Children’s Center - October 2013 Archives

The reach of social media cannot be denied. It has the potential to connect us, inform us and empower us to achieve healthier, happier lives. That is certainly true when it comes to raising public awareness about medical challenges and solutions. In fact, this past week Mayo Clinic invited doctors, researchers, patients and caregivers to explore the possibilities at The 5th Annual Health Care Social Media Summit. Dennis Douda profiles one of the speakers who is already making a big difference in the lives of others. [pkg. 2:12] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AjHr1NqXuI Journalists: Broadcast quality video and audio is available in the downloads. Click here for a transcript of the video report.  Learn more about the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media.

Whether children are old enough to go out for Halloween trick-or-treating on their own or you're going with them, Joseph Behn, M.D., a family practice physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in Onalaska, Wis., recommends reviewing safety tips with them: Food poisoning is always a concern when it comes to Halloween treats. Don’t leave perishable goodies out of the fridge for more than two hours (one hour in temperatures above 90°F). Cold temperatures help keep most harmful bacteria from multiplying. Food poisoning symptoms vary with the source of contamination. Children with diabetes can eat candy, but the carbohydrates the treats contain should be factored into the child’s meal plan for that day and the child’s insulin level adjusted accordingly. Dr. Behn also recommends parents inspect candy before allowing children to eat it. Have children wear reflective strips on clothing, stick to familiar neighborhoods, set rules about where they'll go and when they'll return, and carry a cell phone in case of emergency. To interview Dr. Behn, contact: Rick Thiesse  Mayo Clinic Health System  608-392-9435 or thiesse.ricky@mayo.edu

One of the top reasons people search the Mayo Clinic website is for information about skin disorders.  On Saturday, Oct. 26, Dawn Davis, M.D., will ...

A Mayo Clinic physician and two other pediatric experts say that parental perceptions pose a major barrier to acceptance of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination — and that many of those perceptions are wrong. Their comments are published in the September issue of Expert Review of Clinical Immunology, in an editorial on why HPV vaccination rates remain poor. “The greatest misperception of parents is that the HPV vaccine isn’t needed,” says Mayo Clinic’s Robert Jacobson, M.D., lead author of the editorial. “Not only is that wrong, it’s a dangerous idea to be spreading around. Recent figures show that at least 12,000 unvaccinated women develop cervical cancer from HPV every year.” Other incorrect perceptions: The HPV vaccines are not safe, and they are given to children when they are too young. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Jacobson and b-roll are available in the downloads. To read the full news release click here.

Expectant moms have yet another good reason to get their flu shot. It may lower their new baby’s risk of autism. "From a public health point of view, this is very exciting news," says Greg Poland, M.D., head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "About 1 in 88 kids or so in the U.S. are getting diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), so this is a major public health issue and the potential benefit is huge." The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says autism has increased tenfold over the past 40 years. So, who wouldn’t roll up their sleeve to lower the risk?  [TRT 1:42] Journalists: To read a transcript of the video report click here. Additional b-roll is available in the downloads. REFERENCES: [1.] Pediatrics, 2012 Dec;130(6):e1447-54. doi: 10.1542/peds.2012-1107. Epub 2012 Nov 12.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23147969 [2.] NIH/National Inst. Of Mental Health   http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2013/flu-in-pregnancy-may-quadruple-childs-risk-for-bipolar-disorder.shtml [3.] Pediatrics, 2001 May;107(5):E84.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11331734 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bnf-L5fERxM

THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES   Asthma For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance. For others, it can be a major problem that interferes with ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3oZrMGDMMw Outbreaks of pertussis or 'whooping cough' are being reported across the country, and according to a recent study published online in the journal Pediatrics, the ...