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Public health advice on safety of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks likely needs revising

Detailed review of 21 cases of acutely ill children linked to these products prompts concerns Public health advice on the safe consumption of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks, also known as slushees, may need revising, conclude researchers after carrying out a detailed review of the medical notes of 21 children who ...

Poor childhood social and cognitive skills combo linked to teens’ poor exam results

These children up to 4 times as likely not to pass 5 GCSEs as those without such issues These issues may account for around 17% of exam fails in 16 year olds, say researchers  The combination of poorly developed social and cognitive skills during childhood is linked to poor exam ...

Likely 50-fold rise in prevalence of gender related distress from 2011-21 in England

But condition still uncommon, affecting fewer than 1 in 200 17-18 year olds, figures suggest Levels of anxiety, depression, and self-harm are high among recorded cases Accessing timely care live issue for young people and their families, second study shows The prevalence of psychological distress caused by a mismatch between ...

Major uncertainties remain about impact of treatment for gender related distress

Syntheses of available evidence suggest it’s impossible to determine pros or cons Findings on puberty blockers and gender affirming therapy back those of Cass Review Major uncertainties remain about the impact of puberty blockers and gender affirming hormone therapy on children and young people with gender related distress (gender dysphoria), ...

No evidence for belief that nut allergens spread through aircraft ventilation systems

Surface residues pose main risk, likely heightened by fast turnarounds of many low-cost carriers But allergic reactions to food 10–100 times less common during flights than ’on the ground’ There is no evidence for the commonly held belief that nut allergens can be spread through aircraft ventilation systems, say allergy and ...

Some teen girls clocking up close to 6 smartphone hours/day, Finnish study finds

Proportion may be ‘addicted’ to social media and have poorer mental health and wellbeing Some teenage girls are clocking up close to 6 hours a day on their smartphones, with a significant proportion of them likely addicted to social media, finds research published online in the journal Archives of Disease in ...

Evidence for puberty blockers and hormone treatment for gender transition wholly inadequate

Most clinical guidelines currently in use aren’t evidence based either Gender medicine “built on shaky foundations,” says Dr Hilary Cass in The BMJ The evidence on the use of puberty blockers and hormones for children and young people experiencing gender related distress is wholly inadequate, making it impossible to gauge ...

Air quality around planned new schools in England “alarmingly poor”

Most (86%) sites exceed WHO air quality targets for major pollutants, analysis reveals Make air quality assessment mandatory to protect children’s health, urge researchers The air quality around planned new schools in England is “alarmingly poor,” with 86% of sites exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) targets on major air pollutants, ...

Excess weight in primary school girls linked to GP visits for musculoskeletal issues

More likely than healthy weight peers to see a doctor at least once about these issues Primary school girls between the ages of 4 and 11 with a body mass index (BMI) considered overweight or obese are more likely to see a family doctor (GP) at least once about musculoskeletal ...

Fastest growth in childhood overweight/obesity in England among 11-15 year olds

Prevalence has risen from just under 30% in 1995 to 38% in 2019 amid widening inequalities  The fastest and highest growth in the prevalence of childhood obesity in England has been among 11-15 year olds, rising from 30% in 1995 to 38% in 2019, finds a detailed analysis of national ...

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