Health Report

By Janice M. Horowitz

THE GOOD NEWS

A WALK IN THE WOODS Trying to avoid getting Lyme disease? Scientists now say that even if grass is high, you can reduce your odds of a tick bite if you stick to areas where bare ground is visible. Mice--primary carriers of infected ticks--like to hide in denser growth.

SALT SHAKER Confused about salt? This may help: an analysis of 114 studies over 30 years finds no evidence that people with normal blood pressure need to limit their intake.

CAREFUL KIDS Over the past decade, the number of youngsters killed in bicycle, car and other accidents has fallen 26%. Among the reasons: the use of bike helmets and seat belts.

Sources: Annals of Internal Medicine; Journal of the American Medical Association; National Safe Kids Campaign

THE BAD NEWS

GENDER BENDER Women with hair loss can forget about the new baldness pill, Propecia. Now, six months after Propecia was introduced for men, the manufacturer says it does nothing to improve thinning hair in women.

CHICKEN NUGGET There's a strain of Salmonella known as DT104. It's resistant to major antibiotics, and it's spreading dramatically. Virtually unheard of 20 years ago, DT104 is now responsible for nearly 10% of cases.

AIDS ALERT Nearly 45% of patients on AIDS cocktails don't always adhere to their Rx--they may skip a dose or take it late. Problem: they may wind up resistant to the drugs.

Sources: Merck & Co.; New England Journal of Medicine; Journal, Intern'l Association of Physicians in AIDS Care

--By Janice M. Horowitz