Dubious Drugs, Tainted Foods Top 2008's Health Stories

A summer outbreak of salmonella sickened more than 1,400 Americans and was finally traced to tainted jalapeno and serrano peppers imported from Mexico. Even more troubling were the 81 U.S. deaths attributed to the blood-thinner heparin -- deliberately contaminated with a man-made chemical during the manufacturing process in China. China faced its own worries, as thousands of babies in that country were fed milk tainted with another contraband "filler," melamine. No U.S. children were affected, the FDA said.

Over-the-Counter Cold Meds Not for the Very Young

In October, major manufacturers and the FDA announced that over-the-counter cough and cold medicines should not be used by children younger than 4 years old. The move came as welcome news to pediatricians, who had long pointed to data suggesting that the remedies don't help ease cold symptoms in kids, and in rare cases may even cause harm.

Progress in the War Against Cancer, Heart Disease

Perhaps the best health news of 2008 came in a report released by the American Cancer Society in November. It found that, for the first time since statistics began to be compiled in 1998, the number of U.S. men and women who developed cancer or died from the disease actually dropped. And two weeks later, the American Heart Association announced that U.S. death rates from heart disease and stroke had fallen by about 30 percent over the previous decade.

Good News, Bad News on Vaccines

Early in the year, researchers at Merck & Co. released disappointing results on the second AIDS vaccine ever tested: The shot failed to ward off HIV infection and in rare cases may have even raised recipients' risks of getting the virus. But in early December, two major trials found early signs of success for a vaccine against another global killer -- malaria.

Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan Leaving Lasting Harm

Studies of returning U.S. veterans suggest that, for many troops, war's impact may linger for years to come. In December, an Institute of Medicine report found that brain injuries sustained in combat or roadside blasts can give rise to depression, dementia and other psychological woes. In October, a disturbing report found that as many as one in seven female troops fall victim to sexual harassment or rape while on active duty. And a report released back in January found that concussions caused by roadside bomb blasts boost troops' odds for long term post-traumatic stress disorder.

SOURCE: HealthDay News reports