's coronavirus vaccine fully protects children aged 12 to 17, the company announced Tuesday.

In a clinical trial that included more than 3,700 young volunteers, there were no cases of symptomatic COVID-19 infection in the two-thirds of participants who received bo...

Biggest Reason Teens Injure Their Spines: Not Wearing Seat Belts

• Robert Preidt
• May 20, 2021
• Full Page

Two-thirds of spinal fractures suffered by American children and teens occur in car crashes when they aren't wearing seat belts, a new study finds.

Researchers analyzed data on more than 34,500 U.S. patients younger than 18 who suffered spinal fractures between 2009 and ...

Bike-Linked Head Injuries Plummet for U.S. Kids, But Not Adults

• Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
• May 14, 2021
• Full Page

There's good news and bad on rates of head injuries among America's bike-riding public: Rates for these injuries have sharply declined among kids but barely budged among the growing number of adult bike riders.

Between 2009 and 2018, increasing helmet use, construction ...

How Summer Camps Can Shield Your Kids from Allergies, Asthma & COVID

• May 9, 2021
• Full Page

As kids get ready for summer camp, parents might be fretting about exposure to COVID-19, but a doctors' group says they also need to make sure their campers will be protected from allergy and asthma triggers.

"The [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] has issued ...

Peloton Recalls Treadmills Following Child's Death, Numerous Injuries

• Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
• May 5, 2021
• Full Page

Peloton said Wednesday it is recalling its Tread and Tread+ exercise machines, just weeks after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warned that one child's death and dozens of injuries have been linked to the treadmills.

In a company statement, Peloton CEO...

5 Steps to Protect Young Athletes' Eyes

• May 1, 2021
• Full Page

As children begin to return to their favorite sports, parents need to ensure that their youngsters use protective eyewear, a leading group of eye specialists says.

Nearly 30,000 people suffer sports-related eye injuries every year in the United States, but 90% of emergen...

Being Bullied Often Leads Teens to Thoughts of Violence

• Robert Preidt
• April 28, 2021
• Full Page

Bullied and mistreated teens are much more likely to fantasize about hurting or killing others, a new study warns.

"One way to think about fantasies is as our brain rehearsing future scenarios," said lead author Manuel Eisner, director of the University of Cambridge Viol...

A Plus From the Pandemic: Fewer Kids Using E-Cigarettes

• Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
• April 22, 2021
• Full Page

There appears to be a silver lining to forced school and business closures during early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study: Fewer kids used e-cigarettes.

Compared to the previous quarter, vaping rates fell among 15- to 20-year-olds while widespread ...

CPSC Warns Against Using Peloton Treadmill After Child's Death

• Steven Reinberg
• April 19, 2021
• Full Page

Users with small children and pets should stop using Peloton Tread+ exercise machines immediately, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The warning comes after one child died and dozens of others have been sucked underneath the home treadmill....

Epidural in Delivery Not Linked to Autism: Study

• April 19, 2021
• Full Page

In news that should reassure many pregnant women, having an epidural during childbirth won't increase the child's risk of autism, researchers report.

The new findings refute a widely criticized 2020 study that said epidurals were associated with a 37% higher risk of auti...

Newborns Won't Get COVID Through Infected Mom's Breast Milk: Study

• Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
• April 13, 2021
• Full Page

A new study offers more reassurance that mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 can safely breastfeed their babies.

The study of 55 infants born to moms with COVID-19 found that none contracted the virus -- even though most started getting breast milk in the hospital.

Re...

Most Parents OK About School Rules for Kids' Return to Sports: Poll

• Cara Murez
• April 13, 2021
• Full Page

Though playing youth sports comes with new pandemic-era precautions and some experts are linking these activities to community spread of COVID-19, many kids are still participating, according to a parent survey.

In the survey, about three-quarters of parents said their c...

When Will America's Kids Get Their COVID Vaccines?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 2, 2021
• Full Page

Kids will be kids, and that's exactly why Holly McDade plans to get her three young children the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them.

"Little kids can't help but touch their mouths and their noses and touch other things," said McDade, 32, of Strasbur...

What Will Summer Camp Look Like This Year?

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• April 2, 2021
• Full Page

Splashing in a pool. Hiking through fresh green forests. Making macaroni art. Stitching together a leather wallet. Knocking a kickball around.

It's nearly time for summer camp, and the experience is expected to be especially important for America's children because of th...

1 in 4 Parents Won't Vaccinate Their Kids Against COVID-19: Poll

• Steven Reinberg
• April 1, 2021
• Full Page

More than one-quarter of U.S. parents don't plan to vaccinate their kids for COVID-19, and roughly as many oppose school-required coronavirus shots, a new study finds.

This opposition was more common among moms than dads, and was especially common among white mothers who...

Most Parents Skip Child Car Seats When Using Uber, Lyft

• Robert Preidt
• March 31, 2021
• Full Page

Many U.S. parents don't use child safety seats when they take ride-share vehicles like Uber or Lyft with their young children, a new study finds.

"Our results are concerning, as ride-share services are increasingly popular," said senior study author Dr. Michelle Macy, a ...

OCD May Be More Common in New Moms Than Thought

• Robert Preidt
• March 26, 2021
• Full Page

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is more common among new mothers than previously thought, and it's often driven by worries about things that may happen to their newborns, a new study finds.

Many new moms may keep the issue hidden, the Canadian researchers said.

Even a Little Coffee in Pregnancy Could Impact Newborn's Weight: Study

• Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
• March 25, 2021
• Full Page

As little as half a cup of coffee each day might be enough to stunt the growth and birth weight of a baby in the womb, a new study claims.

Women who consumed an average 50 milligrams of caffeine per day -- equivalent to half a cup of coffee -- had infants that were 2.3 o...

Another Study Finds COVID Doesn't Spread in Schools With Proper Safeguards

• Robert Preidt
• March 24, 2021
• Full Page

COVID-19 transmission is rare in schools that follow precautions such as mandatory masks, social distancing and frequent hand-washing, a new study finds.

And that's true even among close school contacts of people who test positive for the new coronavirus, according to re...

Some Kids With Type 1 Diabetes Face High Risk of Severe COVID-19

• Robert Preidt
• March 22, 2021
• Full Page

Poorly controlled type 1 diabetes significantly increases a child's risk of COVID-19 complications and death, researchers warn.

The risk of complications is 10 times higher in youngsters with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes than in those with well-controlled diabetes, ...

Kids' ER Visits for Swallowed Magnets Soared After U.S. Lifted Sales Ban

• Robert Preidt
• March 18, 2021
• Full Page

Calls to U.S. poison centers about incidents involving children and high-powered magnets surged more than 400% after a court overturned a ban on the magnets, a new study finds.

"Regulations on these products were effective, and the dramatic increase in the number of high...

Could Diphtheria Become Resistant to Vaccines?

• Robert Preidt
• March 10, 2021
• Full Page

Diphtheria could once again become a major global health problem due to vaccine and antibiotic resistance, researchers warn.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious -- and potentially deadly -- infection that can affect the nose and throat, as well as the skin.

It is cau...

Meeting the Challenges of Type 1 Diabetes in the Teen Years

• February 20, 2021
• Full Page

Diabetes is never an easy disease to manage, but coping with type 1 diabetes can be a particularly difficult challenge for teens.

The transition from childhood to adolescence can be hard on both kids and parents, the JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundati...

Cold Facts on Avoiding Snow and Ice Dangers

• Robert Preidt
• February 19, 2021
• Full Page

Severe winter weather has a grip on much of the United States, which increases the risk of injuries from slipping on ice, shoveling, sports such as skiing and sledding, and car crashes.

"One of the most frequently seen causes for visits to the emergency room this time of...

Tougher State Gun Laws, Less Gun Violence Among Teens: Study

• Robert Preidt
• February 18, 2021
• Full Page

States with more gun laws have less youth gun violence, new research reveals.

For the study, the researchers examined data from several states from 2005 to 2017, and found that kids were less likely to be armed in states with more gun laws, and more likely to carry a wea...

New Rabies Prevention Treatment Also Works in Kids: Study

• Robert Preidt
• February 16, 2021
• Full Page

Getting bitten by a dog or wild animal is frightening, especially for kids, but a new study may help relieve some of the worry about catching rabies.

The rabies prevention treatment KEDRAB is safe and effective for patients 17 and younger, a groundbreaking pediatric clin...

When Will Kids Get the COVID Vaccines?

• February 15, 2021
• Full Page

For parents with questions about COVID-19 vaccines and children, Johns Hopkins Medicine experts offer answers.

While vaccinations for adults are underway in the United States, clinical trials for the first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-authorized COVID-19 vaccines ha...

Speeding on U.S. Roads Is Taking Thousands of  Teenagers' Lives

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• February 8, 2021
• Full Page

Nearly half -- 43% -- of all fatal car crashes involving teens and their passengers are the result of speeding, a new automobile safety report reveals.

The finding stems from an in-depth analysis of all fatal motor vehicle accidents across the United States between 2015 ...

Anchor It! Toppling TVs, Furniture Can Injure and Kill Kids

• Robert Preidt
• February 3, 2021
• Full Page

It only takes a second.

Experts are warning that unsecured televisions, bedroom dressers and other heavy furniture can crush, maim and even kill curious children, and the issue may only worsen during stay-at-home lockdowns.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Sa...

Kids Aren't Scared by Medical Workers' PPE, Study Finds

• Robert Preidt
• January 26, 2021
• Full Page

Kids aren't scared when surgical staff wear personal protective equipment (PPE), and many feel reassured by use of the gear, researchers say.

Anxiety is common before, during and after surgery, and can result in complications such as pain and delayed recovery. Concerns h...

Hand Sanitizer Is Harming Kids' Eyes, Often Seriously

• Alan Mozes HealthDay Reporter
• January 25, 2021
• Full Page

The explosive rise in use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers during the COVID-19 pandemic has had a dangerous, unintended consequence: eye injuries among children.

Using data from French poison control and a children's hospital in Paris, researchers reported that acci...

Child Car Seat Safety Tip: Skip Puffy Winter Coats

• January 23, 2021
• Full Page

Puffy coats have their place, but it's not inside a car seat.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers a variety of tips for keeping your little ones safe and warm while traveling by car.

The first is to avoid dressing children in puffy coats or snowsuits be...

Toddler Tantrums? Pediatricians Offer Tips to Curb Bad Behavior

• Cara Murez
• January 20, 2021
• Full Page

Toddler behavior won't always be good. Outbursts are normal.

Yet, you can also use those aggravating moments to help shape your little one's behavior, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Start by teaching the "house rules," the AAP advises. Put a...

Should Your Child Get a COVID Test?

• January 15, 2021
• Full Page

If you're trying to decide whether to have your child tested for COVID-19, talk with your pediatrician, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests.

Children and teens with COVID-19 symptoms should be tested immediately. This is especially important if they're goin...

New Year, New Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe and Healthy

• January 10, 2021
• Full Page

A new year can be a fresh start for you and your kids -- and perhaps no year has needed a fresh start more than this one. So, a leading doctors' group is offering parents tips for a healthy "reset" in 2021.

Get immunized. First of all, the American Ac...

Study Finds No Benefit From Supplemental Oxygen During Labor

• Amy Norton
• January 5, 2021
• Full Page

For decades, women have commonly been given oxygen during childbirth, but a new research review finds little evidence it benefits newborns.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that women be given supplemental oxygen when fetal heart monitor...

More Kids Injured by Tiny Magnets After Sales Ban Was Lifted: Study

• Alan Mozes
• November 24, 2020
• Full Page

Small, powerful magnets in toys like Buckyballs building sets and jewelry kits are causing an alarming number of serious pediatric injuries in the United States, new research warns.

Analyzing national data, researchers found an 80% rise in these injuries to children from...

Parents' Age Key to Whether Kids Get Vaccinated Against COVID, Study Finds

• Cara Murez
• November 23, 2020
• Full Page

As scientists worked on COVID-19 vaccines, other researchers were addressing a question: Once shots are available, will parents vaccinate their kids against the new coronavirus?

The answer: Younger parents are much less likely than older ones to plan to vaccinate their c...

Add Kids to COVID Vaccine Trials, Pediatricians' Group Says

• Robert Preidt
• November 20, 2020
• Full Page

Children should be included in COVID-19 vaccine trials at the earliest possible stage, a leading group of U.S. pediatricians says.

If that's not done, youngsters' lives could be at risk, according to the 67,000-member American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

"If we d...