News

New findings from a study supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health show that girls and boys who exhibit a high level of risky behavior have a similar chance of developing symptoms of depression. Gender differences become apparent at low and moderate levels of risky behavior, however, with girls being significantly more likely than boys to experience symptoms of depression. The study, which incorporated data from almost 19,000 teenagers, was published in the May 15, 2006, issue of the Archives of Women's Mental Health.

People of all ages struggle with body weight, but recent statistics out of a treatment facility for eating disorders show an alarming trend on several fronts: 63% of elementary school teachers are concerned with eating disorders in their classrooms; 80% of pre-teenage girls are dieting, and those who diet are eight times more likely to develop an eating disorder; 81% of 10-year-olds are afraid of becoming fat; and more than 50% of 9- and 10-year-olds report feeling better when dieting.

A study of 17,000 adolescents in the United States found that African-American and Hispanic girls are less physically active than white, non-Hispanic girls—but that those differences are attributable to the schools they attend, not to their ethnic or racial background: African-American, white, and Hispanic girls attending the same school exhibit no difference in physical activity. The findings of the study, led by Tracy Richmond, MD, of the division of adolescent medicine at Children's Hospital Boston, can be found in the June 2006 issue of Pediatrics.

The last of four articles in the Nutritional Intervention series examines the evidence of zinc supplementation for treating diarrhea, colds, and ADHD.

SSRI monitoring form for a primary care pediatric nurse practitioner

Are any of your patients headed for legal trouble? Can you do anything to alter their risk? The authors provide navigation through the juvenile justice system so that you can accomplish the most good.

Hands down, the electronic health record improves your efficiency and productivity. Prices for fully functional EHR software continue to decline, hardware is now affordable, and financing comes more easily. So why do many physicians still resist the EHR?

Revised guidelines help evaluate the child who doesn't meet all the classic criteria for KD and provide a framework for long-term management based on the risk of myocardial infarction.

A tear to the anterior cruciate ligament is more common in children and adolescents than was once thought. Prompt, accurate diagnosis and referral can reduce long-term problems from this potentially devastating knee injury in a skeletally immature patient. First of two parts.

What's causing a 17-year-old female to complain of diarrhea; vomiting; severe, cramping abdominal pain; tenesmus; and fever?

What is the mysterious "red mark and bruising" on an infant girl's cheek?

The disappearance of the "family doctor."

A male neonate was born at 39 weeks' gestation by vertex vaginal delivery with focal swelling of the head. Vacuum extraction and forceps were not necessary for delivery. The mother had no complications during labor. Apgar scores were 7 and 9 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively. A cephalhematoma was suspected when the fluctuant parietal swelling did not transilluminate.

The mumps outbreak in Iowa and other midwestern states appears to be slowing. However, it is not yet contained. Are you prepared?

A 9-day-old boy was brought in for routine care. His mother had noticed these teeth at the child's birth. There were no other remarkable physical findings. Natal teeth occur in 1:700 to 1:6000 births, write Howard Fischer, MD, and Ahdi Amer, MD, of Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. Such teeth are most often seen in the mandibular incisor area, often in pairs.

Pediatric ECGs are regularly performed for a variety of conditions, including chest pain, syncope, and suspected arrhythmia. Correct interpretation of ECGs can be challenging when technique is faulty or when the variability of normal values in children is not taken into account.

A 6-year-old girl with a nonproductive cough for 4 days and chest pain for 2 days was brought to the emergency department. According to the mother, the child had no fever or wheezing. She had no history of surgery, was not taking any medications, and had no contact with ill persons.