Category: Parenting News

Many chronic pediatric medical conditions are fairly obvious. Asthmatics have difficulty breathing and will likely eventually be brought to the hospital to have it diagnosed. Obesity is another disorder that can generally be noticed even without a doctor's examination. However, certain risks to children's health and wellness are less clear because they lack visible physical symptoms. Depression may be one of the more significant ones. As children grow older, they go through a number of developmental phases, and parents might mistake long-term depression as just a phase the child is going through. 

While parents who suspect that their child might be depressed should have the condition diagnosed, there are a few risk factors that could lead to it in kids. A recent study from Public Health England discovered that too much television, video games and living an inactive lifestyle may lead to depression. As television viewing habits increased, kids' self-reported levels of happiness and self-esteem decreased. Additionally, longer-lasting television watching among younger children (1 to 3 years old) was linked with attention and hyperactivity disorders. Every hour spent in front of a screen increased the chance that a juvenile would have socio-emotional problems, the study authors explained. 

Children also reported having a higher degree of anxiety and unhappiness the more they played video games. Other outside factors were also found to affect a child's depression, with bullying and the local neighborhood both potentially influencing how kids feel. Mobile devices, as popular as they are for social activity like texting, were also found to lack the positive influence that face-to-face interaction can have. 

Understandably, greater physical activity was discovered to positively enhance how children feel, as did familial interactions such as regularly having meals together. Breakfast was also positively linked to how kids performed and acted throughout the day. 

Other potential signs of depression
Although more time spent watching television and playing video games may indicate depression and a lack of self-esteem, parents should not take those signs alone as evidence of the disorder. If they suspect their children may be depressed, they should be aware that the symptoms may change depending on how old their kids are. The Mayo Clinic noted that younger juveniles usually display irritability, hopelessness and worry, while adolescents tend to be more anxious, angry and averse to socializing. Schoolwork and sleep schedules may also be affected by the condition. Regardless, a medical assessment is the best way to verify just how a kid is feeling, and if it is a phase or something more serious. 

While professional help should be sought if a child is depressed, weaning kids off of television and video games may help improve their mood, as can greater interaction with family and friends. Placing greater emphasis on family meals may also be beneficial. Even for juveniles who aren't depressed, engaging in these measures can potentially prevent the condition from developing in the first place. 

From stubborn coughs to sore throats, health problems that impact children on a frequent basis can be frustrating for parents to cope with, especially if kids throw temper tantrums at the sight of liquid medicines meant to treat the conditions because they taste a little funny.

According to a new review published in the online version of Clinical Therapeutics, many kids may be rejecting medicine because they have an aversion to its taste, which may be too bitter or acidic for youngsters.

"The problems associated with pediatric drug formulations are enormous and can hinder optimal therapeutic outcomes," said lead author Julie Mennella, Ph.D., a developmental psychobiologist at the Monell​ Chemical Senses Center of Florida State University. "Both the complexity of bitter taste and the unique sensory world of children contribute to this critical issue."

According to the team of researchers led by Mennella, improving medicinal compliance among children may boil down to the simple matter of taste. Boosting drug adherence for kids can occur if parents try to keep this in mind as they discuss with doctors and pharmacists the different options available for treatment.

The full review includes a detailed analysis of the impact that bitter tastes have on children from a biological point of view, and it also explores the various taste responses that they may have to different medicines.

Organizations like the Pediatric Formulation Initiative were developed recently to address the unique needs that children have when it comes to medicines and ways in which pharmaceutical companies can address them through changes in pediatric formulations.

Making medicine taste better
When it comes to children's health and wellness, how can you as a parent try and overcome these challenges? While it may not seem like there is anything that you can do when it comes to making medicine taste better, the fact is, you do have several options.

Many parents decide to explore the benefits of custom flavoring for medicines. Children love having the opportunity to select a flavor that is pleasant for them, and it can also make the bitter taste of medicine go down more easily.

To learn more about custom flavoring, parents should speak with pharmacists about the different options that are available at their local pharmacies. Not all areas have custom flavoring available to consumers, but by reaching out and learning more, individuals can get a better sense of where to find it in local markets. 

Getting kids to eat all their vegetables is a struggle as old as time itself for some parents, and while some little ones may have a natural proclivity for that leafy green stuff, for most youngsters the mere thought of nibbling on a carrot or piece of broccoli is enough to trigger one mean temper tantrum.

Despite all the bellyaching that kids are sure to give over eating vegetables, most parents understand why it’s essential that children have a few servings throughout the day. And according to a recent study published in Psychological Science, the journal of the Association for Psychological Science, it may be possible to transform children’s reactions to eating veggies after all.

Researchers at Stanford University discovered that a conceptual approach to boosting nutrition, complete with talking to kids about why it is important that they eat a variety of vegetables, may resonate with youngsters on a deeper level.

“Children have natural curiosity – they want to understand why and how things work,” said the researchers. “Of course we need to simplify materials for young children, but oversimplification robs children of the opportunity to learn and advance their thinking.”

To boost children’s veggie consumption, educational materials like nutrition books that focus on themes like digestion, the importance of diversity in food consumption and the role of nutrients for biological functions can help give kids new insight into why vegetables are so integral to daily diet.

Improving children’s health
For parents, encouraging kids to practice healthier habits can be difficult, and with everything from eating vegetables to taking medicine during cold or flu season, parents can often encounter more than a little reluctance.

When it comes to vegetables, kids may thumb their noses, but parents can overcome this with a few key tips. CNN recommends that parents consider establishing a “no thank you bite” rule, wherein children are only allowed to push a serving of veggies away if they’ve taken at least one bite from their plates.

Other suggestions include having a vegetable-themed night with children where the only dishes are comprised entirely of nutritious leafy greens and other vitamin-rich veggies. In addition, letting kids pick out veggies themselves in the supermarket can help them better appreciate which ones that they eat, and the aromas and brilliant shades of many popular vegetables can be a great way for youngsters to get animated about devouring everything on their plates.

This same logic – letting kids take the reins on what they can have – is why custom flavoring for medicine can be such an exciting option to extend to children. For liquid medicines, picking out a unique and tasty flavor can help kids get more excited about making medicine taste better for colds, the flu and other health issues that may emerge.

Children and teenagers who are overweight or obese may be affected by asthma, allergies or other chronic conditions that can be tough to cope with. While there could be many causes behind severe cases of asthma or allergies, a recent study presented on June 18 at the Endocrine Society’s 95th Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Calif., suggests that vitamin D deficiency may be the reason why.

“The increased risk for asthma and allergies, and for more severe cases of allergic disease, in overweight and obese adolescents has not previously been understood,” said lead investigator Candace Percival, M.D., a pediatric endocrinology fellow at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. “However, past research has shown that vitamin D is important for a normal immune system and that vitamin D deficiency is common in obese individuals.”

The researchers recruited 86 participants for the study between the ages of 10 and 18. Of the youngsters involved, 54 were either overweight or obese as determined by their body mass index rating, while the remaining were within a healthy weight range.

Researchers measured the levels of leptin and adipokines, a type of hormone coming from fat cells, that were in the participants’ bodies. Then, they conducted tests to determine what effect vitamin D had – or failed to have – on these two hormones. Ultimately, they learned that adipokine levels for obese youngsters were strongly affected by vitamin D and allergies.

“This is the first study, to our knowledge, that ties together the relationship of vitamin D deficiency and increased allergy risk and severity in obese and overweight adolescents,” added Percival.

Some foods that are rich in vitamin D that kids are sure to love include fortified cereals, dairy products and eggs, which also offer vitamin B12. In addition, types of fish like salmon, tuna and herring can be a great source of vitamin D, but chances are the little ones won’t be as excited about those dishes as they would a big bowl of cereal!

Tips for giving medicine to children
Parents who have kids that struggle with allergies or other conditions like the cold, flu, or sore throat, understand the importance of giving youngsters medicine that will treat their symptoms. However, getting little ones to take liquid medicines can sometimes be a hassle, which is why something like custom flavoring can be a terrific option.

For kids, being able to personalize the taste of medicine with exciting choices can make the process of taking syrups more fun. Parents can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that children are not only getting better, but also enjoying the great taste of medicine along the way.

For an independent pharmacy, offering a flavoring option for popular children’s medicines can help enhance the pharmacy customer experience and brand loyalty. Both of these can be important elements to building better, more trusting relationships with clients and improving overall medicinal compliance.