Whopping numbers on whooping cough

Medical X-Press – Len Canter

An infection of the respiratory system, pertussis jumped from fewer than 2,000 cases in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s to more than 48,000 in 2012, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the number of cases is down from that peak, it’s nowhere near the lows of earlier decades following the introduction of the pertussis vaccine. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-whopping-whooping.html

New study suggests earlier interventions are needed to prevent inactivity in children

Medical X-Press – Staff Writer

Physical activity and sedentary behaviour were studied over a five-year period in 600 children from the Childhood Obesity Project (CHOP). Measurements were taken at the ages of 6, 8 and 11 years. The results showed that the decline of physical activity and the increase of sedentary behaviour started well before adolescence. Interventions to prevent inactivity are needed much earlier, in young children, whilst activity levels are still high. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-earlier-interventions-inactivity-children.html

Exposure to numerous pets during infancy found to reduce allergies later on

Medical X-Press – Bob Yirka

A team of researchers at the University of Gothenburg has found that when infants live with pets, they grow up to have fewer allergies and other diseases. In their paper published on the open access site PLOS ONE, the group describes their study of datasets that held information on children’s health and whether they had lived with pets as infants, and what they found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-12-exposure-numerous-pets-infancy-allergies.html

Hecht: Let kids be in control, at least for a bit

The Ashville Citizen-Times – Pam J. Hecht

It’s hard to be a kid. They get bossed around a lot. So when possible, I like to let them be in charge. Unfortunately, this can backfire. For example, a rather assertive 9-year-old girl wanted to take charge during play time on the field at after school. Her activity of choice: launching my new physical fitness program. This pint-sized package of cuteness turned into a devilish drill sergeant, barking orders like it was basic training. https://www.citizen-times.com/story/life/family/2018/12/27/hecht-when-parenting-let-kids-control-least-sometimes/2313838002/