FDA Consumer Magazine -- November 1990
Table of Contents

Rare Disease Treatments: Orphans' Saving Lives
The lives of many with rare conditions, such as leprosy, severe combined immunodeficiency, AIDS, and Wilson's disease, have been improved--and often extended--by products developed under the Orphan Drug Act.

Food Irradiation: Toxic to Bacteria, Safe for Humans
FDA has said it would allow the use of irradiation to kill bacteria on poultry as safe and effective. But consumer apprehension may prevent its use.

The Perplexities of Pregnancy
A sometimes bewildering member of issues--from pregnancy tests, to nutrition, to use of medications and medical imaging--may confront the pregnant woman. Fortunately, a little information can go a long way to resolving the most common puzzlements.

Reye Syndrome: The Decline of a Disease
As the public has become aware of the relationship between Reye syndrome in children and the use of aspirin during a viral illness, the incidence or this disease has declined. But vigilance is still needed to prevent this fatal condition.

Testing Drugs in Older People
A drug dose that's therapeutic for a younger person may be too strong for an older person. To encourage manufacturers to include older patients in clinical studies, FDA recently issued guidelines on how to study drugs in the elderly.

How to Take Your Medicine: Estrogens
This fifth in a series of articles on proper drug use discusses the hormone often used in replacement therapy at menopause, but also used to treat certain types of cancer.

(Hypertext updated by clb March 16, 1998)