Harvard Health Content API

Children who have meningitis as infants can have long-lasting problems with development, a new study finds. The study included 43 children. As babies, all of them had meningitis caused by Group B Streptococcus. This is an infection of the fluid and lining around the brain and spinal cord. At the time of the study, the children’s ages ranged from 3 through 12. They were given a series of tests and measurements of development. Tests showed normal development in nearly half of the children. About 1 in 4 showed mild to moderate harm to their development. Almost 1 in 5 had severe problems with development. The journal Pediatrics published the study online June 11.

More than 2,000 former National Football League (NFL) players are jointly suing the league over safety policies related to concussions. Lawyers and some plaintiffs announced the suit June 7. It brings together 80 suits filed in several federal courts. Now all of the complaints will be heard by a single judge in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. The ex-players say the NFL misled them about the health risks of concussions and did not take enough steps to prevent damage. They cite brain problems that they say were caused by head injuries during games. These include early Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, depression, and problems with thinking and sleep. The NFL says that it can’t be sued over health and safety issues. It says these issues are covered by the players’ union contract. CNN.com, USA Today and the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote about the suit.

A drug that attacks tuberculosis (TB) in a new way has shown promise in a new study. The new drug is not an antibiotic. More and more TB bacteria resist common antibiotics. The study included 481 people with TB that was resistant to several antibiotics. They were randomly divided into 3 groups. All groups received treatment according to current guidelines for drug-resistant TB. Two groups also received delamanid, in different doses. Delamanid reduces production of mycolic acid, a key part of TB bacteria. Everyone got regular cultures of sputum that they coughed up. After 8 weeks of treatment, sputum tests showed no TB bacteria in 45% of those taking the lower dose of delamanid. Results from a higher dose were similar. About 30% of those on standard treatment were free of TB bacteria.