By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 2 (HealthDay News) -- The number of American children who suffer from food and skin allergies has increased dramatically in recent years, a new government report shows.

Interestingly, the prevalence of food and respiratory allergies rose with income: Children living in families that made more than 200 percent of the poverty level had the highest rates, the statistics showed.

"The prevalence of food and skin allergies both increased over the past 14 years," said report co-author LaJeana Howie, from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "This has been a consistent trend."

By Amy Norton
HealthDay Reporter

(HealthDay News) -- As if parents didn't have enough to worry about, it seems a growing number of kids are taking the "Cinnamon Challenge" -- a stunt that has landed some in the ER, pediatricians warn.

The Cinnamon Challenge sounds simple but is almost impossible: Swallow a tablespoon of ground cinnamon in 60 seconds without the help of a drink. Invariably, the taker ends up gagging and coughing up the spice -- creating a big brown cloud dubbed "dragon breath."

Onlookers apparently find it funny, said Dr. Steven Lipshultz, a pediatrics professor at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. There are over 51,000 YouTube clips of the stunt -- one of which was viewed more than 19 million times as of last August, Lipshultz and his colleagues report in the May issue of Pediatrics.

But it could be dangerous for the person who downs the cinnamon.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- A new study shows more hospitals are saying "no" to elective early births.

A study involving 25 hospitals in five of the United States largest states shows a dramatic drop in elective early births, which involves women seeking C-sections or induced births.

The Alabama Director of the March of Dimes, Camille Epps, welcomed the news.

"Those last few weeks are crucial for brain development and their lungs and there are so many other things going on as the baby is progressing that every day does make a difference in their lives in terms of health," Epps said.

The chief reason for the decline was the hospitals implementing a new policy against early births unless for medical reasons.

"Once the hospital and its staff hear the results how they can decide their deliveries, it's almost a no-brainer," Rosemary Blackmon with the Alabama Hospital Association said.