Latest news with #infanthealth
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
No evidence linking vaccines to sudden infant deaths: doctors
The claim linking SIDS -- the sudden death of a seemingly healthy infant, generally during sleep -- to vaccines was shared in a lengthy Malay-language Facebook post from April 25, 2025. It begins by quoting a Dr Paul Thomas as saying: "97 percent of children die from SIDS 10 days after vaccination." It goes on to say that taking the full vaccination schedule puts children at risk of death, something that has been "known for decades" and that "deaths from vaccination are higher than deaths from disease". The quotes are taken from an interview of Thomas, clips of which are included in the posts. He is shown saying: "It's real clear, you get a vaccine, your infant dies." Similar posts sharing the video also surfaced elsewhere on Facebook. But the posts feature a doctor who had his licence suspended in 2020 on an emergency basis after Oregon state's medical board found evidence he had "violated standard medical practices related to vaccines", according to a report in local media (archived link). "The Oregon Medical Board took the unusual step after reviewing evidence that alleged Thomas guided his patients away from getting the standard course of childhood vaccinations -- and that patients suffered vaccine-preventable diseases possibly as a result," read the report. Thomas voluntarily surrendered his medical licence in 2022 (archived link). The interview was also broadcast by Children's Health Defense -- a group that has previously spread vaccine falsehoods (archived link). AFP has also repeatedly debunked similar claims linking vaccination to SIDS. According to the United States' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Public Health Agency of Canada, the exact causes of SIDS are unknown but vaccines are neither a cause nor are they linked to SIDS (archived here and here). The American Academy of Pediatrics also says there is no evidence of a causal relationship between immunisations and SIDS, adding that "vaccination may have a protective effect against SIDS" (archived link). Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia paediatrician Dr Norazlin Kamal Nor told AFP that given SIDS peaks at around two to four months -- when childhood vaccines are administered -- this could be used to mislead the public about a link (archived here and here). Norazlin said multiple studies have shown there is no conclusive link between vaccines and SIDS, which she said can be reduced by avoiding "unsafe sleep environments" such as sleeping on the stomach and using soft bedding. She called on parents to not be misled and vaccinate their children according to schedule to prevent potentially serious, infective illnesses. "A reduction in vaccination rate can also lead to loss of herd immunity in the community and increase the risk of infections like measles," she added. International bodies such as the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) and health agencies like the CDC recommend infants and children be vaccinated before they come into contact with life-threatening diseases (archived here and here). They also point out that vaccines go through rigorous safety tests, including clinical trials, before they are approved for the public (archived link).
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
South Carolina parents arrested after infant found with rat bite marks
The Brief The parents of a 6-month-old baby girl in South Carolina were arrested after the infant was found with multiple bite marks from a field rat. The baby is currently recovering in the hospital, and bite marks were also found on her twin brother. The parents have been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, and all three of their children are now in custody. BELTON, S.C. - The South Carolina parents of a baby girl have been arrested and charged after the infant was found with bite marks from a field rate. The backstory The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said the 6-month-old girl is recovering in a hospital after a "large rate starting eating the child" inside a home earlier this month. Deputies responded to the home after the mother called 911 from finding blood covering the bassinet and the infant. Bite marks were found across the baby's arms, back of the head, ears and face. Marks were also found on her twin brother. Deputies then interviewed the parents, 24-year-old Akayla Bearden and Justin Bearden, and charged them with unlawful conduct towards a child. The couple's three children are in custody. What's next Deputies said the infant will stay in the hospital for several days while the case is being investigated. The Source The information in this story came from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, which provided details about the incident, the condition of the infant, and the investigation on its Facebook page. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
High levels of arsenic and cadmium found in rice sold in stores across U.S., report finds
A new report is bringing attention to toxic heavy metals and elements such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury that could be in your rice. The report, which comes from Healthy Babies, Bright Futures, an organization focused on babies' exposure to toxic chemicals, found arsenic in 100% of rice samples purchased from stores across the U.S. One in four rice samples also exceeded the federal limit of 100 parts per billion (ppb) of inorganic arsenic set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for infant rice cereal in 2021, according to the report. "No such limit exists for rice itself - the bags and boxes of rice served at family meals - despite it being widely consumed by infants and toddlers," the authors note. Overall, the levels of total heavy metals, including cadmium, lead and mercury, ranged, on average, from 63 ppb to 188 pbb among the rice samples — though some samples exceeded 240 ppb, for example. The report tested 105 different brands, including Trader Joe's, Ben's and Goya, from 20 metro areas across the country, from New York City to Los Angeles and Miami. Of the four toxic heavy metals found, arsenic was found at the highest levels and cadmium was second. Lead and mercury were found at the lowest levels. In an emailed statement to CBS News, the USA Rice Federation said Thursday, "We know that arsenic in food is alarming for many consumers and that you may have questions. And while we do not agree that there is a public health safety issue as a result of trace amounts of arsenic in rice, we will continue to work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure the U.S. rice supply meets any threshold established." Very low levels of inorganic and organic arsenic are found in many food products, according to the National Institutes of Health. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than the naturally occurring form of the mineral arsenic, and the health effects from exposure are more severe, according to the FDA. The Environmental Protection Agency has labeled inorganic arsenic a carcinogen, or a substance that causes cancer. For those looking to reduce exposure, Healthy Babies, Bright Futures suggested a few options: Cook rice like pasta: "Research shows that cooking rice in 6 to 10 cups of water per 1 cup of rice and draining the excess water before eating can remove a significant amount of arsenic," the report read. Use rice alternatives: The organization's testing found alternatives such as quinoa, barley and couscous contain lower levels of total heavy metals. Choose your rice wisely: The organization also found some types of rice had higher levels of heavy metals and elements than others. They suggest opting for Calrose, sushi, and white rice grown in California, along with jasmine rice from Thailand or Basmati rice from India, while avoiding those found to have higher levels, such as brown rice, white rice grown in the Southeast U.S. and arborio rice (risotto) from Italy.
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
I was on the roof smoking weed as my baby girl fought for her life in hospital – and I used the drug constantly through both of my pregnancies. This is the startling truth about being a middle-class 'addict': ELIZABETH WALKER
Lying motionless in a hospital bed, surrounded by beeping machines attached by wires to her tiny body, my four-month-old daughter was fighting for her life. As a new mother, I felt guilty for not spotting the signs of bronchiolitis, a viral lung infection that can leave infants gasping for breath, before it got this far.
Wall Street Journal
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Wall Street Journal
‘What to Expect' Author Heidi Murkoff Lists California Home for $7.6 Million
Heidi Murkoff, author of the bestselling pregnancy guide 'What to Expect When You're Expecting,' spends a lot of time on the road advocating for maternal and infant health. So while she and her husband love their Richard Neutra-designed house in Encino, Calif., they aren't able to spend much time there as they would like. They are listing the circa-1951 Midcentury Modern home, which they renovated, for $7.6 million.
