Archive for adolescent medicine
Poverty associated with suicide risk in children and adolescents
Suicide in children under age 20 has been increasing in the U.S., with rates almost doubling over the last decade. Between 2007 to 2016, nearly 21,000 children ages 5-19 years old died by suicide. While the reasons for the increase are not well understood, new research from Boston Children’s Hospital shows a link between poverty ... Read More about Poverty associated with suicide risk in children and adolescents
A nimbler way to track alcohol use: mining Twitter and Google searches
Large, survey-based studies are a slow, expensive way to collect rigorous public health data. New research, focusing on alcohol use, shows that mining Twitter and online searches could enable public health professionals to get immediate, localized insights, spot emerging trends, and even measure the effects of interventions. “Online user-generated data are fluid and nimble — ... Read More about A nimbler way to track alcohol use: mining Twitter and Google searches
Breast reduction surgery improves quality of life for teens
Bigger isn’t always better — especially when it comes to breast size for some young women. Teenagers with excessively large breasts may suffer from back and neck pain, bra strap grooving on their shoulders, and skin irritation under their breasts. They often also have trouble participating in physical activities and finding clothes that properly fit. Yet ... Read More about Breast reduction surgery improves quality of life for teens
High numbers of youth report using prescription opioids in the past year
A new analysis of data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health finds a surprisingly high prevalence of prescription opioid use among youth. As recently as 2015–2016, 21 percent of adolescents and 32 percent of young adults said they had used these drugs in the past year. Nearly 4 percent and 8 percent, ... Read More about High numbers of youth report using prescription opioids in the past year
What you need to know about vaping to keep children safe
Could your child be vaping? A growing number of middle and high school students today are using vaping products, also called e-cigarettes, JUULs, or dabs (used for vaping marijuana) among other names. Signs and symptoms of vaping can be difficult for parents to notice, but talking with your kids about vaping and monitoring for concerning signs ... Read More about What you need to know about vaping to keep children safe
Chemical screening suggests a two-pronged treatment for pediatric Ewing sarcoma
For children with Ewing sarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer, a combination of two different classes of drugs may work synergistically to turn off the drivers fueling this disease, finds a new study. The combination appears to be more powerful than relying on either treatment alone. The study, published online last month in Clinical Cancer Research, is the latest in a ... Read More about Chemical screening suggests a two-pronged treatment for pediatric Ewing sarcoma
A vaccine to prevent opioid overdose?
Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, who directs the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP) at Boston Children’s Hospital, was getting her youngest son ready for school, when her husband Ofer, an infectious disease physician at the same hospital, came to her with an offer. The NIH was soliciting proposals to develop an opioid vaccine. Would ... Read More about A vaccine to prevent opioid overdose?
Answers to six questions about anxiety in children and teens
Between school and social demands, lots of children feel stress, but at what point does anxiety cross the line and become a mental health concern? We sat down with Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, to better understand what separates serious forms of anxiety from normal worrying, ... Read More about Answers to six questions about anxiety in children and teens
Concerning rates of opioid prescribing to teens and youth
Teens and young adults are notably susceptible to misusing opioids and becoming addicted once exposed. Opioids should be used with great care in this group. Yet a large national study from Boston Children’s Hospital finds that opioid prescriptions to youth aged 13-22 are much like those in older adults. Based on 2005-2015 data from the ... Read More about Concerning rates of opioid prescribing to teens and youth