Cholesterol meds for kids? Study says yes

Cholesterol-fighting medications are more typically associated with grumpy old men than grammar schoolchildren, but an influential medical group said children as young as 8 could be prescribed the meds. In guidelines released Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics said prescribing the medication to young children could help ward off later heart problems. Doctors and medical experts, however, warned against parents rushing to put their children on the drugs. "I hope people don't overreact," said Dr. Jerry Wortzman, chairman of the pediatrics department at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham. "The first message should be that there are very few kids who would meet the recommended criteria for starting treatment." Under the new guidelines, cholesterol-fighting drugs would be prescribed to children 8 or older who have too... [read full story]