Severe 'Mono' Infection May Raise Risk for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 -- As if having the exhausting "kissing disease" -- also known as mononucleosis, or "mono" -- isn't bad enough, about 1 in 10 people with this infection will develop chronic fatigue syndrome in six months, researchers report.

To better predict which people with mono might end up with debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome, investigators at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago developed a new scale to rate how severe a mononucleosis infection is. They then tested it in 126 college students diagnosed with mono.

AHA News: Kids With High Blood Pressure Need Smooth Transition to Adult Care

MONDAY, April 1, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- A child diagnosed with high blood pressure should continue seeking treatment when he or she becomes an adult -- and a newly published review looks at the medical guidelines that can help with the transition.

A comparison of the separate blood pressure guidelines for children and adults found that efforts to bridge the care that adolescents receive as they shift to a system geared for adults are "largely successful."

Reworked Nasal Flu Vaccine Looks Good for Kids, Pediatricians' Group Says

WEDNESDAY, March 20, 2019 -- Good news for kids: Next flu season, you can avoid a painful needle jab and get the nasal vaccine spray instead, according to a leading U.S. pediatricians' group.

In recent flu seasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the shot over the nasal spray -- except if a child refused a shot -- due to questions about the nasal spray's effectiveness. However, changes to the nasal spray appear to have improved its effectiveness, and the academy is now endorsing the either/or vaccine scenario.

Cost Puts Sports, Art Programs Out of Reach for Many Families

TUESDAY, March 19, 2019 -- After-school activities help develop social skills and talent, but a new report finds that many kids are priced out of participating.

In fact, for 1 in 6 middle and high school students, costs are the prime reason for not taking part in these activities. And the poorest students are two times less likely to participate, compared with their better-off peers, researchers reported in a new poll.

One-Third of U.S. Kids Have Back Pain, Study Says

TUESDAY, March 12, 2019 -- As American kids pack on the pounds, the number of those with back pain is on the rise.

One in three between the ages of 10 and 18 said they had backaches in the past year, according to a survey of about 3,700 youngsters. The incidence rose along with kids' age and weight and was higher among those who play competitive sports.

California Parents Are Getting Around Vaccine Law, Fueling Measles Outbreaks

THURSDAY, Feb. 28, 2019 -- Even though California enacted tough legislation in 2016 barring "personal belief" exemptions for childhood vaccinations, some parents may be turning to unethical physicians to circumvent the new law.

And that could be fueling new and dangerous measles outbreaks in the state, a new study finds.