Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure in tanning beds is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. Because of the rising rate of melanoma, the World Health Organization recommends that persons <18 years of age not use tanning devices.

Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, tanning facilities in Missouri, a state without indoor-tanning regulations, often misinformed consumers regarding the risk of skin cancer and would allow children as young as 10 years old to use tanning devices.

To determine tanning bed practices in the state, researchers conducted a statewide telephone survey of randomly selected tanning facilities in Missouri.

The results were shocking. On average, 65 percent of 243 tanning-facility operators would allow children as young as 10 or 12 years old to use indoor-tanning devices, 80 percent claimed that indoor tanning would prevent future sunburns, and 43 percent claimed that there were no risks associated with indoor tanning.

Despite increasing evidence that UV exposure in indoor-tanning devices is associated with skin cancer, ocular damage, and premature photoaging, tanning facilities in Missouri often misinformed consumers regarding these risks and lack of health benefits and inconsistently provided information about the Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines for tanning devices.

TV and video games have long been thought to promote aggressive behavior in children; and excessive screen time is often associated with slothfulness and obesity. However, researchers at Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the University of Washington have found otherwise.

According to a study they performed, which was published recently in the journal Pediatrics, placing children on a “media diet” that includes only age-appropriate programming that is prosocial or educational can lead to more positive behavior and higher scores in the Social Competence and Behavior Evaluation (SCBE). Prosocial content emphasizes helping others and shows conflicts being resolved without violence.

For the study, 565 parents were divided into two groups – one receiving a media diet intervention and other a nutritional intervention. Both were told to track their children’s media consumption in a diary.

The control group received nutritional tips for promoting healthier eating habits in their children, but nothing more. Meanwhile, the second group of parents received:

• Program guides tailored to their household’s available channels highlighting prosocial and educational shows.
• Newsletters reinforcing key messages and offering tips for engaging children during the shows.
• Monthly follow-up calls from researchers to check progress, help work through barriers and difficulties, and set new goals.

What researchers found after assessing collected data at 6 months again after a year is that children in the media intervention group were somewhat less aggressive and scored higher on the SCBE. “Although television is frequently implicated as a cause of many problems in children, our research indicates that it may also be part of the solution,” the report states.

An important flaw in the study is that data regarding children’s TV habits and behavior was collected by the children’s parents, who may not necessarily be objective.

With type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, either the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, which is necessary for the body to be able to use glucose for energy. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into cells, it can lead to diabetes complications.

Over the past thirty years, the prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically in North America, ushering a host of health problems, including type 2 diabetes, that formerly was only seen much later in life.

Due to that fact, until recently, pediatricians have mostly had to deal with type 1 diabetes, which has a different cause and usually a different management than type 2 diabetes. But, today, due largely to the rise in childhood obesity, as many as one in three children diagnosed with diabetes has type 2.

To assist physicians in caring for this population, the AAP issued a set of guidelines to provide evidence-based recommendations on managing type 2 diabetes in children ages 10 to 18. The guidelines are the first of their kind for this age group.

The guidelines, and an accompanying technical report, published in the February 2013 issue of Pediatrics recommend beginning treatment with insulin at the time of diagnosis in all patients who are ketotic or in ketoacidosis, markedly hyperglycemic, or in whom the distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes is not clear. In all others, metformin is recommended as first-line therapy, along with a lifestyle modification program including nutrition and physical activity.

The guidelines include recommendations for monitoring pediatric patients’ glycemic control, implementing insulin regimens, and diet and physical activity recommendations.

The guidelines were written in consultation with the American Diabetes Association, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

I have done a couple of trips with my little girl. Sometimes she is an absolute angel, the other times…. well let’s just say less of an angel. Like many new parents, I am still learning the tricks and tumbles of traveling with a young child. Here are some things I have picked up along the way.

Also, moms and dads, if you have any more tips please add them in the comments below!

• No sugary food. What so ever. Sugar causes hyperactivity in children. Do you want your kids to be distracted, impulsive and have high energy levels (followed by a crash in energy levels) in a confined space like an airplane. I didn’t think so. And you know what, it’s better for their little teeth!

• Traveling really takes it out of little kids. Try to make sure they get a really really good sleep before you set out on the journey, because although kids may not directly understand the experience of stress in airports, they can defiantly feel it. Even if your toddler or young child can walk, bring the stroller. Airports are sometimes huge and require a lot of walking for little legs.

• If you are traveling with a few kids you should check out if the airport offers a “meet and assist” service. This service is provided by the airport and not your individual airline. The service meets you at check in and helps you with the kids and the bags all the way to the plane. This service can depend on availability. However, say you were a single parent or traveling without your partner, usually the service would put you on a higher priority.

• The low humidity inside the aircraft can cause mild dehydration. To beat this, your best bet is to bring on your own drinks. However, it is a little bit of a pain as you will need to buy them in the airport AFTER you have gone through security, to keep in line with airport regulations. But it is absolutely necessary to avoid dehydration. If you are breast feeding your child, make sure YOU are getting enough fluids moms, so you can produce enough breast milk for the trip. Also, a tub of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) never goes astray, as you’ll find that your child’s lips and perhaps nostrils will get dry and often sore from the low humidity of the plane.

• The changes of pressure when taking off and landing can cause the expansion of the middle ear and sinuses. Because babies and children have smaller ear passages, they are more susceptible to experiencing discomfort from this. To help relieve this pain and discomfort, it’s recommended to massage you child’s ears from behind and give their ear lobes gentle tugs. Also, sucking or drinking something during landing and taking off can help ease this pain.

Here are some further tips by the New York Times, on coping with traveling with young children.

Bon voyage!

Like any parent, I am concerned about the well being of my child. The flu virus can cause many complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, exacerbation of asthma, inflammation of the brain and in rare cases death.

You can check out what precautions you should take with your child here  on the CDC website.

An important fact that some parents forget, is that they need to watch their own symptoms just as much as their child’s, as parents can be a transmitter of the flu virus to their children.

Here are some precautions to take if you find yourself run down with the flu:

1. Know the symptoms AND if you have them, go see your physician. The physician may prescribe you anti-viral medication to help treat the flu virus.
2. Minimize contact as much as possible with your child. If you are a single parent this may be difficult, it is a good idea to call in a friend/family member to help.
3. The flu is spread by droplet contamination. That means every time you cough or sneeze you are exposing your infant to the harmful flu virus. Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose. Be sure to dispose of these tissues in a covered bin.
4. Research has shown that one of the main ways infections are transferred is through hand contamination.  Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after you cough/sneeze.
5. When you do need to engage in activity with your child, be sure to wash and dry hands thoroughly before hand.

Be aware this flu season, for the sake of your own health and your child. If you have any concerns or questions regarding the flu virus you should contact your physician/pediatrician.

Does practicing Yoga actually benefit children or is it just another trend that will soon be forgotten?

Advantages of Children’s Yoga:

• Non-competitive atmosphere. Children are under more and more pressure to perform these days. From competitive schooling to competitive sports, children are constantly expected, and sometimes pushed to be the best. Yoga creates an atmosphere where there is no competition. While practicing Yoga each child takes it at their own pace. There is no final race or exam.

• Mind focusing. Technology is constantly changing the way we live and interact. One of the common claims is that people of recent generations have short attention spans and find it difficult to concentrate. Some blame the internet, just like their parents before them blamed the television. Whatever the real truth, any exercise that facilitates better concentration in a world of tweets and facebook updates should be taken advantage of. Yoga can teach children at a young age how to focus their minds, a lesson they will use all their lives.

• Creativity:  Yoga can really help children express themselves creatively. In children’s yoga playfulness is encouraged. From acting out dogs to birds, it is quite different to the yoga practiced by adults. It is more tailored towards the creative needs of the children, encouraging self-expression.

Disadvantages of Children’s Yoga

• Contraindications: The American Yoga Association discourages parents from sending their children to yoga when they are under 16. This is due to the fact that their nervous and glandular systems are not yet fully developed. Premature strenuous yoga practice could affect a child’s growth. However this is in relation to children practicing yoga designed for adults. Yoga Alliance is a website where parents can search for yoga teachers that are aware of how to teach and co-ordinate children’s yoga.

The future of children’s yoga? We will have to wait and see. But encouraging healthy exercise is rarely a bad idea, just as long as it is tailored to a child’s and not an adult’s needs.

The Science:

There are trillions of human cells in the body. Each cell has a nucleus that contains chromosomes. These chromosomes are made up of DNA. The DNA makes up our genes. Genes determine what physical traits a child might have, such as eye color.

The problem arises when there are alterations in the DNA that causes  gene mutations, and just like the physical traits, mutations are passed from adult to child. Sex linked diseases are parts of genes located on the X or Y chromosomes (the sex chromosomes).

As males only inherit one X chromosome (from their mother) they will usually present with any mutations from this chromosome. Females on the other hand, inherit two X chromosomes, therefore if one X chromosome is carrying a genetic disease, the other copy of the X chromosome, that the female has, will cancel it out.  Therefore unsurprisingly most people that suffer from X-linked diseases are male. Examples of these sex linked disorders are: hemophilia, muscular dystrophy and color blindness.

The Treatment:

Gender selection via IVF now is used to prevent these genetic medical diseases. There are many treatments being offered by infertility specialists however the majority of these treatments are not only expensive, they are also, in general, extremely ineffective.

However a technique pioneered by the Center for Human Reproduction, New York City, has been approved by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and is now a popular and effective technique used for gender selection.

The technique uses a combination of IVF and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis).  Embryos are created from the female eggs and male sperm. When 6-8 cells are present, one cell is taken off the embryo. This cell is analyzed for chromosomal makeup.  From this chromosomal analysis,  it can be determined which embryos are male and which are female. Via IVF, only the desired sex is transferred into the uterus for implantation.

The benefit of this technique is in its accuracy and effectiveness. There is close to 100% accuracy,  and also, the examination of the embryo cells, does not cause damage to the embryo.

Genetic diseases can have devastating effects on a child’s health. Although currently there is a large debate surrounding the ethics of genetic selection, it cannot be denied that genetic selection, in relation to having the chance to improve the health of one’s child is extremely effective.

For example, a 2011 study published in The Journal of Pediatric Surgery reported that 13 percent of children had pain that lingered for months after surgeries, such as appendectomies. The lead author of the study, Dr. Zeev Kain, a pediatric anesthesiologist at the University of California, Irvine. stated that “Children are not being given enough pain medication, and they’re suffering needlessly.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, in 2010, 10.2 million children living in the United States had an emergency room visit that year (14 percent); 6.3 million children had two or more visits (8 percent). For many of these children, the ER visit is not the end of their pain. Broken bones and surgery can takes days to weeks for a child to recover from, and throughout the duration pain is likely to occur. Not only will the recovery time will be slower if pain is not alleviated, but the child will be in distress.

So why are children not getting the pain medication they need? The fault lies in both the physicians and the parents hands. The child obviously has no say in what he or she is prescribed, and in the ER relieving the pain and solving the problem are of utmost importance. After the procedure, however, physicians are less inclined to deal out the medication because they get nervous about continuing that medication – regardless of the fact that the child is in pain.

The physicians are worried that the child may overdose or misuse the drugs. But a prescription with a short time and low dose shouldn’t lead to that outcome.

On the other hand, parents, sometimes decide not to give their children the strong medication perscribed to them. The reason for this is fear of unwanted side effects in overdoses. Pediatric pain specialists say that strong narcotic pain medications are safe for children when given in the correct doses, and there’s little – if any – risk of addiction if the drugs are administered in a short period of time.

For parents, here are four things to keep in mind when and if your child heads to the ER:

1. Be informed. Ask the physician about pain medication before your child leaves the hospital. If there is any chance that the child may be in pain or will be in pain once you return home from the hospital, it is important to about the pain medication options available. If medication will be prescribed, make sure to be aware of proper dosages and when the medication should be given.
2. Get the medication. After a trip to the ER, most parents want to be at home with their healing child. However. making the trip to the pharmacy to pick up the medication is an important next step as well. Picking up the  prescription on the way home or at the hospital pharmacy are typically the smartest options. It’s best to have the medication ready and available for when the pain comes.
3. Pay attention. It is important to recognize that a child a child may be in pain even if they’re not crying, screaming, or complaining. Some children in pain exhibit other emotions, such as being quiet and withdrawn or have trouble eating or sleeping.  In a 2008 study titled “The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease,” researchers found that that a day after having a broken limb treated in the ER, 20 percent of children received no pain medication, and 44 percent received only one dose. The children who were most likely to get medication were those who were loud and cried a lot.
4. Think outside the box. While pain medication can be a quick option to relieve pain, alternative pain management NJ specialists agree that sometimes alternative methods, such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, and music can be extremely helpful for children in pain. Distraction can help a lot too. If the child is engaged and not bored, their minds will not drift to the pain as much.

A new study has found, injuries to children in inflatable bounce houses, space walks or bouncy castles have risen an astonishing 1,500 percent since 1995, increasing from 702 per year to 11,311 according to a report released Monday in the journal Pediatrics.

The study, looked at the number of children being brought to emergency rooms in the United States who suffered injuries in inflatable bounce houses. The most common injuries reported were sprains, broken bones, cuts, and also concussions.

Though the injuries reported in Pediatrics are more concentrated around limb damage than major head and neck trauma, Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator for LSU Health Shreveport Elaine Pahilan said the age of the children injured is alarming. More than half of the injured children were between 6 and 12 years old and more than a third were under the age of 5.

“We need to consider how old the kids we let in there are,” Pahilan said. “The younger kids aren’t always as aware of their surroundings as much as the older children are.”

The bouncers remain popular party elements for young children, and industry specialists say injuries can be avoided if precautions are taken before and during play.

Researchers suggest that, to avoid injury, parents should limit playtime on inflatables to only those children age 6 or older, and also limit the number of children inside at any one time. More than one-third of the injuries reported were to children 5 years of age or younger. Another 50% were ages 6 to 12.

According to experts in occupational medicine Longview Texas, bounce house rental companies are responsible for going over the rules with parents well before parties begin. That always should start with a head count of the children expected to be in attendance.

An average inflatable bouncer will hold 10 children at a time, Bamburt said. Larger parties should invest in larger bouncers or at least regulate the proper number of children inside. Trampolines still are a larger threat, however. While the injury rate for inflatables is 5 per 100,000 children, the rate for trampolines is 31 per 100,000 children.

Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet are great ways for all people, including teens, to stay in shape. According to the America Academy of Pediatrics, there several reasons why teens should work out, including increased strength, improved long term health, obesity prevention, increased cardiovascular fitness, improved cholesterol levels, and improved psychological wellbeing.

If exercise and a healthy diet were the only method teens were using to enhance their muscles, then there wouldn’t be any issue. However, a large number of American teens are also using supplements and other methods to help them achieve their desired physical appearance.

The study, conducted by the University of Minnesota and Columbia University, surveyed 2,793 teens from 20 middle and high schools in Minnesota; with the average age of the student being 14.4. The researchers administered a 235 question survey regarding exercise, attitudes, and behavior relating to weight and appearance.

90 percent of the boys and 80 percent of the girls surveyed said that the purpose of their exercising was to gain muscle. The boys came as no surprise, but the girls’ goal of increasing muscle mass led the researchers to believe that there has been a shift in the ideal female body image. However, these findings weren’t the most shocking results of the survey. As it turns out, more teens have been turning to unhealthy methods in order to gain muscle.

The responses to the question, “How often have you done each of the following things in order to increase your muscle size or tone in the past year? (a) Changed my eating (b) Exercised more (c) Used protein powder or shakes (d) Used steroids (e) Used another muscle building substance (such as creatine, amino acids, hydroxyl methylbutyrate, DHEA treatment, or growth hormone).”, were the most unsettling. (It is important to note that several of these substances and supplements are used for other reasons in addition to muscle increase, for example DHEA is also used to anti-aging purposes and for premature ovarian failure, but for the purpose of this study, the researchers were interested only in the use for muscle gain).

Approximately two thirds of both boys and girls said they had changed the way they ate to muscle up. 34.7 percent of the boys were consuming protein powders or shakes, and 10.5 percent said they were using some other muscle enhancing substance. The girls don’t fall far behind, which 21.2 percent consuming protein powders or shakes, and 5.5 using some other muscle enhancing substance. The most concerning findings were that 6 percent of boys and 5 percent of girls said they had used steroids.

Diet and exercise are both a good things, if done correctly. The researchers are concerned by the data, stating that as these teens age, there is the possibility that they will turn to more severe or unhealthy methods to gain muscle and achieve their desired physical appearance. They suggest that muscle-enhancement awareness should be incorporated into existing body-image programs as well as school physicals.