News

September days are crisper, and President and Congress have returned from summer vacation. It's time to confront the legislative agenda, pass the 13 appropriation bills that keep the federal government functioning, and bring pending legislation to a conclusion.

Pediatric vaccines have been much in the news recently, with new FDA approvals and the release of data on immunization coverage as of 2002 by the National Immunization Program (NIP) of the CDC.

A 22-month-old boy is brought to you with an asymptomatic, linear scaly rash that developed on his right elbow four months ago. Two weeks after onset, the eruption had extended down his right arm to the top of the hand and onto the fourth finger.

Pediatric Puzzler: Weakness (thyrotoxic periodic paralysis)

Pediatricians increasingly are recognizing a mandate to treat pain aggressively. Psychotropic drugs have new pediatric uses, broadening clinicians' options.

Serving as an international medical volunteer can be immensely rewarding. The authors, volunteers themselves, offer a practical guide to embarking on the journey.

The cause of your patient's chronic headache may be the very thing she is taking to relieve the pain. The solution sounds simple but is often challenging--complete discontinuation of headache medication.

New products of interest to pediatricians

What's realistic when giving fluids for dehydration?/Attachment therapy and adopted children: A caution/Questioning the science that underlies homeopathy

We now understand the importance of controlling pain in children, and we understand better how to control it safely.

Complementary and alternative medicine is one component of a comprehensive approach to treating chronic pain in children. The authors examine the use of CAM for managing headache, recurrent abdominal pain, and neuropathic pain.

Trial dropouts and study findings: Getting the analysis right/Cultural similarities, cultural differences/Gloves for vaccinations? The jury is split

The 2003 edition of the Red Book--a.k.a. the 2003 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases-26th Edition--is hot off the presses and available at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) book store.

Last month, while August heat seared the capital, Washington policy makers fled to the hinterlands.

Working mothers have been getting a bad rap for years in some quarters, accused of warping children's development by keeping the kid in day care while Mom pursues her career.

Q We find that we can usually tell when a child's parents are going through a divorce. The young child develops a variety of behaviors: He acts out, pesters his younger siblings more, or becomes clingy and regressive.

I've been on service this month caring for hospitalized patients and, once again, I'm reminded that managing illness in children isn't as straightforward as it used to be.