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News Roundup – Zika Risks and Depression
NightLight · February 19, 2016
Top Stories for the Week
There is a lot going on in health news. To help you stay informed we’ve collected some of the stories we think you should know about.
Zika Virus and Infants:
A possible new Zika-related risk to infants has been identified. Zika is all over the news lately due to its rapid spreading and serious risks to infants born to mothers who contract the virus while they are in utero (in the womb). These risks include microcephaly which is defined as abnormal smallness of the head, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development. Now Zika-linked microcephaly is also being connected to eye defects that threaten vision. Read more here.
Teens and Depression:
New recommendations suggest screening teens for depression. A government-backed panel called the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that children aged 12 to 18 should be screened for depressive disorders. The article says that “about 8 percent of U.S. adolescents experience major depression each year,” a problem that can affect not only mood, but school grades and social interaction. The story here.
Children and Body Fat:
Children with extra body fat by age 10 are at an increased risk for preteen diabetes. A study published in JAMA Pediatrics demonstrated the correlation. Not surprisingly, the article cites our low-activity/high-screen time culture as a major contributing factor. The story.