In that time there have been many warnings and even a recall on many different brands of cough syrup was issued by The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) in October.

At that time the Canadian Paediatric Society advised parents that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should NOT be given to children younger than three years old unless prescribed by their doctor.

Health Canada is now requiring manufacturers to relabel over-the-counter cough and cold medicines that have dosing information for children to indicate that these medicines should not be used in children under 6.

The relabelling of these medicines will be completed by fall 2009, in time for the next cough and cold season. During the current cough and cold season, medicines will remain on store shelves and in homes with the current labelling, which could include dosing information for children under 6, because many of these products also have dosing information for adults and older children on the same label. As a result, for this cough and cold season, parents or caregivers should consult a pharmacist or a health care practitioner when buying or using these products. These medicines can still be used in children 6 and older, and adults.

Until the relabelling of these products is completed, Health Canada advises parents and caregivers to follow these important guidelines:

• Do not use these over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years of age.
• With children older than 6, always follow all the instructions carefully, which includes the dosing and length-of-use directions, and use the dosing device if one is included.
• Do not give children medications labelled only for adults.
• Do not give more than one kind of cough and cold medicine to a child. Cough and cold medications often contain multiple ingredients. Combining products with the same ingredient(s) could cause an overdose that may result in harm to a child.
• Talk to your health care practitioner (doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.) if you have questions about the proper use of over-the counter cough and cold medicines.
• The common cold is a viral infection for which there is no cure. Cough and cold medicines offer only temporary relief of symptoms such as runny nose, cough, or nasal congestion Symptoms can also be managed using a variety of non-medicinal measures such as adequate rest, increased fluid intake and a comfortable environment with adequate humidity.
• For babies and young children, it is important to rule out serious illnesses that have cold-like signs and symptoms (for example, pneumonia, ear ache or other infections). This is especially important if symptoms do not improve, or if the child’s condition worsens.
• If you are concerned about the child’s health (such as if symptoms worsen, last for more than a week, or are accompanied by a fever higher than 38 C or the production of thick phlegm), consult a health care practitioner for a medical evaluation.

For more information about Health Canada’s decision and the use of cough and cold products in children, consult the Health Canada Web site or call toll free at 1-866-558-2946.

Matthew Williams awoke on Oct. 28 with double vision and was unable to walk unassisted, so his mother Toni rushed him to the hospital, but tests came back negative.

When the toddler’s father Paul searched his symptoms on the Internet and found an Australian paralysis tick could be the suspected culprit, the pest was found within minutes.

“Once we found it, we were excited and thought he would be alright, and he’d just need the night to rest and then he’d be back to normal,” Toni Williams said.

However, doctors explained that patients often deteriorate over several days before they recover as the toxins dissipate in the body.

Matthew was transferred to Mater Children’s Hospital in South Brisbane, Australia, where he was sedated and put on a ventilator.

His mom told an Australian News Source that her son is

“improving, but he is not out of the woods. Every day we see more improvement, and doctors say he is doing everything according to the text book.”

Some of the diseases you can get from a tick bite are Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.

Some ticks are so small that they can be difficult to see. Ticks may get on you if you walk through areas where they live, such as tall grass, leaf litter or shrubs.

If you’ve received a tick bite:

• Remove the tick promptly and carefully. Use tweezers to grasp the tick near its head or mouth and pull gently to remove the whole tick without crushing it.
• If possible, seal the tick in a jar. Your doctor may want to see the tick if you develop signs or symptoms of illness after a tick bite.
• Use soap and water to wash your hands and the area around the tick bite after handling the tick.
• Call your doctor if you aren’t able to completely remove the tick.

See your doctor if you develop:

• A rash
• A fever
• A stiff neck
• Muscle aches
• Joint pain and inflammation
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Flu-like symptoms

If possible, bring the tick with you to your doctor’s appointment.

SOURCE
SOURCE

The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics found eight types of food account for 90 percent of these food allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat.

Reactions range from a tingling sensation around the mouth and lips, to hives and sometimes even death in the most severe cases.

Children with a food allergy are two to four times more likely than other children to have asthma and other allergies, as well.

In 2007 the report found that:

• 29 percent of children with a food allergy also had asthma, compared to 12 percent of children without food allergies.
• About 27 percent of children with a food allergy had eczema or other skin allergies, compared to 8 percent of most children
• 30 percent had respiratory allergies, compared with 9 percent of the general population under the age of 18.

Overall, 3.8 percent of boys and 4.1 percent of girls had food allergies, the NCHS found. No one knows how or why children develop food allergies.

Most children outgrow the allergy, although some remain allergic for life.

In a new video released by the Corn Refiners Association, sweetsurprise.com wants parents to know that corn syrup is OK.

Here are their facts:

• The American Medical Association (AMA) recently concluded that “high fructose corn syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners.”
• Research confirms that high fructose corn syrup is safe and no different from other common sweeteners like table sugar and honey. All three sweeteners are nutritionally the same.
• High fructose corn syrup has the same number of calories as table sugar and is equal in sweetness. It contains no artificial or synthetic ingredients.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted high fructose corn syrup “Generally Recognized as Safe” status for use in food, and reaffirmed that ruling in 1996 after thorough review.
• High fructose corn syrup offers numerous benefits. It keeps food fresh, enhances fruit and spice flavors, retains moisture in bran cereals, helps keep breakfast and energy bars moist, maintains consistent flavors in beverages and keeps ingredients evenly dispersed in condiments.

While I appreciate that the Corn Refiners would like to keep their business going, the Mayo Clinic does not agree with them.

Here are some their facts:

• While human studies is not as clear, animal studies have shown a link between increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup and adverse health effects, such as diabetes and high cholesterol
• Some nutrition experts blame increased consumption of high-fructose corn syrup for the growing obesity problem. One theory is that fructose is more readily converted to fat by your liver than is sucrose, increasing the levels of fat in your bloodstream.

What do you think? Do you believe that Hight Fructose Corn Syrup is a problem?

VIA PARENTDISH

The findings based on data from 17,017 children:

• A record 77.4% of children in this age group received the full recommended series of vaccinations
• 99% of children got all but one of the six individual vaccines in the series (the one exception was the four doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis or whooping cough vaccine, received by 84.5 percent of toddlers)
• fewer than 1 percent got no vaccines

The immunization program’s success hinges on parents’ trust in vaccine safety, CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said.

Public health officials have expressed concern in recent years that some parents fearful about vaccine safety were declining to get their children vaccinated, making them more apt to catch and spread preventable diseases.

“We really recognize that ultimately our program is dependent on trust — trust of moms and dads, trust of caretakers and trust of the clinicians, pediatricians (and) family practice professionals who take care of our children,” Gerberding told reporters in a conference call.

CDC officials have blamed this year’s largest U.S. outbreak of measles since 1997, with 135 people sickened, on lack of vaccination often due to “personal or parental beliefs.”

Related Articles:

• Australian Couple On The Run After Refusing To Vaccinate Their Baby
• Amanda Peet ‘Explains’ Parasite Comment
• Are Your Kids Vaccinations Up To Date?

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While trying to figure out how to fix both of these problems, I was introduced to ‘My First Shades’.

My First Shades was created by a mom in 2001 to encourage early eye protection and to increase awareness about the irreversible effects of UVA and UVB damage to the eyes of children.

Their sunglasses are not only cool and stylish, but they feature shatterproof and impact resistant lenses.

Because kids like a variety, My First Shades come in all shapes and styles. We have a sporty pair of NY Yankees ones and a flashy pair of green ones.

Kids aged 3-7 years can choose from an unbelievable selection that will match their style and personality. Boys who like to look cool will prefer the Infinity Shades and girls will love the ‘just for girls‘ line that features over sized printed frames in delicate flower patterns.

As soon as my son saw the bright colors of his new sunglasses – he had to put them on. We have managed to find a pair of sunglasses that are not only comfortable, but easy for him play in.

Because they are secured to his head with the neoprene band , we don’t have to worry about them flying off or going missing.

Features:

• Professional grade polycarbonate frames and lenses
• Rx Capable
• Impact resistant lenses
• No pointy temple arms or metal hinges
• Waterproof
• Rustproof

Prices range from $14.99 – $19.99

They believe that in the most extreme cases, children could be taken away from parents.

This message came after it was revealed that:

• Councils are fitting super-size cremation furnaces to cope with fat corpses
• Ambulances have fitted extra-wide stretchers and winches for obese patients
• Schools are buying bigger seats for classrooms

About 1 in 4 people in England is obese and considered so overweight that it threatens the person’s health.

LGA public health spokesman David Rogers said some councils are already taking actions “where parents are putting children’s health in real danger.

“Councils would step in to deal with an under-nourished and neglected child so should a case with a morbidly obese child be different?” he continued. “There needs to be a national debate about the extent to which it is acceptable for local authorities to take action in cases where the welfare of children is in real jeopardy.”

Last year we met 8 year-old Connor McCreaddie who weighs 218lbs. Because his weight was 3 times the weight of most children his age he was removed from his parents home so that health officials could get his health back on track.

At that time, a doctor close to the situation believed that Colin was at risk of dying before he was 30.

Related Articles:

• Three Pregnancy Foods Myths Explained
• Should Your Toddler Be Drinking Low-fat milk?
• Is Your Toddler Overweight?

SOURCE

A prominent cancer specialist in the United States is cautioning parents to limit the use of cellphones by kids to emergencies because he claims the electromagnetic energy the mobile emits likely penetrates the brain of a child more deeply than that of an adult.

That claim follows on the heels of a similar warning recently issued by Canadian experts that suggests children under 10 use land lines as much as possible and limit their chatting on mobiles to short and infrequent calls.

Dr. Ronald B. Herberman of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, along with a team of international experts, has posted a report on the university’s website urging people to take precautions in the use of cellphones.

“The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields,” said Herberman in one of the report’s recommendations.

“Do not allow children to use a cellphone except for emergencies.”

The problem is that living tissue is vulnerable to electromagnetic fields within the frequency bands used by cellphones. He argues kids have a higher absorption rate because their brains are still developing.

SOURCE

They are now saying that some babies as young as 12 months of age should be given reduced-fat (2 percent) milk instead of whole milk.

Specifically, the new recommendation states that the use of reduced-fat milk “would be appropriate” for children between 12 months and 2 years of age who are at higher-than-normal risk of becoming overweight, or have a family history of high cholesterol, obesity, or heart disease.

“Previously, the recommendation had been for children between 12 months and 2 years of age to be on whole milk,” Dr. Stephen R. Daniels noted in a telephone interview with Reuters Health. Daniels, of The Children’s Hospital in Denver, is a member of the AAP’s Committee on Nutrition that wrote the recommendation.

“The theoretical rationale for that was that children who were growing and developing may need an increased fat, and even potentially cholesterol intake, to support some development, especially neurological development,” he explained.

He continued to say that The whole milk recommendation was developed “at a time when there wasn’t the kind of concern that we have now about childhood obesity.”

It is also believed that the first cholesterol check should take place after 2 years of age but no later than age 10. If their cholesterol levels are normal, repeat testing should be performed in 3 to 5 years.

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Protect a Bub offers parents many options for sun protection including UPF 50+ Sun Protective Swimwear for Infants & Toddlers.

These swimsuits protect against 98%+ of the sun’s UVA & UVB rays. They are chlorine, sun, surf & sand resistant fabric and can be worn as short and t-shirt set.

I like that the sets come with 2 piece swim suit and a the matching hat.

Parents who prefer to have their children’s arms fully covered can now order a long sleeve swim shirt for extra protection.

Offered in 4 colour combinations, these swim sets are priced at a reasonable $24.95 – $28.95 each.

Have a child that hates wearing hats?

Protect a Bub also offers ‘Paint Your Own’ UPF50+ Sun Hat. It come with 6 non-toxic paint colors and 4 disposable brushes so that you child can customize their own beach digs.

All the hats are white, with the choice of orange, green or navy brim.

Each Kit is $24.95