News

The article “National hospital initiative targets preventable injuries,” in the most recent issue of Contemporary Pediatrics, describes 35 years of impressive work by a nationwide coalition of concerned pediatricians and pediatric trauma surgeons who have championed hospital, school-based, and community-wide initiatives to reduce the prevalence and incidence of unintentional injuries in children.

Parents are less likely to make dosing errors when giving their child liquid medications if they use an oral syringe--rather than a cup-- to measure the dose, a recent trial showed.

Unintentional injury is ranked number one among the 10 leading causes of death in children. In fact, injuries, ranging from car and bike crashes to poisonings and gunshot wounds, kill more children than anything else, starting at age 1 year to age 44 years.

Children who spent 2 consecutive years in classrooms outfitted with desks at which they worked standing (or while sitting on a stool) had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than their peers in classrooms with traditional standard desks, a recent study reported.

A study conducted in Berkeley, California, the first US jurisdiction to implement an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), found that consumption of SSBs decreased 21% in that city after the tax was imposed.

A full-term male infant was born to a 33-year-old gravida 3, para 3 mother. The prenatal course was uncomplicated, without gestational diabetes; the mother received prenatal care at an out-of-state institution. At the delivery, however, the baby was notably macrosomic, with shoulder dystocia and perinatal distress requiring positive pressure ventilation.

At the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exibition (NCE) in October, I again presented 2 workshops on office technologies, sponsored by the AAP’s Section on Advances in Technology and Therapeutics. I made every effort to make this year’s workshop a unique experience, showcasing some new technology while including some of my old favorites.

Pediatrics in 2016: Money

In our 4th annual Issue and Attitudes Survey, it was clear that money was one of your "pain points" for 2016.

Between MOC, your workload, your stress levels, and other job demands, morale was another "pain point" that we heard loud and clear in our annual Issues and Attitudes survey.

Governmental regulations, insurance companies and their requirements, and other hassles have made your jobs more difficult in 2016, according to our 4th annual Issues and Attitudes survey.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of etanercept for treatment of children with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis will revolutionize the management of psoriasis in children.

As Election Day nears, the intensity of the campaign and level of emotion continues to rise beyond anything remembered. Children are remarkably resilient to all this input, at least on the surface, but one has to wonder what they are thinking and likely worrying about just below the surface.

For the 4th year, experts weigh in on key sessions from one of pediatrics premier gatherings. Here are highlights and insights on why they matter.

What would make pediatricians wonder if a parent in their office might be “an adult child of an alcoholic parent?” The following case could be viewed as representative.

Preschool-aged children who go to bed early are half as likely as those whose bedtime is late to be obese as adolescents, according to a new study.

Results of a randomized trial in children with asthma comparing concomitant use of the inhaled glucocorticoid fluticasone propionate plus the long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) salmeterol with use of fluticasone alone indicate that the answer to this question is “no.”

Superficial, relatively thin infantile hemangiomas (IHs) responded to several months of treatment with topical timolol maleate in a recent trial, suggesting that this treatment is an alternative to oral propranolol for selected IHs.

Physician “burnout” has become a popular topic in medical journals. It is worthwhile to discuss this important topic so we can recognize the symptoms of burnout, seek help when necessary, and change our work environment to prevent burnout and its consequences.

Antibiotics, UTI, and VUR

The diagnosis and treatment of reflux in children with a history of urinary tract infections (UTIs) keeps evolving-it's hardly a settled issue. Regarding antibiotic prophylaxis in these children, said Saul P. Greenfield, MD, FAAP, FACS, the Randomized Intervention for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux (RIVUR) trial reveals that it may be better to overtreat than undertreat.

Family meals matter

Teaching children healthy eating habits requires setting a good example by sharing meals with them, said Irene Chatoor, MD, FAAP, in her session "Food refusal: From picky eating to feeding disorders."

The relationship between the urinary tract and the lower gastrointestinal tract impacts urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urinary incontinence in children.

Evidence-based guidance is available to help primary care practitioners provide psychopharmacologic treatment for behavioral disorders.