News

Publicity about an increase in melanoma has some parents panicked. Pediatricians can set these concerns at rest, as well as their own, with a clear understanding of when a mole suggests melanoma and the role of sunlight in melanoma development.

A single "best way" just doesn't emerge from the data available. What's a pediatrician to do? Know the science of medicine, but also be ready to practice the art.

A 10-year old boy has a long history of poor school performance and multiple daily episodes of suddenly falling down, causing bruised, painful knees, which have prompted several visits to the emergency department. The falls have been labeled "drop attack epilepsy" by a pediatric neurologist and have continued despite daily anti-epileptic medication.

Toward safer playgrounds, SUVs: Danger on the roadways?, Web sites to recommend, Pediatricians overseas, Solidarity forever, New drugs for children; Eye on Washington

From Littleton, Colorado, I write to tell you that this community is contorted with grief. Complacency is no longer an option. Recognize that we have a problem. Recognize that this killing will happen again, perhaps to your child, before we find the means and the will to make it stop. And then act on that recognition, that our suffering will not have been in vain.

The baby who suffers a "spell" marked by apnea, choking, or color changes presents a frightening dilemma: Is it an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) or something less serious? The author offers detailed advice on how to evaluate spells and follow up if necessary. First of two parts.

Treating otorrhea with oral antibiotics is not always successful, and the alternatives--referral for frequent suctioning and possible surgery--can be traumatic and costly. Newly approved fluoroquinolone otic drops offer another choice.

From Reefer Madness to the latest "This is your brain on drugs" TV spots, scare tactics have failed to keep young people away from drugs. These authors think it's time to look at hard evidence and pick a prevention program with a proven track record.

Help your young patients avoid premature cardiovascular disease by knowing when to measure lipid levels, how to interpret them, and what to do about worrisome results.

From putting weight on premature infants to improving peak air flow in children with asthma, massage therapy has demonstrated impressive results. This pioneer touch researcher reviews the data and offers some intriguing hypotheses for how massage produces its effects.

C pneumoniae is a frequent cause of respiratory disease in children, but pinning down a laboratory diagnosis is difficult. Here are some tips on when to suspect this organism and how to treat the infection.

Children who complain of frequent bellyaches present a vexing clinical challenge. These guidelines will help you rule out organic disease and manage an ongoing biopsychosocial disorder.

An obtunded 2-year-old: A volatie situation.

Stockman receives St. Geme award, Teaching hospitals renege on HCFA bargain, Flap over SIDS, New food pyramid for kids, Vaccines for the 21st century, What people really think about herbs and supplements; Eye on Washington

It's clear that three years of residency training isn't enough. Since we are unlikely to convince hospitals or the government to fund a fourth year, and since the expectation for comprehensive care by pediatricians is likely to increase, the only answer is to keep learning. If we run hard enough, we might be able to jump over the bar before they have a chance to raise it again.

For almost 20 years, pediatricians have hesitated to use acyclovir for "minor" ailments like fever blisters and chickenpox. These authors make the case that even minor illnesses deserve this proven therapy--especially now that it is off-patent and reasonably priced. See if their argument persuades you.

Vigilant monitoring and management are the keys to keeping the healthy, full-term infant with hyperbilirubinemia healthy and heading off the danger of brain damage.

As more mothers breastfeed, and for a longer time, pediatricians and their staffs are being called on to answer a wide variety of questions. These lactation experts show you how to respond to worries ranging from babies with too many or too few bowel movements to concerns about engorged breasts.

Pediatricians can handle most cutaneous and subcutaneous abscesses. The site of the lesion, agent of infection, and age and immunologic status of the child are the keys to treatment strategies.

Some pediatricians consider hospitalists a threat to their professional scope and to continuity of care for their patients. But when conditions are right, hospitalists can be just what the doctor ordered.