Children who are breast fed during early life generally have high IQ levels, according to a latest research study. Researchers conducted studies on 14,000 babies by dividing them into two groups based on their breast feeding habits. They tracked these babies for the next 6 years to find their intelligence levels. Children in the first group (Breast fed babies) have 5 points higher IQ levels and performing better in academic exams. This research study was published in the Archives of General Psychiatry. In the study, children who are breast fed for longer duration (more than 5 months) performed better in the intelligence tests than those children who breast fed for shorter duration. According to WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines, babies should receive only breast milk during their first six months of life. But many mothers are not stopping breast feeding their babies after 3-4 months due to modern work life, lack of awareness and cosmetic purposes (rich mothers). Smartness of a baby is directly related to how much duration a mother breastfed their baby. So mothers should know that their babies’ intelligence is in your hands. Nutrients in breast milk (Omega fatty acids) will enhance babies’ intelligence levels and reduce health problems in childhood. Cholesterol in the breast milk is good for child’s brain. Breast feeding reduces future risk of developing diabetes and hypertension and reduces infections and digestive problems in the childhood. Note: Organisations should allow mothers to take maternity leave for 6 months. … [Read more...]
Pre term babies are at more risk in later life
Children who are born before term have higher death rates in childhood and are either childless or give birth to pre term babies in adult life. Scientists conducted studies on the health records of 1.2 million babies born in Norway from 1967 to 1988. This research study was conducted by Journal of the American Medical Association. Death rates in preterm babies are high not only in the first year but also in later age. Image courtesy: Society for the protection of unborn children. Preterm babies were known to have higher incidence of lung problems, disabilities, blindness and mental retardation. Milestones are delayed in these babies. Preterm birth is the major cause of infant mortality and delay in milestones. This research is significant as it is focused on their health effects in later life. Percentage of preterm babies is on rise due to advances in medical care and late marriages. Babies born before term are at high risk as their organs have insufficient time to develop fully. They are 10 times more likely die before the age of six years. Preterm babies are those who are born before 37 week of pregnancy. Babies born between 28-32 weeks have lower death rates than those born between 22-27 weeks. Boys who are born before term are 76% less likely to reproduce in adulthood. Preterm girls are 67% less likely reproduce and are at increased risk of giving birth to pre term babies. So, doctors should try to avoid preterm baby births and women should try to avoid late marriages. Pregnant women should use any drug with Doctor's prescription. … [Read more...]
Second hand smoke damages heart of toddlers
Second hand damages toddler’s blood vessels than normal children. Toddlers absorb 6 times more nicotine than children from second hand smoke. Researchers conducted experiments on the hair samples and blood tests in 128 children aged 2 to 13 years to know the effects of second hand smoke. The results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association. Research was done by doctors at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Research Institute in Columbus, Ohio. In the study, kids aged 2-5 years had more damage to blood vessels than those aged 9-14 years due to more nicotine absorption from second hand smoke. They absorb more smoke due to their rapid breathing and more damage is due to tender vessels. Exposure to smoke damages the inner lining of the heart and blood vessels. There is a dramatic increase in Intracellular Adhesion molecules (ICAM) which are markers for atherosclerosis. Second hand smoke severely affects lungs and blood vessels of toddlers. So parents should stop smoking at home in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases in the children. Advice to parents: Smoking is injurious to your toddler’s health. … [Read more...]
UNICEF – Child deaths are declining
Childhood deaths are declining around the world due to good drugs, rising health awareness, good diet, increased breast feeding and greater use of vaccines. The number of children dying has fallen below 10 million a year for the first time since records began in 1960. Global child death deaths fall from 13 million in 1990 to 9.7 million in 2005. 20 million children died in 1960. If babies were still dying at 1960 rates, 25 million would die this year. UNICEF data is based on the government surveys in more than 50 countries. Controlling Malaria and Measles played important role in declining in child deaths. Spread of AIDS is the major worrying factor especially in Africa and India. More children are dying in rural areas and poor households of the developing world. UNICEF's data is based on government-conducted surveys in more than 50 countries from 2005 to 2006. United Nations set the millennium goal in 1990 to cut the infant mortality by two-thirds by 2015. The most important advances, according to UNICEF: 1. Vaccination drives cutting measles deaths by 60% since 1999. 2. Women breastfeeding rather than using dirty water. 3. Babies sleeping under mosquito nets. 4. Babies getting vitamin A drops which reduce the risk of measles, diarrhoea and malaria. Of the 9.7 million children who die each year, 3.1 million are from south Asia, and 4.8 million are from sub-Saharan Africa. West and central Africa have the highest rates of child mortality, with more than 150 deaths per every 1,000 children under five, which compares to six per 1,000 in North America, Western Europe and Japan. India and China have shown large improvements, whereas the situation has worsened in southern African countries hit by Aids, and in war zones, such as Congo and Sierra Leone. China (47% reduction) and India (34% reduction) made rapid strides in controlling children deaths.The islands of Sao Tome and Principe showed the greatest improvement, cutting child deaths by 48%, mainly due to an anti-malaria campaign which drained swamps and provided mosquito nets. In Morocco, Vietnam and the Dominican Republic, UNICEF reported that child death rates dropped by more than a third. In Africa, increased vaccination coverage reduced measles deaths by 75 percent. Under-5 mortality has declined 29 per cent between 2000 and 2004 in Malawi. In Ethiopia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda and Tanzania child mortality rates have declined by more than 20 per cent. How to prevent child deaths? 1. Governments should spend more money on health education. These should educate mothers for better baby care by appointing health workers in rural areas. 2. Proper treatment for common children diseases like Pneumonia, Diarrhoea, AIDS and infectious diseases. 3. Good access to clean drinking water. 4. Breast feeding. 5. Vaccination. 6. Health education to every mother. 7. More awareness on AIDS. Even though number of child deaths are delining, but rate of progress is showing signs of slow down. Governments of developing countries should aggressively spend more money in protecting future generations. … [Read more...]
Analysis: Children and insomnia
Due to increase in stress levels on children to perform well in exams, they are not sleeping up to optimal levels. Due to sleeplessness, most children are facing physical and mental health problems. The parents are also wishing that their children should get top ranks in their respective fields. It causes much worry among the children and they are spending sleepless nights. They are losing concentration, remembrance power, changing in moods, often. It is reported in one observation; many students are sleeping only 4-5 hours in a day. One should sleep 6-7 hours for good day time performance. The other causes of sleeplessness in children are: 1. Watching T.V. programmes for more hours 2. Playing video games. If this type of situation continues for a long time, other health problems will also develop in children. It is also reported that girls are sleeping less time compare to boys. The bad effects of sleeplessness in children are: 1. Decrease in activeness 2. Notable to respond with in time to any situation that demands their attention 3. Suffering from headache and bad dreams 4. Decrease in remembrance power 5. 27% of the children are suffering from doing walking and talking during sleep. 6. 38% of the exam going children are awakening in the middle of the nights suddenly, there by not having sound sleep and getting mental tension. 7. There by their performance in the examination is very poor and getting less number of marks than expected. Health Advice: 1. Daily requirement of sleep is 6-8 hours. Sound sleep is necessary to have peace of mind. 2. The sleeping day time should be half- an hour only. If anybody sleeps more time in day time, he will become over weight. 3. Parents also should not to give stress to their children, by not compelling them to read continuously without relaxation and recreation. Parents role is crucial in alleviating sleeping problems in innocent children. … [Read more...]
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
90% of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths are mainly due to maternal smoking, according to Bristol University researchers. Smoking women are four times more likely to lose their babies to SIDS death than non-smoking women. Babies of smoking mothers are at greater risk due to passive smoking. Number of hours the baby is exposed to smoking is in direct relationship to risk of his/her death. This research report on cot deaths was done by the Institute of Child Life and Health and published in the “Journal of Early Human Development”. Even though both SIDS deaths and smoking among pregnant women (25% to 15%) are in decline, percentage of SIDS deaths due to smoking is rising (57% to 86%) in recent days. 60% of SIDS deaths can be prevented if no women smokes during pregnancy. But researchers failed to give exact causes for this high incidence of SIDS deaths and smoking. Smoking may affect brain chemical balance and prevent development of the lungs. Most of the cot deaths were prevented by giving proper training on the significance of sleeping position of infants. But deaths due to pregnant smoking are not under control. How to prevent cot deaths? 1. Expectant women should not smoke under any circumstances. 2. Parents should not smoke at home. Passive smoking kills babies. Save baby life by not smoking. … [Read more...]
Kids health: increase in digestive drug prescriptions
56% rise in prescriptions for heartburn and other digestive problems among kids between 2002 and 2006. More than 2 million American children 18 and under used drugs for gastro-intestinal complaints last year. 31% increase in drug use among children aged 5 to 11 but only 6% rise in children aged 12 to 18. This spurt in prescriptions was found in a Medico Health Solutions analysis on prescription data for 2002-06. Proton Pump Inhibitors are the most common medicines prescribed for Gastro Intestinal problems mainly for Gastro esophageal Reflux disease. Obesity and overuse of drugs are the major reasons behind this rise in prescriptions. More than 10% younger children and 30% older children are overweight in United States. Heartburn is a common complication of being overweight and obese. Young children generally do not need drugs for heartburn and GERD but most parents are demanding doctors for prescriptions. Parents should try to use foods (non-fatty foods) and lifestyle changes to overcome this common problem. This is another concern for kids and parents after recent reporting of deaths from cough and cold medicine use. It is better not to use over the counter (OTC) drugs unless advised by physician in young children. … [Read more...]
FDA: Kids should not use OTC drugs without prescription
Kids should not take common cold and cough medicines without doctor advice. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave this preliminary recommendation on use of antihistamines in those younger than 6 and decongestant in children younger than 2. FDA reviewed 800 most commonly used medicines whether their use is safe and effective in children. FDA took up this review in response to a petition by Baltimore officials against the usage of OTC (Over the Counter) drugs without physician advice. Pharma companies are aggressively marketing these medicines with delicious fruity flavors mainly targeting kids. Parents are carelessly using these over the counter drugs for cough and cold without doctor advice. Pharma companies should not use kids in their TV advertisements for these medicines. “Consult with doctor” label is not enough for these most popular drugs which are causing deaths. Hydrocodone, a common ingredient in these medicines, is highly addictive and can cause death if not used properly. Hydrocodone overdose can cause breathing problems or cardiac arrest and impair motor skills and judgment. Hydrocodone is genarally used to treat pain and suppress cough. FDA would recommend no level of dosage for children under the age of 2 due to lack of efficacy and safety concerns. FDA found 54 reported deaths from decongestants and 69 deaths from antihistamines in children under the age of 2. FDA ordered companies marketing unapproved Hydrocodone products to stop manufacturing them by October 31, 2007. Cold takes a week to get over whether you take medicine or not. I can’t understand why parents use OTC drugs for cold? It is just a marketing gimmick by Pharma companies. FDA will give its final decision in their next month review meeting. … [Read more...]
Depression in children
It is very difficult to diagnose depression in children as they can’t express their feelings when compared to adults. Stress and lack of good family environment are the major cause for depression in children. Symptoms of Depression in Children: 1. Often they are in sorrow mood. We can observe it in their eyes. 2. Often they weep and involve in unnecessary fears and tensions. 3. They don’t like to be away from their parents. They wish to spend always with them. 4. They won’t mix with their colleagues in the school. They frequently quarrel with classmates and friends. 5. They often complain of headache, Pain abdomen, nausea, and vomiting. 6. They lose interest in playing games. 7. They are not enthusiastic. They don’t show interest in extracurricular activities. 8. They show lack of interest in education. 9. Their performance in the examinations will decline gradually. 10. They suffer from insomnia (lack of sleep) and change in food habits. 11. Due to less activity, they become overweight. 12. They cry loudly and through away articles in the hand. 13. They may indulge in Alcoholism and drugs. 14. They talk about committing suicide (danger signal). Keenly observe the children who are spending most of the time lonely. If you find any changes in your children behaviour, immediately give him Psychiatric counselling. Depression in children is more dangerous than adults as committing suicide is more in children. Please comment on this article. … [Read more...]
Depression in Children – Causes
Causes which induce depression in children are: 1. Hereditary 2. Experiencing bad incidents 3. Family problems 4. Quarrelling parents 5. Behavior of teachers and colleagues 6. Often parents expect high hopes from their children. Without knowing his capacity and ability and often get worried which in turn leads to tension and to depression. Precautions for Parents: When parents notice the above symptoms in children; they have to consult the psychiatrist immediately to give proper counseling to the child. Psychotherapy and also behavior therapy has to be given to relieve from depression. The Involvement of parents, teachers and other family members is highly essential. … [Read more...]
