Health News
Children’s Health Q3 2022
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Healthcare system must be inclusive of those with rare diseases
Relatively common symptoms can hide underlying rare diseases — leading to misdiagnosis and treatment delay. It is estimated that 300,000 people are living with rare diseases in Ireland today. Despite this, our healthcare system is designed for those living with common chronic diseases. Many types of rare diseases A rare disease is defined in accordance...
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How to tackle the challenges for patients, parents and paediatricians
Investment in early childhood is proven to be highly cost-effective. Knowing the challenges will help focus resources and treatment initiatives. Among the greatest challenges affecting children’s health in Ireland today are poverty and unequal access to care, further exacerbated by significant increases in the cost of living. Presently, 3,137 children are homeless, and many more...
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A powerful platform empowers parents with expert advice on child health
Approximately 60,000* babies are born in the State every year and, as children (under 18 years) account for approximately 25% of the Irish population (1.19m projected for 2022), Ireland has one of the youngest populations in the EU. The HSE National Healthy Childhood Programme has a key role in supporting families as they progress from...
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Putting a halt to the flu interrupting our everyday life
This autumn marks the start of a significant flu season with an upsurge in both flu and Covid-19 expected to put the health service under enormous pressure. Tuesday, 11th October 2022: Experts predict that the Irish health service is set to be put under enormous pressure this winter with an upsurge in both flu and Covid-19. The Irish...
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The growing importance of healthy eating for children
Healthy eating and being physically active are particularly important for children. This is because their nutrition and lifestyle influence their wellbeing, growth and development. Laying down healthy food habits in childhood influences their relationship with food for life. Food provides energy so that they can happily carry out all the activities they enjoy. A huge...
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Is your child in junior infants or first year? It’s time for their school vaccines
When children are in junior infants, they are offered the 4-in-1 and MMR vaccines, and when students are in first year, they are offered HPV, Tdap and MenACWY vaccines. Each September, the HSE vaccinations teams offer the school vaccination programme in primary and second-level schools across the country to protect junior infants and first years...
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Raising more awareness on the impact of childhood hearing loss
The newborn hearing screening program in Ireland has screened 522,327 babies from 2011 to 2020 and has identified a prevalence of hearing loss in Ireland as 1.66 in 1,000 births. Early identification and intervention of childhood hearing loss improve the long-term outcomes for children. We know that ‘mild’ hearing loss is not identified by the...
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Advancing acute paediatrics in Ireland for the future of children and young people
Children and young people — 18 years and under — comprise one-quarter of Ireland’s population. These young people are a valued and positive asset for Ireland’s future. Nelson Mandela once said: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” A critical review of Ireland...
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Difficulties children are facing to manage a rare, debilitating skin disease
Paid for by Amryt Pharma Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is one of about 7,000 rare diseases. EB is a rare and distressing genetic skin disorder affecting young children and adults, and there is no cure. Children born with EB are often called ‘Butterfly Children’ because their skin seems as fragile as a butterfly wing. In Ireland,...
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Digital twins: tackling neuroblastoma with computational models
Neuroblastoma represents only 6% of childhood cancers, yet accounts for 15% of cancer deaths in children. Some forms respond to treatment, while others are difficult to treat as they are resistant to anti-cancer drugs. Current neuroblastoma treatments are often genotoxic, damaging the genome and causing severe side effects that can burden survivors for decades. How...