News and Alerts

Vitamin C is the subject of two new national health reports demonstrating that the antioxidant vitamin may be useful in reducing stress and helping pregnant women.

According to these tests, Vitamin C not only reduced the effects of stress, it also increased the levels of an antibody that opposes germs and viruses. Although the study was performed on rats, researchers believe the results significant enough that they can be aplpied to humans.

In separate review of existing research, Vitamin C was shown to be lacking in women with preeclampsia, a condition that can threaten the life of expectant mothers and can force premature delivery of a baby.

For more on the studies, visit the American Chemical Society.

Detection Program for Heart Disease Unveiled

A nationwide program aimed at the early detection of a woman's risk of developing heart disease was introduced by Women First HealthCare, Inc. and Cholestech Corporation.

A recent study released by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) indicated that 65 percent of women do not know that cardiovascular disease is their major cause of death.

The new program provides testing of total cholesterol and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) levels in female patients visiting their gynecologists. High cholesterol levels indicate a major risk factor for heart attacks and long term cardiovascular disease in women.

"We are pleased to be working with Women First HealthCare in this very important women's initiative," said Warren E. Pinckert II, President and CEO of Cholestech Corporation. "The Cholestech L.D.X(R) System enables a woman's Ob/Gyn to assess her risk of heart disease and initiate preventive measures, almost immediately."

For more information, visit Women First HealthCare, Inc. and Cholestech Corporation.

Water Births Not More Dangerous

Babies delivered in water are in no more danger than those delivered vaginally, according to a new study from London's Institute of Child Health.

Between April 1994 to April 1996, 1,500 consultant pediatricians in the British Isles were surveyed each month and asked to report whether or not they knew of any births that met the case definition of "perinatal death or admission for special care within 48 hours of birth following labour or delivery in water."

The researchers found, "The similarity in perinatal mortality and morbidity in low risk women suggests that delivery in water does not substantially increase adverse perinatal outcomes."

For more on the study, visit the British Medical Journal.

Childhood Asthma More Common

Childhood asthma is more common than previously thought, according to a new study from Rush Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago. As a result, more children may be suffering from poorly diagnosed or undiagnosed asthma.

In a survey of 638 kindergarten children in inner-city 11 schools in Chicago, researchers found that the prevalence of diagnosed asthma was 10.8 percent, or twice the 5.8 percent the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates in such a population nationally.

Researchers also estimated that the prevalence of undiagnosed asthma among such children may be as high as 7.5 percent.

The study also found that most of the children with diagnosed asthma had "some evidence to suggest a high burden of illness," the report said. "These children appear to be receiving medical care, but this care may not be consistent with pharmacotherapeutic treatment specified by asthma care guidelines that have been in place since 1971," it added.

The report was published in the August issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

SIDS Monitor on Way

Parents may soon have a new tool to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) - a high-tech T-shirt with electronic sensors.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have designed the "Georgia Tech Smart Shirt for Infants," a comfortable and customizable shirt containing electrodes to monitor a baby's heartbeat.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is defined as the unexpected death of an infant under one year of age that is unexplained by history, postmortem exam, and death scene investigation. SIDS is the leading cause of post-neonatal mortality in the United States. About seven of every 10,000 live born infants in the United States die from SIDS.

The shirt, originally designed for the military to beam back to doctors the condition of soldiers wounded on the battlefield, is not commercially yet. It could sell for about $25 to $35 a shirt.

For more information on the SIDS shirt, visit the Georgia Tech Web site.

A new vaccine appears to be more effective in preventing and controlling infant rotavirus, he most common cause of severe vomiting and diarrhea.

A rotavirus vaccine developed by Avant Immunotherapeutics Inc.,is 89 percent effective in preventing rotavirus disease in infants. The effectiveness reported in the multi-center study, coordinated at Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati, is higher than that of the currently approved rotavirus vaccine, whose effectiveness ranges in studies from 49 to 68 percent.

Each year, more than 50,000 children are hospitalized in the United States for rotavirus infection, and up to 50 die. The virus is estimated to lead to 600,000 child deaths throughout the world each year.

Of those families reporting vomiting or diarrhea, rotavirus was detected in 20 infants. Only two of those 20 were in the group that received the vaccine, for an overall efficacy of 89 percent. In addition, all 10 infants who required medical attention were in the placebo group.

For more on the new vaccine, visit Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati.

Sunscreen OK for Babies

It may be safe to use sunscreen on infants younger than six months of age when adequate clothing and shade are not available, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

There is no evidence that using sunscreen on small areas of a baby's skin causes harm. Avoiding sun exposure and dressing infants in lightweight long pants and long-sleeved shirts are still the top recommendations from the AAP to prevent sunburn.

But when adequate clothing and shade are not available, parents can apply a minimal amount of suncreen to small areas, such as the infant's and the back of the hands.

Consumer Alerts

"Bathtub Baby" Doll Sets come with a small ball, which poses a serious choking hazard to children under 3 years old. Toys "R" Us, of Paramus, N.J., is recalling 71,000 Bathtub Baby doll sets.

Consumers are urged to take the doll sets away from young children immediately and return them to the stores where purchased for a full refund. For more information, consumers should call their local Toys "R" Us store, or visit the Toys "R" Us web site at www.toysrus.com/recalls/index.cfm.

Infant Garments by Shopko Stores Inc. is recalling approximately 68,000 Peek-A-Babe newborn and infant "creepers," a short-sleeved body suit with two snaps at the left shoulder and three snaps at the crotch. The snaps can detach, posing a choking hazard to children.

Consumers should immediately stop using these garments, and return them to Shopko for a refund. For more information, call Shopko at (800) 791-7333 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday CDT, or visit the Shopko web site at www.shopko.com.

Children's Garments with Ornamental Cherries by Little Me. The attached ornamental cherries on these garments pose a choking hazard to young children. Little Me, Cumberland, Md., is recalling approximately 7,200 newborn and infant garments described as Mini Fruit Girl's Rompers.

Little Me is aware of one incident in which a child started to choke on one of the ornamental cherries. It was pulled from the child's throat by the attached string.

Major department and children clothing stores sold these garments from March 1999 through July 1999 for about $20 to $22.

Consumers should immediately stop using these garments, and should return them to Little Me for a refund and a voucher for a 30 percent rebate on a future Little Me purchase. For more information, call Little Me at (800) 843-8460, anytime, or visit the Little Me web site at www.littleme.com/productrecall/index.html.

Children's Side Zip Sneakers by Reebok. The sneaker's side pocket has a pull tab on the zipper that can be twisted off, presenting a choking and ingestion hazard to children. Reebok International Ltd., of Stoughton, Mass., is recalling about 140,000 children's side zip sneakers.

Consumers should take the sneakers away from their children immediately and return the sneakers to the store where purchased for a refund or exchange. For more information about this recall, consumers should call Reebok at (800) 648-5550 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday or visit their web site at www.reebok.com/recall.htm.

Infant Car Seats/Carriers by NHTSA and Cosco. When used as an infant carrier, the handle locks on each side of the seat can unexpectedly release, causing the seat to flip forward. When this happens, the infant can fall to the ground and suffer serious injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Cosco Inc. of Columbus, Ind., is announcing the recall of about 670,000 Arriva and Turnabout infant car seats/carriers.

There have been 151 reports of the handle of the car seat/carrier unexpectedly releasing, resulting in 29 injuries to children. These reports include skull fractures, a broken arm, bumps to the head, black eyes, scrapes and bruises. According to the reports, some injuries occurred to children who were restrained in the seat.

Cosco will provide a free repair kit that will make the handle stronger. The repair can easily be done in the home. Until a repair kit has been installed, CPSC, NHTSA and Cosco advise consumers not to carry the seat by the handle. Consumers may continue to use the product as a car seat or in combination with strollers.

To receive a free repair kit or for more information, call Cosco at (800) 221-6736 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday, or visit Cosco's web site. Consumers with questions about this recall campaign can call NHTSA's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at (888) DASH-2-DOT (888) 327-4236) or (202) 366-0123 in the Washington, D.C., area [Ask for 99E-022]. Consumers also can call the CPSC Hotline at (800) 638-2772 for more information.

LIL' SPORT Spill Proof Sport Bottles by Gerber. A valve inside the cap can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children. Gerber Products Co., of Summit, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 300,000 LIL' SPORT Spill Proof Sport Bottles.

Gerber and CPSC have received over 30 reports of valves detaching, including three reports of valves found in children's mouths. There have been no reported injuries.

Parents and caregivers should stop children from using these bottles immediately, and return the bottles to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, consumers should call Gerber at (800) 4-GERBER anytime or visit their web site at www.gerber.com.

For more information about recalls, visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.

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