Children's Health

Abraham Vidaurre, 12, checks his arm after receiving an HPV shot in Corpus Christi, Texas. The vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls.

Parents Feel Better About HPV Shots For Preteens If They Can Opt Out

1:25pm August 19, 2016

by Tara Haelle

The HPV vaccine prevents cancer, but in a survey most parents said they don't want it to be required for school. They're much happier with a mandate if they're given an opportunity to opt out.

Health & Safety

Falls From Strollers And Baby Carriers Can Cause Serious Injuries

3:51pm August 18, 2016

by Rob Stein

Though they're generally safe, strollers and baby carriers are associated with thousands of trips to the emergency room for very young children. Falls are more common than you might think.

Usain Bolt in 2006 in Kingston, Jamaica. The world's faster sprinter grew up in a remote, rural part of the island.

A Surprising Theory About Jamaica's Amazing Running Success

3:05pm August 18, 2016

by Charles Bethea

How did a modestly-sized, developing country become dominant in sprinting?

Women may have different ways of coping with childhood stresses than men, which may increase their risk of health problems in adulthood.

Abuse In Childhood Raises The Risk Of Early Death For Women

12:25pm August 17, 2016

by Katherine Hobson

The link isn't definite, but it matches other research that suggests that difficult experiences in childhood affect physical health years down the line. Just how that happens remains a mystery.

Hearing Officer Jim Teal presides over a session of Early Intervention Family Drug Court in Sacramento, Calif., in March. The county program helps keep families together — and saves taxpayers $7 million annually, Sacramento County officials say.

California Court Helps Kids By Healing Parents' Addictions

6:37pm August 16, 2016

by Jenny Gold

A special court in Sacramento, Calif., aims to keep families together by getting treatment for parents who have substance abuse problems, instead of sending off their kids to foster care.

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Conjoined Twins In Syria Evacuated From Rebel Stronghold

12:13pm August 16, 2016

by Alison Meuse

Syrian aid workers evacuated a set of twins — joined at the chest and abdomen — from a besieged suburb to the capital Damascus. Activists hope the evacuation will lead to life-saving surgery abroad.

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FluMist is a live attenuated vaccine, which should make it more effective than the inactivated virus in flu shots.

Study Says FluMist Vaccine Does Indeed Work, Contradicting CDC

8:32pm August 15, 2016

by Tara Haelle

In June, the CDC said the popular nasal flu vaccine isn't effective based on its use in U.S. children. But a new Canadian study says that it does indeed work. It's not at all clear who's right.

A sign over the Flint River in Flint, Mich. in January 2016.

Federal State Of Emergency Over Lead-Laced Water Ends In Flint, Mich.

11:28am August 14, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

The federal state of emergency in Flint, Mich. expires today, as the city continues to navigate a public health crisis caused by lead-laced water.

Three parasitic worms (from left): male blood fluke, which can range in size from 0.2 inches to 4 inches; tapeworm, which can grow up to 30 feet in length; and microfilaria. The images were color enhanced.

Health & Safety

Why I'm Fascinated By Parasitic Worms

7:00am August 13, 2016

by Perri Klass

To many parasitic worms, we are the world. And the way they've evolved to live within us — without wiping us out — is stunning.

Mayor Karen Weaver takes a sip of water at the House Democratic Steering & Policy Committee hearing titled, "The Flint Water Crisis: Lessons for Protecting America's Children."

Flint Mayor: 'Everybody Played A Role In This Disaster'

11:45am August 12, 2016

by NPR Staff

As a federal state of emergency ends for Flint, Mich., Mayor Karen Weaver says residents don't trust that government officials have fully addressed the lead contamination of their water.

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