A variety of sites has been chosen in a trial which could see the end of the flagship four-hour target.

Good news for kids: Next flu season, you can avoid a painful needle jab and get the nasal vaccine spray instead, according to a leading US paediatricians’ group.

In recent flu seasons, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended the shot over the nasal spray – except if a child refused a shot – due to questions about the nasal spray’s effectiveness. However, changes to the nasal spray appear to have improved its effectiveness, and the academy is now endorsing the either/or vaccine scenario.

The new recommendation matches advice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Flu virus unpredictable

“All children six months and older should receive the flu vaccine, in whatever form their paediatrician recommends,” said Dr Bonnie Maldonado, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases.

“Every year, we are never sure if the vaccine strains are going to be perfectly matched up with incoming flu strains, but based on the information that we have now, we believe the nasal spray is an acceptable option,” she explained in an academy news release.

Both types of flu vaccination were approved by the AAP board of directors after a review of the latest data. The decision was announced now because doctors are placing vaccine orders for the 2019-2020 flu season.

“The flu virus is unpredictable and can cause serious complications even in healthy children,” said Dr Flor Munoz, a member of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. “Children who have been immunised are less likely to be hospitalized due to flu.”

The rate of flu vaccination among US children rose from 38% in November 2017 to 45% in November 2018, according to the AAP.

The academy also said parents should talk with their paediatrician if they have any questions about their child’s immunisations.

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Under-the-tongue allergy pills have quickly caught on as a way to treat hay fever and dust mite allergies, a new study finds.

Allergy shots have been available for more than 100 years, while sublingual, or under-the-tongue, allergy pills were only approved for use in the United States in 2014.

But of 268 US allergists surveyed last year, 73% reported prescribing under-the-tongue allergy tablets, according to allergist and lead author Dr Anita Sivam, of Memphis, Tennesee.

“Five years ago, allergy tablets hadn’t been approved by the FDA and weren’t being prescribed for people with allergies in the US,” Sivam said in a news release from the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).

“Allergists were prescribing allergy shots because they were, and continue to be, a proven effective treatment. Once allergy tablets were approved in 2014, allergists began prescribing them for their patients,” she said.

Both approaches reduce the immune system’s sensitivity to an allergen, thereby easing allergy symptoms. This is called immunotherapy.

The tablets are available to treat allergic reactions to northern grass pollens, Timothy grass pollen, ragweed and house dust mites. The northern grass pollens and the Timothy grass pollen tablets are approved for patients 5 years and older, while the other two are approved for patients 18 years and older.

One way in which the tablets differ from allergy shots is that after the first tablet dose is given in an allergist’s office, they can be taken at home. You place the tablets under the tongue and they dissolve.

Another big difference: “Shots are formulated by your allergist to treat your specific allergy or allergies,” said study co-author Dr. Mike Tankersley. He’s vice chair of the ACAAI immunotherapy and diagnostics committee, which developed the study.

The tablets target a single allergy. “Our study found that was the main barrier for allergists in prescribing tablets,” Tankersley said. If a patient has more than one allergy and can travel regularly to receive allergy shots, an allergist may recommend shots over tablets, he explained.

The study was published April 2 in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The US Food and Drug Administration warned that there have been reports of teens experiencing seizures after vaping.

“Seizures or convulsions are known potential side effects of nicotine poisoning and have been reported in scientific literature in relation to intentional or accidental swallowing of nicotine-containing e-liquids,” FDA Commissioner Dr Scott Gottlieb said in an agency news release. Now, an agency review has unearthed 35 reported cases of seizures following the use of e-cigarettes between 2010 and early 2019.

Safety concerns

“While 35 cases may not seem like much compared to the total number of people using e-cigarettes, we are nonetheless concerned by these reported cases,” Gottlieb added. “We also recognise that not all of the cases may be reported. We believe these 35 cases warrant scientific investigation into whether there is in fact a connection.”

Gottlieb stressed that health officials don’t yet know for sure that vaping can trigger seizures, but “we’re sharing this early information with the public because as a public health agency, it’s our job to communicate about potential safety concerns associated with the products we regulate….”

With the 35 seizure cases, there is no clear pattern, Gottlieb noted.

“For example, seizures have been reported among first-time e-cigarette users and experienced users,” he said. “In a few situations, e-cigarette users reported a prior history of seizure diagnosis. A few reported cases indicated that the seizures occurred in association with the use of other substances such as marijuana or amphetamines. Seizures have been reported as occurring after a few puffs or up to one day after use.”

One tobacco expert said the link is worth investigating.

Concentrations of nicotine may be unknown

“Research demonstrates that high concentrations of nicotine can cause significant health effects, including seizures,” said Andrea Spatarella, a doctor of nursing practice from the Center for Tobacco Control at Northwell Health, in Great Neck, New York.

“The user of the vaping device may be unaware or mislead about the actual concentration of nicotine, putting them at potential risk,” she said.

“Further investigation about a possible connection between nicotine overdosing from vaping devices and the development of seizures may provide additional clarity about the safety of these devices,” Spatarella added.

One neurologist said physicians will now be alert for this potential vaping danger.

When someone has a seizure, “the medical community will ask about triggers,” said Dr Derek Chong, who helps direct neurology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The new FDA warning “will result in the medical community now adding e-cigarettes and what was in them, and how much was used, to that list of things we will specifically ask about when assessing someone who has had a seizure,” he said.

This isn’t the first health concern tied to e-cigarettes. Issues around lung health have already been raised about the chemicals in the vapour that are inhaled while using e-cigarettes, Gottlieb noted. And research published in January suggested that vaping may raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Nicotine not a harmless substance

For the past two years, the FDA has been trying to stem huge spikes in vaping among teens.

Just last month, the agency announced it would go ahead with efforts to restrict sales of some types of flavoured vaping products to minors.

Under the new rules, most forms of flavoured e-cigarettes would only be sold in stores that verify a customer’s age when he or she enters the store, or the store should have a special age-restricted area set aside for vaping products. Companies that fail to comply could see their products pulled from the market, the agency said at the time.

“We know that nicotine isn’t a harmless substance, especially in the developing brains of our youth,” Gottlieb said. “We know that initiation to, and addiction to, nicotine by never-smokers – predominantly youth and young adults – raises public health concerns. These risks are among the many reasons why we so strongly believe that no child should be using any tobacco product.”

The FDA encouraged the public to report cases of people who have used e-cigarettes and have had a seizure by going to the FDA website.

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HPV immunisation has nearly wiped out the virus in vaccinated young women within a decade, researchers say.

The skin is thin and vulnerable around the eyes, but people do not realise those bits are not protected.

Israelis are some of the world’s healthiest eaters, Uzbekistanis some of the least healthy, a report says.

Hopping into an Uber or a Lyft has become such a normal part of life, it's easy to forget that you're getting into a car with a total stranger. Over the weekend, a student at the University of South Carolina got into a car thinking it was her Uber. The next day, police found her dead. She had accidentally mistook a predator's car for the Uber she called for a ride.

Samantha Josephson was leaving a bar just past 2 a.m. on Friday night in a popular nightlife neighborhood close to campus in Columbia, South Carolina. It wasn't super late (by college standards), and she was in a busy area. Surveillance footage shows the 21-year-old walking outside, waiting on the sidewalk, and holding her phone. Then, a black Chevrolet Impala pulled up next to her, and as pedestrians strolled by, Josephson got in the car.

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Josephson’s friends reported her missing 12 hours later. Just two hours after that, police found her dead. 

It's a mistake anyone could make. When you're waiting for your ride, you might be worrying about getting enough sleep before work in the morning. Or perhaps you're just mindlessly scrolling through social media. Whatever the case, when a car pulls up next to you, your instinct will likely be to get in. 

But Josephson's tragic death has made us think: How can women stay safe while using services like Uber or Lyft? Getting into a stranger's car has become second nature, and this case has shown us that we all need to take a step back and become more aware of the risks that come with it. Here, six ways to stay safe while using ride-sharing apps.

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Request your ride inside

If you're standing outside on the street distracted by your phone, you're likely not paying attention to what's going on around you—and someone could easily catch you off guard and grab your purse, your phone, or worse, grab and assault you. David Nance, personal safety expert and owner of Sabre Security Equipment Corporation, advises that you request your ride while you're still inside the venue you're leaving, which will likely be well-lit with other people around, so a predator won't try anything. This is also one of Uber's top safety tips on their website. 

Match the car (and driver) to the info on the app

Before you open the door, make sure the license plate and the car's make, model, and color match what it says on the app, Nance says. Now, here's a trick: Before getting in, ask the driver for their name—rather than just saying, 'Hey, is this for Sam?' If you give your own name, the driver could simply play along and say, 'Yep, this is for Sam,' even if it's not. 

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Sit in the back seat

"Distance between yourself and the driver is a good thing," Nance says. It not only means you have more space, but also that you can safely exit on either side of the car when and if you need to. Remember, this is a stranger. There's no reason to sit in the front seat like you would with a friend. 

Share your trip with someone

Both Uber and Lyft give you the option to share your ride with others. On Uber, you'll click "share status," and on Lyft, you'll click "send ETA." The friend or family member you add will be able to see your location and your ETA, as well as information about the driver and the car. It's always a good idea to share your trip with at least one other person, and tell your friends to do the same. If someone is leaving the bar early, the others should be able to see that they get home safe. 

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Don't give the driver personal info

As friendly as the driver may seem, never give out any personal information, Nance says. If you're traveling, it can be easy to fall into a conversation about where you're staying, what you're planning on doing, and who you're doing it with, but your driver doesn't need to know any of that. It's totally fine to chat, but make the conversation about something vague and simple, like the weather.

Be prepared for the worst case scenario

No need to be scared every time you get into an Uber, but it's smart to be aware of what to do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation. If your driver is taking you somewhere other than your destination, Nance suggests trying to get the attention of other drivers or pedestrians. Roll down the window and yell for help. If it's locked, wave frantically to people through the window.

It's also smart to carry something you can use to protect yourself, like pepper spray or gel. And finally, don't hesitate to call 911 if you think you're in danger. You can also push a few buttons on your iPhone to alert your emergency contacts with a text message and your location. Find out how to send an emergency alert on your iPhone model here.

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Jameela Jamil wants us to count our blessings, not our weight. To spread her message of size acceptance, she just launched an Instagram account, @i_weigh, where people are sharing their thoughts on self-love and absorbing Jamil's kick-ass take on why body shaming has to end.

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“For the past couple of weeks women and men have been sending me what their true value and weight is in beautiful pictures,” she tweeted on Sunday. “I love these people and what they represent and what they overcome so much.” 

The roots of @i_weigh go back to late February, when The Good Place star announced she was on a “war path” after seeing a meme of the Kardashian and Jenner sisters, which had each sister's weight superimposed over their photo.

In reply to the meme, Jamil posted a mirror selfie in an Instagram story on her personal page and listed her own “weight” in blurbs about what she loves and values about herself. “Great friends,” “I’m financially independent” and “I speak out for women’s rights” were just a few of what she considered her “weight.”

“I like myself in spite of EVERYTHING I’ve been taught by the media to hate myself about,” Jamil wrote in the same post. Flooded with responses, she created @i_weigh as a place where people could keep sharing their "weight" and be inspired by her message that accomplishments matter more than looks and size.

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While @i_weigh keeps growing, Jamil continues to motivate her followers to identify and acknowledge their worth—not their weight.

“We aren’t supposed to all look the same,” she wrote in an article for HuffPost UK in February, which called for women to stop judging themselves by the number on the scale. “And nothing good ever comes of self hatred. It will never further you. It will always hold you back.”

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If hurtful words have lingered in your head for days, or even weeks on end, you’re not alone. On social media, it's easy to delete an unkind message and block the hater, but it isn't always easy to forget the harsh words that can become engrained in your mind. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, though, one mom is reminding us to feel sorry for the people who put others down.

Kristyn Dingman of @mrsdingman.mama is a proud, body positive mom looking to empower women and encourage self-love. She often bares it all on Instagram to teach others to love the skin they’re in. In an inspiring post—with the words “empower” written across her stomach—Dingman recently told her followers about how she reacted when a follower called her "lazy" and "ugly" in a nasty comment.

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“Of all the feelings I have toward this message, it’s that I feel sorry for her," Dingman writes. "I wanted to give her a hug and let her know that the more we put each other down, the worse off we will be. We can’t grow or be united as a strong sex if we are constantly at war."

Dingman deleted the hateful comment and didn't retaliate. Instead, she took it as an opportunity to show women how important it is to lift each other up rather than putting others down.

In this and many other posts on her feed, Dingman is on a mission to spread her body positive message—and we are all for it. She often reminds followers that they are beautiful no matter their size, and speaks honestly about her recovery from pregnancy.

“Empowered women empower women and that’s what I plan to do,” writes Dingman. “We rise by lifting others.”

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