Newborn Hearing Test Might Point to SIDS Risk

(HealthDay News) -- A simple hearing test soon after birth may help identify babies at risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), a new U.S. study finds.

SIDS kills about one in 1,000 infants worldwide. Most of the victims are between two to four months old. Boys are more likely than girls to die of SIDS.

Dr. Daniel D. Rubens and colleagues at the Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, in Seattle, analyzed data on 31 Rhode Island babies who died of SIDS.

They found that they all shared the same distinctive difference in newborn hearing test results for the right inner ear.

Compared with other babies, those who died of SIDS scored four points lower in standard newborn hearing tests, across three different sound frequencies in the right ear.
Rubens also noted that healthy infants typically test stronger in the right ear than in the left.

However, the infants who died of SIDS had lower scores for the right ear than the left.

The study was published in the July issue of the journal Early Human Development.

"This discovery opens a whole new line of inquiry into SIDS research," Rubens said in a prepared statement. "For the first time, it's now possible that with a simple, standard hearing test, babies could be identified as at risk for SIDS, allowing preventative measures to be implemented in advance of a tragic event."

The inner ear contains tiny hairs involved with both hearing and vestibular (balance) function. Vestibular hair cells may play an important role in transmitting information to the brain about levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, Rubens suggested. Injury to vestibular hair cells may disrupt respiratory control and predispose infants to SIDS.

Rubens urged further research in this area. "We must now fully explore all aspects of inner ear function and SIDS and analyze testing frequencies higher than those currently tested by newborn hearing screen centers," he said.

More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about SIDS.

CDC Offers Travelers' Health Guide

(HealthDay News) -- Wearing a seat belt while driving in foreign countries and getting the necessary immunizations are among the recommendations in the revised Yellow Book, the biennial travelers' health guidebook available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The newest edition -- which includes an expanded section on life-threatening blood clots that can develop after sitting for hours on a plane -- is now available.

"More than 63 million Americans travel abroad each year. This book can help prepare travelers for their trips, or help them learn how to stay safe and healthy while overseas," Dr. Christie Reed, team leader for the CDC traveler's health group, said in a prepared statement.

Injuries and auto accidents pose the greatest risk to travelers, according to the CDC, so the book emphasizes wearing seat belts while driving in foreign countries.

The Yellow Book also addresses deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition in which blood clots form deep in the veins of the leg because of poor circulation. This is a risk for people who spend long hours in planes. Travelers are advised to make an effort to stretch their arms and legs out during international flights.

For the 10 million people who take cruises every year, there is advice on protecting against norovirus, a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness, and motion sickness.

"The Yellow Book serves as the gold standard of travel health recommendations. We want travelers, health-care providers and those in the travel industry to have the best information and health care recommendations for traveling abroad," said Reed.

The book breaks down into nine chapters, including chapters on the major risks for travelers by region, planning for health issues during and after travel, preparing for yellow fever and malaria exposure, preventing and treating common infectious diseases, managing noninfectious risks such as jet lag and injuries, and traveling internationally with children. There is also a chapter for travelers with special needs.

More information
To access the Yellow Book and to learn about travelers' health, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Tip: Bicycle Safety for Children

(HealthDay News) -- Before your child uses that new bicycle, the most important things to equip him or her with is a properly-fitted helmet and a basic knowledge of bicycle safety.

Here are suggestions, courtesy of the International Bicycle Fund:

Always wear a bicycle helmet.
Never bike in the road or on a busy street. Stay on the sidewalk.
Stop and look for cars at any intersection before crossing.
Although biking on the sidewalk, always ride in the same direction as traffic, and follow all road signs.
Try to keep both hands on the bike handles at all times.
Don't ride at night, and wear bright clothing -- even during daylight.