Most kids don't require CT scans after head injury: Study

Most kids who get CT (computed tomography) scans after seemingly minor head injuries do not need them. The scan only exposes them to heightened radiation risk and cancer, a new study says.

After analysing more than 42,000 children with head trauma, a team led by two University of California-Davis (UC-D) trauma physicians has developed guidelines to prevent children from exposure to such risks.

The study uses data collected at 25 hospitals from children who were evaluated for the possibility of serious brain injury following trauma to the head.

Researchers found that one in five children over the age of two and nearly a quarter of those under two, who received CT scans following head trauma, did not need them because they were at very low risk of having serious brain injuries.

In these low-risk children, the risk of developing cancer due to radiation exposure outweighed the risk of serious brain injury.

"When you have a sample size this large, it is easier to get your hands on the truth," said Nathan Kuppermann, professor of emergency medicine and paediatrics at UC-D Children's Hospital, who led the study.

"We think our investigation provides the best available evidence regarding the use of CT scans in children with head trauma, and it indicates that CT use can be safely reduced by eliminating its application in those children who are at very low risk of serious brain injuries."

As part of the study, Kuppermann and his colleagues developed a set of rules for identifying low-risk patients who would not need a CT scan.

The "prediction rules" for children under two and for those two and older depends on the presence or absence of various symptoms and circumstances, including the way the injury was sustained and clinical evidence of skull fracture for both age groups.

The use of CT in patients who do not fall into the low-risk group identified by the prediction rules will depend on other factors, such as the physician's experience, the severity and number of symptoms.

These findings appeared online in The Lancet.

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10 top tips for kids’ birthday Parties

When it comes to party time, it's easy for parents to a) get stressed b) blow the budget and c) vow never to do it "that way" again. Throwing a birthday party for your child should be fun for all. It just takes planning, a well-paced party schedule and a killer birthday cake. So whether you're planning to hold the party at home or are contemplating outsourcing it to one of Brisbane's dedicated party venues, here's our 10 top tips for pulling off the perfect children's birthday party. Have fun!

1. Invitations

Send them out early - at least three weeks ahead of time. Many children have a hectic social and activity calendar so give their parents ample warning. Also, many venues provide invitations so be sure to ask if you're holding the party away from home.

If your child has a best friend make sure they can come on the date you are planning for the party before you go ahead with bookings and invitations. The absence of a special friend can take the shine off even the brightest celebration.

2. Big or small party?

One school of thought suggests that the number of guests should be the age of your child plus one once your child is aged three and over. If that seems a tad restrictive, by all means go for the bigger numbers - but make sure your party/venue is geared for "crowd control". (That means good planning and party structure as well as sufficient space.) In general, older children handle bigger groups better than younger children.

3. Involve the birthday party boy or girl in the planning

It's their day, so within reason, give your birthday girl or boy what they want. If your child is old enough, sit him or her down and offer a few suggestions for the theme and structure of the party, and let the birthday boy or girl choose from your list the one they want. It's a win, win.

4. It's all in the timing

Don't make the party too long. Most children can handle 1.5 to 2 hours of noise and excitement with equanimity. After that, you may find smaller revellers are starting to fray around the edges. Meltdowns do not make for magic party moments.

Weekend parties are better for younger children, making the celebration the day's sole big event. Plus, parents can often attend more easily too. Older children will often enjoy an after-school party, if you can manage it. For those whose birthdays fall on a school day, it means they can celebrate on the actual day, plus your party won't clash with weekend sport.

As for the time of day you choose to start your child's party - younger children are generally at their effervescent best in the morning while older children will cope well any time of day. The choice is yours.

5. How to deal with presents

Do you or don't you open presents with your party guests? Opening presents as guests arrive can lead to a frenzy of ripped paper and the occasional impolite utterance ("I've already got one of these!"). Opening them after everyone has gone home is much less stressful and ensures nothing gets lost or broken. This way you will know who brought what, so that "thank you letters" can be sent. It's also a calm way to end what has likely been a huge day. One good idea is to set aside a table, or get a big decorated cardboard box, and as the children arrive, put the presents they bring into it.

6. Breaking the ice

To get the party off to a good start, plan an ice-breaker game or activity that the kids can join in as soon as they arrive.

7. Venue

Take the hard work out of organising your child's party by outsourcing the entertainment - or the whole affair. There are literally dozens of venues and entertainers that cater for kids' parties in Brisbane. The big advantage of home parties is that they are generally less expensive than hired venues. Venues, on the other hand, offer novelty, excitement and dedicated entertainment. Best of all, you get to relax and enjoy the party too. After-party mess? Not your problem.

Tip: If the party is to be held outside your home, select and reserve a location. If you choose an outdoor location, such as one of Brisbane's many family-friendly parks, come up with a plan for bad weather.

8. Themes

If you are hosting the party yourself, it helps to have a theme. Often it's a no-brainer (your super-hero-mad little boy wants a party that celebrates his favourite character), but if you're scratching around for ideas, here are a few possibilities:

• traditional fancy dress - for boys and girls of all ages
• builder - for boys age 2-5
• fairy party - for girls age 2-8
• under the sea -for boys and girls age 3-8
• princess - for girls age 3-8
• pirate - for boys (and girls!) age 4-8
• disco - for boys and girls age 5-13
• spooky - for boys and girls age 6-10

Or choose from the range of party packs offered by professional party organisers.

When you've settled on a theme, have a ball coordinating the party paraphernalia - paper plates, cups, napkins, party hats, party favours and, most importantly of all, the cake. Check out our directory - it lists dozens of party suppliers.

9. Menu

If you want to serve a small meal, keep the offerings simple. Familiar snacks like party pies and sausage rolls, cupcakes, crisps, fairy bread or sandwiches always go down well. Be aware of any food allergies - it's best to avoid anything with nuts (including peanut butter sandwiches) because so many children are allergic to them.

If the parents are staying for the party, make up some tasty treats (dips are easy and delicious) for them too. And if you really want to ramp up the festivities and relax the mums and dads, offer a round of champagne!

10. Games

You can go all out and hire games equipment (such as jumping castles) and entertainers or you can do it the old-fashioned way, with traditional games that never lose their appeal - especially with younger children. Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Simon Says and What's the Time Mr Wolf are exciting for three- and four-year olds because they may be discovering them for the first time. Five- and six-year-olds may enjoy more robust games like three-legged races, sack races and egg-and-spoon races. Older children will be ready for simple crafts like making pirate hats, princess crowns or other novelties. And everyone loves to have a go at whacking the piñata to release a shower of toys and lollies.

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Mom Kicks Kids Out of the Car, Gets arrested

A mom in White Plains, N.Y., was fed up with her daughters' bickering in the car. And so, in a fit of what was likely parental desperation, she kicked the girls, ages 10 and 12, out of the car 3 miles from home.

Is the act one of minor stupidity -- acting properly human -- or child endangerment?

"The 12-year-old chased the car and got back in," reports the New York Times. "The 10-year-old was left alone and was eventually comforted by a passer-by who bought her an ice cream and contacted the police. When Ms. Primoff came to pick up her daughter, she was arrested on charges of endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, and held in jail overnight. Ms. Primoff, a partner specializing in international finance with the firm Kaye Scholer, is free on $1,500 bail and due back in court on May 21."

Primoff also has been barred from contact with her children, writes the New York Sun.

If it weren't for her arrest -- and even with it, it's likely that Primoff's daughters will believe her next time when she tells them to stop fighting or they can get out of the car. I certainly believed my mother when she said similar statements because I KNEW my mother meant it. And Primoff made that clear with her own children.

I know there are plenty of folks who are and will slam Primoff for endangering her children in what some call a seedy commercial district in White Plains. Others will -- and have -- said they deal with fighting kids in the car by giving them iPods or other electronic toys to turn on or by making them change seats. But none of us were in Primoff's driving shoes in that car. None of us knows the volume the bickering had gotten to or the amount of time the girls had been fighting or how many other times before the girls had fought in that same car. None of us were in her shoes.

What we do know is that some forms of discipline can land us in jail -- and that's a shame. Because, really, when it comes right down to it, the only way our kids will listen to us when we tell preschoolers to keep those seat belts buckled or to stop yelling in the car or any miriad of other annoying behavior, is to enforce our threats. And kicking the kids out of the car is a pretty common threat that comes to many minds.

While I can't say I've ever kicked the kids out of the car miles from home, I have sent them out the front door to run a few laps around the house. And I have pulled over, stopped the car and refused to drive until everyone is acting right.

What troubles me most about this is NOT the fact that Primoff kicked the kids out. It's that she didn't quickly double back to pick up the 10-year-old.

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Kids Health

There's a lot of discussion these days about fit kids. People who care (parents, doctors, teachers, and others) want to know how to help kids be more fit.

Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity (exercise), and has a healthy weight. If you're fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends.

Some steps only parents can take — such as serving healthy meals or deciding to take the family on a nature hike. But kids can take charge, too, when it comes to health.

Here are five rules to live by, if you're a kid who wants to be fit. The trick is to follow these rules most of the time, knowing that some days (like your birthday) might call for cake and ice cream.

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