June 26th 2025
Mycoplasma pneumoniae caused 1 in 2 pediatric pneumonia hospitalizations in 2024, with sharp increases seen across all age groups, according to a recent CDC MMWR report.
Addressing Healthcare Inequities: Tailoring Cancer Screening Plans to Address Inequities in Care
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SimulatED™: Understanding the Role of Genetic Testing in Patient Selection for Anti-Amyloid Therapy
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Cases and Conversations™: Applying Best Practices to Prevent Shingles in Your Practice
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e-Photo Quiz: Answer to Last Month’s Online Challenge - Orbital cellulitis
October 1st 2006The child has orbital cellulitis, an infection with sometimes serious sequelae that involves the soft tissue of the orbit posterior to the orbital septum. Children are more likely than adults to contract orbital cellulitis; the median age of those affected is 7 years. Preseptal cellulitis--the other major infection of the ocular and adnexal orbital tissue--involves the soft tissue of the eyelids and periocular region anterior to the orbital septum and is considered less severe.
Photo Essay: Images of Tuberculosis
October 1st 2006Tuberculosis (TB) remains one the most important infectious diseases in the world. More than 8 million people are infected every year. The vast majority of infections--95%--occur in developing countries, where the disease accounts for 25% of avoidable adult deaths.
Erratum: Update on treatment of primary syphilis
September 1st 2006The July 2006 issue, which featured an update on STDs, included a case on primary syphilis in a teenager (page 427). Therapy with intramuscular penicillin G (weekly for 3 weeks) or ceftriaxone (daily for 2 weeks) was recommended. However, the CDC's newly published guidelines on STD treatment recommend therapy with a single intramuscular dose of 2.4 million units of penicillin G.1 If the patient is allergic to penicillin, the alternative is therapy with doxycycline (100 mg orally bid for 14 days) or tetracycline (500 mg qid for 14 days). Ceftriaxone is not a recommended treatment for syphilis.
Pediatric Musculoskeletal Infections: Combating the Major Pathogens
September 1st 2006Musculoskeletal infections in children include osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, and pyomyositis. Most of these infections are bacterial. Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism in children in all age cat-egories. Others include group A Streptococcus, Neisseria meningitidis in purpura fulminans, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Borrelia burgdorferi.
School nurse group launches influenza educational campaign
August 11th 2006With children two to three times more likely than adults to become ill with the flu and spread the virus to others, the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) has launched a program to educate parents and students about influenza. "Don't Get Sidelined by the Flu," includes educational materials-in English and Spanish-for school nurses to share with parents and students to raise awareness about flu prevention, recognition of symptoms, and treatment options.
Your ever-present challenge: Keeping the immunization level high
August 1st 2006Nationally, immunization levels are higher than ever, but new challenges mean no rest for the pediatric community. Consider these tips on maintaining immunization coverage-to help you preserve and extend essential protection for children in your care.
Photoclinic: Tuberculous Spondylitis
August 1st 2006A 12-year-old boy from Pakistan presented with weakness, night sweats, anorexia, and chronic cough of 2 months' duration. He had undergone spinal surgery about 5 months before immigrating to the United States when acute paralysis, kyphosis, and a prominent midline hump (gibbus deformity) developed in his thoracic spine. The child appeared pale and weak but in no acute respiratory distress. His weight was 20.5 kg (45 lb). He had difficulty in walking without assistance. Muscle wasting was noted in the arms and legs, and he had a healing lesion on the left elbow that drained pus. Other physical examination findings were unremarkable except for a fever (temperature of 37.2°C [99°F]) and the gibbus deformity.
Varicella vaccine booster added to the recommended immunization schedule
July 12th 2006The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) unanimously voted on June 29 that children 4 to 6 years old receive a second dose of varicella vaccine for the prevention of chickenpox.
6-Month-Old Girl With Genital Mass
July 1st 2006Child Protective Services (CPS) has asked you to evaluate a 6-month-old girl with a genital mass. The goal is to determine whether the "weird lump in the baby's private area"--noted while the child's diapers were being changed in day care--was the result of sexual abuse.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases:A Photo Quiz
July 1st 2006Fourteen-year-old JT is worried. During health class last week, he learned about the different sexually transmitted infections as well as about testicular self-examination. While practicing his monthly testicular examination in the shower, he noticed that he had a number of small growths on his penis. On further questioning, JT insists that he has never been sexually active with another person.
Erythema Infectiosum in a 7-Year-Old Boy
June 1st 2006Seven-year-old boy with red, nonpruritic rash that appeared first on the cheeks and then spread to the trunk, extremities, and buttocks. No history of respiratory, GI, or other symptoms in the several weeks before the onset of the rash. Patient is otherwise healthy.
Case in Point: Acute Osteomyelitis: Radiographs Versus MRI
May 1st 2006A 10-year-old boy with no medical history was brought to his pediatrician's office with a 2-day history of intermittent fever (temperature of 38.8°C to 39.4°C [102°F to 103°F]). Physical examination results were unremarkable. There was no history of recent trauma. The child was sent home with analgesic therapy.
Update on Sexually Transmitted Diseases:Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infections
April 1st 2006Most cases of HSV-2 infection are spread through sexual transmission. An infected person can have virus in his or her saliva, semen, or vaginal secretions. When a seronegative partner comes in sexual contact with these secretions, the virus can enter the body through mucosal surfaces (such as the vagina, anus, or mouth) or micro-abrasions on the skin (eg, the penile shaft, scrotum, thighs, or perineum).