The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Infants' Category

Dog and cat exposure and the risk of respiratory symptoms and infections

Thursday, August 2nd, 2012

Researchers in Finland and Germany studied the first year of life. (more…)

Influence of maternal DHA supplements on infant morbidity

Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

Researchers in the US and Mexico studied the effects of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on immune function and inflammation. (more…)

Prevalence of supplement and tea use among infants

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Researchers in Ohio and Maryland describe the use of dietary botanical supplements and teas among infants. (more…)

CAM: It might be “natural,” but is it safe?

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Not always, according to this report from the Royal Children’s Hospital, in Melbourne, Australia. (more…)

Music therapy for preterm infants and mothers

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Researchers at Meir Medical Center, in Kfar Saba, Israel, studied the response to live harp music therapy and kangaroo care in the neonatal intensive care unit. (more…)

Vitamin A supplements prevent morbidity and mortality in children

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Vitamin A deficiency is a major public health problem in low and middle income countries and can lead to many adverse health consequences, including death.

This Cochrane review evaluated the effect of vitamin A supplementation in children aged 6 months to 5 years. (more…)

Chiropractic care of infants with colic

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

Researchers in Pennsylvania and California reviewed the evidence on the chiropractic care of patients with infantile colic. (more…)

Review: Probiotics to treat diarrhea

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

Here are 2 Cochrane reviews that evaluate the evidence for using probiotics to treat persistent diarrhea, and the value of probiotics + rehydration to treat diarrhea.

(more…)

Review: CAM for infantile colic

Monday, March 28th, 2011

Almost all babies go through a fussy period. When crying lasts for longer than about 3 hours a day and is not caused by a medical problem (such as a hernia or infection), it is called colic.

Prof. Ernst and colleagues evaluated nutritional supplements and other complementary and alternative medicines. (more…)

Using sucrose to control pain in newborns

Friday, March 18th, 2011

Sucrose has pain relieving and calming effects in newborns. But do these beneficial effects extend to care-giving procedures performed after painful procedures?

Researchers at the University of Toronto in Ontario report their findings, with an update for 2011. (more…)

Does zinc prevent middle ear infections?

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by infection) affects people of all ages, but is particularly common in young children.

This Cochrane review evaluated studies of children younger than 5 years. (more…)

CAM use among US adolescents

Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Prof. Ernst sees encouraging evidence for some treatments.

But does it matter? (more…)

Synbiotics and preventing asthma-like symptoms in infants

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Researchers at the Academic Medical Center, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands studied symbiotic therapy to prevent asthma-like symptoms in infants with atopic dermatitis–chronic inflammation of the skin. (more…)

Might vitamin D deficiency make you chubby?

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Less vitamin D means more adiposity, according to researchers in the US and Bogota, Columbia. (more…)

Sweet solutions help infants tolerate immunizations

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Researchers from The Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, Canada reviewed the evidence for giving sweet solutions to infants before immunization. (more…)

Consumer Alert: Hyland’s Teething Tablets

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

Oh, Oh. They added belladonna.

FDA found that this homeopathic product contains inconsistent amounts of belladonna, and using it may pose a risk to children. (more…)

Lack of effect of omega-3 on maternal depression and baby’s intelligence

Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

International experts recommend that pregnant women increase their DHA intakes.

But researchers at the Women’s and Children’s Health Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia, failed to identify benefits in the DOMInO (DHA to Optimize Mother Infant Outcome) study. (more…)

Infants not consuming adequate vitamin D

Wednesday, October 6th, 2010

In November 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) doubled the recommended daily intake of vitamin D for infants and children, from 200 IU/day (2003 recommendation) to 400 IU/day.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, Georgia assessed whether infants in the US are meeting these recommendations during their first year of life. (more…)

Giving sugar to infants to control pain

Saturday, September 4th, 2010

Researchers at the University College London, in the UK, tell us, “Many infants admitted to [the] hospital undergo repeated invasive procedures. Oral sucrose is frequently given to relieve procedural pain in neonates on the basis of its effect on behavioral and physiological pain scores.”

Here are the results of their study that measured brain activity during an acute painful procedure. (more…)

FDA issues vitamin D recommendations for infants

Wednesday, June 16th, 2010

The FDA is alerting parents and caregivers that some liquid Vitamin D supplement products are sold with droppers that could allow excessive dosing of Vitamin D to infants. (more…)