For about one in 13 children under the age of 18 in the U.S. with food allergies, Halloween is more of a trick than a treat. Ingredients found in many types of candy—including peanuts and tree nuts—are among the most common food allergens. For some children, exposure to even a trace amount of these substances can produce a serious reaction. Imagine the risks of going door to door trick-or-treating…

Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project, an awareness program for food allergies started in 2014. Participants, who place a teal-colored pumpkin on their front steps or a teal pumpkin poster on their door, offer non-food treats—providing an opportunity for children with food allergies to trick-or-treat safely on Halloween. To avoid the possibility of cross-contamination, non-food items should be kept separate and should not have contact with treats that may contain allergens.

In addition to non-food treats, some popular candies, including Skittles, Starburst, Life Savers, Sour Patch Kids, and Swedish Fish, are also allergen-free. As you’re getting ready for little ghosts, goblins, and witches, think teal and offer an option for ghouls with food allergies.

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Sourced from: CNN

Researchers at Cornell University found evidence backing early studies showing a correlation between autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and DNA mutations. Results of this latest study, which showed that children with ASD have more than twice as many harmful mutations in DNA than their siblings without autism, were published in PLOS Genetics.

The exact cause for autism is unknown, but the developmental disorder has been linked to environment, biological, and genetic factors. This recent research has focused on mutations in the parts of cells called mitochondria, which help convert fat, protein, and sugar into energy.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA may be inherited from the mother, or may occur before birth, during development. In addition to developmental disorders, mitochondrial dysfunction is also associated with metabolic diseases.

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Sourced from: MNT

A recent study provided yet another reason to vaccinate against measles: a fatal complication of the disease—one that can strike years later—may be more common than was previously thought. According to the new study, the risk for subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a deadly neurological disorder, is about 1 in 1,387 in children infected with the measles virus before the age of five. However, for children infected before age one, the risk rose to about 1 in 600.

This study looked at children who contracted the measles during an outbreak of the disease in 1990. The average age for developing SSPE was 12, but the fatal condition occurred between the ages of three and 35.

The results once again underscore the importance of vaccination. By vaccinating everyone who is eligible, “herd immunity” can help protect infants who are too young to be vaccinated against measles and people with compromised immune systems who are unable to receive the vaccine.

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Sourced from: FOX News