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Medco: Big jump in kids' prescription drug use last year

Children's prescription drug use rose "several times faster" than adult use last year, "due in part to swine flu drugs and Type 2 diabetes medications, according to Medco Health Solutions Inc," The Associated Press reports. The "pharmacy benefits manager said a 5 percent increase in prescription drug use for children contributed to a 10.8 percent spending increase last year. In contrast, overall prescription drug use rose 1.3 percent, and drug spending climbed 3.7 percent. Medco released its annual drug trend report Wednesday" (Murphy, 5/19).

21 May 2010

Dads need to spend more time with kids: Research

According to a new study by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, most Australian kids do not spend much time alone with their dads. The research shows that many kids spend as little as 30 minutes a day with their dads during the week. The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children involved nearly 4,000 people and found that mothers spent more time with the children and preferred it more than fathers.

20 May 2010

GFCF diet shows no significant benefits on the behavior of children with ASD: Study

A popular belief that specific dietary changes can improve the symptoms of children with autism was not supported by a tightly controlled University of Rochester study, which found that eliminating gluten and casein from the diets of children with autism had no impact on their behavior, sleep or bowel patterns.

20 May 2010

Research studies on depression in preschool-aged children

It is difficult to imagine a depressed third-grader. It is even more difficult to imagine a depressed preschooler. Although childhood depression is a well-recognized and treated disorder, only recently have research studies begun looking at depression in children younger than six years old.

20 May 2010

Expert 'top tips' for management of childhood eczema

Several leading European dermatologists have launched guidance to help parents reduce the burden of eczema on children living with this disease. Experts from Denmark, France, Germany, Poland and Spain have come together to agree a consensus of 'top tips', which focus on avoiding situations that trigger painful flares and different ways to increase eczema 'flare-free' periods. The 'top tips', sponsored by Astellas Pharma Europe Ltd., are launched at the 10th European Society for Pediatric Dermatology Congress (ESPD), Switzerland.

20 May 2010

Drug trend for children increased 10.8% in 2009 across America

In growing numbers, children across America are adding a dose of medicine to their daily routine. In 2009, drug trend for children – a measure of prescription spending growth – increased 10.8 percent, driven by a 5 percent increase in drug utilization and higher medication costs, according to the Medco 2010 Drug Trend Report. The growth in prescription drug use among children was nearly four times higher than the rise seen in the overall population.

20 May 2010

Child's autism does not affect family structure

Having a child with autism can put stress on the parents' marriage, and a frequently cited statistic leads to a common perception that the divorce rate among these families is as high as 80 percent. But a study to be released at a news conference today by researchers from Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore found that a child's autism has no effect on the family structure.

20 May 2010

Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends hepatitis A and B vaccination for children and adults at risk

The Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends immunization of children and adults at the highest risk for hepatitis during "Hepatitis Awareness Month" and "World Hepatitis Day" on May 19.

20 May 2010

NPMA: Cockroach allergens can trigger allergies, asthma attacks

In recognition of National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month, celebrated each May, the National Pest Management Association is reminding families that cockroach allergens can trigger allergies and asthma attacks. The saliva, droppings and decomposing bodies of cockroaches contain allergen proteins known to trigger allergies and increase the severity of asthma symptoms, especially in children.

20 May 2010

African American, Latino children with special health care needs less likely to receive family-centered care: Study

The concept of family-centered care for children with special health care needs is based on the understanding that a partnership among patients, families and health care professionals is essential to providing quality care.

20 May 2010

Today's Opinions and Editorials: Childhood obesity, the interworkings of the FDA, the constitutionality of 'Obamacare'

The White House report offers recommendations related to early childhood, parenting, food in schools, access to healthy and affordable food and physical activity. Taken individually, none of these is a silver bullet (Tom Newton, 5/19).

20 May 2010

Diagnostic change not enough to help children diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Shifting children from the controversial diagnosis of bipolar disorder to one that more accurately reflects their symptoms will not by itself decrease the rate of psychopharmacologic treatment and is not enough to help troubled children flourish, according to a commentary in the May 20, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at The Hastings Center, a bioethics research institute, and a physician-researcher at Stony Brook University School of Medicine.

19 May 2010

Children with new/recent onset epilepsy have slowed expansion of white matter volume

A newly published study reported that children with new/recent onset epilepsy have significantly slowed expansion of white matter volume compared to healthy children over a two year interval. The reduced white matter volume may affect brain connectivity and influence cognition. Results of this study conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health are now available online and will appear in the July issue of Epilepsia, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the International League Against Epilepsy.

19 May 2010

Parents interested in electronic methods for interacting with their children's physicians

Health care reform legislation includes promoting electronic health records to improve the efficiency and quality of medical care. Yet, little attention has been paid to understanding whether patients and parents have an interest in, or have access to, electronic methods for interacting with their children's physicians.

19 May 2010

Discovery Labs revalidates optimized BAT in program to gain FDA approval of Surfaxin for RDS

Discovery Laboratories, Inc. announces today that the revalidation of its optimized fetal rabbit Biological Activity Test (BAT, an important quality control release and stability test) has been completed, having met all pre-specified acceptance criteria.

19 May 2010

Vigorous exercise decreases lung function in healthy children without history of asthma or allergies

Children who undergo brief periods of intense exercise may exhibit lung dysfunction or other symptoms similar to those experienced by asthma patients, even when no history of asthma exists, according to a study conducted by researchers at the University of California's Irvine and Miller Children's Hospital.

19 May 2010

Studies suggest potent therapeutic effects of rufinamide in bipolar disorder, depressive and anxiety disorders

This study formulates the hypothesis that rufinamide, a drug so far used against epilepsy, may also be effective in bipolar disorder, depressive and anxiety disorders, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. It is just an hypothesis based on two cases that needs to be confirmed by specific studies.

19 May 2010

CBIT therapy helps Tourette Syndrome children manage tics

A comprehensive behavioral therapy is effective in helping children with Tourette Syndrome manage their tics, according to a study published in the May 19, 2010 special issue of the Journal of the American Medication Association (JAMA), which was dedicated to addressing mental health disorders. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) and involved several leading universities working in partnership with the national Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc (TSA).

19 May 2010

AmbryScreen test launched to identify severe childhood diseases

Ambry Genetics announced today at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists annual clinical meeting the launch of AmbryScreen, a genetic screening test used to identify carriers of some of the most severe and common childhood diseases affecting pan-ethnic populations.

19 May 2010

Researchers identify cancer gene that could help fight paediatric glioma

Researchers have identified an important cancer gene that could lead to more effective drugs being developed to fight paediatric high grade glioma, a disease which currently has a poor prognosis.

19 May 2010

Child Health News

Medco: Big jump in kids' prescription drug use last year

Dads need to spend more time with kids: Research

GFCF diet shows no significant benefits on the behavior of children with ASD: Study

Research studies on depression in preschool-aged children

Expert 'top tips' for management of childhood eczema

Drug trend for children increased 10.8% in 2009 across America

Child's autism does not affect family structure

Pennsylvania Department of Health recommends hepatitis A and B vaccination for children and adults at risk

NPMA: Cockroach allergens can trigger allergies, asthma attacks

African American, Latino children with special health care needs less likely to receive family-centered care: Study

Today's Opinions and Editorials: Childhood obesity, the interworkings of the FDA, the constitutionality of 'Obamacare'

Diagnostic change not enough to help children diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Children with new/recent onset epilepsy have slowed expansion of white matter volume

Parents interested in electronic methods for interacting with their children's physicians

Discovery Labs revalidates optimized BAT in program to gain FDA approval of Surfaxin for RDS

Vigorous exercise decreases lung function in healthy children without history of asthma or allergies

Studies suggest potent therapeutic effects of rufinamide in bipolar disorder, depressive and anxiety disorders

CBIT therapy helps Tourette Syndrome children manage tics

AmbryScreen test launched to identify severe childhood diseases

Researchers identify cancer gene that could help fight paediatric glioma

Small solutions for big problems in drug discovery and delivery

Professor Nancy Ip: Pioneering New Paths in Neurodegenerative Therapy

Utilizing process Raman in optimizing cultivated meat production

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