FDA: Safely Soothing Teething Pain in Infants and Children
Teething is a normal experience for infants and children, but it can be painful. Many well-meaning parents and caregivers who want to ease a child’s pain might turn to products that could be harmful. Soothing children’s gums with prescription or nonprescription medicines containing benzocaine or lidocaine – or homeopathic tablets and other products – might […]
CDC: Ringworm and Fungal Nail Infections Basics
Key points What it is Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the scalp, skin, or nails (onychomycosis). It gets its name because it causes a ring-shaped, itchy rash. It typically looks red on light skin and appears gray or brown on darker skin. Skin and scalp infections Skin infections are more common on certain […]
FDA: Braces Have Changed, From Metal to Tooth-Colored to Clear
Your dentist tells you that you need braces, bringing back not-so-fond memories of kids being called “metal mouth.” Take heart. Braces have evolved and new alternatives in both look and materials are available. The FDA is responsible for reviewing these devices for safety and effectiveness and, as appropriate, granting marketing authorization for the devices before […]
CDC: About Bat Flu
Key points Causes and public health implications Experts from CDC and Universidad del Valle (University of the Valley) discovered influenza A in bats during a 2009-2010 study in Guatemala. They first found influenza A in bats in little yellow-shouldered bats. Bat influenza viruses have since been detected in some other species of bats in Central […]
FDA: Vitamin D for Milk and Milk Alternatives
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for human health. It comes in many forms. The two major forms are vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D without a subscript represents either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 or both. The major function of vitamin D is to help with the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in […]
CDC: About Horse Flu
At a glance Background The influenza viruses that cause “horse flu” are “equine influenza viruses” or “EIVs.” EIVs originally spread from birds to horses. Historically, EIVs have been type A influenza viruses belonging to two subtypes: H7N7 and H3N8. Evolving viruses The EIV H7N7 subtype was first reported in the 1950s and last reported in the 1970s. It […]
FDA: Sugars That Are Metabolized Differently Than Traditional Sugars
Some sugars used by manufacturers in foods and drinks you buy may be different than what you traditionally think of as sugar, like sucrose or table sugar. These sugars meet the chemical definition of a sugar, but they are metabolized, or used by your body, differently than traditional sugars like sucrose. For this reason, they […]
CDC: About Cat Flu
Key points Effects Causes Cats can be infected with influenza viruses and can spread influenza viruses to each other (cat-to-cat). Though uncommon, cats can be infected with avian influenza (bird flu) or human seasonal influenza viruses. Some scientific studies suggest that it is not uncommon for people to infect cats with seasonal influenza viruses. Less […]
FDA: Carbonated Soft Drinks
What You Should Know about Carbonated Soft Drinks The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ensures that carbonated soft drinks are safe, sanitary, and honestly labeled. In fact, FDA has established Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) for carbonated soft drinks, which describe the basic steps manufacturers and distributors must follow to make sure carbonated soft drinks […]
CDC: About Dog Flu
Key points Signs and symptoms Canine influenza, also known as dog flu, is currently caused by an influenza A(H3N2) virus that spreads in dogs. Dog flu likely poses a low threat to people. Canine influenza A(H3N2) viruses are different from seasonal influenza A(H3N2) viruses that commonly spread among people. To date, there is no evidence […]