26 February 2020
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Countering a U.S. government advisory, a new study suggests that adults may not need regular booster shots for tetanus and diphtheria if they received a complete vaccination series as children.
Researchers compared data gathered from millions of people in 31 countries in North America and Europe between 2001 and 2016. They found no significant differences in rates of the two diseases between countries that require adults to receive booster shots and those that don't.
However, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends that all adults receive booster shots every 10 years.
The new findings mesh with the World Health Organization's recent recommendation to only...
25 February 2020
TUESDAY, Feb. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- By the time he was 7 months old, John Michael Crawford had been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called tuberous sclerosis, associated with a high risk of developmental delays, including autism.
Early intervention programs are believed to help reduce that risk, but these time- and labor-intensive therapies often aren't available in areas of the United States that aren't close to large medical centers.
The Crawfords, from Benton, Ark., live in such an area.
"There are plenty of families who live in places without access to specialists. It's overwhelming when you get the diagnosis, especially when you can't find specialists that can answer questions and teach you," said John Michael's father, Brandon Crawford.
An ongoing trial for a...
15 February 2020
SATURDAY, Feb. 15, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Sledding, skiing and ice skating are big fun in the winter, but can lead to big injuries, too.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reminds parents to take steps to help their kids avoid injury and make sure they're dressed appropriately for the cold weather.
"This is the time of year when we see people return from winter break vacations with knee injuries from skiing, and hand or wrist injuries from snowboarding. We also see concussions from both these sports," said Dr. Rebecca Carl of the AAP Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness.
"Helmets are important for skiing and snowboarding," Carl said in an academy news release. "Gloves with wrist guards are important for snowboarding."
The AAP offers this advice for outdoor winter...
14 February 2020
THURSDAY, Feb. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) -- Scientists say that 90% of dengue cases could be slashed by artificially infecting mosquitoes.
Dengue viruses are spread to people by infected mosquitoes. But infecting the insects with Wolbachia bacteria blocks the dengue virus from replicating in mosquitoes and being transmitted between people, the international researchers said in a new study.
Wolbachia is found naturally in about 60% of insect species, including some mosquitoes, butterflies and moths.
"Dengue is a leading cause of illness and death among children across the globe," said study lead author Lorenzo Cattarino, of MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London.
The team of scientists created the first worldwide map of dengue transmission...