Parents often put parental controls for their kids and keep an eye on their media consumption at all times but often neglect their own usage by a mile. When you are telling kids to not do certain things and then proceed to do it yourself, you send a hypocritical message to kids. They start believing that you are making up rules and they are not that important, because if they were you yourself would’ve been following it! While you may not think that your media usage should be your kid’s business, a new study shows that it has a direct effect on your kids. Not just their mentality, but also what your screen hours show them that the internet is a safe place where they can explore whatever content they want. It is very easy for kids to override the age rule and get access to mature content, which lead to them consuming these videos and media from an early age! A new study looked at how parents' phone use might affect whether their kids see inappropriate content. Researchers found that when parents spend a lot of time on their phones and don't have clear rules about media use at home, their kids are more likely to watch R-rated movies or play video games meant for adults. The study talked to over 10,000 kids aged 12 and 13.

What Did The Study Reveal?

A recent study published in the journal BMC Pediatrics has revealed a potential link between parents' phone habits and their children's consumption of inappropriate content. The researchers wanted to learn more about how parents can help their young teens with media use. They explained that while there's advice for younger kids and older teens, there's not much for this age group. These young teens are in a tricky stage, they're not little kids anymore, but they're not quite teenagers either. The study wanted to see how what parents do and the rules they make affect what kind of content young teens are exposed to.

Parents answered questions about their own phone use, like how often they try to limit their screen time around their kids. The kids also answered questions about how often they watch R-rated movies or play mature video games. The study found that the more time parents spent on their phones, the more likely their kids were to consume mature content. Things like using phones during meals or in bedrooms seemed to be especially linked to kids seeing this type of content.

Why Should Parent’s Mobile Usage Be A Concern?

Experts say it's important for parents to be aware of their own phone habits, because kids often copy what they see. They suggest that parents should "practice what they preach", if they make a rule about no phones at the dinner table, they should follow it too. Experts also recommend that families create a media plan together with clear rules, like limiting screen time during meals and before bed, talking about what they see online, not using screen time as punishment, and using it as a reward for good habits. Basically, the study shows that what parents do with their phones can really influence what their kids are doing online.

How You Can Reduce Your Screen Time?

First, see how much you're using them and set small goals to cut back. Make some areas and times in your house phone-free, like during meals and before sleep, this is a great chance to connect with your family. Turn off notifications you don't need and find fun things to do instead of being on your phone, maybe even things your family can do together. Put your phone away so it's not always tempting and think about why you're picking it up. Tell your family you're trying to use your phone less, and maybe they'll join you! If it's tough, think about taking a break from all screens for a bit. It takes time, so be patient with yourself and enjoy the extra time you have with your family. This not only benefits you but also sets a positive example for your children.

World Thalassemia Day is observed every year on May 8 to raise awareness about the inherited blood disorder caused by faulty genes.

The day was initiated in 1994 by the Thalassaemia International Federation in memory of George Englezos, the son of the federation’s founder, who succumbed to the disease.

This year’s theme, “Together for Better Care and Equal Access,” highlights the need for universal screening, safe blood availability, and advanced therapies.

The disorder, which often requires blood transfusions every fortnight, affects approximately 1.3 million people living with severe forms of thalassemia worldwide. About 1.5 percent of the global population is carriers, and the disease claims nearly 11,000 lives annually.

More than 40,000 infants are born each year with severe thalassemia, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Although mortality rates have declined, they remain high in developing regions, particularly in Southeast Asia.

What Is Thalassemia?

Thalassemia is an inherited hemoglobin disorder caused by defective synthesis of alpha or beta globin chains.

In β-thalassemia major, reduced or absent beta-chain production leads to ineffective erythropoiesis, severe anemia, bone marrow expansion, splenomegaly, growth retardation, and iron overload due to repeated blood transfusions.

Patients often present in early childhood with pallor, jaundice, recurrent infections, and characteristic facial bone deformities.

Thalassemia Screening

With 10,000–15,000 babies born with Thalassemia Major every single year in India, the country remains one of the global hotspots for the blood transfusion-dependent disease.

HealthandMe spoke to doctors who emphasized that carrier screening, premarital counseling, and antenatal diagnosis remain crucial preventive strategies in India, often referred to as the “thalassemia capital of the world”, as nearly one in every eight thalassemia patients globally lives in the country.

Experts stressed that normalizing conversations around screening is key to reducing the disease burden.

Dr. Ajay Sharma, Director and Head of Hematology and Hemat-Oncology at Paras Health Panchkula, said thalassemia is a preventable genetic disorder, but continues to go undetected until it is too late.

This is because “thalassemia screening, which is one of the simplest yet most overlooked preventive steps in India,” said Dr. Vishnu Hari, Associate Director and Head of Haematology & BMT at Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad.

“Every couple, especially those planning marriage or pregnancy, should undergo basic carrier screening. The challenge is not the availability of tests, but the lack of awareness and social hesitation around genetic conditions,” Dr. Hari said.

Also read: Reused Syringes Infect Over 330 Children in Pakistan With HIV: Report

When To Get Screened?

Screening should ideally be done early, as early detection helps informed decision-making and prevents severe health complications in children. Experts recommend screening:

• At the premarital stage
• At the start of pregnancy

What Will the Screening Find?

Carrier detection is possible with a complete blood count and a test called High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Indicators include:

• Low haemoglobin (~9 g/dL)
• Low MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume, ~65)
• HbA2 levels above 3.5%

“If both partners are carriers, timely genetic counselling during the antenatal phase becomes critical,” he said.

While cultural stigma and low prioritization of preventive healthcare often delay this step, the integration of routine thalassemia screening into premarital check-ups and early pregnancy care can help significantly reduce the number of affected births in India.

What Could Be Done To Manage Thalassemia?

Dr Parveen Yograj, a General Surgeon from Jammu, in a post on the social media platform X, shared that treatment for thalassemia has evolved remarkably over recent decades.

“Regular blood transfusions combined with iron chelation therapy using agents like Deferasirox and Deferiprone have significantly improved survival. Curative therapy through bone marrow transplantation is now increasingly successful, especially in children with matched donors.

"Recent breakthroughs in gene therapy and CRISPR-based genome editing offer new hope for a long-term cure by correcting defective globin gene expression,” he said.

Public health officials in South Wales, UK, have issued an alert on a localized outbreak of hepatitis A, and have urged residents to maintain hygiene as well as vaccinate children.

Cases of hepatitis A involving the same strain have been identified in three separate households in Barry, according to Public Health Wales.

The health body, in a statement, said the strain’s characteristics “suggest the infection may be spreading locally.” Investigations into the “small number” of cases are ongoing.

To curb the outbreak, the officials have also issued an urgent appeal to parents to ensure their children remain “vigilant with their handwashing.”

Those infected are “receiving appropriate care and are recovering well,” Public Health Wales said. As a precaution, close contacts of the affected individuals have also been offered vaccination.

What Is Hepatitis A?

Hepatitis A is a viral liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It spreads mainly through contaminated food or water, or through close personal contact with an infected person.

The infection can lead to liver inflammation, jaundice, extreme fatigue, and stomach pain. In most cases, it is a short-term illness that clears on its own without specific treatment, although severe cases can occur. Unlike hepatitis B or C, hepatitis A does not usually cause long-term liver damage.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent infection.

Also read: Hepatitis Infections Claims 1.3 Million Lives Worldwide, India Among Top Contributors: WHO

Symptoms of Hepatitis A

Symptoms usually appear a few weeks after exposure to the virus, although some people may not develop noticeable signs. According to the Cleveland Clinic, symptoms can include:

• Persistent fatigue and weakness
• Sudden nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Pain or discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen near the liver
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Reduced appetite
• Mild fever
• Dark-colored urine
• Joint pain
• Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Severe itching

Can Hepatitis A Be Prevented?

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“The best way to prevent the spread of hepatitis A is to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water. This is important after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before preparing or eating food,” said Susan Mably, Consultant in Health Protection for Public Health Wales.

Vaccination against hepatitis A is also highly effective in preventing the disease.

Doctors recommend the vaccine for:

• Children older than 12 months
• Adults at risk of exposure at home or work
• Travelers visiting regions where the virus is more common
• People with existing liver conditions

• drinking boiled or bottled water,
• avoiding food from unhygienic sources,
• peeling fruits at home and not getting pre-cut from stores.

If someone in the household is infected, cleanliness becomes even more important. Surfaces should be disinfected, food prepared carefully, and personal items not shared.

Safe sexual practices also matter, as the virus can spread through oral-anal contact. On a broader level, preventing future outbreaks requires more than short-term fixes. Improving water quality, repairing sewage systems, and strengthening public health surveillance are essential to stop the cycle from repeating.

The rates of resistance to recommended antibiotics are rising among newborns in the US, according to an analysis of invasive Escherichia coli samples.

E coli is a major neonatal pathogen in the United States and a leading cause of sepsis and mortality in newborns.

“Mortality due to E. coli sepsis remains high, especially in preterm newborns. Resistance to beta-lactams and aminoglycosides, the most common empiric treatments for E. coli sepsis, is worsening,” said researchers from the University of Missouri.

They called for tailoring treatment regimens against neonatal E. coli sepsis according to evolving antibiotic resistance trends.

“Neonatal sepsis isolates are characterized by specific genomic traits indicative of virulent phenotypes that need continued surveillance,” they added in the research published in the Open Forum Infectious Diseases journal.

What Are the Key Findings?

The researchers identified and analyzed E coli isolated from blood cultures of newborns at the hospital from 2006 to 2021. They intended to investigate the clinical characteristics of newborns with E coli bacteremia (bacteria in the blood), and the pattern of antibiotic resistance in E coli isolates over time.

“This knowledge is crucial to develop effective preventative and treatment strategies for this devastating disease,” the researchers wrote.

Of the 54 newborns identified with E coli bacteremia

• 7 developed early-onset sepsis (within 72 hours of birth or less),
• 12 were treated for E coli meningitis,
• 2 had necrotizing enterocolitis.
• Five of the newborns died, including three who were born preterm.

Antibiotic susceptibility analysis found 54 per cent of E coli isolates overall were non-susceptible to ampicillin and 11 per cent were non-susceptible to gentamicin—the two antibiotics recommended for first-line treatment in newborns with sepsis.

Also read: US CDC Links Recent Salmonella Outbreak To Backyard Poultry

Meanwhile, nonsusceptibility to ampicillin rose from 46 per cent to 61 per cent between 2006-2013 and 2014-2021.

The percentage of isolates that were non-susceptible to cefazolin, an alternative therapy, rose from 8 per cent to 36 per cent.

Whole genome sequencing revealed that the most prominent E coli sequence types (STs) were

• ST95 (17 per cent),
• ST69 (11 per cent),
• ST131 (7 per cent),
• 43 per cent of isolates contained the K1 capsule, which plays a crucial role in disease progression.

“Understanding genomic traits and molecular epidemiology trends of neonatal E. coli invasive strains is also crucial to develop novel preventative and treatment strategies that are urgently needed,” they wrote.

What Is Antibiotic Resistance?

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According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria learn to withstand the medicines(antibiotics) that are supposed to kill them. It's like the bacteria have developed a suit of armor against the drug.

When this happens, doctors have to switch to different antibiotics. These backup medicines might not work as well or might cause more side effects. Sometimes, a bacteria can become resistant to all available drugs, which leaves the patient with a dangerous infection that doctors have no way to treat. The alarming thing is that these tough, drug-resistant bacteria can spread from one person to another, both in hospitals and at home.

A 2025 report from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that one out of every six serious infections confirmed in labs worldwide in 2024 could not be killed by the antibiotics meant to treat them.

The report noted that the standard, first-choice antibiotic is failing against over 40 per cent of E. coli.