Kids with food allergies are at higher risk of asthma and rhinitis

Kids who suffer from food allergies have an increased risk of getting asthma and allergic rhinitis reports Children's Hospital of Philadelphia via EurekAlert. This risk of respiratory allergies in kids with food allergies has been observed to increase with the number of food allergies which a child may suffer from according to the researchers. This study was done in Philadelphia where asthma rates are among the highest in the United States with one in five children affected. In the study overall kids with existing food allergy were at increased risk of getting asthma and allergic rhinitis. Lead researcher David A. Hill, MD, PhD, an allergy and immunology fellow with an interest in food allergy, said allergy to peanut, egg and milk were among the food allergens which significantly predisposed kids to asthma and allergic rhinitis. This study has been published in the journal BMC Pediatrics.

Many babies are injured in strollers and carriers

There are an enormous number of babies injured daily in strollers and carriers. Nationwide Children's reports a study has shown that there are an average of two injuries every single hour from strollers and carriers in the United States. A study which was done by the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital discovered that during a 21 year period of time from 1990 through 2010 there were about 361,000 kids between the ages of 5 years and younger who were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for stroller or carrier associated injuries. That comes out to about two kids every hour. 

This study has been published online in the journal Pediatrics. The head and face were the most common places for these injuries. Kristi Roberts, MS, MPH, the study author and research associate in the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s, says that although these products are used safely by families daily, when injuries do occur they may be very serious. It is frightening that most of the injuries seen were head injuries in consideration of the fact that traumatic brain injuries and concussions in young kids may have long term consequences on their cognitive development. 

Parents and other caregivers should take the time to make certain children are safely buckled up whenever they are in a stroller or carrier. Also keep the handles clear of heavy items such as purses and bags which can cause them to tip over. The stroller and carrier should also be checked to make certain it's the right size for the child. And make certain strollers and carriers are locked when they are parked to prevent them from rolling away. Also when strollers and carriers are low there will be less of a fall to the ground for the child if it tips over. And remember to always check for recalls. The unusually large number of serious injuries from strollers and carriers helps to emphasize the need to be extra careful when using them with your kids.

Kids who eat government sponsored meals are at a higher risk of being overweight

The government sponsored school meal programs are expected to be in the best interest of the health and welfare of kids whose families can't afford to buy them healthy food for breakfast and lunch. However, it appears the meals being provided to kids in these programs may not always be as healthy as they could be. Virginia Tech reported that there is an increased risk of being overweight for kids who participate in school meal programs which are government funded. Virginia Tech Agricultural and applied economics Associate Professor Wen You says financially vulnerable kids are being placed at an increased risk of being overweight with government funded meals. Therefore the school meals which millions of kids eat for breakfast and lunch may be partially to blame for the obesity epidemic across the country. It is the position of You that all aspects of school meal programs including availability and affordability along with nutritional content and tastiness must be considered by policymakers. This study has been published in the journal Health Economics. Clearly there should be initiatives to make certain breakfast and lunch in the school meal programs are healthier.

Young kids are common victims of chemical eye burns

A chemical burn of eyes is a serious matter which demands immediate medical attention due to the possibility of serious damage to the eyes and even blindness. Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health has reported via EurekAlert chemical eye burns which are dangerous are commonly seen in young kids. Researchers say it is often believed that working-age adults are the most at risk for this kind of serious eye injury but one and two year old children are actually at the most risk for chemical eye burns. 

This study has been published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology and highlights the need for the public to be educated about what seems to be avoidable and yet possibly permanent eye injuries. Study leader R. Sterling Haring, DO, MPH says the eyes of kids are injured primarily because they get into chemicals such as household cleaners which are not stored properly. Such serious injuries in kids are completely preventable. When chemical injuries of eyes occurs the eyes must be immediately flushed out with water because the chemicals can continue to burn into the eyes after contact is made and can result in irreparable damage to internal structures of the eyes. Every effort should be made to educate parents and others about how vitally important it is to keep household cleaners and other chemicals stored where kids can't get to them.