Neonatal/Perinatology

The bad news: No easy or standardized treatment exists to prevent complications of asthma in very young children. The good news? Research is pointing the way to improved therapy.

Wheezing is common in children younger than 5 years, but asthma is hard to diagnose in this age group. Research holds promise for earlier identification, before uncontrolled symptoms lead to complications.

Putting their baby in day care is an emotional occasion for parents, as well as a subject that often comes up during office visits. You're in an opportune position to provide advice and support on returning to work and finding the best child-care arrangement for the family.

I've been on service this month caring for hospitalized patients and, once again, I'm reminded that managing illness in children isn't as straightforward as it used to be.

The earlier that social-emotional problems are recognized, the better the outcome is likely to be. Several recent screening tools for children from birth to 3 years can facilitate this process using parent-completed questionnaires.

Finding an acceptable alternative to breast milk has proved to be a complicated quest that continues today.

Does supplementing infant formula with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids have an effect on visual acuity, growth, and cognitive development?

Here is a look at problems that may arise when switching from gavage feedings to breast feedings, the use of fortified human milk, discharge planning needs, and the requirements of infants at risk of feeding problems.

When a newborn or his mother is too ill for him to nurse, the pediatrician can do much to help her pump properly, maintain her milk supply, initiate breastfeeding, and more.

Dissuade mothers from switching formulas unnecessarily and help them avoid disappointment by knowing how formulas differ and what constitutes genuine intolerance.

Pain in infants is often undertreated. A new synthetic opiate, a parenteral NSAID now approved for use in patients as young as 1 year, and improvements in the use of local anesthetics have expanded physicians' options.

A single "best way" just doesn't emerge from the data available. What's a pediatrician to do? Know the science of medicine, but also be ready to practice the art.

The baby who suffers a "spell" marked by apnea, choking, or color changes presents a frightening dilemma: Is it an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) or something less serious? The author offers detailed advice on how to evaluate spells and follow up if necessary. First of two parts.

As more mothers breastfeed, and for a longer time, pediatricians and their staffs are being called on to answer a wide variety of questions. These lactation experts show you how to respond to worries ranging from babies with too many or too few bowel movements to concerns about engorged breasts.