Children's Health

Frito-Lay reformulated Flamin' Hot Cheetos, a perennial favorite among school kids, to meet new federal "Smart Snack" rules for schools.

Guess What Makes The Cut As A 'Smart Snack' In Schools? Hot Cheetos

4:07pm April 08, 2015

by Monica Eng

Frito-Lay has reformulated Flamin' Hot Cheetos to meet new federal nutrition standards for school snacks. That's been a big hit with school kids, but the rules' creators say the snack is still junk.

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The number of women buying, selling and sharing breast milk is growing rapidly. But it can be a risky purchase, scientists say, because a mom can't tell by looking at the milk whether it's safe and nutritious for her baby.

Breast Milk Sold Online Contaminated With Cow's Milk

7:54pm April 07, 2015

by Michaeleen Doucleff

We're not talking about just a smidge. Roughly 10 percent of samples tested contained at least 10 percent cow's milk. Doctors say the diluted milk could be dangerous for babies for several reasons.

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Rethinking How To Care For California's Most Troubled Children

6:25pm April 04, 2015

NPR's Arun Rath talks with ProPublica's Joaquin Sapien about his investigation of California's largest residential facility for emotionally troubled youth.

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You really should go out and play. But I can't blame the TV for your nearsightedness.

Will Your Child Become Nearsighted? One Simple Way To Find Out

5:13pm April 03, 2015

by Nancy Shute

If you're not a bit farsighted at age 6, you're much more likely to be nearsighted by age 12, a study of thousands of children finds. A simple eye refraction exam can spot it early on.

Jump off a roof? Ride a bike while texting? Well, what do you think?

Tweeners Trust Peers More Than Adults When Judging Risks

3:33pm April 01, 2015

by Nancy Shute

We all tend to adjust our opinions based on what other people think. But young teenagers pay far more attention to other teens than they do to adults, a study finds. That explains a lot, doesn't it?

Mary Harris was relieved when Stella was born with a mop of thick black hair, as if she had been protected from the chemo somehow.

Pregnant With Cancer: One Woman's Journey

2:25pm March 30, 2015

by Mary Harris

Mary Harris found out she was pregnant the day before she had scheduled surgery for breast cancer. It turns out there is limited data on how chemotherapy during pregnancy affects a baby.

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Two drops of polio vaccine are administered to a child in a Nigerian health clinic.

What's Up With Parents Who Don't Vaccinate Their Children?

2:10pm March 27, 2015

by Susan Brink

It could be a lack of confidence in the medicine. Maybe they don't think the risk of infection is that high. Or the clinic may be far from home. A new report looks at reasons in five countries.

Most teenagers with mental health problems don't get any help.

New York City To Teens: TXT ME With Mental Health Worries

12:57pm March 27, 2015

by Maanvi Singh

In an effort to connect teenagers with mental health services, New York is testing counseling via text for high school students. They join a growing trend.

The H1N1 swine flu virus kills some people, while others don't get very sick at all. A genetic variation offers one clue.

A Single Gene May Determine Why Some People Get So Sick With The Flu

5:07pm March 26, 2015

by Poncie Rutsch

A single genetic mutation might decide who ends up in bed with the sniffles and who heads to the hospital, because it shuts down immune system molecules called interferons.

Dr Donald Pinkel, first medical director at St. Jude, led the hospital's leukemia research trials in the 1960s.

How 2 Children With Leukemia Helped Transform Its Treatment

9:50am March 25, 2015

by Amanda Aronczyk

Cancer treatment for kids has changed dramatically since the 1960s. Back then, doctors experimented with approaches that seemed promising but were also potentially toxic. Some survivors look back.

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