WEDNESDAY, June 25 (HealthDay News) -- A new vaccine for rotavirus -- a leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea in infants and children -- may account for this year's less severe season, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday.

The highly contagious virus is shed in the stools of infected people and is transmitted by contaminated hands and objects. Children can transmit the virus before and after they become sick with diarrhea.

I have a friend who just emailed me and is suffering from IBS. I asked her the following questions...

-is it worse around your period
-have you been diagnosed with endometriosis
-do you suffer from diarrhea and or constipation or both
-do you have thyroid issues
-ever had a hysterctomy

She's asked me what the drug was that I took for spasming of the colon?

I will reply, once she answers my questions.

Best in health,

Michelle

Inexpensive Compound Could Treat Severe Diarrhea

TUESDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- A new compound that may lead to an inexpensive, easy-to-take treatment for diarrhea has been discovered by researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

This finding may prove especially important for developing countries, where diarrhea is a major cause of child deaths. Diarrhea kills an estimated 1.6 million to 2.5 million children a year, according to information published by the World Health Organization.

By Steven Reinberg
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 11 (HealthDay News) -- A new skin patch containing E. coli toxins seems to help prevent travelers' diarrhea, researchers report.

Even when people developed diarrhea, the condition was less severe and the agonizing episode shorter, they added.

By JoNel Aleccia
Health writer
MSNBC

Amy Warren had never heard of the germ that made her so miserable.

In January 2005, weeks after giving birth to her daughter, the Ohio mother of two knew only that she was in pain, suffering cramping so severe she felt like she was still in labor. Then came the diarrhea, uncontrollable bouts up to 50 times a day, which left Warren weak and raw and stranded in her Maineville home.

Read full story

WEDNESDAY, April 30 (HealthDay News) -- Patients with mild Alzheimer's disease who took 800 milligrams of the drug tarenflurbil twice a day had less decline in functional ability than those who took a placebo, according to a British phase II trial.

The findings support phase III studies of the drug at this dose, the researchers said. Tarenflurbil reduces production of 42-amino-acid peptide, which is believed to initiate brain damage characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Previous research had found the drug prevented learning and memory defects in mice with Alzheimer's disease.

I was recently sent a copy of a new book called IBS: Answers at Your Fingertips for review, and I have to say that I was extremely disappointed in this book. The last two books that I reviewed, IBS Chat and Romance, Riches and Restrooms were rather grand, and I had to give them glowing reviews, which is far less fun than ripping a book to shreds.

I was recently contacted by a high school student named Ashley clear across the country who asked if she could interview me for a high school project. She had chosen to write about Postpartum Depression with the hopes of educating others on how devastating and misunderstood it is. Ashley found me when she came upon this blog and I was so thrilled and honored to help her out. Below are her questions to me and my responses during the interview.

What was your initial reaction to finding out you had Postpartum Depression, how did it impact your life?

I was recently contacted by a high school student named Ashley clear across the country who asked if she could interview me for a high school project. She had chosen to write about Postpartum Depression with the hopes of educating others on how devastating and misunderstood it is. Ashley found me when she came upon this blog and I was so thrilled and honored to help her out. Below are her questions to me and my responses during the interview.

What was your initial reaction to finding out you had Postpartum Depression, how did it impact your life?