Children's health
14 Apr 2008
Asthma deaths spike
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the Australian asthma death toll jumped in 2006, with an additional 84 deaths being recorded compared to 2005 data. The total number of deaths attributed to asthma in Australia in 2006 was 402. The greatest increase in deaths occurred in…
Children's health
26 Mar 2008
New research in food allergies
Despite the requirement for prior contact with an allergen for sensitization to occur, the majority of peanut allergic children react to their first known peanut ingestion. Evidence suggests that sensitization may occur by contact with allergen through the skin. Individuals thus sensitized may be predisposed to developing peanut allergy, while…
Children's health
21 Mar 2008
Children with allergies less productive than peers, parents reported
Data from the largest survey of its kind suggested there’s a silent epidemic among children. U.S. children are suffering with allergies and not getting the treatment they need, according to the Pediatric Allergies in America survey, which is the largest and most comprehensive national survey of parents of children under…
Children's health
21 Mar 2008
Skin prick tests identify asthma risk for toddlers with eczema
Toddlers with eczema who have a positive skin prick test for allergy have almost triple the risk of developing asthma than those with a negative test, says an Australian study. The study, led by the University of Melbourne, is the first to clearly demonstrate that skin prick tests can be…
Children's health
20 Mar 2008
Treatment for mild asthma improves lung function
A study by the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in Sydney is the first to demonstrate that in patients with very mild or well-controlled asthma, regular treatment with low dose ICS leads to significantly better day–to-day lung function. The study published in this month’s edition of Primary Care Respiratory Journal…
Children's health
05 Mar 2008
Confusion over lactose intolerance
There appears to be a trend for parents to diagnose their children as lactose intolerant without seeking medical advice. This has serious consequences for children, who may miss out on vital nutrients. Lactose intolerance is the inability to digest foods containing lactose, such as dairy products. People who have this…
Children's health
03 Mar 2008
Cockroaches a major health concern in schools and at home
Cockroaches spread nearly 33 different kinds of bacteria, six kinds of parasitic worms and at least seven other kinds of human pathogens. As cockroaches crawl through decaying matter or sewage, they turn into disease-carrying pests by picking up germs on the spines of their legs and bodies. The National Pest…
Children's health
01 Mar 2008
Cow milk allergy and the mechanisms of food allergy
A food allergic reaction occurs as a result of some component of the immune system, which normally protects us from infectious agents, inappropriately reacting to the proteins in foods we eat. Food allergic diseases usually occur in the first decade of life and are directly linked to the maturation of…
Cancer
14 Feb 2008
Grains (Cereals)
Grains, also called cereal or cereal grains, are the seeds of grasses. Grains constitute a major source of energy in most households today, and occupy…
