Pediatrics

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A study carried out by University of New South Wales researchers showed that if fathers and grandfathers ate a high fat diet and were obese, their grandsons were more likely to be overweight. Research conducted on rats, led by Professor Margaret Morris, found that sons and grandsons of fat fathers had worse outcomes than those […]

“Yuta was breech (in a bottom-first, not head-first position),” Kyoko says. “The doctors tried to turn him around so I didn’t need a caesarean, and discovered the growth.” Kyoko couldn’t believe the diagnosis, “I was like … whaaat? My son has what?! The ultrasound looked perfect, and I couldn’t believe he could be sick.” To […]

A study by Australia’s Bond University in conjunction with scientists in the Netherlands found that there was a significant risk of “over-diagnosis” and therefore over-medication. Researchers said the wider classification of symptoms for ADHD – attention deficit hyperactive disorder – in the psychiatric manual used in the profession has led to a steep rise in […]

Girls aged 12 to 15 have the highest rate of chlamydia among females, a new study will reveal. More than one in eight girls in this age group tested positive for the sexually transmissible infection (STI) — which is a higher rate than seen in older teens or young women. The shock finding — to […]

To some people, Katrina Abianac’s eight-month-old son Parker is just another Down syndrome baby but to her, he’s a beautiful little boy who just happens to have Down syndrome. It’s a small but significant distinction Katrina wishes more people understood. My world spun and clicked when I was told my baby son had Down Syndrome. […]

More than 100 children with hand, foot and mouth disease were taken to NSW hospitals by worried parents in the latest fortnightly surveillance report. However, NSW Health says the worst of the deadly enterovirus 71 (EV71) outbreak is likely to be over. While the number of children being admitted to hospitals with severe neurological complications […]

Hospitals in Australia’s capital have been ordered to establish an enhanced surveillance program following the outbreak of a dangerous childhood virus in NSW. A nasty strain of enterovirus 71 (EV71) is believed to have killed four young children and put more than 100 in hospital with complications like meningitis and encephalitis (brain swelling) in NSW. […]

Exposure to traffic fumes and air pollution can double a mother’s risk of giving birth to a child with autism, a new study has found. Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that contaminants in the air, particularly diesel and mercury, dramatically affect the chance of a child being born with an autism […]

The number of children being hospitalised with the most severe symptoms of a dangerous virus, blamed for four deaths in a current NSW epidemic, has increased in latest weekly data. NSW Health surveillance data reveals eight children diagnosed with meningitis or encephalitis (brain swelling) — among neurological complications of enterovirus 71 (EV71) — were admitted […]

Children who spend a lot of time in front of the television are more likely to consume unhealthy soft drinks leading to obesity and health problems like diabetes. A study by the University of Gothenburg found that for every hour children sit staring at the screen, they are 50 per cent more likely to consume […]

The deaths of three young children believed to have been infected with a dangerous strain of a virus sweeping through childcare centres are being investigated by the NSW Coroner’s Office. Enterovirus 71 is being blamed for hospitalising at least 36 children with severe neurological symptoms, including meningitis, inflammation of the brain and muscle paralysis. Five […]

It was the last weekend of the school holidays in January 2012 when Susan McCubben noticed small bruises appearing on her eight-year-old daughter’s arms and legs. Zoe was an active girl, always upside down, turning cartwheels or doing somersaults on the trampoline and small bruises were quite common, but every minor knock or bump resulted […]

Half of Australians who oppose childhood vaccination get their information from the internet, while most supporters trust the advice of their GP. The finding, which emerged from the first national survey on our attitudes to vaccination, has sparked calls from medical experts for scientific evidence supporting childhood jabs to be made more accessible and user-friendly […]

They can’t read or write but four-year-old kids have already learnt to hate fat people. A Leeds University study found that children are overtly prejudiced against overweight people by the time they start kindergarten. Researchers showed 126 boys and girls aged four to six three versions of a specially-created story book. The story was exactly […]

Australian children are now so fat doctors are removing their tonsils so they can breathe. A shocking report in today’s Daily Telegraph revealed the toll the obesity epidemic is having on our children’s health. Westmead Children’s Hospital’s paediatric obesity specialist Dr Shirley Alexander said he had treated kids as young as 18 months, while some […]

A computer game that simulates the daily struggles of children who have autism has been released. The game — called “Auti-Sim” — mimics the symptoms of hypersensitivity that many people with autism experience, including blurred vision, people’s faces becoming distorted and noise rising to painful levels. It puts the user in the position of a […]

The children of obese mothers are far more likely to develop diabetes than those with thinner mums. An international study led by Dr Matt Sabin from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute in Melbourne has found that a mother’s body mass index (BMI) can be used to predict whether a child will develop type 2 diabetes. […]

A new study of Australian children has found that almost 20 percent of kids are overweight or obese by the time they start school. The study of more than 1200 children aged up to five conducted by the University of Sydney found that the biggest factor contributing to children’s shocking weight gain was their home […]

Already one of the most common chronic disorder affecting young girls, eating disorders are starting to strike at a younger age with children as young as seven being admitted to hospital for treatment. Data from the UK shows that more than 50 under ten-year-olds were admitted to hospital with eating disorders in the past year, […]

Ruby Ernest is just four years old, but she has already spent many long nights in hospital, struggling to breathe as the inoperable tumour in her lung swells. Six months after doctors told Ruby’s family that there was nothing they could do, help came from an unexpected place: a packet of tiny blue pills traditionally […]

Don’t text and drive — we know this much. But has anyone considered the dangers of mobile-distraction while supervising children? The answer is yes, doctors have, and they’re concerned. The perils of texting while parenting have been uncovered in data released by the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suggesting that a 12 percent […]

Teens who get less sleep are more likely to develop heart problems later in life, a new study has found. Researchers found that of the 4,100 teenagers studied, the third with the poorest sleep quality were more likely to be overweight or have unhealthy blood pressure or cholesterol levels. Related: One in five kids overweight […]

US health experts are calling for a ban on backyard trampolines because they are too dangerous and cause an excessive number of injuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that netting and other safety equipment does not reduce injury. In 2009 there were almost 98,000 trampoline-related injuries in the US which resulted in 3,100 […]

A popular inhaled drug used to treat asthma makes children shorter, a new study has found. Budesonide, marketed in Australia as Rhinocort and Pulmicort, stunts children’s growth, cutting about 1.2cm off their height permanently. Related: Formula feeding ‘like AIDS’, mums told The new research is based on a previous study, which showed that budesonide was […]

Why is the number of children with autism doubling every five years? For Louise Milligan, the quest for an answer is deeply personal. There is no other way to describe the feeling, except to say I felt I had been shot. We were sitting in a psychologist’s office, being told that our son, our delicious […]

Most children in NSW struggle with basic movements like throwing, running and jumping because they spend too much time indoors, a landmark study has found. More than 90 percent of year two students surveyed did not have the basic motor skills expected of their age group. Though seven-year-old children should have mastered a basic sprint, […]

It is easy to criticise the parents of overweight children, but would you know what to do if your child was obese? It’s not as simple as cutting out the junk food, as childhood obesity expert Dr Matt Sabin explains. Sabin, who runs an obesity clinic at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, says putting an overweight […]

A mother whose son was born without eyes due to an extreme form of cleft palate has made an emotional video tribute to the baby, saying he is the love of her life. Lacey Buchanan’s one-year-old son Christian was born with Tessier cleft, a rare condition that saw him born without a palate or eyes. […]

The Australian Dental Association have cited a current ‘epidemic’ of child tooth decay in Australia. In a recent study, it was found that 48 percent of children suffered from untreated tooth decay, but only 10 percent had seen a dentist. This means that almost half of Australian children under the age of four are suffering […]

Researchers at the University of Sydney have come up with yet another reason for you to ban your kids from drinking soft drinks — it’s bad for their hearts. The study of 2000 12-year-olds found that children who consumed one or more fizzy drinks a day were at greater risk of developing heart disease later […]

As a feisty 16-year-old, Cassi van den Dungen earned the runner-up title on Australia’s Next Top Model — and notoriety after turning down a New York modelling contract. Three years on, Cassi talks for the first time about the arrival of her son, Drake, and why his cleft palate doesn’t make him any less perfect. […]

Here are our favourite safe and easy home remedies, tips and techniques for the bumps, bruises, scratches and sniffles that come with childhood. Chickenpox: Ease the itch by letting your child soak in a lukewarm bath for 15 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of bicarbonate of soda or colloidal oatmeal (such as Aveeno, from pharmacies) to […]

Vegetables can be a battleground when it comes to children — from adopting an “all white” diet, to refusing to eat all things green, to “it tastes yucky”. Fussy eating is one of the first ways children can assert their independence, but it can make dinnertime highly stressful. So how can you get children eating […]

For many parents, getting kids out of bed and ready for school is a daily battle, but new research suggests tired children aren’t just being lazy — they could have chronic fatigue syndrome. Researchers at Bristol University in the UK found that many children who were too tired to go to school had the condition. […]

As we get lost in the hustle bustle of life it can be difficult to get together as a family to eat meals, especially as children get older and have activities that keep them busy. But the importance of family meal time should not be underestimated, with studies showing that regularly eating meals at the […]

US mum Christie Haskell has treated her son’s hyper activity with a controversial treatment — two cups of coffee a day. Although her son Rowan has not been officially diagnosed with ADHD, Christie says she wants to steer clear of prescription medication treatment like Ritalin. So, she went online to look for an alternative and […]

Overprotective parents are raising a generation of anti-social, obese and excessively cautious children, experts have claimed. Two parenting experts discussed the impact of ‘hovering helicopter parents’ in an article in the American Journal of Play. The claim that today’s children have virtually no opportunity for unsupervised ‘free play’, leaving them prone to obesity, poor physical […]

The author of a controversial children’s diet book which targets children as young as four-years-old, is “amazed” by the outrage it has provoked. Paul Kramer, the author of Maggie Goes on a Diet, has defended his independently published book about a heavily overweight 14-year-old girl who becomes a school football star after losing weight. Kramer […]

A child that prefers broccoli to ice cream might seem like a biological impossibility but scientists think it could be as simple as getting pregnant women to eat more vegetables themselves. A new study published in Pediatrics found that babies can develop a taste for healthy foods in the womb. Researchers from Philadelphia’s Monell Chemical […]

A toy that allows children to simulate breastfeeding is causing controversy ahead of its US launch this week. The Breast Milk Baby, manufactured by Spanish toy company Berjuan, was originally called Bebe Gloton which translates to “greedy baby.” Aimed at little girls, the baby doll is programmed to make sucking sounds and motions when it […]

McDonald’s in the US is setting out to make their Happy Meal range for children healthier by cutting portion sizes and adding fruit. The fast-food chain has made an executive announcement to ditch the extra calories starting in September by cutting the size of the French fries portion and making the optional apple “dippers” part […]

It is no secret that Australia has an obesity problem, having pipped the US to become the world’s fattest nation in 2008. But many people would be shocked to discover that severely obese children are being admitted to hospital at an alarming rate. In pictures: How to lose kilos without noticing Victoria’s Royal Children’s Hospital […]

Children as young as two are being prescribed anti-depressants. Elizabeth Burke looks at the arguments for and against medicating sad children. When anti-depressant drugs like Prozac and Zoloft became mainstream in the late 90s there was outcry against the desensitisation of people, a loss of dealing with human issues without drugging and sedating, and of […]

A US woman provoked outrage across the world last week when she admitted to injecting her eight-year-old daughter with Botox on national television. Kerry Campbell was unrepentant in the interview, claiming her daughter Britney had asked for the anti-wrinkle injections to boost her confidence in child beauty pageants. ”It’s a tough world in the pageant […]

Across Australia, children’s waistlines are steadily expanding as intake of fast food and soft drinks because increasingly normal. With a host of unhealthy options available at almost every school canteen, here are some guidelines to help you ensure your children are eating a balanced diet. In pictures: Gym habits that are holding you back A […]

A study has found children could be inheriting emotional eating patterns from their parents. Emotional eating was defined in the International Journal of Eating Disorders as “eating in response to a range of negative emotions … or to cope with a negative effect”. It occurs even if we aren’t hungry. In adults, emotional eating is […]

When Julie Hawkins’ third child was born, she and her husband thought they had “struck gold”. Unlike her two older siblings, baby Sarah was quiet, laid-back and had no problem sleeping for hours on end. But as their “perfect child” started to grow up, Julie began to notice that something might be wrong. In pictures: […]

Children with ADHD should be placed on special diets to identify foods that may trigger disruptive behaviour before behaviour-changing drugs are considered, Dutch researchers have recommended. Researchers from the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands found that significant improvements were found when children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were given a controlled […]

A US study has found that teenagers diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are far more likely to have suicidal tendencies compared to other teens. The University of Maryland research team surveyed 248 young people aged nine to 18 years, of whom half had been diagnosed with ADHD as young children, the UK’s Daily […]

A new Australian study had found that almost half of school-aged children are snacking on sugar- and fat-laden foods after school. The CSIRO Preventative Health Flagship report, commissioned by Unilever Australia, found that almost half of Australian children, aged five to eight, consume biscuits, pastries and cakes in the after-school period, while 17 percent snack […]

My daughter – Jade – is 5 years old and is starting to get invited over for sleepovers by her school-friends. She has a very good circle of friends at school and she desperately wants to spend as much time with them as possible. The problem is that I’m paranoid and maybe a little overprotective. […]

It’s long been known that certain chemicals found in everyday products can be harmful to humans so new research confirming the link between pesticides and ill-health will not come as a shock to many. However, the alarming factor here is that the ill effects can be caused by exposure as early as foetal development, prompting […]

A study from the University of Montreal, published in the Journal of Personality, gives weight to the growing body of evidence suggesting parents do their children a disservice by monitoring their leisure activities too closely — or ‘helicoptering’, as this style of over-zealous parenting has become known as. The study examined the behaviour of both […]

A million-dollar wardrobe, an adult attitude and a diva lifestyle … and she’s only four. Daddy knows his little girl rules the roost but wouldn’t change a thing. She has a wardrobe worth more than most people earn in their lifetime, is used to telling adults what to do, and is rarely challenged about her […]

Western Australia’s Nicky Freeman may hold the secret to eternal youth, but his mum tells John Parrish the secret to happiness is just as important. He’s a 40-year-old who looks and acts like a 10-year-old, but man-child Nicky Freeman could help unlock the secrets of near-eternal youth. Nicky has a virtually unknown condition that sees […]

Kerry Katona talks for the first time about her ex-husband Brian McFadden, his lack of involvement with their two children and his relationship with Delta Goodrem. Louise Gannon reports. Brian McFadden is riding high on a new wave of success with his judging role on Australia’s Got Talent, but according to his ex-wife, former British […]

Conjoined twins Emma and Taylor Bailey’s parents face an agonising decision about their future. Isabel Jensen reports. When Emma and Taylor Bailey blew out the candles on their third birthday cake a few months ago, their mother Mandy was close to tears. Her twin girls had defied doctors who said they wouldn’t survive. But while […]

As parents there are various ways you can have a positive impact on your children’s long-term eating behaviours. We’ve come up with some key ways in which you can help establish healthy habits for life. We’d also love to hear any tips you may have. Set an example. As parents, you will need to set […]

Life expectancy of children could be cut by up to two years if current levels of obesity and weight issues continue, according to the National Preventative Health Taskforce Discussion Paper released by Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing. And results of the recent National Children’s Survey show that most kids are not eating enough […]

Karyn and Richard Shine wish to make a personal plea to Aussie parents who smoke. “Please don’t smoke near your kids. It’s not fair. You have taken up the habit, but your children haven’t. “If you light up near them, they breathe the smoke as well. You’re putting their health at risk because you choose […]

If you feel as though you need to be a professional negotiator and full time chef just to get through dinner time with your kids, you’re not alone. Getting your kids to eat what you’ve made is a common struggle amongst parents. And, doing it with little fuss or complaint seems to be equally as […]

Growing fears about allergies are fuelling schools and kindergartens to ban parents from bringing in birthday cakes and other party treats to celebrate their children’s birthdays. Gone are the days when you could send your child off with a tray of cupcakes to share with their classmates as parents are being told that it is […]

Sitting your kids down in front of the television could be more harmful than you think, new research shows. Children who watch more than two hours of television a day have twice as much chance of developing asthma as those who watch less than this. This new research conducted by the Medical Research Council in […]

Although pollen from trees may pose a problem for children with asthma, a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health claims trees actually reduce asthma rates. Columbia University researchers found asthma incidence in children aged 4-5 years fell by nearly 30% for every extra 343 trees planted per square kilometre. There were also […]

With so much focus being turned onto childhood obesity recently, you're not the first parent, grandparent, or nanny taking a second look at the habits of the little ones' in your care. The best place to start is with a review of how much physical activity and screen time they're getting each day. And at least one hour of exercise and no more than two hours in front of the TV should be your aim. If you're stuck for ideas to get kids turned on to a more active lifestyle, check out my top tips below:

With so much focus being turned onto childhood obesity recently, you’re not the first parent, grandparent, or nanny taking a second look at the habits of the little ones’ in your care. The best place to start is with a review of how much physical activity and screen time they’re getting each day. And at […]

In days gone by children used to walk miles and miles to school and back each day, often without shoes! And perhaps in your childhood you walked or biked to school alone or with your neighbours and siblings. But in today’s busy world it’s not so common. Kids still love to ride bikes and a […]