Science To Life

Here are some of the interesting things discussed on this week's episode.

1. New concerns about kids and cough medications
On Friday, an FDA advisory panel recommended parents and caregivers not give over-the- counter cough and cold medications to any children under the age of 6. This decision came a week after many drug manufacturers voluntarily withdrew more than a dozen of these products for infants and babies under the age of 2. The FDA advisory panel also voted to standardize dosing on product labels, as well as on such devices as cups, spoons, or syringes, which sometimes come with the medications.

Dr. Gupta recommended that parents with children under 6 should consult with their pediatrician if their child gets sick, as always. And if you plan to give these medications to older children, remember, to make sure only to give the child the prescribed dose, even if the medication doesn't appear to be working. Don't keep giving it. Use the measuring dispenser provided with the medication. If there isn't one, ask your pharmacy for one. And never use adult-sized teaspoons or tablespoons to give that medication.

2. Drug-resistant staph infections in schools
A 17-year old boy recently died after being diagnosed with MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus), an antibiotic-resistant staph infection. The death resulted in the shut down of an entire school system in Virginia. The possibility of such infections spreading across schools has many people worried. He reports that these infections are very preventable and recommends adopting common sense practices like washing your hands frequently and being aware of skin contact and hygiene.

3. Bottled water and cancer
In the "Ask the Doctor" segment one viewer asked "is it true that bottled water should not be placed in the freezer or left in a hot car all day because severe temperature changes cause the plastic bottle to break down and emit carcinogens (things that could cause cancer)?"

He replies that freezing water actually stops the release of potentially dangerous chemicals because they have a harder time diffusing as easily in cold temperatures. The claims that bottled water stored in cars or other warm environments may contain chemicals linked to cancer are simply not true. You're more likely to suffer from the adverse effects of dehydration if you simply don't drink enough water than from the minuscule amounts of chemicals and plastic if you drink from the bottle.

Excerpts taken from this CNN transcript