Poultry, leafy veggies leading causes of illness

Two normally healthful foods -- chicken and leafy vegetables -- were the leading causes of recent food-borne illness.

Poultry caused 21 percent of food-related disease outbreaks, and leafy vegetables like lettuce caused 17 percent, followed by nuts at 16 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Almost 28,000 illness in 2006 most often involved norovirus, 54 percent of the time, and salmonella 18 percent of the time.

Keep in mind that most food illness never gets reported or identified.

The full report is at cdc.gov/mmwr.

Autism med update

A study finds that one of the most frequently used medications for children with autism and repetitive behavior does not appear to work.

The National Institutes of Health randomized study looked at a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor known as citalopram hydrobromide, brand name Celexa.

Doctors gave 149 youths ages 5 to 17 with at least moderate autism severity either liquid citalopram or a placebo daily for 12 weeks.

At the end of treatment, there was no difference between groups in the proportion of children rated "much improved" or "very much improved" - about one-third in each group. In addition, scores for repetitive behaviors did not differ between groups.

The Archives of General Psychiatry reported that the citalopram recipients also had negative side effects like impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and diarrhea.

Long social lives

It's not just exercise that keeps older people more vigorous. Social activity helps too, according to a study in the Chicago area by Rush University Medical Center.

The study, in the latest Archives of Internal Medicine, looked at 900 elderly people in retirement homes, church groups and social service agencies.

Those who participated less frequently in social activities had a faster decline in motor function.

Researchers said volunteer work, visiting friends or family, and attending church and sporting events are relatively cheap and fun ways to maintain health in old age.

About incontinence

Men having problems with incontinence can get ideas for treatment at a free forum led by Loyola University Medical Center Dr. John Wheeler and prostate cancer survivor and continence advocate Dennis Holt.

The "Live Life Dry" talk will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Chicago Prostate Cancer Center, 815 Pasquinelli Drive, Westmont. To register, call (630) 654-2515.