Mental health research has long focused on maternal depression as a risk factor for the development of psychopathology in children, but new research suggests that paternal depression should not be overlooked in children with behavioral or emotional problems.

Researchers from the NYU School of Medicine analyzed data from a sample of children, aged 5 to 17 years, using the Columbia Impairment Scale (CIS) to assess emotional or behavioral functioning of children and the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) to analyze maternal and paternal depressive symptoms. The Physical Component Scale (PCS) and Mental Component Scale (MCS) were used to investigate maternal and paternal physical and mental health. The study results were published online today in the December 2011 Pediatrics. The authors write:

This study, from a sample of 22,000 children and their mothers and fathers representative of the entire US population, demonstrates that living with fathers with depressive symptoms and other mental health problems is independently associated with increased rates of emotional or behavioral problems among school-aged children and adolescents. The ?ndings also indicate that the risks of child emotional or behavioral problems are much greater if mothers, rather than fathers, have such problems. Paternal mental health problems are independently associated with a 33 percent to 70 percent increased risk, depending on how assessed, whereas maternal mental health problems are associated with a 50 percent to 350 percent increased risk. Most striking, we believe, is the increase in child emotional or behavioral problems when both parents have such problems, with 25 percent of children living in such homes having behavioral or emotional problems.

“The paradigm needs to shift so burden is not always placed on the mother,” said lead author Michael Weitzman, M.D., over the phone. he went on to say that the role of the father needs to be considered when explicating the etiology or formulating approaches to behavioral or emotional problems in children. this may be especially important during a recession, as economic hardship may threaten a father’s perceived role as a provider and contribute to symptoms of depression, which are more likely to present as irritability, anger or substance use in men.

Limitations of this study include only sampling households with both a mother and father present, and using scales and questionnaires rather than diagnostic psychiatric interviews to assess for symptoms, making it difficult to generalize the results and stopping short of identifying specific emotional or behavioral problems in the children sampled.

In my clinical experience, most so-called ADHD children are not receiving sufficient attention from their fathers who are separated from the family, too preoccupied with work and other things, or otherwise impaired in their ability to parent. in many cases the appropriate diagnosis is Dad Attention Deficit Disorder (DADD). The ‘cure’ for these children is more rational and loving attention from their dads. Young people are nowadays so hungry for the attention of a father that it can come from any male adult. Seemingly impulsive, hostile groups of children will calm down when a caring, relaxed and firm adult male is around.

Many are quick to dismiss Dr. Breggin’s opinions as extreme, and by no means are all cases of childhood ADHD, anxiety or depression responsive to more emotionally or physically available fathers, but why does it seem inconvenient to consider it a possibility in some cases? What’s the downside to caregivers trying whatever they can, including treating their own depression or anxiety, to develop stable, loving relationships with their children?

A study found 1.5 per 200?000 British children under 10 had anorexia. Photograph: David Sillitoe for the Guardian

symptoms ofMore children have anorexia than previously though?More than two and a half times as many children under 10 have anorexia nervosa as previously thought? according to the first study into eating disorders among British children.

On average? 1.5 in every 200?000 British children under 10 have anorexia? according to experts from the UCL (University College London) Institute of Child Health? who carried out the research.

Direct comparison with previous UK data is limited but a general practice registry study in the early 1990s found an incidence estimate of 0.6 per 200?000 for anorexia among children aged up to nine.

The findings have shocked experts? who called for urgent action to help save young lives. there are no national paediatric guidelines for the care of individuals with eating disorders.

Recognition of eating disorders in children by GPs can be poor and? unfortunately? many eating disorder services are aimed specifically at adolescents? said Dr Dasha Nicholls? a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at the UCL Institute of Child Health and the studys lead researcher.

Childhood eating disorders are not quick or easy to treat. for a minority of children it may be the start of a severe and enduring illness? with death rates comparable to some forms of leukaemia.

Early-onset eating disorders defined as those starting before 13 years of age represent a significant clinical burden to paediatric and mental health services. Efforts to improve early detection are needed but our study also shows there is an urgent need to consider the needs of children with eating disorders separately and not simply lower the age range of existing adolescent services? said Nicholls.

Most of the 208 patients in Nichollss study were girls 82% but boys accounted for almost one in five cases.

More than 80% of the children in the study? to be published in the British Journal of Psychiatry? had an anorexia-like illness: 37% had diagnosable symptoms while 43% were classified as having an unspecified eating disorder because although they showed symptoms of anorexia they were not underweight. Only 4% had bulimia.

An additional one in five children had symptoms of disordered eating? such as food avoidance and being underweight? but did not have a preoccupation with their weight or shape.

Half were admitted to hospital? over 70% of whom had anorexia. after a year? almost two thirds were still receiving treatment. 73% had improved but 6% were worse and 10% unchanged.

Almost 44% of the children had a close family member with a history of mental illness? most commonly anxiety or depression. another fifth had a history of early feeding problems? particularly fussy or picky eating.

Studies suggest that although the incidence of eating disorders has been fairly static over the past few decades? anorexia is being diagnosed among children in increasingly younger age groups.

Data on the rate and outcome of early-onset eating disorders is sparse. The National Inpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Survey found that eating disorders were the most common diagnosis among child and adolescent psychiatric in-patients in England and Wales? 9.2% of whom were under 13.

The survey? however? did not include children on paediatric wards. ours are the first published data on the scale of paediatric resource used by this patient group in the British Isles? said Nicholls.

Previous research from the NHS Information Centre has found that children aged 14 to 16 account for one in every three patients treated in hospital for an eating disorder? an 11% rise on the 2?316 cases recorded for the previous 12 months.

The centres data? however? found only a small number of 10-year-olds diagnosed with conditions including anorexia and bulimia.

A 1999 Office for National Statistics study found 0.3% of 11- to 15-year-olds had an eating disorder? with no one in the five- to 10-year-old age group.

The new study found wide variation in confidence among paediatricians over how to treat children. this study provides the baseline figures needed to determine whether increases in hospitalisation rates are real or perceived? and can aid planning of age-appropriate services? said Nicholls.

Because the new study gives the first estimate of the incidence of early-onset eating disorders? Nicholls said she was unable to say if there hsymptoms of bulimiaas been a rise in this group. But we hope our research can be used as a baseline from which to monitor future trends? she added.

The findings have galvanised concern that societys obsession with physical appearance is making children become body-conscious at an increasingly early age. Blame has been placed on everything from poor parenting to the media and websites such as Facebook.

When Miranda turned eight? her parents took her to a pizza parlour to celebrate. for any other child? it would have been a common enough treat. But for Miranda ?????????? ????? the trip was nothing short of momentous as it signified a return to health.

Now 11? Miranda finds it hard to remember why? at seven? she developed an eating disorder so severe that she stopped eating and drinking and ended up almost 10kg underweight? with a body mass index (BMI) of 12.5. (A BMI of under 18.5 is officially underweight.)

I remember living in a clinic with other children. None of us could eat normally? she said. I was there for five months. they said I had food avoidance emotional disorder. I dont know where it came from but in my diary? I said it was like having a pixie in my tummy. The pixie was like the devil. when I wanted to eat? the pixie would fight me. At the beginning? in my diary? I said the pixie was stronger than me. But then I got stronger than him. I remember it being like he got smaller and I got bigger. The pixies not in my tummy any more. I hope he never comes back.

What is Zeitgeist? Zeitgeist is an experiment in showing trending news? topics and articles from the Guardian. Find out more in our blog post.

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Fears grow over care of mentally ill as GPs say they dont want the job

Family doctors feel unready to order mental health services? polls find

Teenage girls on diets more likely to suffer eating disorders

Teenage girls who diet even moderately are five times more likely to develop a serious eating disorder like bulimia or anorexia? according to research published today in the British Medical Journal.

Children with asthma may experience a significant improvement in symptoms if they take Xolair (omalizumab) in addition to asthma therapy recommended by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to results of a new study. these findings may lead to an improvement in treatment for childhood asthma, especially for children and adolescents living in the inner cities.

Asthma affects about 9 million children in the United States, and is the main cause of chronic illness in this population. most children experience their first symptoms by age 5, although they can begin at any age. Risk factors for childhood asthma include being male, being black, being raised in a low-income environment, low birth weight, presence of allergies, family history of allergies and/or asthma, and exposure to tobacco smoke before and/or after birth.

Several of these risk factors came into play in the recent study, which was conducted in eight cities in the United States by the Inner City Asthma Consortium (ICAC). the study included 419 young people ages 6 to 20 years old who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe allergic asthma of more than one year duration. sixty percent of the participants were African American, 37 percent were Hispanic, and all lived in a city environment (Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, new York City, Tucson, and Washington DC).

All the participants were taking NIH guidelines-based asthma treatment when they entered the study. At that time they were randomly assigned to take either omalizumab or placebo.

The investigators found that children who took omalizumab did not experience the increase in seasonal asthma attacks in the fall, which are associated with viral airway infections such as colds.

According to William Busse, MD, the principal investigator of ICAC and professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “because the drug specifically targets IgE, which is the antibody responsible for allergies, our observations show the possible interplay between allergies, respiratory viruses and IgE in provoking asthma attacks.”

This finding is especially important because severe seasonal asthma attacks cause many young people to miss school and to require emergency department care. Discovery of new effective treatment regimens for young people with allergic asthma could significantly improve their quality of life.

Stephen J. Teach, MD, MPH, medical director and principal investigator of IMPACT DC, a program of pediatric asthma care and research at Children’s National Medical Center, and one of the Site Principal Investigators for the ICAC study, noted “the next step for the ICAC is to focus more closely on the role of omalizumab in reducing fall exacerbations of asthma.” and that may help many children, and their parents, breathe a little easier.

SOURCE:Children’s National Medical Center

I need information on eating disorders in adolescents?

I need information as soon as possible both adolescents with Anorexia or Bulimia. What is the cause? What are the symptoms? about as many teenagers in the U.S. suffer from anorexia or bulimia? How long can an eating disorder to go? are they easy to overcome? What treatment is needed to overcome an eating disorder? Can you overcome a disorder food without professional help? Why so many people misunderstand eating disorders? please write everything you know, thanks.

that is very complicated. for the long answer, go to web sites that offer to you. in a nutshell: – many factors, mainly a distorted self-image and low symptoms of self-esteem … deterioration of tooth enamel, hair loss, weight loss, moodiness – MANY! – Years and years and years – are not easy to overcome at all – Professional therapy – yes, it worked for me – not because many people do actually take time to understand things, they are afraid of things that understand, and people ridicule and judge things now are afraid to check out these sites for full description: webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/ hw49747.asp webmd.com/hw/mental_health/hw46499.asp

Uncomfortable

Zionsville – A confirmed case of whooping cough (pertussis) is being reported at Zionsville High School.

The school notified parents that some students may have been exposed in class or on the bus. They're asking parents to be alert for symptoms. if students are showing symptoms, parents should seek treatment immediately and keep their child at home.

Symptoms usually begin in 7-10 days following exposure, range 4-21 days. the first symptoms of pertussis are those of the common cold with a mild cough. after a week or two, the cough becomes more severe and may occur more frequently during sleep. As the cough gets worse, it usually includes a series of coughs (“coughing fits or spasms”).

People with pertussis may have vomiting following the coughing spell and have difficulty catching their breath, which may cause a whooping sound. However, adolescents, adults and very young infants may not develop the whoop. Generally, there is no fever or a low grade fever with pertussis.

If a doctor prescribes an antibiotic for treatment, the child must stay home until after taking the medicine for five full days. All household members of a suspected case or positive test result should also be given antibiotics for prevention.

Whooping cough can be avoided through immunization. sometimes it will infect immunized children, but symptoms will usually be milder than in unimmunized children.

It is recommmended you check the immunization status of all family members and make sure they are up-to-date for DtaP (a pertussis containing vaccine for persons less than seven years of age) or Tdap (a pertussis booster vaccine for persons 10-64 years of age). your physician or local health department should be able to assist you in determing if vaccination is needed for any of your family members.

Learn more about whooping cough.

It is not a death-threatening ailment but it is a big source of discomfort caused by headache, fever and fatigue

Common cold, a viral infection involving the nose and throat is the most frequent illness in the world. It is estimated that children in preschool and elementary school could have six to 12 colds per year while adolescents and adults have two to four colds per year.

The disease otherwise known as catarrh and medically referred to as a viral upper respiratory tract infection is a very contagious disease that could be caused by a number of different types of viruses. more than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause common cold, with rhinovirus causing approximately 30 to 35 percent of all adult colds. Other commonly implicated viruses include coronavirus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza virus. due to so many different viruses that could cause a cold and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them and it becomes a frequent and recurring problem.

Osas Omorogieva, a medical doctor with Ola Iya Specialist Hospital, Ojuelegba, Lagos, said the symptoms of the common cold typically begin two to three days after acquiring the infection. he explained that the symptoms  vary depending on the virus responsible for the infection and might include: nasal stuffiness or drainage, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, hoarseness, cough, watery eyes, low-grade fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue. “The signs and symptoms of the aliment in infants and children are similar to those seen in adults. The cold may begin with a runny nose with clear nasal discharge, which later may become yellowish or greenish in color. Infants and children may also become more fussy and have decreased appetite. The symptoms of the common cold will typically last anywhere from four to 14 days, with most individuals improving in one week,” he said.

Infection is either by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the airborne virus after individuals sneeze or cough. Person-to-person transmission often occurs when an individual who has a cold blows or touches his nose and then touches someone or something else. “A healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these secretions could subsequently become infected, often after his contaminated hands make contact with their own eyes or nose. A cold virus could live on objects such as pens, books, telephones, computer keyboards, and coffee cups for several hours and can thus be acquired from contact with these objects,” he said.

Common cold which occurs most frequently during the rainy season and harmattan period could occasionally lead to bacterial infections of the middle ear or sinuses, requiring treatment with antibiotics. The cases of swollen glands, severe sinus pain, and a cough that produces mucus might indicate a complication or more serious illness requiring a visit to the doctor.

Though some medical experts are of the opinion that one could get a cold from exposure to cold or overheated weather, studies have shown that there is no connection between common cold and cold temperatures. rather, it is thought that during cold weather people spend more time indoors in close proximity to each other, thus facilitating the spread of the virus. for this same reason, children in day care and school are particularly prone to acquiring the common cold.

However, there are several ways to prevent cold or passing it on to others. Omorogieva said because cold germs on the hands could easily enter the eyes and nose, hands should be kept away from those areas of the body and that if possible, avoid being close to people who have colds. “if you have a cold, avoid being close to people. Whenever you sneeze or cough, cover your nose or mouth, and sneeze or cough into your elbow rather than your hand. Hand washing with soap and water is the simplest and one of the most effective ways to keep from getting cold or giving it to others.

Medical experts claim that there is no cure for the common cold, but one could get relieved from cold symptoms by resting in bed, drinking plenty of fluids, gargling with warm salt water or using throat sprays for a scratchy or sore throat, using petroleum jelly for a raw nose and taking aspirin or acetaminophen.

According to Ayodele Falase, a cardiologist, and former vice chancellor, University of Ibadan, several things, including lack of rest during the period when one has cold symptoms, can disrupt the workings of the heart muscles and subsequently lead to heart problems. “Individuals may not be able to do much about infection of the heart, but if you have cold or cold symptoms, go and rest. if you have cold and you want to jog it out, it could destroy the heart muscles. You need to rest during cold symptoms. when you rest, the heart gets better, the body gets better and then you can go on. these are some of the things that could ensure a healthy heart. Eating a good diet with low cholesterol content, controlling blood pressure, not overeating, weight control and exercising could also help to maintain a healthy heart,” he said.

DECATUR – Earlier this month, the Macon County Health Departmentreported an increase in pertussis, commonly known as whoopingcough. According to a recent news release, threelaboratory-confirmed cases and two probable cases were identifiedin early December, a trend that holds true in Illinois and otherstates.

As of the beginning of December, 813 cases of pertussis had beenreported in Illinois for 2010 – 165 more than were seen in all of2009. According to the release, California has reported 10 infantdeaths from pertussis this year.

Pertussis is especially dangerous to infants, who cannot bevaccinated. They experience more serious illness and are morelikely to require hospitalization or have serious complications,the release said.

The illness, which begins with a cough and symptoms similar tothose of a cold, can occur between five and 21 days after exposure.According to the health department, after initially appearing, thesymptoms worsen over a period of weeks and can cause coughingspasms and the characteristic “whoop” of breathing inafterwards.

“Some adolescents and adults may demonstrate a milder form ofthe illness, so mild they don’t even know they are sick,” therelease stated.

The health department’s communicable disease department isimplementing a variety of strategies designed to reduce the spreadof the disease. One initiative involves educating medical providersabout the importance of recognizing pertussis symptoms early andfollowing up with proper tests, treatments and reporting.

Advising those who have been in close contact with reportedpertussis cases and reminding those with symptoms to stay home andaway from those at risk of complications are among the otherelements of the department’s effort.

The health department also advises that parents and caregiversof infants and those who have never received a tetanus, diphtheriaand pertussis (Tdap) vaccination do so to help protect those athigh risk of complications and themselves.

The Macon County Health Department will provide the Tdap vaccineat no charge for adult caregivers and parents of WIC infantsthrough Dec. 29. the vaccine also is available at many area medicalproviders’ offices or at the health department from 1 to 3:30 p.m.Wednesdays for $53, according to the release.

For more information, call 423-6988 or visitmaconcountyhealth.org.

Report specifies that foster care may increase a child’s chances of suffering from sexual transmitted disease (STD) in adolescent stage. The youths are highly prone to STD because of increased exposure to sexual and physical abuse, violence, neglect from parents, substance abuse, poverty, mental disorder or criminal justice system in the adulthood. Research suggests that younger people who are under influence of the above factors are more likely to acquire sexual infections as compared to other adolescents.
A study was conducted to assess the exact situation with 7,563 girls and 6,759 boys who went through a questionnaire about foster care, sexual behaviors and experience in their life. Studies indicate that girls in foster care are more like to get Trichomonas instead of gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Boys on other hand are likely to contract STD disease gonorrhea and Chlamydia than trichomonas.  
This happens due to fact that girls under foster care gets engaged in sex with casual partners out of frustration or have sexual intercourse for money. They tend to indulge in sexual activities at much younger age with multiple sex partners. Boys do not indulge as such in risky sexual behaviors when compared with other boys who have not been in foster care.
Whatever is the situation, adolescent boys and girls need to undergo STD test and treatment if they experience any symptoms for sexual infection. Nowadays several clinics and hospitals provide test which are reliable and maintain patient’s privacy. Active sexual partners should also take their partners for STD test for earlier prevention of the disease. 

A spike in whooping cough cases in November has prompted the DuPage County Health Department to send an alert to schools, day-care centers and physicians.

Last month, 17 cases of pertussis, mostly in children and adolescents, were reported to health authorities. the year-to-date total in DuPage County is 57 cases, compared to 26 in 2009.

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“Our intention is to break the cycle,” said David Hass, health department spokesman. “If people are ill, we want people to stay home.”

Pertussis is a highly infectious illness with a distinctive “whooping” cough that can be severe enough to trigger vomiting or crack a rib. most people recover completely.

However, the disease can be life-threatening to those in high-risk groups, especially babies under 1 year and children who have not been fully immunized.

Early symptoms include a runny nose, slight fever and mild occasional cough lasting for at least two weeks.

Whooping cough patients must stay home until at least five days after starting antibiotic therapy, health authorities said.

Frequent hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes also can help prevent the spread.

Infants and young children receive a series of vaccines against pertussis (along with diphtheria and tetanus) during their first five years. a booster vaccine is recommended for adults and adolescents at age 11 or older.

The highest incidence of whooping cough in DuPage County so far occurred in 2004, when there were 127 cases.

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Topeka (WIBW) – when a teenager has to be hospitalized, they usually don’t appreciate being around the babies and toddlers. In much the same way, someone in their early 20s might not be comfortable rooming with a senior citizen.

Stormont-Vail HealthCare recently created a place just for these young adults. The Young Adult Center is a unit that targets the needs of those aged 15 to 25.

Hospitalist Dr. Kevin Dishman says young adults have different needs than the adults usually seen on adult floor, who are usually elderly. The younger patients, he said, need more social interaction and they need to be around people their own age and can identify with.

That’s also true of teens. Pediatric hospitalist Dr. Kirsten Evans says being separated from younger children helps them feel they’re not being talked down to. she says adolescents will talk to you more openly if they feel you’re treating them seriously as adult. having them answer questions about their symptoms and pain more honestly helps doctors treat them more appropriately.

Evans and Dishman also says the Young Adult Center helps the transition from pediatric to adult care, particularly for those with conditions like muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis who are living longer.

Evans says the Young Adult Center helps the pediatricians work together with their adult colleagues on issues one or the other may not be used to dealing with.

In addition to knowledge and medical tools, the rooms in the Young Adult Center are equipped with video game consoles and wireless access – just part of meeting the needs of an age group previously caught in the middle.