Preschoolers: Health Preventive Care and Nutrition Articles

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 and nutrition for preschool children. Other areas to refer to are Preschool Health and Medicine , General Health and Medicine and Preschool - Disabilities.

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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	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.
	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
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	2000 Childhood Immunization Schedule The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced the 2000 childhood immunization schedule, which includes changes made during the last year that ensure vaccinations for the Nation's children remain safe and effective.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Nutrition and Foods Brought from Home - The ABCs of Safe and Healthy Child Care Parents and childcare providers must know the proper food safety, nutrition and food handling guidlelines. This will ensure that children in a childcare enviroment will have safe food and will receive proper nutrition.
	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.
	USDA Unveils Food Guide Pyramid For Young Children The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) new Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children has been released. This "children's pyramid" is an adaptation of the original Food Guide Pyramid released in 1992, and is targeted to children ages two to six.
	The Fright of the Iguana: Pet Reptiles Pose Risk of Salmonella Infection for Their Owners Iguanas and other reptiles are very popular pets, but these reptiles carry salmonella bacteria, which can infect owners that don't practice scrupulous hygiene. Many parents do not know that owning an iguana puts their children at risk for salmonella infection.
	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.
	Top Ten Tips for Keeping Your Children Safe Under the Sun This article has "Top Ten Tips" on keeping children safe from the sun during summer months.
	Your Child's Check-up Doctor visits are part of every child's life, but they may be uncomfortable and frightening for children, and difficult for their parents. This article, provided by Lucile Packard Children's Health Services, has suggestions to make them easier for both you and your child.
	Diarrheal Diseases in the Child Care Setting Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of different germs, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. However, children can sometimes have diarrhea without having an infection, such as when diarrhea is caused by food allergies or as a result of taking medicines such as antibiotics. This article is a good overview of this problem and how its spread can be controlled in a child-care environment.
	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
	Escherichia (E.) coli In The Child Care Setting Escherichia (E.) coli bacteria are found in the digestive tracts of most humans and many animals. Usually, these infections are harmless and may even be beneficial. Not all E. coli are alike and, in a few cases, illness may result from infection with particular strains. One strain, E. coli O157:H7, causes one of the most serious digestive tract infections in the United States.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Autism Not Linked to Immunization: Debunking the Myth In response to a U.S. House Government Reform Committee hearing on autism, PKIDs voices its support for more resources for autism research and stresses that there is no scientific evidence linking autism to immunization.
	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.
	The Hazards of Raw Apple Juice/Cider Raw apple beverages have been identified as a repeated source of bacterial contamination that has killed and maimed children in over five states. Children, seniors, the immune impaired and pregnant women are advised to drink only pasteurized apple juice/cider.
	NFID Experts Urge Wide Use of New Childhood Vaccine Schedule The U.S. Public Health Service joined with pediatricians to praise the new 1997 childhood immunization schedule for giving pediatricians and parents more choices when selecting vaccines, without compromising safety and efficacy. Details of the new schedule -- and reasons for the changes -- were discussed at a press conference sponsored by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID).
	Snack Smart For Healthy Teeth Sugary snacks taste so good-but they aren't so good for your teeth or your body. The candies, cakes, cookies, and other sugary foods that kids love to eat between meals can cause tooth decay. Some sugary foods have a lot of fat in them too. Here's a very informative summary for parents about this important issue.
	Kids Aren't Just Small Adults: Medicines and Children Today's nonprescription, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are safe and effective treatments. And they are serious medicines--no less so for children than adults.With that in mind, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), working with manufacturers of OTC drugs, developed this article with important advice for parents.
	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.
	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.
	Exercise and a Balanced Diet Are Best Tools to Fight Childhood Obesity Pediatric obesity and nutrition experts today said that increasing physical activity and emphasizing eating a wide variety of foods, for a high fiber and low fat diet, are the most important steps parents should take in preventing childhood obesity. The comments were made as part of a national conference on pediatric obesity sponsored by the Georgetown University's Center for Food and Nutrition policy.
	Early Childhood Violence Prevention This Digest focuses on preventing violence in children's lives and suggests ways caregivers, parents, and teachers can reduce the damaging effects of violence.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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?
	When It Comes to Food, Do Children Want What They Can't Have? A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that restricting children's access to foods they want may lead to over-indulgence when they are free to make their own choices.
	Healthy eating from the start: Nutrition education for young children Early experiences with food have a strong impact on the future eating habits and health of young children, and the best time to teach good dietary habits is during the early years.
	Thumb Sucking -- Stop It Early... Helpful hints on how to help children avoid permanent structural dental problems resulting from thumb-sucking.
	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.
	Ten Common Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing Beverages When it comes to choosing a healthy diet for their children, many parents don't realize the important role that beverages play. For example, while most parents realize that milk is a healthful drink there is still confusion about other beverage choices, particularly the differences between 100% fruit juice (the type of juice pediatricians recommend) and juice drinks.
	AMA Offers Strong Support of Childhood Immunizations "The American Medical Association joins the American Academy of Pediatrics and U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher in strong support of childhood immunizations. In a statement submitted today to the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform, we noted that if a parent chooses not to have their child immunized, it not only puts that child at increased risk for disease -- but the entire community as well.
	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.
	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).
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Born to Fly: Kids, Gymnastics, and the Will to Win Countless children risk serious, long-term injury every day as a result of strenuous gymnastics training, according to an article in the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association (JACA). JACA explains that gymnastics holds more potential for lasting injuries than sports such as football, rugby, and soccer, among others, in part because it is the only sport that uses the upper extremities as weight-bearing limbs. And if not properly treated, these injuries can cause a lifetime of trouble.
	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."
	Basic Health And Hygiene Tips For Child Care Children in child care centers average six to eight upper respiratory illnesses and about four gastrointestinal illnesses each year. A key challenge for child care administrators is minimizing the spread of germs which are transmitted most commonly and easily by contact with dirty hands. This article provides basic health and hygiene tips to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
	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.
	Testing Your Child's Hearing This article states that from the day of birth, an infant's hearing ability can be accurately tested and if you think your child has the slightest hearing or speech problem, have your child's hearing examined. A loss of hearing can result in developmental delays and missed learning experiences.
	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.
	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.
	Campylobacter Infections in the Child Care Setting Campylobacter infections are caused by a group of bacteria which are found in many different birds and mammals. While we once thought that this group only caused infections in other animals, we now know that the campylobacteria are responsible for a number of diseases, including diarrheal illness, in humans.
	Parents Ask for Collaborative Investigation Into Role Of Vaccinesin Autism Epidemic The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) and the Autism Research Institute (ARI) are calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to launch a public-private collaborative effort to investigate the possible relationship between vaccines and an autism epidemic.
	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.
	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.
	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.
	Parents on Right Sun Safety Track: But Still Room for Improvement Most parents have gotten the word about sun safety, but there's still room for improvement especially compared to making sure their children wear their seat belts, eat their fruits and vegetables or wash their hands.
	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.
	Free To Moms: Kraft Cheese Kids' Calcium Counter To help assess how much calcium children are getting, KRAFT Cheese has created the "Kick Up the Calcium" Kids' Calcium Counter. This informative and fun pamphlet offers parents an easy way to see how much calcium their children are getting in the foods they eat each day.
	Eating Right But Drinking Wrong - Beverage Choice is Critical After having focused more exclusively on the food we eat, nutritionists are now emphasizing the importance of the beverages we drink. A Cornell University Medical Center study showed that children who drink more than 12 fluid ounces of sweetened fruit juices a day are prone to obesity and reduced growth.
	New Study Shows Pre-Operative Sedative Helps Children To Recover From Fear Of Surgery New clinical research shows that if a child is given a sedative before surgery, then the negative post-operative reactions might be prevented. This research, which was published in a recent edition of Anesthesiology, demonstrated that giving children a sedative prior to administration of general anesthesia for surgery not only reduces pre-operative anxiety, but also may improve post-operative behavioral outcomes. The results showed that children who were premedicated before surgery experienced fewer negative reactions to the operation, such as bed-wetting and loss of appetite, than those patients who were not premedicated.
	Breakthrough in the Early Detection of Childhood Vision Disorders The development of a new digital computerized vision screening system now makes it possible to detect childhood eye diseases in less than one minute. This will help many children with vision disorders who are not tested early enough.
	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.
	Tips on Teaching Kids Proper Dental Care In observance of National Children's Dental Health Month this February, the Prudential HealthCare's managed dental plan, the Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO(R)), offers important tips on teaching kids proper dental care.
	Dental Sealants An Effective Weapon Against Decay The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) reports that an article published in February's Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) concluded that dental sealants are highly effective in the prevention of tooth decay on the chewing surfaces of teeth.
	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.
	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.
	Understanding Strabismus and Amblyopia Two to four percent of America's children develop strabismus and/or amblyopia. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says early detection and treatment of these disorders during childhood are essential for preventing permanent vision loss.
	Emergency Departments Important Line of Defense in Immunizing Hard-to-Reach Children Despite nationwide efforts, a large number of young children in the United States still lack most of their necessary immunizations against basic childhood diseases. Emergency departments and their personnel can be effective in helping immunize these children who, for many reasons, fall through the cracks in the health care system.
	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.
	New Study Reveals Parental Blunders With Kids' Brushing Routine national study just released by The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and Oral-B Laboratories reveals parents aren't following the experts' advice regarding their children's dental care, and are mostly unaware of the specific "ages and stages" in a child's oral care development.
	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."
	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).
	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.
	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.
	French Halt School Age Hepatitis B Immunization, Risk of Autoimmunity Cited The Ministry of Health in France recently announced a decision to suspend routine hepatitis B immunization of children in French schools while continuing routine Hepatitis B immunization at birth. The reason for this decision was apparently the increased risk of autoimmune diseases that is associated with the vaccine when it is given starting at school age.
	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.
	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.
	ADA Study Identifies Most Common Sun Protection Activities For Children A study conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) determined that nearly 75% of adults practiced one or more sun protection behaviors with the children, ranging in age from newborn to 12 years old, in their care.
	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.
	NHTSA Announces Comprehensive Plan to Improve Air Bag Technology And Reduce Air Bag Dangers The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today announced a comprehensive approach to preserve the important safety benefit of air bags while minimizing their danger to children and at-risk adults.
	Chickenpox is Now the Leading Cause of Vaccine Preventable Deaths in Children in the United States Varicella-related (chickenpox) deaths in children continue to occur in the United States, despite the availability of a vaccine and recommendations for its use in all susceptible children by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics and American Academy of Family Physicians.
	What's Lurking in the Sandbox? While little ones enjoy building castles, digging holes and rolling around in the sandbox, these popular play areas present the perfect environment for the spread of disease. In fact, playing in sandboxes may make a child more prone to contracting contagious viruses and bacteria, including those that cause warts, conjunctivitis and skin disorders.
	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.
	Tips on Preventing Car-Sickness in Children Car-sickness isn't really about the car -- it's about sensory overload. To head off or avoid car-sickness, this article provides specific recommendations for parents to follow.
	Mommy, What's Mumps? A national survey shows how traditional childhood diseases are a mystery to kids today thanks to modern vaccines and national vaccination programs.
	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.