Children's Health

Confused about whether your health plan is ACA-compliant? To be sure you're using your state's official marketplace, start with HealthCare.gov, and click on "see if I can change."

Your 2018 Health Plan Must Comply With ACA Rules Or You Risk Tax Penalties

7:59pm February 27, 2018

by Michelle Andrews

The tax reform law passed in December did repeal the Affordable Care Act's penalties for not having comprehensive health insurance. But the penalties are still in effect until 2019.

Despite a push in recent years for healthier snacks and more exercise for U.S. kids, the prevalence of obesity is still too high, pediatricians say.

No Downturn In Obesity Among U.S. Kids, Report Finds

9:47pm February 26, 2018

by Rob Stein

The childhood obesity epidemic rages on in the United States, with a big surge among the youngest kids, according to the latest government data.

It's easy to mistake adolescent depression for something else, child psychiatrists say; the signs can include misbehavior, eating problems or sleep trouble.

Pediatricians Call For Universal Depression Screening For Teens

5:11pm February 26, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

The nation's leading group of pediatricians has updated its guidelines for tackling teen mental health issues. One recommendation: Annual depression screening for all adolescents 12 and older.

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Health & Safety

How One Country Drastically Cut Its Newborn Death Rate

8:57am February 25, 2018

by Nurith Aizenman

A UNICEF report cites "alarmingly high" death rates for newborns in many countries. But Bangladesh stands out for its remarkable progress.

When wildfire smoke choked their community last summer, Amy Cilimburg (left), the director of Climate Smart Missoula, helped Joy and Don Dunagan, of Seeley Lake, Mont., get a HEPA air filter through a partnership with the Missoula City-County Health Depar

When Wildfire Smoke Invades, Who Should Pay To Clean Indoor Air?

8:14am February 25, 2018

by Nora Saks

Public health agencies are set up to regulate air pollution from cars, trucks and factories. Wildfire smoke presents a different set of threats, prompting some of those agencies to rethink priorities.

Wildfire smoke filled the sky in Seeley Lake, Mont. on Aug. 7, 2017. Weather effects concentrated the accumulating smoke, chronically exposing residents to harmful substances in the air.

Montana Wildfires Provide A Wealth Of Data On Health Effects Of Smoke Exposure

8:08am February 24, 2018

by Nora Saks

Last summer's wildfires handed scientists a rare chance to study effects of smoke on residents. Most previous work had been on wood-burning stoves, urban air pollution and the effects on firefighters.

Toddler milks are more expensive and generally less nutritious than milk, says a researcher.

Toddler Milks: Filling A Nutritional Need Or A Marketing Niche?

3:22pm February 20, 2018

by Menaka Wilhelm

When parents transition a baby from breast milk or formula to cow's milk, it can seem like a big jump. We talk with a researcher who looked at just what's in the array of toddler drinks on the market.

Abraham Vidaurre, 12, checks his arm after receiving an HPV vaccination at Amistad Community Health Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 2016. Though gender differences in vaccine rates have narrowed, more girls than boys tend to get immunized against HPV.

This Vaccine Can Prevent Cancer, But Many Teenagers Still Don't Get It

9:33am February 19, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

The HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer in women and some cancers in men. It's most effective when given early in adolescence. But a new analysis finds only 29 percent of teens get it by age 13.

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Next month in the U.K., anyone at a major grocery store looking to buy a soft drink with more than 150 mg of caffeine per liter will need to present an ID.

U.K. Supermarkets To Ban Energy Drinks For Shoppers Under 16

2:03pm February 16, 2018

by Menaka Wilhelm

In March, many U.K. grocery stores will check IDs for energy drink purchases. Teachers, nutritionists and public health researchers have called for the measures — as has celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Several Planned Parenthood chapters and other groups involved in prevention of teen pregnancy are suing the administration for halting funding for their programs.

Trump Administration Sued Over Ending Funding Of Teen Pregnancy Programs

6:26pm February 15, 2018

by Alison Kodjak

Several Planned Parenthood chapters and other groups are suing the federal government because they say their grants for sex education and pregnancy prevention were canceled without explanation.

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