News

Growing concern about the effects of general anesthesia on brain development in infants and young children has prompted a call for more research and a warning to parents and physicians to take into account the potential risks when considering surgery for children aged younger than 3 years.

More than 90% of primary care physicians surveyed in a new study say that in a typical month they encounter parental requests to spread out the recommended vaccination schedule for their children by reducing the number of vaccines given simultaneously or postponing some vaccines until an older age. Most agree to do so at least sometimes despite reservations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended, for the first time, intrauterine devices as a first-line contraceptive option for adolescent girls. However, few pediatricians have adequate training in placing the devices, which can limit their use.

Teenagers who smoke the popular electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are less likely to use substances than adolescents who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (dual users) but more likely to use them than teenagers who have never used either product (nonusers).

Supraventricular tachycardia episode? Try prescribing a handstand.

To determine the utility of food allergy panel testing among patients referred to a pediatric food allergy center, investigators conducted a retrospective chart review of such patients for whom a primary care provider had obtained a standard panel of immunoglobulin E (IgE) tests.

Compared with usual care, comprehensive care provided to high-risk children with chronic illness substantially increased access to care and parent satisfaction and decreased by 55% the number of such children with a serious illness, a recent study showed.

The parents of a healthy 11-month-old girl eagerly seek a consultation for a recurrent blistering brown bump on the baby’s right cheek, present since birth. Recently, the blistering episodes seem to be decreasing, although the bump continues to become bright red a few times a week.

Here's Dr. Michael Burke’s list of what he considers the 10 most important articles from Journal Club for the past 12 months.

Pediatricians must learn the nuances of new ICD-10 coding and prepare for the transition now! Dr Schuman presents the reasons behind ICD-10 implementation as well as key elements of ICD-10 adoption to assure a smooth transition for your practice.

As complex as it is common, chronic cough in children presents diagnostic and treatment challenges that are complicated by a dearth of solid data and, often, the anxieties of well-meaning parents.

On the same day in February, the US Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the falling vaccination rates among the nation's children and, across town, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee met to discuss how to make vaccines part of the new push to combat antibiotic resistance.

Pertussis has recently made an unwelcome comeback. The resurgence of this disease, also known as "whooping cough," leaves pediatricians with a number of problems.

A common childhood upper-airway disorder, croup is among several respiratory illnesses that require pediatricians and other healthcare providers to make an accurate differential diagnosis to ensure appropriate treatment.

The ongoing US measles outbreak underscores the importance of childhood vaccines-opponents of vaccination notwithstanding, say experts.

Marijuana use risks harm to children and adolescents and should not be legal, the American Academy of Pediatrics reiterates in an updated policy statement and technical report.

Thanks to a $2.5 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a 21-year-old longitudinal study of the effects of cocaine exposure in utero will continue to follow its subjects into adulthood.

A revised guideline on bronchiolitis in children aged 1 to 23 months from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dispensing with chest radiographs and respiratory syncytial virus swabs for diagnosis and foregoing albuterol, epinephrine, systemic corticosteroids, chest physiotherapy, and antibiotics during treatment.

An Ohio pediatric accountable care organization serving a Medicaid population has achieved a lower cost-rate increase than Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care providers while maintaining or improving quality of care on both federal measures and internal goals, a new study reports.

The gender identity expressed by transgender children is deeply rooted and not the result of confusion or pretense, a new study indicates.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has announced the release of the 2015 recommended vaccination schedule for children and adolescents in a recent policy statement from the Academy’s Committee on Infectious Diseases.

A possible link between respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae may increase the risk of bacterial pneumonia in the presence of viral infection, especially for infants, a new study indicates.

Vaccinating infants against rotavirus reduces the infection rate, according to findings from a recent study of children enrolled in an acute gastroenteritis surveillance program.

Girls who drink sugar-sweetened beverages frequently may begin menarche at a younger age than girls who don’t, a new study suggests.

Boys exposed to lead experience more negative effects on cognition than girls, a new study indicates. The study also may be the first to show that lead exposure has a detrimental cognitive impact on very young children.

Andrew J Schuman, MD, FAAP, responds to letters from readers about meaningful use requirements for MOC.

Federal rules put forth under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have meant that some services covered for children vary from state to state, a recent study in Health Affairs points out.

A comparison of the benefits of a 3-hour and a 7-hour daily preschool program found that compared with a shorter day, full-day preschool was associated with increased school readiness skills in 4 areas.