Flu vaccination rates among U.S. children were lower than expected over a recent five-year period, a new study reports.

The findings were released in the midst of the current flu season, with 47 states now reporting widespread illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials recommend that all children 6 months and older get the flu vaccine.

For the new study, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers reviewed data on more than 8,000 children younger than 5 in three counties in Ohio, New York and Tennessee between 2004 and 2009, and found that le...

In Chicago, a hospital employee describes the emergency department as «knee-deep in flu and pneumonia cases.»

In Richmond, Va., Dr. Kenneth Lucas of the Patient First clinic says he’s seen a 30 percent rise in flu cases, which «hit the fan around Christmastime» and «really rolled in with the holidays.»

And in Rhode Island, where almost 10 percent of emergency room visits in the past week were due to flu-like symptoms, state Health Department Director Michael Fine predicts this could be the worst flu season in years.

This year’s influenza season got off to an early start, and according to these...

A new global study of a century’s worth of flu pandemics gives new meaning to that «first kiss.» Influenza’s first kiss, that is.

«Your first kiss by the influenza virus produces original antigenic sins,» the study’s lead author, Dr. Thomas Reichert of the Entropy Research Institute in Lincoln, Mass., tells CBS News. «We remember our first kiss forever.»

The study, published Dec. 12 in the peer-reviewed BMC Medicine, looks at all five influenza pandemics of the past 100 years...

There have been many recalls on Children’s Tylenol and Motrin over the years due to inadequate (or non-existent) testing procedures. This should be a major concern for parents when their children fall ill. Homeopathic medicine has shown to have an 82.6 percent success rate versus conventional medicine at 67.3 percent response in regards to respiratory tract infections. This article will share some natural alternatives to over the counter medicines.

Medicine cabinet must-haves

These homeopathic medicines can be found at most health food store in quick dissolving tablet form and can be used for ...