News

April in the nation's capital city is a time of flowering: public spaces filled with daffodils and tulips, trees bursting into blossom. Most years, optimism flowers along with the trees.

In all campaigns to combat substance abuse by adolescents, the spotlight is usually on illicit substances—marijuana, heroin, crack, Ecstasy, or whatever else is the teenage drug-du-jour.

Q I am inquiring about a very active, intense 12-month-old boy who sleeps in his parents' bedroom on a mattress on the floor.

A 14-year-old girl is brought to you complaining of an itchy red rash on her back. The rash appeared four months ago as a scaly red bump and enlarged over several weeks in an annular pattern to cover a large area.

The sheer number of recommended childhood immunizations makes it imperative that pediatricians be able to recognize and treat allergic reactions and identify those children in whom revaccination is contraindicated.

Puzzler for the month

Teasing and bullying harm both victim and perpetrator. Pediatricians are in a good position to address these destructive behaviors and reduce their toll.

The AAP has recommended giving a developmental screening test at each well-child visit. Is this realistic? Yes, say the authors. Here's how.

Behavior questions and answers

Autism and related pervasive developmental disorders are a challenge to diagnose. This review covers diagnostic criteria, conditions to consider in the differential, the evaluation, and treatment options.

Pediatricians and schools can be powerful partners in promoting children's health and academic success. Read on to become familiar with school health services and ways to work with school-based personnel to benefit your patients.

"The Columbia is lost. There are no survivors." With those somber words, President George W. Bush made the announcement that began a difficult month for all Americans.