It turn out all that Purell and disinfectant keeps kids healthier and in school, a new study found.

In the study, grade-school teachers wiped desks with disinfectant every day, and their students were told to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers several times during a school day, according to a report published in Pediatrics today.

The result was that only 16 percent of students stayed home with gastrointestinal problems. In classrooms that did not take the extra steps, 24 percent of students missed school.

In other medical news, researchers discovered that low birth weight in girls is associated with autism.

"Low birth weight was associated with a 2.3-fold increased risk for autism, with the strongest association seen among low birth weight girls," a Pediatrics summary of the study said.

There is interesting, if a little confusing food for thought:

"The prevalence of autism in low birth weight or preterm children was markedly lower than those of other developmental disabilities. In multivariate analyses, birth weight of <2500 g and preterm birth at <33 weeks' gestation were associated with an approximately twofold increased risk for autism, although the magnitude of risk from these factors varied according to gender (higher in girls) and autism subgroup (higher for autism accompanied by other developmental disabilities). For example, a significant fourfold increased risk was observed in low birth weight girls for autism accompanied by mental retardation, whereas there was no significantly increased risk observed in low birth weight boys for autism alone."

-- Pediatrics, June 2, 2008