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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 ...

Strip searching a child without appropriate consent is “sexual abuse,” insists expert

Heavy sanctions needed for police officers who do this, backed up by legislation, he says Strip searching a child without appropriate consent is “sexual abuse,” and should attract heavy sanctions—backed up by legislation—for any UK police officer who does it, insists a leading paediatrician in an opinion piece, published online ...

Significant gaps in UK public awareness of tell-tale cancer signs in kids and teens

Just 1 in 3 adult survey respondents felt confident in recognising symptoms Findings indicate need for initiatives to plug this knowledge gap, say researchers There are significant gaps in the UK public’s awareness of the tell-tale signs and symptoms of cancer in children and teens, with just a third of ...

Mediation’s role in disputes about child’s medical treatment questioned

Might have avoided only just under half of these court cases since 1990 in England and Wales The role of mediation in preventing disputes between parents and doctors about a seriously ill child’s medical treatment from escalating to litigation may be more limited than hoped for, suggests an analysis of ...

Breastfeeding for longer may be linked to better exam results in later life

Longer duration of breastfeeding associated with modest gains in academic achievement in teenage years, study suggests Children who are breastfed for longer appear to be more likely to gain slightly better results in their school GSCEs at age 16 compared with non-breastfed children, suggests a study published online in the ...

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