Mad Cow Disease, Babywalkers, Evidence-Based Medicine Online, Polio, Rubella, Measles & Flu in Infancy, Child Poverty, House Dust Mite, Asthma, Adolescent Sex, Mercury in Fish, Labour & Walking, Obesity, Wheat-Free Diets, Game Boy Alert

MAD COW DISEASE

A report in this week’s British Medical Journal discussed the results of the study of tonsillar and appendix pathology. You may remember that samples of people’s tonsils and appendixes, removed routinely, were to be tested for the presence of the abnormal proteins associated with new variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. The tissue was tested anonymously to try and predict how bad the epidemic of variant CJD was going to be. When people known to have died from variant CJD had their appendix tested, 19 out of 20 samples showed positive for the abnormal prion protein indicative of variant CJD. In the healthy general population however, out of 8318 samples from people aged 10 to 50, only one contained the prion protein.

This gives an estimated prevalence of only 120 per million, much lower than was initially feared.

Read Accumulation of prion protein in tonsil and tissue.

BABYWALKERS

Recent research suggested that babywalkers delayed crawling and walking and as an estimated 50% of babies in Britain use them we need to know if this has a long-term effect. They have also been implicated in accidents allowing babies extra mobility to reach hot drinks or fall down stairs. Interestingly one study looked at 15 pairs of twins, one of each pair being put in a babywalker, and found no difference in the age of walking. However an injury rate of 8.9 children per 1000 from babywalkers has been recorded by some hospitals and studies have also found that most accidents happen while an adult is in the same room. In Canada, babywalkers have been banned and a ban has been recommended in the US. Professor Taylor calls for a ban on baby walkers in this article Babywalkers; also read Locomotor milestones and babywalkers. Do you think parents should have the choice? Let us know on our message boards.

EVIDENCE BASED ONLINE HEALTH

This week the general public are allowed access to the Cochrane Library and also Clinical Evidence, a journal which provides information on treatments and diseases in an evidence based manner – i.e. the treatments have been scientifically assessed. It is a huge source of information for patients with specific health worries – probably most useful for families with specific diseases requiring long-term treatment, and is the information doctors use when deciding which treatments are best.

Read about it at Online patient information and access the information at Clinical Evidence (subscription necessary) and at the National Electronic Library for Health.

POLIO EPIDEMIC IN INDIA

There has been a huge outbreak of Polio in Uttar Pradesh in India – travellers should ensure that their vaccinations are up to date before travelling there. Read polio and also Polio epidemic hits Uttar Pradesh.

RUBELLA RISING

An increasing number of babies are being born handicapped and growth retarded in London – could this be due to low levels of MMR uptake? See Congenital rubella.

Chiropractors and homeopaths are advising against the MMR vaccine, which may be exacerbating the low uptake. Read Aspects of MMR. Also interesting is how public perception of the safety of MMR has been shaped by the media’s attempt to give both sides of the story – see Both sides now. Plus, don’t forget the new MMR website set up by the Department of Health MMR The facts. Also read about general falls in vaccination rates at MMR scare has led to huge slump in childhood immunisations. And see our section on MMR.

MEASLES AND FLU IN INFANCY LEADS TO AN INCREASED RISK OF BRAIN CANCER

According to this article on a report from the University of Newcastle, another risk for families with unvaccinated older siblings.

CHILD POVERTY IN THE UK

A report by Save the Children this week points out inequalities in health care in the UK. Teenage conception rates, child suicide and other indicators have fallen but obesity, diabetes and sexually transmitted disease rates are rising. Also fewer children are being immunised. Regional variations are interesting – Northern Ireland has the highest infant mortality rate and the lowest teenage pregnancy rate, whereas in Scotland, they have the worst diet and highest suicide rate but also the best educational attainment. The most worrying part of the report, which can be read at Save the Children Fund (UK): Making a difference was that many families have to consistently rely on cheap food lacking in nutrition and that young people in the UK have among the worst diets in the world. UK food poverty could contravene UN human rights.

HOUSE DUST MITE

A report in this week’s Thorax journal found that mattress covers designed to reduce allergy had a significant effect on reducing the levels of hose dust mite (known to be a cause of asthma) in carpet free bedrooms, however there was no improvement in the patient’s symptoms. Read Anti-allergy mattresses. This may mean that other measures such as regular damp dusting and removing excess fabrics such as carpet underlay or curtains are more effective; if you find your child’s asthma or eczema does respond to such measures don’t give them up because of this report. You can read in full about measures to control house dust mite in our section on asthma.

ASTHMA PEAK THIS WEEK

Apparently there is always a rise in asthma cases on the third Monday of the September school term – probably due to viruses. This year there was a sudden drop of temperature this Monday as well – a known factor in increasing admissions for asthma – see Black Monday for asthma sufferers.

Also read Text messaging can help young people manage asthma.

ADOLESCENT SEX

News in Brief in the British Medical Journal reported that half of all mothers of sexually active teenagers thought that their children were still virgins. Read In brief.

Also see Parents are an untapped resource in sex education.

MERCURY IN FISH

Regular readers of Tigerchild will know about the small risk from mercury in vaccines and also the high levels of mercury in some deep-sea fish such as tuna – see Vaccine – Mercury in Vaccines. A report in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has linked a high consumption of fish to infertility and blames mercury – see Infertility, blood mercury concentrations and dietary seafood consumption: a case control study.

WALK DURING LABOUR

A campaign was launched this week to get mothers to walk around during labour – it shortens the length of time in labour and decreases complications. See Stand up for less pain in labour, women are told - the report was compiled by the NCT.

OBESITY IN YOUNG IS LINKED TO CANCER

According to a new report report from Bristol University, they found increased risks of prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women.

See our section on obesity.

WHEAT-FREE DIETS ARE DANGEROUS AND UNSCIENTIFIC

According to Professor John Warner at the University of Southampton – who also calls it ‘witchdoctery’ – read What's wrong with wheat?.

GAME BOY ALERT

If you are travelling to Greece on holiday that is. Did you know that Greece has banned electronic games and you could be arrested at the airport if you try and bring one into the country? Read Gameboys banished from land of Olympics to curb gamblers' passion.