News

A new bill to combat child abuse at residential treatment programs in the United States and abroad was recently introduced by Congressman George Miller (D-California). HR1739, labeled "The End of Institutionalized Abuse Against Children Act," comes in response to reports of the death of young people so-called therapeutic boot camps, wilderness camps, and boarding schools.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that approximately 81% of the nation's toddlers are receiving all the vaccinations in the recommended series."These results are terrific news," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC. "They illustrate the tremendous progress we've made in preventing what were once common childhood diseases. Most importantly, these results show that parents have high levels of confidence in our vaccination recommendations. It's encouraging to see that parents recognize the importance of protecting their children against diseases that while relatively uncommon, can cause serious harm."

Contrary to earlier findings, inhaled nitric oxide (NO) therapy for lung immaturity in premature infants does not reduce an infant's risk of death or further lung problems, according to a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health that appeared in the July 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. "Premature infants weighing less than 1,500 g should not receive inhaled NO therapy unless they are part of a research study," said NICHD Director Duane Alexander, MD.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved a topical acne gel developed and manufactured by the Canadian drug company QLT Inc. for use for patients between 12 and 17 years old.

Children and adolescents who have had a malignancy are at risk of medical, psychological, and social late effects of their disease and its treatment. If you're aware of potential problems and how to screen for them, you can help ensure the good health and proper development of these vulnerable youngsters.

It goes by the acronym D-TECKT, and it's an easy-to-use guide to getting a handle on what's behind a child's or adolescent's behavior problems and lighting the way to an effective solution.

In the four decades since nurse practitioners appeared on the health-care scene, they have become an integral part of pediatric care. Here are some things you may not know about this important practice role.

Gastrointestinal complaints are common, and so is the use of herbs and supplements to treat them, especially when symptoms are recurrent. Some remedies work well but others are best avoided.

A 2-year-old girl has a pimple-like swelling on her right middle finger that has expressed green fluid and developed erythema.

Allow me to add to Dr. Zuckerman's recommendations for the 4-year-old girl who refuses to use the toilet anywhere but home (Behavior: Ask the experts, June 2005).

Q. A 4?-year-old boy in my practice has an array of complaints—clothing sensitivities, eye itching, food aversion, and tics, to name a few. The tics began at age 3 with eye blinking, which subsided after six months, followed by snorting, which lasted three months. His tics are now at their worst.

Free software for an electronic medical record, CME on CAM, West Nile virus returns

It's difficult to imagine pediatrics today without PNPs.

For several days, a 9-year-boy has had painful swelling on the top and left side of his forehead, bilateral eye swelling, intermittent fever, and nasal congestion. He was seen in the office 4 weeks earlier, after he had hit his left eye on a school desk. At that time, he presented with a left retro-orbital headache, nasal congestion and discharge, and intermittent fever.

"Jennifer is bleeding," confides Mrs Smith outside the door to her daughter's clinic room. "She's really embarrassed to discuss it with anyone but I'm really worried. Do you think that she is having sex?" You listen to her concerns and learn that Jennifer's last menstrual period has lasted approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Jennifer and her mother came to the pediatric clinic today after Mrs Smith found multiple menstrual pads in the bathroom wastebasket every day for several days.

A 3-year-old boy who presents with blue sclerae and a history of tibial fracture following a minor trau- ma (jump from a height of less than 18 inches). Has a long-standing complaint of back pain. Mother remarks that the boy bruises easily. Medical history otherwise unremarkable.

There's but limited advice you can dispense to parents of your patients who have a potentially life-threatening food allergy: Avoid, avoid, avoid! Yet there's cause for optimism today among stymied clinicians and the four percent of Americans who have a food allergy—often to nuts or shellfish: a new Food Allergy Research Consortium convened at the end of June by the federal government, and led by a prominent pediatrician and food allergy expert, has been charged with, first, conducting basic, clinical, and epidemiologic studies aimed at developing therapies to treat and prevent food allergy and, second, developing educational programs aimed at parents, children, and healthcare providers.

These continue to be less-than-happy times in certain corners of the pharmaceutical industry. Day by day, bad news accumulates. Even the industry's trade organization, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA), acknowledges that something has to give. Where are the unpleasantness and pressure coming from?

The American Medical Association (AMA) has released new directives to help fight childhood obesity and promote healthier lifestyles in schools across the country. In one of the planned efforts, AMA will develop a school health advocacy agenda that includes funding for school-based health programs, physical education and exercise (with stricter limits on declining participation), alternative polices for vending machines to promote healthy diets, and standards for healthier school lunches. The directives also encourage physicians to collaborate with communities to help develop health programs in schools."Children spend the majority of their productive time in the classroom, so we must improve access to healthy food and encourage more physical activity in school," said AMA Trustee Ronald M. Davis, MD. "Focusing our efforts on nutrition and exercise in schools can help prevent obesity and overweight in many children who may be at risk."