Latest news with #infanthealth
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
This is why you shouldn't put make-up on children
Would you dab perfume on a six-month-old? Paint their tiny nails with polish that contains formaldehyde? Dust bronzer onto their cheeks? An investigation by the Times has found that babies and toddlers are routinely exposed to adult cosmetic products, including fragranced sprays, nail polish and even black henna tattoos. While these may sound harmless – or even Instagram-friendly – the science tells a more concerning story. Infant skin is biologically different from adult skin: it's thinner, more absorbent and still developing. Exposure to certain products can lead to immediate problems like irritation or allergic reactions, and in some cases, may carry longer term health-risks such as hormone disruption. This isn't a new concern. A 2019 study found that every two hours in the US, a child was taken to hospital because of accidental exposure to cosmetic products. Newborn skin has the same number of layers as adult skin but those layers are up to 30% thinner. That thinner barrier makes it easier for substances, including chemicals, to penetrate through to deeper tissues and the bloodstream. Young skin also has a higher water content and produces less sebum (the natural oil that protects and moisturises the skin). This makes it more prone to water loss, dryness and irritation, particularly when exposed to fragrances or creams not formulated for infants. The skin's microbiome – its protective layer of beneficial microbes – also takes time to develop. By age three, a child's skin finishes establishing its first microbiome. Before then, products applied to the skin can disrupt this delicate balance. At puberty, the skin's structure and microbiome change again, altering how it responds to products. The investigation found that bronzers and nail polish were being used on young children. These products often contain harmful or even carcinogenic chemicals, such as formaldehyde, toluene and dibutyl phthalate. Toluene is a known neurotoxin, and dibutyl phthalate is an endocrine disruptor – a chemical that can interfere with hormone function, potentially affecting growth, development and fertility. Both substances can more easily pass through infants' thinner, more permeable skin. Even low-level exposure to formaldehyde, such as from furniture or air pollution, has been linked to higher rates of lower respiratory infections in children (that's infections affecting the lungs, airways and windpipe). Irritating ingredients In the US, one in three adults experiences skin or respiratory symptoms after exposure to fragranced products. If adults are reacting, it's no surprise that newborns and children with their developing immune systems are at even greater risk. Perfumes often contain alcohol and volatile compounds that dry out the skin, leading to redness, itching and discomfort. Certain skincare ingredients have also been studied for their potential to affect hormones, trigger allergies or pose long-term health concerns: alkylphenols used in detergents and cosmetics may disrupt hormone activity antimicrobials such as triclosan can interfere with thyroid hormones and contribute to antibiotic resistance bisphenols, (BPA widely used in packaging are linked to hormone disruption. cyclosiloxanes (D4 and D5) may accumulate in the body and affect hormonal balance ethanolamines can react with other ingredients to form nitrosamines, some of which are potential carcinogens parabens are preservatives that mimic oestrogen, though some studies suggest minimal risk at low doses phthalates used in fragrances and plastics are linked to reproductive toxicity, especially in early-life exposures benzophenone is found in many sunscreens and some forms may act as allergens and hormone disruptors. While many of these ingredients are permitted in regulated concentrations, some researchers warn of a 'cocktail effect': the cumulative impact of daily exposure to multiple chemicals, especially in young, developing bodies. Temporary tattoos Temporary tattoos, particularly black henna, are popular on holidays but they aren't always safe. Black henna is a common cause of contact dermatitis in children and may contain para-phenylenediamine (PPD), a chemical approved for use in hair dyes but not for direct application to skin. PPD exposure can cause severe allergic reactions and, in rare cases, cancer. Children may develop hypopigmentation – pale patches where colour is lost – or, in adults, hyperpigmentation that can last for months or become permanent. Worryingly, children exposed to PPD may experience more severe reactions later in life if they use hair dyes containing the same compound. This can sometimes lead to hospitalisation or even fatal anaphylaxis. Because of these risks, European legislation prohibits PPD from being applied directly to the skin, eyebrows, or eyelashes. 'Natural' doesn't mean harmless Products marketed as 'natural' or 'clean' can also cause allergic reactions. Propolis (bee glue), for instance, is found in many natural skincare products but causes contact dermatitis in up to 16% of children. A study found an average of 4.5 contact allergens per product in 'natural' skincare ranges. Out of 1,651 'natural' personal care products on the US market, only 96 (5.8%) were free from contact allergens. Even claims like 'dermatologically tested' don't guarantee safety; they simply mean the product was tested on skin, not that it's free from allergens. Babies and young children aren't just miniature adults. Their skin is still developing and is more vulnerable to irritation, chemical absorption and systemic effects: substances that penetrate the skin can enter the bloodstream and potentially affect organs or biological systems throughout the body. Applying adult-targeted products, or even well-meaning 'natural' alternatives, can therefore carry real risks. Adverse reactions can appear as rashes, scaling or itchiness and, in severe cases, blistering or crusting. Respiratory symptoms like coughing or wheezing should always be investigated by a medical professional. When in doubt, keep it simple. Limit what goes on your child's skin, especially in the early years. Adam Taylor is a Professor of Anatomy, Lancaster University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Dad shook baby so hard he caused terrible brain injuries then blamed the dog
A young father shook his baby so hard he caused terrible brain injuries then lied to doctors and police and blamed the dog, a court has heard. The actions of Dafydd Rutherford caused the weeks-old infant to suffer multiple bleeds on the brain with devastating and life-long consequences. Swansea Crown Court heard the defendant belatedly admitted shaking his baby out of frustration, saying he did not want to hurt his child but to "stop [the baby] crying". Rutherford's advocate said the offence was born of "immaturity, impulsivity, and recklessness" and said the reality was his client - who was 19 at the time - "simply wasn't ready for a child." Megan Williams, prosecuting, told the court the alarm was raised by medics at Morriston Hospital after the injured infant had been brought in from their home in Swansea. Initially the child was noted to have a series of parallel bruises on the chest and to be "pale" in colour but then suffered a seizure. Subsequent head scans showed areas of bleeding on the brain, and the police and social services were alerted. READ MORE: Boy, 13, found dead in school playground READ MORE: Dad-of-two ambulance worker with 'cheeky smile' dies suddenly leaving 'gaping hole' The court heard the infant was rushed to the paediatric care unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where MRI scans showed bleeding to both sides of the brain, bleeding around the spinal cord, and damage to the brain caused by a lack of oxygen. The prosecutor said both the baby's parents were arrested. The court heard that during the course of a number of police interviews Rutherford denied being responsible for the injuries to his child saying the dog had knocked the baby's basket over. He said he had picked the baby up and when they went to sleep he put the child down and went into the kitchen. The defendant later admitted he had become frustrated at the dog barking and the baby crying and had shaken the infant "three or four times". The prosecutor said the defendant told officers "he didn't wish to hurt [the child] he simply wished to stop [them] crying". For all the latest court stories sign up to our crime newsletter The court heard the victim has been left with developmental delay as a result of injuries to the brain. In an impact statement from the baby's family which was read the court they described how they had been "torn apart" while the defendant remained silent about what he had done. They said in not telling the doctors what had really happened straight away so they could provide appropriate treatment, Rutherford had "chosen to help himself rather than help his [child.]" Dafydd Rutherford, now 22, had previously pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions. Stuart John, for Rutherford, said the defendant understands he has caused "irreparable damage" to his young baby and to the wider family. He said the offence was born from "immaturity, impulsivity, and recklessness" and was something the defendant would regret for the rest of his life. He added that the reality was at the time of the incident his client was a teenager and "was not ready for a child". Judge Catherine Richards told Rutherford his child had been just weeks old when he caused "devastating" injuries in what is typically characterised as "shaken baby syndrome". She said the defendant had then denied being responsible for the injuries until later admitting he had became frustrated at the dog barking and the baby crying and lost his temper. She said the fact Rutherford had initially denied the assault meant not only that doctors did not know what they were dealing with but that suspicion fell on other family members, something which was a significant aggravating factor in the case. With a discount for this guilty plea Rutherford was sentenced to 28 months in prison. He will serve up to half the sentence in custody before being released on licence to serve the remainder in the community.
National Post
6 days ago
- Health
- National Post
As RSV Season Approaches, the Federation of Medical Women of Canada Urges National Response to Protect Infants Across the Country
Article content FMWC's Maternal RSV Task Force releases new white paper highlighting gaps in access and calls for immediate action ahead of RSV season Article content TORONTO — Today, the Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) released its latest white paper through the Maternal RSV Task Force—a national group of experts in maternal, infant, and public health—highlighting the urgent need for equitable access to maternal RSV prevention across Canada. With the 2025–2026 RSV season approaching, the task force is calling for immediate action to protect infants, especially healthy, full-term newborns who account for the majority of severe RSV cases. Article content Article content Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the leading cause of infant hospitalizations in Canada, with 1 in 50 infants hospitalized during their first year of life 1. The RSV virus causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) 2, and babies who develop LRTI in early childhood have almost double the risk of premature death from respiratory disease relative to unaffected individuals. 3 Although two newly approved RSV immunization options have been authorized by Health Canada — a maternal vaccine RSVpreF (Abrysvo™, Pfizer) and a monoclonal antibody for infants nirsevimab (Beyfortus™, Sanofi) — access remains inconsistent across provinces and territories. Article content Ontario is leading by covering both RSVpreF for pregnant women and pregnant people and nirsevimab for infants, yet provinces like B.C. only cover the older monoclonal antibody, palivizumab, for high-risk infants — leaving 98% of infants unprotected and at risk for RSV. 4 'With two safe and effective immunization options now available, we have the tools to protect infants from RSV—but awareness, access, and equity remain critical challenges,' says Dr. Vivien Brown, Family Physician and Co-Chair of the FMWC Maternal RSV Task Force. 'This white paper highlights the urgent need for national coordination, public funding, and ongoing education to ensure that every pregnant woman and pregnant person, regardless of where they live, can protect their infant from this serious and preventable disease.' Article content The white paper outlines 13 short- and long-term recommendations to improve RSV prevention in Canada, including: Article content Public funding for RSV immunization (maternal vaccine year-round; nirsevimab seasonally) Authorizing pharmacists to administer publicly funded vaccines Tailoring education for a range of healthcare providers, including midwives and pharmacists Engaging with manufacturers to clarify the predicted availability of immunization options Implementing a universal, national immunization registry Strengthening national guidance on vaccination and provincial implementation Article content 'This is fundamentally about health equity,' says Dr. Shelley Ross, Family Physician and Co-Chair of the FMWC Maternal RSV Task Force. 'Our hope is that by providing a clear, evidence-based roadmap that outlines the steps we can take as a united healthcare system, we can close the gaps and ensure every infant in Canada has the opportunity to be protected from RSV, regardless of geography or circumstance.' Article content The task force also launched a national hub for healthcare providers and the public, offering up-to-date information and comprehensive educational resources on RSV and RSV protection strategies. Article content The FMWC urges pregnant women and pregnant people to speak with their healthcare providers about RSV prevention options and calls on policymakers to help close the access gap as the upcoming 2025–2026 RSV season begins. Article content For more details on the FMWC Maternal RSV White Paper and its recommendations, please visit Article content About FMWC Article content The Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) is a national organization recognized for its leadership and advocacy for women's evolving health. We are committed to promoting the well-being and health of women and women-identifying individuals both within the medical profession and society at large. The FMWC has a 100-year history in Canada, is a member of the non-governmental organization (NGO) section of the Department of Global Affairs at the United Nations (UN) and is a member of the Medical Women's International Association (MWIA), making us a part of the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSO). For more information, please visit: Article content _____________________________ 1 Government of Canada. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide. immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/ Updated May 14, 2025. Accessed May 21, 2025. 2 Sanchez-Martinez A, Moore T, Freitas TS, et al. Recent advances in the prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus disease. J Gen Virol. 2025;106(4). doi: 10.1099/jgv.0.002095 3 Zar HJ, Cacho F, Kootbodien T, et al. Early-life respiratory syncytial virus disease and long-term respiratory health. Lancet Respir Med. 2024;12(10):810-821. 4 Paes B, Brown V, Courtney E, et al. Optimal implementation of an Ontario nirsevimab program for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) prophylaxis: Recommendations from a provincial RSV expert panel. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024;20(1):2429236. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media: Article content Article content Article content Article content
Malay Mail
15-07-2025
- Health
- Malay Mail
UN warns of ‘devastating consequences' as aid cuts disrupt global infant vaccinations
GENEVA, July 15 — Global infant vaccination levels have stabilised after shrinking during the Covid crisis, the UN said today, but it warned that misinformation and drastic aid cuts were deepening dangerous coverage gaps and putting millions at risk. In 2024, 85 per cent of infants globally, or 109 million, had received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP), with the third dose serving as a key marker for global immunisation coverage, according to data published by the UN health and children's agencies. That marked an increase of one percentage point and a million more children covered than a year earlier, in what the agencies described as 'modest' gains. At the same time, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one of their DTP doses last year, including 14.3 million so-called zero-dose' children who never received a single shot. While a slight improvement over 2023, when the United Nations said there were 14.5 million zero-dose children, it was 1.4 million more than in 2019 -- before the Covid pandemic wreaked havoc on global vaccination programmes. 'The good news is that we have managed to reach more children with life-saving vaccines,' UNICEF chief Catherine Russell said in a joint statement. 'But millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases,' she said. 'That should worry us all.' Deeply unequal The World Health Organization meanwhile warned that the planet was 'off track' for reaching its goal of ensuring that 90 percent of the world's children and adolescents receive essential vaccines by 2030. 'Drastic cuts in aid, coupled with misinformation about the safety of vaccines, threaten to unwind decades of progress,' warned WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Tuesday's report cautioned that vaccine access remains deeply unequal, with widespread conflicts eroding efforts to boost vaccine coverage. Dramatic cuts to international aid by the United States in particular, but also by other countries, could further worsen the situation. 'Our ability to respond to outbreaks in nearly 50 countries has been disrupted due to the funding cuts,' UNICEF immunisation chief Ephrem Lemango told reporters. While lack of access was the main cause of low coverage globally, the agencies also highlighted the threat of misinformation. Dangerous immunity gaps Dwindling trust in 'hard-earned evidence around the safety of the vaccines' is contributing to dangerous immunity gaps and outbreaks, WHO vaccine chief Kate O'Brien told reporters. Experts have sounded the alarm in the United States especially, where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has himself long been accused of spreading vaccine misinformation, including about the measles vaccine, even as the US grapples with its worst measles epidemic in 30 years. Last year, 60 countries experienced large and disruptive outbreaks of the highly contagious disease, nearly doubling from 33 in 2022, the report showed. An estimated two million more children worldwide were vaccinated against measles in 2024 than the year before, but the global coverage rate remained far below the 95 percent needed to avert its spread. On a positive note, Tuesday's report showed that vaccine coverage against a range of diseases had inched up last year in the 57 low-income countries supported by the vaccine alliance Gavi. 'In 2024, lower-income countries protected more children than ever before,' Gavi chief Sania Nishtar said. But the data also indicated 'signs of slippage' emerging in upper-middle and high-income countries where coverage had previously been at least 90 percent. 'Even the smallest drops in immunisation coverage can have devastating consequences,' O'Brien said. — AFP
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gut Microbe Deficiency in U.S. Babies Tied to Asthma, Allergies, Autoimmune Disorders
Dirty diapers are more than a messy reality of infant care—baby poop can be an indicator of an infant's gut microbiome and future health. Scientists recently published the first two years of data from My Baby Biome, a seven-year research project that represents one of the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. infant microbiome studies to date. The findings, which came out in Communications Biology in June, are concerning: more than 75 percent of the babies in the study were deficient in key gut bacteria that are associated with a healthy microbiome. Nearly all the infants displayed deficiencies in gut microbes of some kind. These deficiencies led to a significantly increased risk of those children developing allergies, asthma or eczema, according to the study. 'Three-quarters of babies are at heightened risk of atopic conditions because of the composition of their microbiome,' says Stephanie Culler, senior author of the new study. 'That, for us, was the really big alarm.' Culler is CEO of Persephone Biosciences, a biotech company in San Diego, Calif., that runs the My Baby Biome project and funded the research. [Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter] A healthy infant gut microbiome is critical for immune development, and an abnormal microbiome puts babies at a higher risk of being diagnosed with certain autoimmune disorders such as asthma and type 1 diabetes. But a lack of robust data on infant microbiomes in the U.S. has held back researchers. Culler and her colleagues used social media and word of mouth to recruit the families of 412 infants to take part in the study. The children came from 48 states and were representative of U.S. demographic diversity. To identify the types of microbial species that were present, the team analyzed bacterial DNA in stool samples that were collected when the children were infants, and, for 150 of them, additional samples from when they were one-year-olds. They also measured other molecules in the samples that gave clues about microbial activity in the children's gut. Additionally, about half of the participating families gave follow-up information about health outcomes when the children were two years old. Based on the results, only 24 percent of infants had a healthy microbiome. The rest were deficient in Bifidobacterium—a crucial group of bacteria associated with a lower risk of a host of noncommunicable diseases. A quarter of infants lacked any detectable level of Bifidobacterium at all. In Bifidobacterium-deficient children, the researchers also detected higher levels of potentially harmful microorganisms, bacteria with antimicrobial-resistance genes and molecules that pathogens use to cause disease. As two-year-olds, those children had a three times greater risk of developing allergies, asthma or eczema compared with those with a healthy microbiome. The researchers did not find any demographic or socioeconomic trends that could explain why certain children had a deficient microbiome or went on to develop a health condition, suggesting that these outcomes could affect 'basically any baby,' Culler says. The team did find that breastfeeding was associated with a greater concentration of Bifidobacterium in children who were vaginally birthed. But the data showed that the combination of vaginal birth and breastfeeding was still not sufficient to ensure a healthy microbiome because many of these children went on to develop chronic disease, Culler says. Researchers in other countries have reported similarly alarming findings. Last year, for example, scientists in the U.K. found Bifidobacterium species in very low abundance in the gut microbiomes of around one-third of 1,288 infants they tested. Those infants' microbiome was instead dominated by Enterococcus faecalis, a species associated with antibiotic resistance and negative health outcomes. The recent U.S. study supports previous research that established the relationship between Bifidobacterium in infancy and health, says Willem de Vos, an emeritus professor of human microbiomics at the University of Helsinki, who was not involved in the new work. De Vos and his colleagues' 2024 study of 1,000 infants in Finland also suggests that Bifidobacterium species play key roles in intestinal microbiota development—and that the presence of these species is associated with positive health outcomes in children for at least five years. But the new U.S. study adds an important nuance: it revealed that a particular species of Bifidobacterium—Bifidobacterium breve—was associated with a decreased risk of disease in two-year-olds, whereas another related species, Bifidobacterium longum, did not seem to play a role in reducing that risk. These findings 'are highly interesting and important,' de Vos says. Erin Davis, a postdoctoral fellow in pediatric allergy and immunology at the University of Rochester, who was also not involved in the new work, agrees that the species-related findings are striking. 'What was unexpected was how different infant Bifidobacterium species differentially impacted relative risk of adverse health outcomes,' she says. What is driving the changes in babies' gut microbiome is unknown. But comparisons of infant microbiomes from industrialized and nonindustrialized communities, such as Old Order Mennonites, suggest that various features of modern living are likely to blame. Such factors could include the overuse of antibiotics, the oversanitization of the environment, a reduction in breastfeeding, a lack of physical contact with other babies, adult humans and animals, and more, says Matthew Olm, an assistant professor of integrative physiology at the University of Colorado Boulder, who was not involved in the new study. 'Bifidobacteriathrives on breast milk, and it's conceivable that when only 20 percent of mothers breastfed in the 1970s, it caused a population-level decrease that we're still living with today,' Olm says. 'Even though more than 80 percent of infants are breastfed today, there may just be less bifidobacteria in the environment to colonize these babies.'
