A worrying study of thousands of teenagers has concluded that – although migraine headaches are common – they aren’t being properly treated.  Most of the teenagers turn to over the counter relief, rather than being helped by their doctor.

 
The study was conducted by Paul Winner, and was supported by the U.S. National Headache Foundation.  It was, however, also sponsored by a drug company – who would have a vested interest in selling prescription drugs!  So perhaps this study should be taken with a small pinch of salt.

 
The study found that, over one year, 5% of boys and 8% of girls experienced migraine headaches.  Nearly two thirds only used over the counter medicine to treat their headaches.  The study also reported that some of the teens who were eligible for preventative migraine medicine didn’t receive it. 

April’s journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine has a special focus – the effect of media on children.  It includes several studies on the effect of violent TV and video games on children and their development.  Some of the researchers report that too much violent TV and video games can have a detrimental effect on children’s social and physical development.

 
One thing they conclude is pretty straight forward.  David S. Bickham, a research scientist at Harvard, concluded that the more TV and games they play they less time they spend with their friends.  Fairly obviously, this impacts on their social development.

 
Another report found that violent video games can promote risky behaviour in children, while another found that the labels on the games didn’t often make explicit what kind of bad language or images were in the game. 

It’s late at night, and your child has a bad cough.  What do you do?  If you decide to treat your child yourself with over the counter medicine, here are a few tips on making sure you treat your child safely and properly.

 
1.     It may sound obvious, but always read the label!  Make sure that you’re giving your child the correct amount.  Follow all the instructions carefully and thoroughly.
2.     Does the label say ‘not suitable for under 12s’?  Well if your child is ten, then don’t risk it.  The label says that for a reason. 
3.     Keep an accurate measure in your kitchen for medicines.  A tablespoon and a teaspoon are very different measurements – and not all household cutlery holds the same amount, anyhow!  A proper ‘food’ measure will keep you feeling safe and reassured that you’re giving your child the correct amount.
4.     If you’re at all worried – call your doctor. 

If your child has an ear infection, it can be a parent’s immediate thought that a visit to the doctor and loads of antibiotics are in order.  That’s not necessarily the case though.  According to the Washington State Department of Health, about three quarters of ear infections clear up on their own, no antibiotics needed.  If your child is a baby then it is best to visit the doctor, but older children might not need it.

 
So what should an anxious parent do to help their child?  Well, a good thing to do is to get your child to drink plenty of water.  A day off school or nursery is another good thing, as rest will help your child to heal.  To fight the pain, you may want to give your child a painkiller such as ibuprofen (always read the label), and a warm flannel pressed gently against the ear can help.

 
When should you visit the doctor?  If your child has an ear ache for more than 12 hours, then it’s a good idea to get thee to the doctors.  If the earache is accompanied by fever or by extreme pain, these are also good reasons to visit the doctor. 

Moms of teens who suffer from acne might be interested to learn that a new treatment for the self-esteem threatening condition might be on the way.  A dermatologist recently announced that he’s developed a laser which can target fat through the skin, without damage.
Dr Rox Anderson, who’s a professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, thinks there is promise in the new process, even though it’s only as yet been tested on animal fat.  The potential new treatment was presented at the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery annual meeting.
The aim of the treatment is to burn the fat beneath the skin, without actually harming the skin itself.  The treatment could be used as a new form of liposuction, could unclog arteries or – most important for acne sufferers – could kill the glands which produce the excess grease which causes acne. 

Mums and dads who snore could be causing their children unforeseen problems, according to a recent study.  It seems that the likelihood of snoring is increased in children whose parents already snore.
The study also found that children with allergies and asthma – or the precursor to this (atopy) are also likely to snore frequently.
What’s the problem with this?  Well according to the researchers, snoring is associated with many health problems such as heart disease, metabolic disorders and the development of learning disabilities. 
Dr Maninder Kalra, a professor at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center told journalists that early intervention could be vital in reducing death rates caused by sleep-disordered breathing.
The study was reported in the April issue of the medical journal Chest.  The children whose parents snored were, according to the study, nearly three times more likely to snore than those whose parents didn’t snore. 

It seems that school standards can play a vital part in the early discovery and diagnosis of ADHD.  A new study, published in the April issue of Pediatrics, explains more.  Apparently, one factor in whether ADHD is diagnosed is whether the school your child goes to has strict guidelines set up for improving and monitoring academic performance.
According to the study’s author, Helen Schneider, a professor in economics, if a school has strict accountability standards teachers might be more motivated to report problems with pupils.  But she did wonder whether this was such a good thing – and that behavioural problems might be treated with drugs rather than other methods if this was the case.
So what is ADHD?  It’s a condition whereby your child can’t pay attention or focus on anything for a period of time.  According to the National Institute of Mental Health, between 3 and 5% of American children have been diagnosed with ADHD – roughly one in every classroom.

When your little one’s teeth come through, it’s important to ensure that your child learns good teeth cleaning habits from the start – as good habits will set kids up for life.  It can be easy for mums and dads to be a little complacent about milk teeth – they will be replaced, so what’s the harm in a few cavities in early life?  Well, remember that your child may still have that decayed tooth until the age of twelve – causing pain and irritation.
So how can parents ensure that their little one’s teeth are kept clean and healthy?  Well the main cause of tooth decay is bacteria.  So the longer a child doesn’t clean his or her teeth, the longer the bacteria has to grow in the mouth.  Top tips include remembering not to give your child a bottle with a sugar drink or fruit juice, as this increases contact with the teeth.  If your child eats something particularly sweet and sticky, brush their teeth after, or at least make sure he or she washes it down with lots of water to flush out the mouth. 
A child can start using toothpaste from roughly the age of two – but mum or dad should still brush the teeth for them until the age of six.