Healthy Kids

Self-Centered Kids May Just Have Immature Brains

WEDNESDAY, March 7 -- Selfish behavior in young children is linked to incomplete development of a brain region involved in self-control, according to a new study.The findings may help explain why young children often have difficulty ...

Kids' Penicillin Allergy May Not Signal Other Drug Reactions

WEDNESDAY, March 7 -- Children who are allergic to penicillin are not more likely than other kids to develop additional drug allergies, new research suggests.Pediatric patients who need antibiotics are often prescribed penicillin, th...

Genes Play a Role in Drug Abuse Risk Among Adopted Kids: Study

WEDNESDAY, March 7 -- Adopted kids are at greater risk for drug abuse if their biological parents or siblings had a history of drug abuse, a new study finds.Adopted children whose biological parents were alcoholics, had a major psych...

Late Preemie Birth May Be Linked to Higher Asthma Risk

MONDAY, March 5 -- Babies born just a few weeks early appear to face a greater risk of developing asthma when compared with children born at full term, new research reveals.The observation applied to infants born between the 34th and...

Children With Asthma at Higher Risk for Shingles: Study

MONDAY, March 5 -- Children with asthma have a higher risk for developing shingles -- a painful skin rash -- following infection with the herpes zoster virus, new research reveals.The authors noted that 1 million Americans are estima...

Kids' Concussion Symptoms Can Last a Year, Study Says

MONDAY, March 5 -- Some children who suffer a concussion will display continued difficulties, such as attention and memory problems, for many months, a new study finds.Concussions, also known as mild traumatic brain injury, are commo...

Is Immaturity Being Mistaken for ADHD?

Youngest Kids in Classroom More Likely to Be Diagnosed By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD March 5, 2012 -- Children who are younger than their classmates are more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyper...

Young Puzzle-Solvers May Be Tomorrow's Engineers

FRIDAY, March 2 -- Playing with puzzles when they're 2 to 4 years old can help children develop better spatial skills, a new study indicates.Spatial skills refers to the ability to think about objects in three dimensions.University o...

Bullying May Raise Risk of Suicidal Thoughts: Study

FRIDAY, March 2 -- Children involved in bullying are more likely than their peers to consider suicide by the time they are 11, a new study indicates.These thoughts of self-harm are not limited to victims of bullying, however. The stu...

Health Tip: Help Your Child Develop a Healthy Approach to Eating

-- Girls can develop an unhealthy body image and unhealthy eating habits just by watching how others look at their bodies and treat food.The womenshealth.gov website says these factors can trigger an unhealthy attitude toward food am...

Efforts to Improve Research on Kids' Drugs Paying Off: Report

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 29 -- Federal laws requiring medical companies to conduct pediatric drug studies have helped provide guidance on whether it's safe or effective for children to use certain medications, a new U.S. report finds. The Ins...

Preschool Kids Best Prepared for Kindergarten: Study

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 29 -- All children can benefit from going to preschool, especially those who come from minority or poor families or from homes where parents don't provide much mental stimulation, a new study says.The study included 1...

Gene Might Be a Culprit in Sudden Infant Death for Boys

FRIDAY, Feb. 24 -- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) may sometimes have a genetic component, a team of German researchers reports.DNA analysis from a small group of infants who succumbed to SIDS revealed that many of the male child...

Kids From Poorer Families Drink Too Much Juice: Poll

FRIDAY, Feb. 24 -- Many young children from low-income families drink too much juice, new research shows.To fight childhood obesity and tooth decay, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children aged 6 and under consume only...

Video Games, Impulsivity Seem to Go Hand-in-Hand

SATURDAY, Feb. 25 -- Too much time spent playing video games may lead to impulsive behavior and attention problems in children, and vice versa, according to a new study. In other words, people who spend more time playing video games ...

As Youth Baseball Season Nears, Experts Urge Injury Prevention

MONDAY, Feb. 27 -- With winter turning to spring, youth baseball will soon be starting.Experts are warning, however, that young ball players are at risk for injuries, many of which are preventable."Baseball is America's pastime. In o...

Exclusive Breast-Feeding Best for Baby: Experts

MONDAY, Feb. 27 -- Breast-feeding exclusively is recommended for a baby's first six months of life, followed by continued breast-feeding along with food until a baby is at least 12 months old, the American Academy of Pediatrics reaff...

Active Video Games May Not Get Kids More Active

Dancing or Sports Video Games May Not Influence Children's Physical Activity By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD Feb. 27, 2012 -- Giving children an "active" dancing or sports video game may not necessarily make t...

Home-Visit Program May Improve Child's Asthma

THURSDAY, Feb. 23 -- A home-visit program for children with asthma reduced hospitalizations and emergency department visits, improved patient outcomes and saved $1.46 for every dollar spent, according to a new study.Researchers exami...

Meds for Autism Not Well Understood: Study

THURSDAY, Feb. 23 -- Children with autism may benefit from medications to treat children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder ( ADHD) and other related disorders, but clearer guidelines are needed, a new study shows.Researc...

10 Principles of Good Parenting - Overly Strict, Controlling Parents Risk Raising Delinquent Kids

Introduction to Healthy Parenting Raising a happy, healthy child is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs a parent can have. Yet many of us don't approach parenting with the same focus we would use for a job. We may act on our gut reactio...

Overly Strict, Controlling Parents Risk Raising Delinquent Kids

Study Looks at Parenting Styles and Their Possible Effects on Kids' Behaviors By Denise MannWebMD Health News Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD Feb. 23, 2012 -- Many parents may think that taking a hard line with their kids will keep them on the s...

Mom's Nicotine Patch May Raise Baby's Risk for Colic

MONDAY, Feb. 20 -- Infants of mothers who smoke or use nicotine replacement therapy during pregnancy are more likely to have colic, a new study finds.Colicky babies cry inconsolably for several hours a day, and researchers in the N...

Autism Diagnosis Often Occurs Later for Black Children

MONDAY, Feb. 20 -- Black children with autism tend to be diagnosed later than white children with the disorder, and this delay can lead to longer and more intensive treatment, researchers say.Lack of access to quality, affordable and...

Some Kids' Surgery Should Include Staph Screening: Study

MONDAY, Feb. 20 -- Screening and treatment for antibiotic-resistant bacteria benefits children undergoing open-airway surgery, according to a new study.After open-airway surgery, infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus au...

Health Tip: Practice Window Safety

-- Curious toddlers are especially prone to crawling through and falling from windows, so it's best to practice these safety suggestions, courtesy of the Cleveland Clinic:Be sure you can't open any window enough to allow a child to c...

Health Tip: Add Some Panache to Packed Lunches

-- If your kids are easily bored with the lunches you pack for school, try adding a little pizzazz (and nutrition) to the boring brown bag.The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests how to make packed lunches more exciting for ...

Is That New Car Smell' Toxic?

New Rankings Uncover Toxic Chemicals in Top 10 Unhealthy Car Interiors By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 15, 2012 -- That "new car smell" may come from toxic chemicals, according to new research.A new study s...

Kindergartners Who Can Pay Attention May Reap Benefits Later

SATURDAY, Feb. 11 -- Children who are attentive in kindergarten are likely to have "work-oriented" skills in higher grades, which provides lifelong benefits, according to a new study.It included more than 1,000 children whose attenti...

Best Friend Benefits Child's Mind, Body, Study Finds

SUNDAY, Feb. 12 -- A best friend can help children deal with negative experiences, a new study suggests."Having a best friend present during an unpleasant event has an immediate impact on a child's body and mind," said study co-autho...