K-12 Health: Preventive Care and Nutrition

We are always looking for ways to prevent problems, diseases and illnesses in our children. Below are many of the articles that we have found that focus on preventative care for children in the K-12 years. Other areas to refer to are Preventative Care and Nutrition (all ages) Safety and General Health and Medicine.

Our rating system for these Preventive Care and Nutrition articles is:

• - Best, in depth and most helpful overall
• - Very Good, but more specific in focus
• - Good reference material

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	Trauma Experts Offer Safety Tips For Young Bicyclists With the arrival of spring and warmer weather, children on bicycles will become a common sight among neighborhood sidewalks. And, fortunately, more and more communities are enacting protective helmet laws for children operating recreational equipment. Protective bicycle helmets reduce the risk of serious injury by 85 percent, and the risk of brain injury by 90 percent. This article provides guidelines for bicycle safety.
	Helping Your Overweight Child In the United States at least one child in five is overweight and the number of overweight children continues to grow. This article will help parents understand what they can do to help their overweight child.
	Back to School With Food Allergies Preparing children to start a new school year can be exciting. However, for parents of children with food allergies, that excitement is often replaced by anxiety. An estimated 7% -- or up to 2 million -- children have food allergies and are at risk for a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. To assist parents, school staff and childcare providers in preventing and providing emergency treatment for anaphylaxis, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) has released a position statement offering a series of tips and guidelines.
	Safety Calendar - A Month of Activities This great calendar has 30 things you can do to safeguard your family. We're all so busy, that we tend to postpone taking these basic steps. This calendar will help by defining discrete and often small things that you can do that could make a big difference in protecting your family. Check it out today!
	E. Coli Infections Detection and Prevention Information E. Coli is one of many diarrheal illnesses a child can contract; yet, its severity warrants special attention. This 3-part article, as part of our special area on E. Coli infections, covers these important topics: * how to help prevent E. Coli infections in your children * what to do if you think your child has E. Coli * how parents can help prevent and halt E. Coli epidemics
	Growing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide To Prevention Today the widespread use of alcohol and other drugs subjects our children, families, and communities to pressures unheard of 30 or 40 years ago. Frankly, many of us need help to deal with this frightening threat to our children's health and well-being. Recent surveys show that we are making progress in our national battle against some drugs, but more is needed. This excellent article is filled with ideas, steps and advice to help parents prevent drug use and is organized by grade level, starting at preschool and continuing on through 12th grade.
	Bone Builders: Support Your Bones with Healthy Habits Young people can reduce their risk of fractured bones later in life by gettig enough calcium-rich foods and physical activity during the preteen and teenage years.
	Child Health Guide - Put Prevention into Practice This is an outstanding 30 page guide from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that has information on preventative care and on good health habits. Use it as a permanent record to help you keep track of your child's health and care through the years. This guide contains many great growth charts, immunization tables and other quick-reference information that can help your child get a healthy start on life.
	E.Coli Infections - What Parents Should Know and Do With a recent E. Coli outbreak in the western U.S. sending many children to the hospital, and perhaps killing one toddler, we learned that many parents are not adequately informed about the dangers and issues around E. Coli infections. In this area you'll find personal stories, medical information, news articles and more to help you protect your children.
	Keep Your Holidays Happy, Healthy and Headache-Free As the holidays approach, people across the country are looking forward to the twinkling lights, festive music, sweet treats and an extra dose of family visits. But for many, these favorite holiday traditions can also bring on an unwelcome threat of headaches and for some, even a debilitating migraine headache attack. This helpful article offers advice on how to prevent or control common holiday situations that could provoke headaches.
	Eye Health Tips for Summer Fun in the Sun Sunglasses aren't just accessories for the summer, they are necessary protection for your eyes, according to the National Consumers League. Consumers know about the danger of sun exposure to the skin, but many are unaware that the sun's rays can damage the eyes. According to experts, UV-A and UV-B radiation can damage vision. Consumers can protect their eyes simply: Wear sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B.
	An "Ounce Of Prevention" Program Is Launched - Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease "An Ounce of Prevention Keeps the Germs Away. is a new program from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Reckitt and Colman, the maker of LYSOL brand products. They have formed a partnership to develop a comprehensive educational program with the ultimate goal of preventing the spread of infectious disease and reducing its death toll.
	On the Teen Scene: Dodging the Rays There is no such thing as a safe tan. Why does the body tan? Because the body is being injured by ultraviolet [UV] radiation that hits it. Regardless of your skin color, if you're going to be out in the sun, even for a short time, apply a sunscreen to all skin that will be exposed. Apply the sunscreen generously before going into the sun and reapply it often.
	Kids' Vaccinations Get a Little Easier Do you need more information about the vaccinations your child receives? And do you need a handy reference chart of when these vaccinations should be received? Then review this very helpful and informative article. The information in here will also help you during your next visit to your child's pediatrician.
	On the Teen Scene: Being a Sport with Exercise-Induced Asthma You can have Exercise-Induced Asthma even if you don't have chronic asthma. 35 to 40 percent of people with seasonal allergies also have EIA, and his symptoms are always worse during the spring and fall when gym classes are held outdoors.
	Promoting Physical Activity and Exercise among Children Physical inactivity has become a serious problem in the United States. More than half of U.S. adults do not meet recommended levels of moderate physical activity, and one-fourth engage in no leisure time physical activity at all. Inactivity is more prevalent among those with lower income and education, and, beginning in adolescence, affects females more than males . A pattern of inactivity, also known as sedentism, begins early in life, making the promotion of physical activity among children imperative. This Digest discusses the importance of and ways to foster activity and exercise in children.
	Back to School Food Safety Tips With the start of the school season,the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) offers the tips to help ensure your child consumes a safe and nutritious school lunch.
	Sizing Up Kids' Nutrition and Fitness Sound nutrition and fitness habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime. To examine how today's youth measure up in terms of diet and activity, the International Food Information Council Foundation and the International Life Sciences Institute-North America recently convened a conference, drawing on experts in pediatrics, nutrition, exercise physiology and education.
	New Data Presented at ICAAC Shows Aviron's FluMist(TM) Intranasal Influenza Vaccine Provided Protect New data from a Phase 3 efficacy trial in children shows that Aviron's FluMist(TM) intranasal influenza virus vaccine, under development, provided 100 percent protection against influenza strains included in last year's flu vaccine, and 86 percent protection against the predominant strain of influenza circulating during last year's flu season, A/Sydney.
	Lyme Disease -The Facts, The Challenge This brochure from the National Institute of Health presents information on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lyme disease, a disease spread by the bite of the deer tick. Lyme disease is still mistaken for other ailments, and it continues to pose many other challenges: it can be difficult to diagnose because of the inadequacies of today's laboratory tests; it can be troublesome to treat in its later phases; and its prevention through the development of an effective vaccine is hampered by the elusive nature of the bacterium.
	Link Between Childhood Obesity and Adult Cardiovascular Disease Two newly published studies strengthen reports of a link between childhood obesity and the increased risk of adult cardiovascular disease, according to the June American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
	Osteoporosis Prevention Urged During Childhood And Adolescence Most Americans are still unaware that osteoporosis, a debilitating disease, is a condition that may be best prevented by eating smart and exercising regularly, during childhood and adolescence - the time when bone growth is optimal.
	Winter Safety With its cold and often stormy weather, winter presents many safety challenge- both indoors and out. Being prepared and following these simple safety tips can help you stay safe and warm this season.
	Free Back-To-School Vision Checks Offered Nationwide If a student's vision doesn't meet the grade, his or her performance in school may not be a true indicator of academic capabilities. This article describes the value of eye exams and includes a good list of signs of possible eye trouble in children, provided by Prevent Blindness America.
	Parents Play Key Role in Minimizing Impact of Children's Allergies Pediatric allergies are a chronic disease affecting more than 20 percent of school-age children and must be diagnosed early and treated properly. Parents must take a proactive role in identifying their child's allergy symptoms and in seeking proper treatment. By doing so, parents can ensure a child's physical symptoms are properly managed and quality of life is restored.
	Frequently Asked Questions About Raw Apple/Juice Cider Contamination Raw apple juice is a potential source of the deadly E.coli bacteria. This set of frequently asked questions provides answers to many questions that parents have about the safety of apple juice products and what should be done to prevent future outbreaks.
	Going Back To School Can Be Hazardous To Teeth This article offers many tips and suggestions to help protect your child's teeth from injury when they are at school or at home.
	Families Frying Together: Sunbathing Habits of Parents and Children Gone are the days when we send children outside to play to get a little color in their cheeks. We know too much about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure to hazard the development of skin cancer in our children. Or do we?
	A Guide to Youth Smoking Prevention Policies and Programs This Parent Guide from the ERIC Clearinghouse on Urban Education provides many policies, programs, and practices for schools, communities, and families to combat youth smoking. Specific points which are important to include in anti-smoking education campaigns are also provided.
	Time for Kids' Eye Exams When children are back at school, vision problems may become more apparent than when the children are enjoying their summer vacation. Parents should realize that not all vision problems are readily apparent. This article will help parents to understand the wide range of symptoms and issues for vision related problems.
	Tips to Help Families Achieve Optimal Oral Health Periodontal disease is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults, and prevention begins in childhood. This helpful article from the American Academy of Periodontology offers good advice on how to prevent periodontal diseases in children.
	Managing Obesity and Cholesterol in Kids If you are concerned about your child's weight, you are in good company. This article states: "Childhood obesity is a serious problem. ... About 25 to 30 percent of school-age children in the United States are overweight or obese, which puts them at a high risk for heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma, orthopedic problems, hypertension and other health problems."
	Careful Shopping Prevents Foot Problems Shoes that look "cool" will be on the top of many kids' back-to-school shopping lists, but parents should look beyond fashion to find shoes with proper fit and support while being aware of the warning signs of common foot problems, according to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS).
	Antibacterial Products May Worsen Problem of Resistant Bacteria In a paper published in the April 16 Journal of Biological Chemistry, Charles O. Rock, Ph.D., and Richard J. Heath, Ph.D., researchers in the biochemistry department at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, find that the use of antibacterial products may actually make drug-resistant strains of bacteria more prevalent.
	Parent's Back-to-School List Should Include Health Check-Up for Kids Every parent's back-to-school list should include more than just pencils and paper. Parents also need to think about well-child exams, immunizations, exercise, and an emphasis on eating right.
	Those With Asthma: Take Precautions During High Ozone Days To many Americans, concern over depletion of the ozone layer may seem to conflict with the weatherman's warning about high ozone on humid days. This confusion arises because ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it is. Excess ozone at ground level can be extremely detrimental. This is of particular concern to the 15 million adults and children who have asthma.
	Health Travel Tips for Spring-Break March is the month when the most serious cases of cabin fever strike adults and college-students alike. A few basic tips can help keep travelers healthy while on vacation.
	FDA Approves Serevent Diskus for Use in Children With Asthma Ages Four and Up Two out of three children with asthma under 12 years of age have difficulty controlling their symptoms. Asthma can cause children to awaken at night with nocturnal symptoms (e.g., coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness) and it can cause exercise-induced bronchospasm during physical exertion or exercise. Both conditions may require frequent use of short- acting medicine to control asthma symptoms. Serevent Diskus, FDA approved, is now available with long-acting, inhaled bronchodilator that helps provide long-term, 12-hour control of asthma symptoms and is available in an easy-to-use, breath-activated, dry powder delivery device.
	A Little Effort Goes A Long Way to Keep Asthma Patients Healthy Children treated for acute asthma attacks who went home to parents who smoke stayed healthier if care givers made regular follow up calls to check on measures to reduce the children's exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), according to a study by the Pulmonary Division at Children's Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle, Wash.
	Young Adults Aren't Getting Enough Fiber Teenagers and young adults fail to eat enough fiber each day to help ward off diseases and chronic illnesses. This article provides an age-related guide for the amount of fiber your child needs to eat daily. Research shows that children who meet this guideline have improved laxation, are better able to manage their weight, and reduce their risk of illnesses such as hypercholesterolemia.
	Breakfast: Waking Up to a Healthy Start Breakfast always will be an important meal of the day - one that should be consumed by people of any age. But despite these recommendations, millions of Americans routinely skip breakfast. Studies show that eating habits developed during childhood have the potential to last a lifetime. Thus children who tend to omit breakfast most likely will continue this dietary habit well into adulthood.
	Check Your Child's Vision Every Two Years With children heading back to school, the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that school age children have a complete medical eye exam by their fourth birthday, and routine eye exams approximately every two years thereafter. This article also includes a question and answer section about learning disabilities, addressing issues that parents raise about eye problems and learning disabilities.
	Childhood Obesity Between 5-25 percent of children and teenagers in the United States are obese (Dietz, 1983). As with adults, the prevalence of obesity in the young varies by ethnic group. This article talks about the definition, problems, prevention, and treatment of obese children.
	Beverages Play Important Role in Child Nutrition Obesity in children may have as much to do with what kids drink as it does with what they eat, a new report by The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center's Nutrition Information Center finds. This report urges a reduction in soft-drink consumption and an increase in healthier, water-based beverages.
	Alternatives to drug therapy for ADD and Autistic-like behaviors In this article, by the Feingold Association, you'll learn about non-drug alternatives, including a dietary program, to help children with ADD.
	Read It Before You Eat It! Do you understand the new food labels? This article will help you read and understand the information that is now required on the packaged food we buy.
	Moms and Daughters Reach For the Fridge For Healthier Bones Researchers from Oregon State University in Corvallis found that a mother's strong milk-drinking practice can positively influence her daughter's milk consumption. Drinking milk and a diet rich in calcium may help reduce the future risk of osteoporosis.
	Children Without Cavities: A Growing Trend The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) reports that a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) indicates the number of school-aged children without cavities permanent teeth has doubled in the past two decades.
	Overview of ADA, IDEA, and Section 504 This article gives a general overview of Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. It also contains a list of information lines and resources availale to the public.
	Considering Orthodontics? Here Are Some Things to Think About This is brief overview article outlining key points and issues regarding orthordontics, including cost, finding an orthodontist and when to have your child's teeth examined. This article is appropriate if you are just beginning to consider orthodontics for your child.
	An Open Letter To The Unpasteurized Apple Juice/Cider Industry To protect your child from potential poisoning by E. coli O157:H7 this fall, read this letter. We suggest that you read this letter and send it to other parents, parent groups and organizations that will find it valuable.
	Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins Approximately 85 percent of the population will develop an allergic reaction if exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Here's some information and tips from the FDA about how to identify and avoid poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, and how to treat the rash if you are exposed.
	General Information about Visual Impairments This article from the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY) describes the characteristics and educational implications of visual impairments, including partially sighted, low vision, legally blind, and totally blind impairments. A good list of additional resources is also included.
	Helping Children Eat Right Susan L. Johnson, Ph.D., is a post-doctoral fellow with the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. For the last 10 years, she has designed and conducted research on the relationship of nutrition and behavior, with a focus on the regulation of energy intake in preschool-age children. Here, Johnson focuses on the issues of parental influence on children's eating habits and the development of childhood obesity.
	Advertising, Nutrition and Kids CARU and IFIC have prepared this guide to provide parents with information and strategies to help you and your children evaluate food advertising, make informed decisions and create a healthy balance of food and nutrition choices that are right for your family.
	Tips to Help Children Who Suffer Car Sickness Car sickness has as much to do with the body's own sensory overload as it does with the motion of the car. While the brain is telling the body "we're moving," your actions -- like reading a book -- may be feeding the brain an entirely different message.
	Look Beyond the Obvious for Telltale Signs of Child Abuse The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the face offers the most telling glimpse behind the closed doors of child abuse. In a comprehensive study of 371 children who were suspected of being abused, injuries to the head and face accounted for 28% of 892 soft-tissue injuries.
	Number Of Children Without Cavities Doubles In Two Decades The number of school-aged children without cavities in their permanent teeth has doubled in the past two decades, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
	American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Offers Advice to Seasonal Allergy Sufferers Allergy sufferers throughout the United States are now experiencing the itchy and watery eyes, nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, drowsiness, sneezes, and overall miserableness that accompanies fall allergy season. In response, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) wants to inform the public on seasonal allergic disease triggers, offer advice on allergy relief and remind them to take their allergies seriously.
	Parents Confuse Fruit 'Drinks' With the Real Thing Summertime, and the weather is hot. But instead of serving their children 100 percent fruit juice, a healthy drink to quench their thirst, many parents are giving their kids fruit drinks, ades or even "bug juice." Blame it on El Nino? Maybe the weather, but not the choice of thirst-quenchers.
	Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine Proves Effective in Children A new type of influenza vaccine given in a nasal spray is very effective at preventing the flu in healthy young children, according to results from a large multicenter study supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the biopharmaceutical company Aviron.
	Research Shows School Breakfast Program May Improve Behavior and Performance The kickoff of National School Breakfast Week and National Nutrition Month received extra impetus today with a series of studies from the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard Medical School, which document the negative effects of hunger in U.S. children and show a link between participating in the National School Breakfast Program and improved academic performance and psychosocial behavior in children.
	National Campaign to Educate Children about Sun Safety Launched To educate children about the importance of sun safety, the American Academy of Dermatology and Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc., the maker of the Coppertone(R) brand, have partnered to initiate a multi-year national sun safety educational campaign.
	Dehydration and Kids: A Fluid Situation Severe dehydration can lead to heat illness, heat stroke and even death. With record high temperatures predicted for much of the country this summer, it's best to think about the dangers of dehydration to active children before it happens.
	Anna's Story A mother recounts her child Anna's brush with the bacteria e. coli that caused Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), "a disease that affects the kidneys and other organs. It poses a threat...as one of the leading causes of both acute and chronic kidney failure."
	New Study Finds Fortified Foods Are Significant Contributors of Vitamins According to a new National Cancer Institute (NCI) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) study published in the October issue of Pediatrics, fortified foods contribute significant amounts of vitamins and minerals to US children's diets. Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, researchers found that ready-to-eat cereal is among the top sources of folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and zinc among children 2-18 years old.
	Make Halloween a Treat for Your Child's Health Fun and creative ways to protect your child's bewitching smile and encourage good dental-care habits this Halloween.
	Blue Care Network Offers Advice on Seasonal Viruses "We all need to remember to take care of ourselves during the holidays," said Dr. Rice recently. "Good lifestyle habits can pay off in avoiding illnesses." Dr. Rice offers these tips on how to stay healthy during the cold and flu season.
	Unscientific Sugar Myths Bedevil Parents on Halloween: Haunt the World Wide Web to get Sugar Facts Children delight in the make-believe of Halloween. Unfortunately the season also reawakens ghouls who spoil the fun by frightening parents with misleading sugar myths laid to rest by science. In fact, the federal government and other policy groups have thoroughly investigated the health and nutrition aspects of sugar and concluded that it can be safely consumed in moderation by healthy people.
	American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Nutrition The real challenge for parents is not simply being aware of the right foods to feed their children, it's getting the children to eat those foods. "The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Nutrition: Making Peace at the Table and Building Healthy Eating Habits for Life," is an essential resource that gives parents all the information and strategies they need to take care of the dietary requirements of children, from birth through adolescence.