Your Child's Health/Health Alert



	ith cooler weather and a new school year forcing children to spend more time inside together, parents aren’t overly concerned when a runny nose or sore throat appears. But 50 years ago, one sneeze could spread a highly contagious disease, such as polio or whooping cough, causing thousands of children to become severely ill or die. Thanks to vaccination research completed at children’s hospitals, most parents today don’t even know about the panic a feverish child once caused. But according to a survey of top pediatric researchers from around the country, a new epidemic threatening children is being overlooked — obesity. The National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) found that the majority of pediatric researchers polled feel that childhood obesity is not receiving enough attention and that work on it is severely underfunded. While the researchers said they believe that breakthroughs in endocrinology — the study of glands and hormones that can affect weight — are near, they believe obesity needs more exploration. Researchers also caution parents that they need to be wary when receiving information from the media on childhood diseases and disorders. Although television and magazines have covered such issues as learning disabilities, autism and depression in children and teens, almost 80 percent of the researchers stated that the information given rated only fair to poor. The results of the poll will be used by NACHRI to help educate the media, policy-makers and the public about the essential role that children’s hospitals play in the lives of all children. For more insight into what researchers think about health policy, research priorities and other children’s health issues, visit www.childrenshospitals.net.