Parents need lessons in how to cope with their children's unruly behaviour, new guidelines on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) say. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says drugs such as Ritalin should be avoided - and must not be given to the under-fives.
A large international study has revealed several genetic variants which are linked to people with asthma. In all, more than 500,000 tests were performed on the genes of 10,000 children and adults with the condition, and 16,000 non-asthmatics. The Imperial College-led research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could point to new targets for drugs. Experts said gene testing could not predict who would get the condition.
A woman due to start university in Hampshire this week fears she may have to defer her studies for a year due to a lack of disabled accommodation. Freya Saxby, 20, of Bournemouth, is due to study at Winchester University.
Two popular supplements taken to combat joint pain do not work, a study says. The review of 10 previous trials by Bern University in Switzerland found glucosamine and chondroitin did not have any beneficial effect on osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.
Local authorities should refrain from "panic" cuts to services, charities for disabled children have warned. The Council for Disabled Children says some families are seeing "lifeline services" stopped with little warning. Losing services such as a few hours' respite break for parents can have a huge impact on families, it warns.
Thousands of pupils are being wrongly labelled as having special educational needs when all they require is better teaching and support, Ofsted has said. It said up to 25% of the 1.7m pupils in England with special needs would not be so labelled if schools focused more on teaching for all their children. The National Union of Teachers said such claims were "insulting and wrong"
