News

With increasing rates of premature births, primary care providers face questions about how to follow the neurodevelopment of these at-risk infants and children. Here's what to expect and how to optimize outcomes.

The pros and cons of banking umbilical cord blood.

Is it high time to retire of concept of non-intervention for molluscum?

Interpreting pediatric ECGs

A case study of a young child who presented with a bullous insect reaction.

A high suspicion for malignancies needs to be maintained in order to prevent a delayed diagnosis.

Asthma inhalers, pediatric vaccination, and government funding of children's health insurance are the talk of the town this month.

Pediatric product recalls * Pediatric cardiac devices * Pediatric medications

Letters to the Editor

ABSTRACT: Patient compliance is a significant problem in exercise therapy and bracing for adolescent scoliosis, and exercise has been considered to have no therapeutic benefit. According to recent studies, however, muscle function asymmetry is a consistent finding in patients with this condition and is correctable with progressive resistance exercises. Patients' baseline and progress can be quantified accurately with exercise by performing precise measurements of torso rotation and lumbar strengthening. Strengthening is associated with control of scoliotic curves, if they are below the operative level. Because even some decrease in the amount of curve may be expected, this form of therapy may be as beneficial as bracing. The treatment also may be used for controlling pain in older patients with scoliosis.

This story was told to me by Dr W, a pediatric resident whom I run into every now and then. He swears that it's true. He had an afternoon to kill one Sunday in late August, before taking call that night, so he went to the Hamtramck Street Festival. Hamtramck is a small city completely surrounded by the city of Detroit. Until 20 or 25 years ago, it was populated nearly almost entirely by families of Polish origin--immigrants and their descendants. Then, as in other Rust Belt cities, time and unemployment produced some drastic changes. The city became poorer; physical decay became more evident. Immigration from Albania, Yugoslavia, the Middle East, Pakistan, and Bangladesh reduced the Polish majority. Still, it's the only city in North America that has a park with a statue of Pope John Paul II. "A touch of Europe in America" say the bumper stickers.

This 21-month-old toddler was brought for a well child visit. His head had been large since birth; at this visit, head circumference was 51 cm (significantly above the 95th percentile). Neurological findings were normal; except for some early developmental gross motor delays, he was on a par with his peers. All other physical findings were normal. His mother's head circumference is 59 cm and his father's is 64 cm.

For years we have been prescribing prophylactic antibiotic therapy for children with a first-time urinary tract infection (UTI) before obtaining imaging studies-as is recommended in the 1999 American Academy of Pediatrics' practice parameter1-and for those with vesiculoureteral reflux (VUR). Although many pediatricians have raised questions about the efficacy and safety of this practice, the risks and benefits of antibiotic prophylaxis have not been well studied.

Does repeated antibiotic use in an individual patient increase his or her personal risk of infection with a resistant organism? Does such use also increase the risk for the community at large?

After studying the issue, the US Preventive Services Task Fore (USPSTF) cannot recommend for or against the routine screening for dyslipidemia in children, adolescents, and young adults (up to 20 years of age).[more]

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has issued a warning about the potential for dangerous mix-ups when administering insulin or heparin. [more]

After studying the issue, the US Preventive Services Task Fore (USPSTF) cannot recommend for or against the routine screening for dyslipidemia in children, adolescents, and young adults (up to 20 years of age).[more]

On August 15, the FDA issued an advisory that warns parents not to give over-the-counter cough and cold medications to children under 2 years of age, unless directed to do so by their child?s health care provider. [more]

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) said the FDA has agreed to review the company’s supplemental biologics license application for its arthritis drug, abatacept (Orencia). The drug is currently used by adults with moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response to one or more anti-rheumatic medications. [more]

References - Autistic Spectrum Disorders

From generalized anxiety disorder, to obsessive compulsive disorder, to full blown panic disorder, children and adolescents are increasingly feeling the hands of anxiety take hold. But help is out there-for patient, family, and physicians.

Latest varicella vaccination recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Q and A with Alain Joffe, MD about current recommendations for adolescent vaccinations.

Large-scale studies examine pentavalent rotavirus vaccine and its effects on one of the world's most prevalent infections.

What is a pediatrician's ethical responsibility for informing parents about drug class action lawsuits?

The latest products for your practice.