Finally some good news about the Zika virus. Infection during the third trimester of pregnancy appears to not cause serious harm to the developing baby. The Zika virus has previously been shown to attack fetal brain cells, causing severe birth defects. A new report published in the New English Journal of Medicine finds that maternal […] More
After careful review of current evidence, scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have concluded that the Zika virus causes microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. As published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the report describes a rigorous weighing of evidence using established scientific criteria. Explains Tom Frieden, M.D., […] More
Cytomegalovirus, or the CMV virus, is a common virus in the herpes virus family that infects individuals of all ages. CMV is a common viral infection, especially among young children. The virus spreads from person to person through bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, mucus, urine, semen, and breast milk. Infection with CMV after birth […] More
The Zika virus made news in the United States two weeks ago when the first case of brain damage linked to the virus was reported in Hawaii. The Hawaii State Department of Health reported that a baby born in an Oahu hospital with microcephaly had been infected with the Zika virus. The Centers for Disease […] More
Maternal age significantly affects the risk of birth defects and genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, with older mothers having a higher risk of children born with chromosome abnormalities. Now a new study published in the journal Nature Communications offers better understanding into the mechanism behind the increased risk. Disorders like Down syndrome occur as […] More
The number of babies born each year with serious birth defects of the brain and spine in the United States has declined by 35 percent since 1998. Fortification of grain foods such as bread and cereal with folic acid has prevented 1,300 neural tube defects annually, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) […] More
Exposure to air pollution, especially among urban populations, can cause significant health problems. Children, the elderly, and individuals with impaired respiratory systems are especially sensitive to the effects of exposure to ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and particulate matter found in air pollution. Now a new study from researchers at Tel Aviv University adds to […] More
Taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy significantly reduce the risk of a neural tube defects (NTD), which are birth defects of the brain, spine, or spinal cord such as spina bifida and anencephaly. However, new research from Queen Mary University of London as published in the journal PLOS ONE reveals that less than […] More
The use of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs, during the controversial oil and natural gas drilling technique called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, can cause infertility, cancer, and birth defects, says new research accepted for publication in the journal of the The Endocrine Society Endocrinology. Fracking is a controversial mining technique that uses pressurized liquid to fracture […] More
According to a recent report published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a healthier maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with a reduced risk of birth defects. Suzan L. Carmichael, Ph.D., from Stanford University, and colleagues looked at data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study investigation in order to determine if the […] More
