latest headlines related to children’s health and well-being
The Defender’s Children’s Health NewsWatch delivers the latest headlines related to children’s health and well-being, including the toxic effects of vaccines, drugs, chemicals, heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation and other toxins and the emotional risks associated with excessive use of social media and other online activities
The views expressed by other news sources cited here do not necessarily reflect the views of The Defender.
Our goal is to provide readers with breaking news about children’s health.
MRI Study Reveals Structural Brain Changes in Children With Restrictive Eating Disorders
In the last decade, the incidence of restrictive eating disorders in children, like anorexia-nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorders (ARFID), has doubled. These disorders have severe consequences for growing children, resulting in nutritional deficiencies and problems with bone development, statural growth and puberty.
Most studies have focused on the effects of these disorders in older individuals, and little is currently known about how restrictive eating disorders affect the brain in children or what mechanisms in the brain might be responsible for this restrictive eating behavior.
To get a better understanding of how these early-onset eating disorders work in the brain, researcher Clara Moreau and her team conducted MRI brain scans on 290 children, of which 124 had been hospitalized for early-onset anorexia-nervosa (EO-AN), 50 had been hospitalized for ARFID, and 116 were children with no eating disorders.
All participants were under 13 years old, and those who were hospitalized had very low body mass index (BMI) due to restrictive eating. The results were published in Nature Mental Health.
After comparing the scans of children with EO-AN and AFRID to those without eating disorders, the researchers found that those with EO-AN showed widespread cortical thinning — thinning of the outer layer of the brain — and increased cerebrospinal fluid compared to those without eating disorders or those with AFRID. They also found a correlation between BMI and cortical thickness in some regions of the brain.
Can a Novel Motivational Interviewing Technique Help in the Measles Outbreak?
As the measles outbreak spreads — with more than 1,200 cases confirmed across 38 states, a 13% hospitalization rate, and three deaths — some parents who previously chose not to vaccinate their children are now lining up to get them immunized. But others are still resisting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine — even in the face of potentially deadly warnings.
Many scientists, public health officials, and healthcare providers are rushing to communicate the facts, hoping to limit the effects of the outbreak. The actual risk that a child might die from measles is about three in 1,000; the risk of experiencing a serious adverse side effect from the MMR vaccine is about five in 100,000.
One evidence-based approach is motivational interviewing, a psychological intervention developed to help people overcome substance use problems. We attempt to identify community values and goals, and after establishing common ground with the community, address misinformation about issues like vaccination safety and reproductive health.
In one striking example of information that can influence people against vaccination, the parents of a 6-year-old Texas girl who died from measles appeared in a video released by Children’s Health Defense, a group known for challenging vaccines, in which they stand by their decision not to vaccinate their children.
They noted that their other four children recovered uneventfully from the infection after receiving treatment. Of course, we can dispute this logic — there is currently no antiviral treatment approved for measles. While vitamin A can be helpful when given under the supervision of a doctor, it also presents its own risks and is not a replacement for vaccination.
Lawsuit Claims Pesticides Threaten Central Coast Schoolchildren
A lawsuit filed against state and Monterey County regulators claims that dangerous pesticides were sprayed near Central Coast schools, putting children’s health at risk due to insufficient oversight. Teachers and advocates argue that state regulators are breaking the law by approving these pesticides.
The lawsuit, filed by the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, Californians for Pesticide Reform, and other advocacy groups, targets state and Monterey County agriculture officials, including the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
It claims that six permits were illegally approved last year, affecting students at Ohlone Elementary, Hall District Elementary, and Pajaro Middle School. “We’re here to stand up for our students, because they deserve to come to schools that aren’t being poisoned,” said Brandon Diniz, president of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers.
Mark Weller, campaign director for Californians for Pesticide Reform, said, “The Department of Pesticide Regulation and ag commissioners across the state, including in Monterey County, are not following the law when it comes to approving pesticide applications.” The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office declined to comment due to the pending case but released a statement emphasizing its commitment to safety.
Scientists Discover Genetic Condition That Causes Paralysis Following Mild Infections
Doctors and genetic researchers at The University of Manchester have discovered that changes in a gene leads to severe nerve damage in children following a mild bout of infection. The paper, “Acute-onset axonal neuropathy following infection in children with biallelic RCC1 variants: a case series,” is published in The Lancet Neurology.
Twenty-five years ago, when Timothy Bingham was two years old, he had a mild flu-like illness which left him unable to walk. Three years later following another infection, he was paralyzed and has been in a wheelchair ever since.
In over half of the children, doctors suspected the diagnosis of a different severe nerve condition that can develop after infection called Guillain Barré syndrome. The researchers performed laboratory studies on skin cells taken from patients and in specially genetically engineered fruit flies to show that the damage to nerves can be caused by certain chemicals.
Juul Gets FDA’s OK to Keep Selling Tobacco and Menthol E-Cigarettes
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is allowing vaping brand Juul to keep its e-cigarettes on the market, providing relief to a company that has struggled for years after being widely blamed for sparking the teen vaping trend. FDA regulators said Thursday that Juul’s studies show its e-cigarettes are less harmful for adult smokers, who can benefit from switching completely to vaping.
The FDA decision applies to both tobacco- and menthol-flavored versions of the reusable product, which works with nicotine-filled cartridges sold in two different strengths. Juul previously discontinued several fruit and candy flavors that helped drive its popularity but were favored by teens. Juul will be one of only two U.S. companies authorized to sell menthol-flavored vapes, which many adults prefer to tobacco flavor.
“This is an important milestone for the company and I think we made a scientifically sound case for the role that menthol can play in e-vapor,” Juul CEO K.C. Crosthwaite told The Associated Press. Parents, politicians and anti-tobacco groups are certain to oppose FDA’s decision. They have argued for years that Juul products should be permanently banned due to their role in triggering a yearslong spike in underage vaping.
See more here childrenshealthdefense
Please Donate Below To Support Our Ongoing Work To Defend The Scientific Method
PRINCIPIA SCIENTIFIC INTERNATIONAL, legally registered in the UK as a company 
incorporated for charitable purposes. Head Office: 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX.
Trackback from your site.
Aaron
| #
“toxic effects of vaccines, drugs, chemicals, heavy metals, electromagnetic radiation and other toxins and the emotional risks associated with excessive use of social media and other online activities”
Talk is cheap
so when are we going to stop the insanity?
Government will never solve the many problems created by government
Reply