#6084
UNCONTROLLED ASTHMA LEADS TO SCHOOL/WORK ABSENTEEISM
(Tuesday, October 23, 3:30 PM EST)
A new study shows that asthma left uncontrolled will lead to significantly more days off of school and work. The study, from National Jewish Medical and Research Center, in New York, with support from Wyeth Research and Cerner LifeSciences, compared absenteeism rates of more than 40,000 children and adults with controlled and uncontrolled asthma, and the absenteeism rates of their caregivers. Results showed that uncontrolled asthma yielded as many as 2 to 3 times more days absent from school and work.
#5822
WHAT KIDS KNOW ABOUT TOBACCO
(Tuesday, October 23, 3:30 PM EST)
A new study surveys how much young children know about the ill effects of tobacco smoke. Researchers from Baylor College of Medicine and Texas A&M administered questionnaires to more than 4,000 first, second, and third grade students, none of whom had undergone previous antismoking programs. Results showed that while overall knowledge about the ill effects of smoking was good, there was still room for improvement. Researchers suggest implementing antismoking classes as early as the first grade.
#5051
COMMON CAUSES OF COUGH IN CHILDREN
(Wednesday, October 24, 1:30 PM EST)
A new study has identified the three most common underlying causes of chronic cough in children. Forty children, who experienced cough for a period of at least 8 weeks, underwent an extensive medical workup, which included chest x-ray, bronchoscopy, and lung function tests. Researchers from West Jefferson Medical Center in Louisiana found that allergies, acid reflux, and asthma accounted for 90% of the underlying symptoms.
#5785
PHONE TRIAGE FOR VENTILATOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN
(Wednesday, October 24, 1:30 PM EST)
New research finds that a phone triage program for the caregivers of children who require invasive mechanical ventilation provides a safe and cost effective alternative to a trip to the doctor. The program allowed caregivers to call a nurse or pediatric nurse practitioner for issues related to pulmonary exacerbations in the pediatric patients. After reviewing records, researchers from the University of Michigan found the program yielded significant savings, and provided safe and effective care for patients.
#5608
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS IMPROVE LUNG FUNCTION
(Wednesday, October 24, 1:30 PM EST)
Researchers from Manhasset High School in New York say a student athlete’s respiratory muscles can be trained and strengthened through athletic activity. The spirometric values of both student athletes (swimmers and wrestlers) and non-athletes were analyzed and the differences between the two were calculated. Researchers found that athletes had significantly better lung function when compared to the non-athletes. They also found that among the athletes, wrestlers were shown to have better lung function than swimmers.