Early vaccinations

(Best Syndication News) A medical group has declared that Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who first raised a concern between vaccinations and autism, says he carried out his research in an unethical and irresponsible manner. Wakefield denies the claims.

The doctor’s 1998 study reported that bowel symptoms in twelve children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders were linked to the MMR vaccine. The study, published in the Lancet medical journal, recommended separating the components of the injections by at least one year.

This raised concerns among parents around the world. The MMR vaccine is a mixture of three live attenuated viruses. It is usually administered in children through injection about the age of one. The second dose, not a booster, is administered before children start school

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[Best Syndication News] Ear infections in children are one of the most commonly seen problems in the doctor's office. A study conducted by UCLA and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston found that air quality improvements may reduce the amount of ear infections that kids may have. The study will appear in the February issue of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

The researchers looked at data of 120,060 children from the National Health Interview Survey from the years of 1997 and 2006. They looked specifically for number of times a child had ear infections (3 or more a year), respiratory allergy, and seizure activity, which were both studied as control conditions.

The researchers then collected the data from the EPA's air quality data on carbon monoxide, nitrous dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter for the same time periods. They noticed a pattern as the air quality improved there was less cases of ear infections.

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[Best Syndication News] The FDA have been researching the effects of Bisphenol A also called BPA a chemical that is found in plastic food containers which they have been recommending consumers to limit their exposure to plastic containers. The FDA has released an updated report on BPA which has been in hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s.

The FDA has expressed concerns about the safety of BPA and have written on their website, “FDA have some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.”

While the FDA believes it is safe they are recommending limiting BPA to children. Because of the FDA's concern of BPA they have been working with the National Toxicology Program with their National Center for Toxicological Research to further research the potential hazards of BPA. The FDA has a website dedicated to BPA and what they are currently doing to remedy the problem.

IKEA Leopard Highchair being Recalled

[Best Syndication News] There are around 600 LEOPARD Highchairs that were sold by IKEA that are being voluntarily recalled because a baby could fall out and choke. The recall was announced by the CPSC government agency along with IKEA.

There have been 11 reports of failed snap locks that hold the baby in place. Only one report was received were the baby was injured by falling through the frame. The infant had bruised legs. There was one report of a child chewing off a snap lock which is the reason for the risk of a choking hazard. All of the incidents happened outside of the United States.

The recall is for all colors of the LEOPARD highchairs sold as a seat and frame individually. Look underneath the highchair and you will see the words LEOPARD and “Made in Italy.” They were sold exclusively at IKEA stores from October 2009 through November 2009 for about $60 with the frame selling for $40 and the seat being sold for $20.

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[Best Syndication News] A study published online at the JAMA, reports that one dose of the H1N1 vaccine may be effective enough to protect children and infants from the spread of the influenza virus. The study was funded by the CSL Limited with funding from the Australian government's Department of Health and Ageing.

Originally it was recommended that children receive two doses of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A vaccine. Terry Nolan, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., from the University of Melbourne, Australia and colleagues studied 370 healthy infants and children that ranged in age from 6 months to 9 years that were given the H1N1 vaccination. They randomly assigned the children into two groups on would receive 15 micrograms or 30 micrograms of the vaccine in two separate injections 21 days apart.