All articles tagged with #infant health
Feeding blueberries to babies as a first solid food may enhance immunity, reduce allergy symptoms, and promote healthy gut development, according to a clinical trial by the University of Colorado, suggesting blueberries are a safe and beneficial superfood for infant health.
A 1-month-old infant on Martha’s Vineyard contracted a rare but serious tick-borne Powassan virus, which can cause severe neurological diseases. The virus, transmitted by deer ticks, is increasingly detected in the area, with a small percentage of ticks infected. The infant suffered brain damage from meningitis and encephalitis caused by the virus, highlighting the rising risk of tick-borne illnesses during the season.
A UK study shows that vaccinating pregnant women against RSV results in a 72% decrease in severe RSV hospitalizations in infants by transferring protective antibodies through the placenta, highlighting the importance of increasing vaccination rates among expectant mothers to protect newborns during the winter season.
A study finds that a significant percentage of U.S. infants lack the beneficial gut bacteria Bifidobacterium, which is linked to a higher risk of allergies and other chronic diseases, highlighting the importance of early microbiome health for long-term well-being.
Researchers at Rutgers Health propose that caffeine could help prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) by reducing oxygen drops in infants, offering a new potential biological pathway for prevention, though further research is needed before any recommendations.
UK scientists found that early colonization of beneficial bacteria like Bifidobacterium longum in newborns can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalizations due to lung infections, highlighting the importance of microbiome development in immune system maturation and potential probiotic therapies.
A new antibody-based drug, nirsevimab, has shown to be 93% effective in preventing hospitalization and 89% effective in reducing doctor visits for RSV in infants, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Approved in 2023, nirsevimab provides lab-made antibodies to block RSV, offering a significant public health benefit if widely used. Despite its effectiveness, uptake has been low due to supply issues and timing of availability. The drug is recommended for infants under 8 months old, especially if their mothers haven't received the maternal RSV vaccine.
A Yale study using MRI data from over 600 infants demonstrates that brain age models can track healthy infant development and reveal environmental influences, such as maternal age, on brain maturation. These models predict brain age and identify gaps between predicted and actual ages, indicating developmental speed. While advanced brain development correlates with better cognitive abilities, it may impair emotional regulation, suggesting that following normative developmental trajectories is ideal.
The FDA has issued a warning about certain baby formulas from Dairy Manufacturers Inc. that may be contaminated with Cronobacter bacteria, which can cause serious infections in infants. The recall includes Crecelac and Farmalac infant formulas sold in Texas and possibly other locations. No illnesses have been reported, but parents are advised not to use these products and to seek alternatives.
Breast milk is often touted as containing all the nutrients a baby needs, but while it provides many essential elements for a baby's growth and development, it may not cover all nutritional needs. Factors such as the mother's diet, vaccination status, and exposure to illness can impact the composition of breast milk and potentially lead to deficiencies in certain nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, iodine, vitamin D, and vitamin K. While breastfeeding is beneficial, some babies may require additional supplements to ensure they receive all necessary nutrients for optimal health.
A survey by the Lullaby Trust found that 70% of parents allow their babies to sleep in bouncers, swings, and bean bags, unknowingly putting them at risk of suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The charity warns that sleeping a baby on anything other than a firm, flat surface can increase the risk of SIDS, and advises placing babies on their backs in a clear, firm sleep surface to reduce the risk. Safer Sleep Week aims to raise awareness of safe sleep practices for infants, as SIDS claims the lives of around three babies per week in the UK.
A CDC report reveals that maternal syphilis rates in the US have tripled since 2016, leading to a significant increase in congenital syphilis cases and posing a serious risk to infants. The surge in cases is attributed to untested and untreated mothers, with the majority of cases being preventable with better testing and treatment. Access to timely treatment is lacking and unequal, with clinic hours and testing methods posing barriers. Maternal syphilis rates vary widely across the country, with the highest rates among younger mothers and certain ethnic groups. The Biden administration has established a federal task force to address the epidemic, but experts express concerns about the lack of new resources and funding to effectively combat the rising rates.
A study of almost 200,000 newborns in Sweden and Norway found that maternal receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy poses no risk to infants and may prevent serious complications, with the mortality rate for babies born to vaccinated mothers being half the rate of those whose mothers were unvaccinated. Additionally, a new rapid point-of-care test for gonorrhea in South Africa showed high accuracy and rapid detection, potentially improving syndromic management of the infection. Data from three US cohort studies suggested that bivalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were 54% effective against lab-confirmed COVID infection and 49.4% protective against symptomatic disease in school-aged children. Meanwhile, a report highlighted weak FDA oversight of foreign firms making medications for the US market, with the FDA struggling to oversee more than 4,800 foreign drug manufacturers supplying medications for the US market.
Baby Owen Monroe became the first infant to undergo a partial heart transplant, with the implanted tissue growing with him, a feat never seen before in humans. The procedure, which salvages native heart tissue and only uses living donor tissue to replace defective parts, has shown promising results, with Owen's heart growing and functioning excellently. This breakthrough offers hope for other children with similar heart defects, potentially sparing them from repeated surgeries and improving their long-term outcomes.
A breakthrough study has found a potential link between seizures and sudden unexplained child deaths (SUDC), shedding light on a possible cause for these tragic events. Researchers analyzed video recordings of toddlers who died from SUDC and found that seizures, lasting less than 60 seconds, occurred within a half hour of death in most cases. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and determine how seizures may lead to sudden death in young children, but this study marks the first direct evidence linking seizures to SUDC. Experts recommend current strategies to reduce the risk of SUDC, such as placing babies to sleep on their back and keeping their sleeping environment safe.