Children's Health News & Features

The number of AFM cases confirmed in the United States this week hit a record high of 158 in 36 states.

The risk appeared greater for severe infections that required hospitalization. But less severe infections treated with drugs were also linked to an increased risk for mental disorders, the researchers found.

Adenovirus refers to a cluster of viruses -- more than 50 known strains -- that most commonly infect the respiratory system. Each strain may bring about a different set of symptoms, such as the common cold, sore throat, fever, bronchitis, and pneumonia

CDC: Cases of Polio-Like Illness May Have Peaked Dec. 4, 2018 -- The number of U.S. cases of a devastating polio-like disease striking kids, called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), has now reached 134, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.However, this year's outbreak appears to have peaked and is expected to decline for the remainder of 2018, agency officials added.The mysterious illness is thought to be related to infection with a common type of virus called an enterovirus. AFM can cause paralysis.As of Nov. 30, there had been 134 cases of AFM confirmed in 33

A research team has found that the higher the levels of specific chemicals including phthalates, parabens and phenols in mothers' or daughters' bodies, the earlier the puberty" among girls.

The best toys for babies and young children are traditional playthings like dolls, cars, blocks and crayons rather than virtual ones, like games played on mobile devices or talking animals that read stories out loud, American’s pediatricians say.

Some children diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) actually have some other neurological disorder, a new study suggests.

The claim has not been independently confirmed and has not been published in a journal, where it would be reviewed by other experts.

As of mid-November, the CDC says it had confirmed 430 cases of AFM in 46 states since 2014. Of those, 106 are from 2018.

The agency issued the warning after receiving reports of four infants in Texas who were hospitalized with botulism after using pacifiers containing honey.

New research has found evidence of secondhand marijuana smoke exposure in nearly half of children whose parents smoke the drug.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says new evidence and research not only show that spanking affects a child’s brain development and increases aggression in young children as they get older, but that it isn’t a good way to teach children responsibility and self-control.

The CDC still hasn't figured out what is causing AFM, which typically leads to weakness in the arms and legs.

Researchers have been searching for possible treatments for acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. Lab tests showed that fluoxetine had antiviral effects against a virus associated with the disorder, so some experts had suggested that the antidepressant might be a possible treatment for the disorder.

Recurrent or chronic sore throat is the most common reason for getting a tonsillectomy. Evidence shows that the surgery results in modest, short-term reductions in recurring, severe sore throats in children aged 3 to 15, but not in those with milder symptoms.

Kids born in the summer and who spend many hours playing on screens may be more at risk of becoming nearsighted, new research suggests.

Surgery performed by a St. Louis doctor has restored the ability to walk in a boy paralyzed by a polio-like condition called acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), CBS News reported

Between 2012 and 2016, investigators say, more than 293,000 children -- at an average age of just over 13 -- were diagnosed with some type of mental illness in a pediatric emergency room setting.

Twice as many child gun deaths occur in states with the most lenient gun regulation, compared with states where gun laws are strictest, researchers at Stanford University's School of Medicine have found.

Infants prescribed antibiotics faced a 26 percent greater risk for childhood obesity by the age of 3 than kids who didn’t get the drugs, according to a review of the children’s histories in the U.S. military health care system.

Adenovirus occur on on unclean surfaces and medical instruments, and common disinfectants may not remove them, CNN reported.

Adenovirus typically causes cold-like symptoms, but can be fatal in weakened patients. The children at Wanaque have developmental disorders or immune deficiencies.

Researchers have found risks for language delay among children whose mothers had exposure to common chemicals known as phthalates.

More than 8,300 children and teenagers come to the emergency department each year to be treated for a gunshot wound, at a cost of roughly $270 million a year in hospital bills, researchers report.

There have been 25 cases associated with the outbreak.