U.S. Teen Birth Rate Rising

The teen birth rate in the United States rose in 2006 for the first time since 1991, and unmarried childbearing also rose significantly, according to preliminary birth statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This news can leave parents wondering how they can help their children avoid becoming one of the statistics. Experts on the Kidshealth.org website offer advice for parents on how to educate their children.  While schools often begin offering sex education in the fifth grade, experts recommend parents begin a conversation on the subject much earlier.

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FDA Clears First Quick Test for Drug-Resistant Staph Infections

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced it has cleared for marketing the first rapid blood test for the drug-resistant staph bacterium known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which can cause potentially deadly infections.

The new test “is good news for the public health community. Rather than waiting more than two days for test results, health care personnel will be able to identify the source of a staph infection in only two hours, allowing for more effective diagnosis and treatment,” said Daniel G. Schultz, M.D., director, FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

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