National Children’s Study Underway in Orange County
University of California, Irvine, in partnership with CHOC Children’s, the Children and Families Commission of Orange County and the Orange County Health Care Agency, was selected to conduct the National Children’s Study – the largest and most comprehensive long-term study of environmental effects on child development and health.
Since last October, more than 20 babies have been born into Orange County families recruited to participate in the National Children’s Study, which will follow more than 100,000 U.S. children from birth to age 21.
CHOC researchers expect to attend 250 births a year for the next five years, said Brent Dethlefs, director of the CHOC Research Institute. Biological samples will be collected for the duration of the study.
Researchers will also assess environmental factors to examine the effect on birth defects and pregnancy-related problems; behavior, learning and mental health disorders; asthma, obesity, among others. The study is expected to help form the basis of child health guidance, interventions and policy for generations to come.
To learn more about this exciting study, please click here: http://www.choc.org/publications/articles.cfm?id=P00303&pub=PC&aid=560
Bailey is our champion, that’s for sure.
Bailey Spoonhower, 9, was treated at CHOC for, and beat, a rare type of cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma. He had some advice for kids that feel nervous about coming to the hospital.
Children’s Miracle Network and Walmart have named Bailey the Champion for California. To read more about our efforts with Children’s Miracle Network, click here.
Wordless Wednesday 7.28.2010
Pertussis: What Parents Should Know
Pertussis has certainly been getting a lot of press lately, but what exactly is it? Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious infection of the respiratory tract caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, and young infants are particularly vulnerable. It’s transmitted through close respiratory contact with someone who is infected.
Some of the first symptoms in adults and children include, a runny nose, sneezing, a mild, dry cough, and slight fever.
As of June 30th, in California there have been 1,337 cases of pertussis reported in 2010, including five infant deaths – in what seems to be the worst year of pertussis that our state has seen in more than 50 years.
To protect our community against the current epidemic levels of whooping cough, experts at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated.
In addition to the typical series of childhood pertussis immunizations, CDPH now recommends an adolescent-adult pertussis booster vaccine (T-dap). Adults who have contact with children under the age of 12 months, particularly new moms, are among those recommended to get the T-dap.
Please visit the Orange County Health Care Agency website http://ochealthinfo.com/pertussis for the most up-to-date recommendations and vaccine availability for you and your family.