A study in the March 29, 2004 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research reports that 95% of children with acute ear infections experienced a return to normal after a short course of chiropractic care.

21 children with acute otitis media participated in the study. 9 were females and 12 were males, ranging in age from 9 months to 9 years old. All of the children examined revealed red and bulging eardrums in the affected ears and an increased average temperature of 100F degrees.

After a short course of chiropractic care, the children were re-examined. 95% of the children’s eardrums had returned to normal along with a decrease in average temperature to 98.6F degrees.

Before receiving the adjustments, the severity of the symptoms in the children was rated at an average of 7.524 on a 0-10 point scale. After receiving the adjustments, the severity of the symptoms had subsided to a mere 0.470 on the same 0-10 point scale.

Noting the remarkable results, the authors point out that this study is clearly strong enough to warrant a larger clinical trial.

Commentary: Previous studies have shown that children with ear infections heal faster with chiropractic care. In fact anyone, no matter what condition they have or don’t have, will benefit from a better functioning body free of subluxation interference.

Seniors Still Prescribed Dangerous Drugs

A study in the February 9, 2004 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine highlights a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying that dangerous and/or inappropriate drugs are still being prescribed to elderly Americans in about 1 out of every 12 visits to the doctor. This despite the fact that a similar study issued in 1995 reported similar findings.

“This is a sizable problem,” said CDC statistician Diane Makuc, “it hasn’t been getting better.”

Inappropriate prescriptions are those that specifically carry warnings against use with the elderly or those that interact negatively with medication the patient is already taking. Inappropriate medication use in people over 65 has been cited in numerous adverse drug reactions, excess utilization of the health care system and poor physical function.

The study points out that inappropriate prescriptions were found to have been given in nearly 8% of senior’s doctor visits. The most common inappropriate prescriptions have been for pain relievers and central nervous system drugs.

Commentary: 8% may not sound like much but this figure represents an astounding 16.7 million visits that resulted in patients receiving inappropriate and/or dangerous prescriptions. Even worse, the problem was identified five years ago and the situation hasn’t gotten better.
 

Psoriasis Treatment Linked To Skin Cancer

The March 2004 issue of the Archives of Dermatology reports that psoriasis patients undergoing a common medical treatment have higher levels of a skin cancer virus.

Patients undergoing treatment with PUVA (the drug psoralen combined with ultraviolet-A light therapy) have a higher level of the human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that has been closely linked to skin cancer.

In this study, three groups of patients were examined. Group A was patients who had PUVA exposure and a history of skin cancer. Group B was patients who had PUVA exposure with no history of skin cancer and Group C was patients with no history of PUVA exposure or skin cancer.

Evidence of the skin cancer virus was found in 73% of the patients in Group A, 69% of the patients in Group B and 36% of the patients in Group C.

Previous studies have linked PUVA treatment with skin cancer but the cause of the higher risk was never pinpointed.

Cholesterol Statin Drugs May Cause Birth Defects

The April 8, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine reports that pregnant women who take the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins stand a much higher risk of having babies born with birth defects.

Researchers from the United States National Institutes of Health discovered that exposing babies to statins in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with limb deformities and severe central nervous system defects.

The researchers point out that other studies have shown that “these are the kinds of problems that occur if the embryo does not get enough cholesterol in early pregnancy to develop normally.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires warning labels on the drugs advising against taking them during pregnancy.

The problem lies in the fact that many pregnancies are not planned and women continue to take the drugs unaware they are exposing their babies to danger.

In this study, 20 out of 52 babies exposed to statins in the womb were born with birth defects.

Pre-School Children Fastest Growing Group Given Antidepressants

A study highlighted in the April 2, 2004 issue of Psychiatric Services reports that pre-school children are the fastest growing group of people in the United States being given anti-depressants.

The study covered the period between 1998 and 2002. By examining the insurance records of a random sample of 2 million children researchers found that among children under the age of 5, the number of boys prescribed antidepressants increased by 64% and the number of girls went up by 100%.

On March 22, 2004 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning that patients taking antidepressants, including children and teenagers, should be very closely monitored for increasing hostility, anxiety, insomnia and other behaviors that may be signs of deepening depression and suicidal thoughts.