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January 22, 2010
Malaria drugs may help patients with lupus
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Drugs used to treat malaria may be useful for patients with lupus, a chronic debilitating "autoimmune" disease, according to according to a new report.
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January 19, 2010
Secondhand smoke may disrupt asthmatic kids' sleep
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children with asthma may have a harder time getting a good night's sleep if they live with a smoker.
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January 15, 2010
Up to 80 million Americans infected with H1N1: CDC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As many as 80 million Americans have been infected with H1N1 swine flu, up to 16,000 have been killed and more than 360,000 hospitalized, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday.
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January 14, 2010
Adults' breathing troubles may begin in childhood
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - New research hints that how well your lungs function in adulthood and your risk of developing chronic breathing problems is partly determined in childhood.
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January 13, 2010
Peanut allergies less common than tests suggest
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Many children who test positive for sensitivity to peanuts may not actually have full-blown allergies to the food, a new study suggests.
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January 8, 2010
Some immunity building up against pandemic flu-WHO
GENEVA (Reuters) - Southern hemisphere countries struck by H1N1 flu last year are now broadly protected against new infections, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.
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January 7, 2010
U.S. EPA proposes stronger smog standards
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. environmental regulators on Thursday proposed stronger standards on lung and heart disease-causing smog that could cost industry up to $90 billion to implement.
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January 7, 2010
Gas stoves show small effect on kids' lung function
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - While some studies have implicated gas appliances in children's risk of respiratory ills, a new report suggests that gas cooking stoves may have only a small effect on most children's lung function.
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January 6, 2010
Folic acid in late pregnancy tied to child asthma
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Young children whose mothers took folic acid supplements in late pregnancy may have an increased risk of developing asthma, a new study hints.
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January 5, 2010
WHO chief gets H1N1 flu vaccination
GENEVA (Reuters) - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has finally been vaccinated against H1N1 flu, a virus expected to infect more people in coming months, the U.N. agency said on Tuesday.
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December 28, 2009
Air pollution may lessen asthma inhaler benefits
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Air pollution, which tends to inflame the airways in people with asthma, might also reduce the effectiveness of the rescue inhalers they count on for quick relief of their asthma symptoms, study findings hint.
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December 28, 2009
Farmers' asthma tied to pesticide exposure
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Farmers might breathe a little easier after learning that pesticide use does not appear to increase their risk for developing asthma - as long as they wear protective equipment and don't have periods of unusually high exposure.
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December 25, 2009
Do multivitamins curb kids' allergy risk?
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Giving multivitamins to kids 5 to 8 years old does not seem to alter their overall likelihood of having allergies, hint findings of a study from Sweden.
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December 24, 2009
U.S. doctors link gene to childhood asthma
BOSTON (Reuters) - A defective gene appears to contribute to most cases of childhood asthma, a finding that could lead to a better understanding of allergies, U.S. researchers reported on Wednesday.
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December 22, 2009
Acupuncture may ease the itch of eczema
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An acupuncture session may bring some itch relief to people with the allergic skin condition known as atopic eczema, a preliminary study suggests.
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December 16, 2009
Dirty air makes for wheezy kids: study
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Small particles from traffic and heating oil combustion may cause children younger than two to wheeze and cough, according to a new study.
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December 15, 2009
Some H1N1 vaccine recalled: US CDC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vaccine maker Sanofi-Aventis is recalling four lots of its pediatric H1N1 swine flu vaccine because it is not as potent as it should be, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.
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December 11, 2009
WHO backs findings on Tamiflu for seasonal flu
GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation on Friday endorsed findings that there is no clear evidence that the antiviral Tamiflu prevents complications such as pneumonia in otherwise healthy people with seasonal flu.
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December 10, 2009
UK study confirms H1N1 far less lethal than feared
LONDON (Reuters) - H1N1 pandemic swine flu is far less lethal than feared, British scientists said on Wednesday, but public health officials should not be complacent in fighting it and vaccination campaigns should continue.
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December 8, 2009
Starting some solid foods late boosts allergy risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Holding off on introducing certain foods in order to prevent children from becoming allergic to them may be counterproductive.
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December 8, 2009
Expensive healthcare not always the best: report
LONDON (Reuters) - The United States spends more on healthcare than any other nation but the most expensive healthcare is not always the best, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said on Tuesday.
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December 7, 2009
Flu sends more Alaska Native Americans to hospital
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Native Americans in Alaska are more likely to be hospitalized with swine flu than whites in the state and the lack of running water in some areas may be a factor, researchers have found.
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December 4, 2009
WHO launches campaign to halt smoking in Africa
LONDON (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation launched a campaign on Friday to try to stop what could become a health catastrophe caused by rapidly rising levels of smoking in Africa.
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December 4, 2009
Chickenpox vaccine may protect kids from shingles
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Children who get vaccinated against chickenpox may have a lower risk of developing shingles, a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus, U.S. researchers said on Friday.
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December 3, 2009
Iraq/Afghanistan deployment tied to respiratory woes
CHICAGO (Reuters Health) - U.S. military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan face an increased risk for developing respiratory symptoms, including persistent or recurring cough and shortness of breath, a large-scale military study has shown.
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December 2, 2009
Number of kids in daycare may affect asthma risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The more other children toddlers are exposed to at day care, up to a certain point, the lower their risk of developing asthma, new research shows.
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November 27, 2009
Detergent exposure hard on workers' lungs: studies
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who work in detergent factories are at increased risk of developing respiratory problems, including asthma, probably from exposure to chemicals contained in detergent, two new studies hint.
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November 25, 2009
US sees rise in secondary infections after flu
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials said on Wednesday they are seeing a worrying pattern of serious bacterial infections in swine flu patients, mostly among younger adults not normally vulnerable to them.
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November 18, 2009
US officials defend swine flu vaccination plan
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. public health officials defended the distribution of swine flu vaccines on Tuesday against criticism that their plan to protect Americans was confusing and over-optimistic.
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November 13, 2009
Better ventilation may ease some asthma symptoms
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Improved home ventilation that dehumidifies the air may make it easier for people with asthma to breathe at night, hint findings of a small study from the United Kingdom.
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November 12, 2009
Acetaminophen could up asthma, wheezing risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An analysis of 19 studies provides additional evidence of increased asthma risk in children and adults given acetaminophen.
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November 11, 2009
Flow of H1N1 vaccines picking up in U.S., CDC says
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The flow of swine flu vaccines to the U.S. market is picking up, health and corporate officials said on Tuesday, and now the challenge will be to get the drugs to people.
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November 9, 2009
CDC says U.S. making progress on swine flu vaccine
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. health officials said on Friday they are making progress in improving the supply of H1N1 vaccine to state health departments and urged people frustrated by long lines and scarce supply not to give up.
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November 6, 2009
Seasonal flu may hit Europe after H1N1: experts
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - The H1N1 pandemic flu virus could kill up to 40,000 people across Europe and be followed by seasonal flu waves that could kill the same number, European health experts said on Friday.
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November 6, 2009
Air pollution may up risk of infant lung infections
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Living close to highways and other sources of air pollution is linked to higher rates of a lung infection called bronchiolitis, the number one reason for infant hospitalizations in North America.
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November 5, 2009
Breast feeding may not alter older kids' health
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Exclusive breast feeding for up to 6 months, though beneficial for an infants' immunity and mothers' weight, may not alter children's health risks over the long term, study findings hint.
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November 5, 2009
H1N1 to cause more deaths in northern winter - WHO
GENEVA (Reuters) - The H1N1 swine flu virus has picked up steam in the northern hemisphere and is expected to cause more serious infections and deaths as cold weather sets in, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Thursday.
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November 3, 2009
WHO urges pregnant women to get swine flu jab now
GENEVA (Reuters) - Pregnant women and other people at high risk should be vaccinated against the H1N1 swine flu virus as the cold weather begins to bite in the northern hemisphere, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Tuesday.
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October 29, 2009
Lupus linked to heart disease
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a more than twofold increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.
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October 23, 2009
Stubborn asthma may signal poor use of meds
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People with difficult-to-control asthma are often not taking their anti-asthma medication as prescribed by their doctor, new study findings indicate.
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October 23, 2009
In U.S., less education means more H1N1 concern
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Low-income Americans with no more than a high school education appear more likely to get vaccinated against H1N1 swine flu than people with more money and better schooling, according to a poll released on Friday.
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October 22, 2009
Neurotic? It could lead to asthma
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who are neurotic -- they tend to worry a lot and to have emotional ups and downs -- seem to be at increased risk of developing asthma, a new study hints. Those who suffer through a divorce or other relationship conflict are also at risk for asthma, according to the study.
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October 20, 2009
July 4 swine flu outbreak shows pattern of virus
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than 100 new cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy got infected with swine flu at a July 4th barbecue and fireworks display but quick isolation measures got it under control within two weeks, researchers reported on Tuesday.
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October 20, 2009
'Green spaces' tied to better health
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who live in green environs may be less likely than those surrounded by concrete to suffer a range of health problems, particularly depression and anxiety, according to a new study.
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October 14, 2009
Most who die from new H1N1 flu had conditions: CDC
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most of the people who have died from the new pandemic H1N1 flu had underlying conditions such as asthma, but 45 percent seemed healthy, according to the largest study yet of U.S. cases.
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October 13, 2009
Minority kids less apt to take asthma meds
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Black and Hispanic children with asthma are less likely than their white counterparts to be taking daily medication meant to prevent asthma attacks, a U.S. study shows.
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October 12, 2009
Are old drugs the future of personalized medicine?
LONDON (Reuters) - Shaping the future of personalised medicine is not all about developing expensive new drugs - it will also mean revisiting older, cheaper medicines armed with new genetic knowledge.
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October 12, 2009
Sickest swine flu patients require heroic measures
CHICAGO, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Once swine flu patients are sick enough to need hospital care, they decline very fast, requiring ventilators and advanced treatments that quickly strain scarce hospital resources, several teams reported on Monday.
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October 9, 2009
Probiotics may reduce skin condition in some kids
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treating pregnant mothers, and then their infants, with select strains of probiotics -- bacteria present naturally in the body and sometimes added to food or dietary supplements to boost immune function -- may help prevent a skin condition known as eczema in children with a family history of allergies, particularly during the first 3 months of life, Dutch researchers report.
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October 9, 2009
Swine flu sent more Australia, NZ patients to ICU
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Swine flu sent 722 people into intensive care units during the winter months in Australia and New Zealand, far more than during a normal flu season, and many of them were infants, pregnant or obese, a study published on Friday found.