Health Highlights: Oct. 17, 2007

Mar. 23 -- Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments,compiled by editors of HealthDay:

Children's Care a 'Gap' in U.S. Pandemic Plans: Report

U.S. government plans for a flu pandemic have major gaps in terms of treating and caring for children, says a report released Wednesday by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Trust for America's Health (TFAH).

The report noted that children ages 0-19 account for nearly 46 percent of all deaths caused by the H5N1 bird flu virus.

"Children are not simply small adults, especially when it comes to medical concerns. The fact the H5N1 has been disproportionately impacting children and adolescents should give us pause," Jeff Levi, TFAH executive director, said in a prepared statement. "As the U.S. prepares for the threat of a possible pandemic flu, we must make caring for our kids a priority, not an afterthought."

The report identified four major areas of concern: child-appropriate doses of vaccine and medications; management and treatment of children who become ill; inclusion of children in strategies to slow the spread of influenza in communities; and caring for and supervising the health of children if schools and childcare facilities are closed for extended periods of time.

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Diabetes Drug Byetta Linked to Acute Pancreatitis

Doctors and patients are being warned that the diabetes drug Byetta may cause acute pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas that can be fatal, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the alert after it reviewed 30 cases of acute pancreatitis that have been reported since Byetta was approved for sale in the U.S. in 2005.

The drug is marketed by Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. of San Diego and Eli Lilly & Co. of Indianapolis. Amylin has agreed to update Byetta's label to provide clear advice on the signs and symptoms of acute pancreatitis that doctors should look for, the Wall Street Journal reported. Those signs include persistent, severe abdominal pain that can radiate to the back and may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Tests are needed to confirm the condition, the FDA said.