News

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in October an over-the-counter medication to relieve eye itch. Zaditor (ketotifen fumarate), manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., is an eye itch relief drop safe for children as young as three years of age. With just one drop, Zaditor provides up to 12 hours of continuous relief.

The National Institutes of Health recently launched Genetics Home Reference, a free Web site with up-to-date information on genetic conditions and the basics of genetic science. The site can be accessed at http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding five new research projects on antidepressant medications, notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and their association with suicidal thoughts and actions (suicidality). SSRI use in children and adolescents has become a controversial issue, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issuing a black box warning for all SSRIs in 2005.

What's the cause of a hyperpigmented patch on an adolescent boy's back?

A 5-year-old boy's constant need to remove all his clothing before using the toilet to void or defecate.

Here's how to analyze the numbers that reveal the financial health-or sickness-of your practice.

This year: A CLIA-waived test for blood lead levels, a high-tech hearing screener, nonsurgical help for OME, a quieter electronic stethoscope, great software, and more. Plus, a 25th-birthday salute to the personal computer.

Does sexualized content in advertisements and entertainment media directed at children have a cumulative effect? We don't know for certain, but available data suggest real cause for concern.

The keys to optimal use of psychostimulant and nonstimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are careful screening of patients, appropriate dosage regulation, and-most of all-close monitoring of both positive and adverse outcomes.

A 5-year-old boy arrives at the ED for management of sepsis and evaluation of "blast cells" on a peripheral blood smear. His guardian says that he is "always sick." What's causing this medical mystery?

As the prevalence of obesity in children increases, so does metabolic syndrome, with its attendant health risks-chiefly cardiovascular disease. Early identification and treatment are essential to stave off complications and lower the risk of premature death in adulthood.

If the promise of new vaccines, such as Gardasil, is to be achieved, pediatricians and family physicians must be relieved of the burdens associated with purchasing and administering them.

An almost 7-year-old girl was referred to Child Protective Services for evaluation of suspected sexual abuse after a school nurse noticed marks on her neck (Figure). The nurse was concerned that the marks were "hickeys," or suction marks, made by another person's mouth.

We, as physicians, complain about patients not following our advice and not listening to us. We should not forget that they are listening, that our words are not ignored, and that therefore, they should be well chosen.

A 3-month-old infant presented with a 4-week history of a symmetric skin eruption on her face, axillae, distal extremities, and external genitalia. The infant was otherwise healthy, although colicky since birth. She was exclusively breast-fed and had a good appetite. Voiding and stooling patterns were normal. Her growth was appropriate for age.