American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends Cholesterol Drugs in Kids

Category: Child Health News
Monday, July 07, 2008 at 2:25:44 PM
 Font Size 
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending cholesterol lowering drugs in some kids as young as 8 years in order to avoid future problems.

Dr. Stephen Daniels, of the academy's nutrition committee, said the new guidelines were being issued as evidence indicated that damage to the heart begins early in life.


"If we are more aggressive about this in childhood, I think we can have an impact on what happens later in life ... and avoid some of these heart attacks and strokes in adulthood," Daniels said.

The main criteria for recommending drugs for kids will be levels of LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, obesity and high blood pressure.

The AAP also recommends low-fat milk for 1-year-old and routine cholesterol testing for kids.

Source-Medindia
RAS/L
       Email Email      RSS Feeds RSS Feeds      Print this page Print      Save this page Save      Link Link      Syndicate Syndicate      Comments Comments
  
Comment & Contribute
* Your comment can be maximum of 2500 characters
Notify me when reply is posted   

Appalled and Dismayed

7/8/2008

Yes....I am appalled! I can't believe that the an Academy of supposedly "intelligent" individuals would take such an asinine position as medicating children who have high cholesterol! Screening children would be helpful. Once screening is done an assessment of their nutritional habits could be done and their diet modified accordingly. To resort to administering statins to children would prove tragic. This idea is a disgrace to nutritionist everywhere! Dr. Jatinder Bhatia,
a member of your "nutrition committee", told the Times: "The risk of giving statins at a lower age is less than the benefit you're going to get out of it." What would be those benefits "Dr." Bhatia? The evidence to back up that quote is miniscule. And that's being generous! In fact, after "Dr."Bhatia" made this "intelligent" risk/benefit statement, he completely weakened his argument by telling the Times there is not "a whole lot" of data on pediatric use of cholesterol-lowering drugs. So, he makes the whole medicate the young idea based on miniscule data?

Okay I got it.... maybe it's time for an Academy name change! How about.....The American Academy for the Protection of Pharmaceutical Profit Margins Who Don't Give A Damn about You or Your Children.


Reply | Forward

Child Health Related News

.
Swine Flu Child Toll Will Double In Next Year: Expert
.
Screening Newborns For Dysplasia Reduces Their Chance Of Developing Early Arthritis
.
Researchers Call For Prudent Use Of Antibiotics In Young Kids
.
Viagra 'Lifesaver' For 11-Month-Old Boy
Read More

Related Links

500 + Health news categories
Latest Health News From Leading Resources
Updated every 30 minutes
Cholesterol
Complete Medindia Resources
Latest Headlines
Pole Dancing Addiction Keeps Alyssa Sutherland Fit (6 min ago)
US Embassy In China Set Up Its Own Air Monitoring System (7 min ago)
Government To Announce Policy Guidelines To Promote Health Tourism (9 min ago)
Learn How You React To Opposing Views (13 min ago)
High Fructose Sweetener And Natural Sugar: Consumers Misled on Nutritional Difference (13 min ago)
Fear Of Rejection Forces Men And Women Down the Road Of Cosmetic Beauty Enhancement (14 min ago)
Nutritionists Now Harping on Barbecues That Sidestep Cancer Risk (14 min ago)
All Latest News
Popular News Topics
News Archive
Date :
Category :
Keyword :
Medindia Special Reports
world-asthma-day-2009.jpg
Michael-Jackson.jpg
krishnaraman.jpg
bill-gates.jpg
world-blood-donor-day-09.jpg
Web Medindia  Advanced Search
Feedback
Last Updated - - Designed & Content Managed by Medindia Health Network Pvt Ltd. Hosted & Technical Support by FrontPoint Systems
DisclaimerThe contents of this site are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician for any doubts.
To Read full Disclaimer Click Here!
Best viewed with resolution 1024x768 px.
Advertise with us |  Medindia Copyright |  Privacy Policy |  © All Rights Reserved 1997 - 2009