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A 12-year-old girl with insulin-dependent diabetes comes to your office for you to evaluate several scar-like reddish-yellow plaques that developed on her shins over the last three months. The lesions do not hurt or itch, she reports, but they are continuing to spread.

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It isn't only that kids are killing kids on city streets and in schools. It isn't only that bringing weapons to school seems to have become as common a reason children are disciplined by teachers as talking in class. It isn't only that song lyrics children sing are filled with violence and cruelty.It's all of these changes in the behavior of our children that have made us pay attention, finally, to one horrible afternoon in Colorado.

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.

Repetitive motions put athletes in these performance sports at high risk for overuse injuries. Here are the signs to look for and tests to perform. Look for disordered eating and amenorrhea, too.

General pediatricians do not always have access to a neonatologist when they need one. This case-based review will refresh and update your knowledge of how to approach neonatal problems ranging from the need for resuscitation to development of a rash.

The test results are in. What do they mean, and where do you go from here? Is treatment indicated? Should you put the baby on a monitor? What should you tell the parents? These guidelines will help you decide. Second of two parts.

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.

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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.