Health Tips

PARENTS MISSING THE ANTIBIOTIC MESSAGE

A new UCLA study shows efforts to teach parents antibiotics are not necessary to treat their children's colds are failing to reach the Latino and Asian communities. New educational campaigns may be needed to connect with these groups, researchers said. The study also shows despite current educational efforts, physicians continue to prescribe antibiotics if they feel pressure from parents. "We know that patients with respiratory illnesses receive antibiotics 30 percent of the time," said lead investigator, Dr. Rita Mangione-Smith. "However, 55 percent of antibiotic prescriptions for these illnesses are not needed." She added antibiotics for the common cold are inappropriate and can lead to antibiotic-resistant infections.

MEDICAID KIDS AND THE ER

More U.S. children are going to hospital emergency rooms than ever, with many of their ER visits for non-urgent conditions. Three new studies by the University of Michigan Health System reveal children insured under Medicaid in the state are more likely to visit the ER than children insured privately. The Michigan results have implications for states across America, researchers said. "Our data confirmed some of the trends that have been suspected, such as the use of the ER for non-urgent care, but some of our findings challenge common perceptions," said Sarah J. Clark, senior author on the three studies. "For instance, because the shift to managed care has increased the number of Medicaid kids who have a primary care doctor or clinic to go to, or for their parents to consult about illnesses, they don't always have to rely on the ER as the first and only option. Their patterns of care are getting closer to what we see among children with private insurance."

WHITE GRAPE JUICE HELPS COLIC

Drinking white grape juice instead of apple juice means no increases in crying, abdominal discomfort or sleeplessness usually associated with colic in infants. New research published in the May issue of Pediatrics reports colicky infants fed apple juice experienced more crying and restlessness and slept less than colicky infants fed white grape juice. Colic is believed to affect between 10 and 25 percent of all infants in the United States. "Our study showed that babies with a history of colic are especially sensitive to what kind of juice they drink, said Fima Lifshitz, of Miami Children's Hospital and senior author of the research. "Previous studies have showed us that most young babies have a harder time digesting apple juice than white grape juice, so it makes sense that infants with colic would fare even worse when fed juice that is difficult to digest."

STOPPING THE 'OUCH' WITH NEEDLES

A new pain patch for children decreases pain from needle injections by as much as 40 percent, new research has found. The new transdermal patch, manufactured by Vyteris, Inc., a New Jersey-based company, delivers drugs such as lidocaine through the skin via an electric current. The patch, which is about to undergo review by the Food and Drug Administration, may help children and parents who fear the pain of needle injections, blood drawing procedures or immunizations. Injections are reported to be one of the most unpleasant medical procedures for children, one that research shows can leave lasting emotional scars.

(Editors: For more information on PARENTS AND ANTIBIOTICS, contact Amy Waddell at 310-794-8672 or awaddell@support.ucla.edu. For KIDS AND THE ER, contact Kara Gavin at 734-764-2220 or umhsmedia@umich.edu. For COLIC, Mary Martin at 804-231-0741 or mrmric@earthlink.net. For STOPPING THE 'OUCH,' Kristen Sargent at 973-635-6669 ext. 10 or ksargent@cstratinc.com)