Latest news with #childrenHealth
Medscape
07-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Surgery Resolves Limb Movements in Pediatric Sleep Apnea
TOPLINE: Periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS) were found to be common in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), with age and severity of OSA influencing its prevalence. In most cases, adenotonsillectomy effectively resolved PLMS. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the prevalence of PLMS in children with OSA and assess the effect of adenotonsillectomy on these movements. They enrolled 1159 children (median age, 5 years; 58.3% boys) with OSA who underwent adenotonsillectomy between January 2022 and July 2023 at a tertiary care children's hospital. The severity of OSA was categorized using the obstructive apnea-hypopnea index as mild (1-4 events per hour), moderate (5-9 events per hour), or severe (10 or more events per hour). Elevated periodic limb movement index (PLMI) was measured as PLMS per hour before and after adenotonsillectomy, with an elevated PLMI defined as more than 5 events per hour. TAKEAWAY: Children older than 5 years had a higher prevalence of an elevated PLMI than those younger than 5 years (odds ratio, 0.3; P < .001). The odds of elevated PLMI were 2.3 times higher in children with moderate OSA (P = .007) and 1.9 times higher in those with severe OSA (P = .01) than in those with mild OSA. The PLMI significantly reduced after adenotonsillectomy (11.9 vs 2.9; P ≤ .001). Among 54 children with an elevated PLMI who underwent follow-up polysomnography, 85% showed resolution after adenotonsillectomy. Children with residual OSA had a higher PLMI than those without residual OSA (P = .04). IN PRACTICE: 'The potential clinical implications of our findings are the consideration of AT [adenotonsillectomy] for the initial management of children with OSA and elevated PLMI and counseling caregivers regarding the treatment of elevated PLMI,' the authors of the study wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Amor Niksic, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas. It was published online on June 07, 2025, in The Laryngoscope. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective study design limited data collection on sleep characteristics, patient symptoms, the impact of adenotonsillectomy on symptoms, and serum ferritin levels. Additionally, the small number of children who underwent polysomnography before and after adenotonsillectomy may have affected the detection of differences in subgroup analyses. DISCLOSURES: The authors reported receiving no specific funding for this work and reported having no conflicts of interest. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
RNZ News
05-07-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Many children suffering ongoing Covid symptoms
Children with pre-existing conditions, like asthma or ADHD, were more likely to develop post-Covid symptoms. Photo: 123rf Public health researchers say strong evidence suggests preventing infection is key to preventing Long Covid, after they found more than a fifth of children and young people were suffering ongoing symptoms following Covid-19. Led by the University of Otago, and published in the International Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health , the study surveyed more than 4200 children and young adults aged three to 20 years between November 2022 and April 2023, after the first widespread Covid-19 community transmission in early 2022. More than 70 percent of participants had a confirmed Covid-19 infection. A quarter had suffered more frequent coughs, colds and stomach bugs since infection, while one in five reported ongoing symptoms, such as headaches (21.7 percent), fatigue (20.6 percent), stomach aches (14.6 percent) and new anxiety (13.1 percent). Before Covid-19's widespread arrival, 82.6 percent of children rated their health as "very good" or "excellent" - that number dropped to 66.9 percent after the Omicron variant waves. Children who had Covid-19 were significantly more likely to rate their health as "fair" or "poor", compared to those who did not. Children with pre-existing conditions, like asthma or ADHD, were more likely to develop post-Covid symptoms, but many previously healthy kids also reported new difficulties, ranging from persistent coughs to concentration problems. Associate Professor Julie Bennett, from the university's Department of Public Health, said long-term symptoms could affect children's ability to participate in daily activities and attend school. "Reducing infections to key to preventing Long Covid," she said. "Simple steps like opening windows to improve ventilation in classrooms, workplaces and at home helps reduce the spread of Covid-19 to others." Bennett said common symptoms reported in New Zealand children included headaches, fatigue, stomach aches, anxiety, and more frequent coughs and colds. "If a child has Covid, ensure they are able to rest during and after infection to prevent post-viral complications, such as Long Covid." Co-author Larisa Hockey, of Long Covid Kids New Zealand, said the findings showed Covid-19 had had a "measurable and ongoing impact" on the health of many children. Both previously healthy children and those with existing health conditions had reported new symptoms that affected school attendance, concentration and overall wellbeing, she added. "There is strong evidence that preventing infection is key to preventing Long Covid. Children deserve every opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive, and that includes protecting them from preventable long-term illness. "Long Covid is having a significant impact on children's lives and those of family members." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lala Kent Shares Her Take on Routine, Resilience, and Raising Healthy Kids in New Children's Health & Wellness Campaign
NEW YORK, June 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From increasing rates of anxiety and obesity to missed vaccinations, nutrition gaps, and developmental delays, kids today are facing more health challenges than ever. To support families in navigating these concerns, Mediaplanet is proud to launch the "Children's Health & Wellness" campaign, a resource-rich initiative designed to help parents raise healthy, resilient kids in a rapidly changing world. The campaign brings together pediatricians, mental health experts, educators, and parents to provide trusted guidance on the key issues shaping children's physical, emotional, and developmental well-being. Topics range from early screenings and sleep routines to healthy eating habits, mindfulness practices, and making mental health part of everyday parenting. TV personality and entrepreneur Lala Kent leads the campaign's conversation as cover story feature, offering a raw and relatable look at modern motherhood. In her interview, Kent shares how becoming a parent reshaped her approach to health — from prioritizing sleep and movement to letting go of rigid expectations and focusing on what really matters. Kent also opens up about the challenges of co-parenting and the power of routine, emphasizing the importance of creating a home environment where children feel safe, supported, and empowered to be themselves. Her message to other parents: lean on your village, be kind to yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help. The print component of "Children's Health & Wellness" is distributed in today's edition of LA Times. The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit: This campaign was made possible with the support of Lala Kent, Jillian Michaels, Jennifer Anderson (@ Kacie Barnes (@MamaKnowsNutrition), Sarah Hoover, Jasmine Roth, American Academy of Pediatrics, Vaccinate Your Family, National Association of School Nurses, Partnership for a Healthier America, Project Sleep and features paid content from Pure Organic and CertiPUR-US. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mediaplanet
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
We wanted a baby so they could act as a transplant donor for our seriously ill daughter, reveals MINA HOLLAND. It was a minefield... but what happened next will make you believe in miracles
When the moment comes for the anaesthetist to place the mask over my little boy's face, I falter. While I've witnessed my daughter, Vida, go through the same thing on multiple occasions, her medical condition means invasive hospital procedures are necessary to keep her alive, making it easier to fight my protective instinct.
Reuters
26-06-2025
- Health
- Reuters
US CDC panel broadly recommends flu shots free from thimerosal
June 26 (Reuters) - The external committee advising the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccine policy voted that all adults in the country receive a seasonal flu shot in single-dose forms that are free from mercury-based preservative thimerosal. The panel voted five-to-one in favor of the recommendation, while one member abstained from voting, following a presentation by an anti-vaccine advocate that made the case that thimerosal is a neurotoxin. The panel recommended that pregnant women and children aged 6 months or younger also receive thimerosal-free shots. The CDC has previously said there is no evidence of harm caused by the low doses of thimerosal used in vaccines, except for minor reactions such as redness and swelling at the injection site.
