Science Snippets
Here is a roundup of recent findings from scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, home to one of the country’s largest pediatric research programs.
Removing Barriers to More Outside, Active Play
A new study of outdoor physical activity at child care centers, conducted by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s, has identified some surprising reasons why kids may avoid active, outdoor play. “It’s things we never expected, from flip flops, mulch near the playground, or children who have no coat on chilly days, to teachers talking or texting on cell phones while they were supposed to be supervising the children,” says Kristen Copeland, MD, lead author of the study. “This initial qualitative research has identified a number of issues that we will explore in subsequent studies. Finding out what the barriers are is the first step in addressing the problem and getting more kids involved in more, much-needed physical activity.”
Kids More Vulnerable to Harmful Lead at Age 6
Contrary to prevailing assumptions, children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of lead exposure at the age of 6 than they are in early childhood, according to recent research from Cincinnati Children’s. “Although we typically worry about protecting toddlers from lead exposure, our study shows that parents and pediatricians should be just as, if not more, concerned about lead exposure in school-aged children,” says Richard Hornung, DrPH, the study’s main author. Even low lead levels have been associated with hyperactivity, or ADHD, lowered performance on intelligence tests, and deficits in fine motor function, hand-eye coordination and reaction time. Check in regularly with your child’s physician about lead testing.
Children Hospitalized for Flu: Higher Costs, Higher Risk
After analyzing data in three US cities over the course of three flu seasons (2003-2006), researchers found that 90 percent of the highest-cost hospitalizations for children were linked to influenza, or flu with an infection of the respiratory tract. “Our study emphasizes the importance of ensuring that children and people they are in regular contact with be immunized for flu. It’s vital to protect their health and to avoid the high costs of hospitalizations that are preventable,” says study co-author Mary Staat, MD, PhD, a physician and researcher in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Cincinnati Children’s.
