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PEDIATRIC NEWS UPDATES
Updates from February 2006
Feb. 28 - Study Shows Alternating Fever Medication is Safe and Effective
Many parents have used the method of alternating acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) in their children when they have a fever. This is a good approach when a fever is particularly high. However, some have argued that there have not been any studies showing that combining the two medications is effective or safe. Well, there was a recent study that looked at this practice, published in the February issue of the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine. The study had one group of kids take just acetaminophen every 6 hours, one group take just ibuprofen every 8 hours, and another group alternate between the two every 4 hours. The researchers found that children given the alternating regimen had a lower mean temperature, more rapid reduction of fever, use of less medication, less stress, and less absenteeism from day care. Emergency department visits were similar in all groups.
Feb. 23 - Neighborhoods Influence Obesity
The neighborhood an adolescent lives in may influence his or her development of obesity, new study findings suggest. Specifically, investigators found that adolescents from close-knit neighborhoods were less likely to be obese.
The study authors found that it may be necessary to "look at the neighborhood environment as potentially very important in controlling the obesity epidemic. The social environment that a child lives in is very strongly associated with how active they are, what they eat and how much they eat.”
The study was published in the journal Social Science and Medicine, and found that adolescents in low-collective efficacy neighborhoods were 52 percent more likely to be overweight than those living in neighborhoods with an average level of collective efficacy.
In fact, collective efficacy was more important in predicting obesity than the ethnic or racial make-up of the neighborhood, or the income of its residents.
It is thought that children in close-nit neighborhoods may be more likely to play outside rather than sit inside and watch television. These neighborhoods also tend to have more parks and fewer fast food restaurants.
The researchers said, "We need to start looking at our environments," "Are there places for kids to play? Billboard advertisements for fast foods?"
It is important for neighborhood groups to create sports leagues and get parks for children to play in.
Feb. 16 - Bill Clinton’s Plan to Fight Obesity in Kids
Former President Bill Clinton and officials from a health foundation on Monday unveiled a plan to fight childhood obesity with better school meals and more exercise.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation put up an $8 million grant to back the Clinton-backed Alliance for a Healthier Generation, which also will work with teachers to encourage them to be healthier role models for kids.
Approximately 25% of American children are considered obese, a five-fold increase over the past 35 years. "If the present trends continue, this generation could be the first to have shorter expected life spans than their parents," Clinton told a news conference at a Manhattan elementary school that will participate in the program.
With many U.S. schools facing budget constrictions and pressure to focus on core academic subjects rather than health and fitness, Clinton said his group would work with food suppliers to find low-cost supplies of healthy meals and snacks for students, and with sporting goods suppliers to provide lower cost athletic equipment for gym classes.
"We want to help to change the economics that are keeping schools from providing better meal options and greater access to physical activity," Clinton said.
The program will initially work with 253 schools in Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
