Parent health sways views of asthmatic kids' health

January 2, 2009 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Parents' own chronic health problems may influence their perceptions of their asthmatic children's well-being, a new study suggests.

Allergies unrelated to constipation in children

December 31, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The prevalence of allergies among children with chronic constipation is not significantly different from that of the general population -- and an allergy to cow's milk does not seem to be involved, researchers report in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Attention to bones important in women with lupus

December 26, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Among premenopausal women taking steroids for lupus, various treatments preserve bone mineral density and "should be considered" for preventing the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis, advise researchers in a report published this month.

Pollution at home often lurks unrecognized

December 26, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many people may be surprised by the number of chemicals they are exposed to through everyday household products, a small study finds, suggesting, researchers say, that consumers need to learn more about sources of indoor pollution.

Drug shields mice from chronic lung disease: study

December 23, 2008 — CHICAGO (Reuters) - An experimental drug protected mice exposed to tobacco smoke from developing chronic lung disease, raising hope for a treatment in humans, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

Lupus affects the brain very early in the disease

December 23, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Results of a brain imaging study suggest that the brain may be affected very early in the course of lupus, even before the disease is diagnosed.

Second-hand smoke tied to behavior problems in boys

December 22, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Boys with asthma who are exposed to higher levels of tobacco smoke at home are more likely to have behavioral problems, new research shows.

Bird flu vaccine protects children

December 22, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A vaccine to protect against infection with the bird flu virus, the pathogen experts fear is capable of causing pandemic disease in humans, proved safe and effective in a preliminary clinical trial with children, mirroring the results of a recent trial conducted in adults, Hungarian researchers report in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.

Poor mental health linked to asthma

December 17, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The presence of mental illness, and its severity, appear to confer an increased risk of developing asthma, researchers report.

FDA panel: Two asthma drugs risky but Advair OK

December 12, 2008 — ROCKVILLE, Maryland (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline Plc's widely prescribed drug Advair is safe enough for treating asthma but two lesser-used medicines are too risky, a U.S. advisory panel ruled on Thursday.

Expert calls ruling on asthma drugs "reasonable"

December 12, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel ruled late Thursday that the risks of two asthma drugs -- Serevent and Foradil --outweigh the benefits in children and adults with asthma.

U.S. FDA panel hears risks with asthma drug

December 10, 2008 — ROCKVILLE, Md. (Reuters) - U.S. drug reviewers presented evidence of life-threatening risks from a class of asthma drugs on Wednesday to an advisory panel considering whether to recommend limits on medicines now used by millions.

School program helps kids manage asthma

December 10, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An asthma education program given in school may help urban, low-income children better manage the lung condition, a new study suggests.

Breathing exercises may improve asthma symptoms

December 10, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Adults with asthma may improve their sense of well-being and control over their disease by learning breathing exercises and incorporating these exercises into their asthma medication regimen, researchers report.

Probiotic benefit for atopic dermatitis modest

December 5, 2008 — NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Probiotics could be helpful for children suffering from a common, itchy skin rash called atopic dermatitis, but at present the benefits appear to be very small, according to authors who reviewed of the effectiveness of "good bacteria" in treating this condition.