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Photoclinic: Aplasia Cutis Congenita With the "Hair Collar Sign"The parents of this 4-month-old infant were concerned about an atrophic, 0.6-cm area on their son's parietal scalp that was surrounded by dark hair. The rest of the scalp was normal, and the child was otherwise healthy. Benjamin Barankin, MD, of Edmonton, Alberta, made the clinical diagnosis of the hair collar sign--growth of long, dark, coarse hair around a scalp lesion that may be a marker for underlying defects. The sign is sometimes found in association with aplasia cutis congenita, in which a portion of skin is absent--most commonly this manifests as a solitary round lesion on the scalp. These lesions may have healed at birth with a scar or they may remain eroded or ulcerated.
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PEDIATRICS UPDATE: Infectious Risk for Children in the Wake of KatrinaIn the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina's devastation in the Gulf Coast region, it is important for physicians in the United States to consider the infectious disease risks for children who have been displaced or who are still living in affected areas. These risks include infections acquired through ingestion of waterborne organisms; wound infections; lack of immunization continuity; and overcrowding, which increases the risk of respiratory or GI infections. In addition, problems will arise from disruption of therapy for select populations of children, such as those who are HIV-infected; those receiving immunosuppressive treatment; and those in need of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis, such as those who have sickle cell disease.
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Shoulder Dislocation in a NeonateLabor was induced at term in a 29-year-old woman who had had an uneventful pregnancy. Her baby weighed 3575 g (7 lb, 14 oz). The neonate’s left arm was internally rotated with flexion at the wrist. He had a normal grasp reflex, but Moro reflex was incomplete.
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Managing Asthma in Children, Part 2: Achieving and Maintaining ControlAsthma exacerbations continue to cause a significant number of emergency care visits and hospitalizations among children.1 In “Managing Asthma in Children, Part 1” (CONSULTANT FOR PEDIATRICIANS, May 2009, page 168), we reviewed the epidemiology, risk factors, and diagnosis of asthma in children. We also discussed how to make an initial assessment of asthma severity. In Part 2, we review the key components of treatment.
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Geographic TongueThe sharply demarcated, smooth red plaques on this 3-year-old's tongue had been present for several months. The child initially refused to stick out his tongue. He cooperated after he was offered a lollipop (with the stipulation that "the wider he opened his mouth, the bigger the lollipop he would receive").
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Vesicoureteral RefluxDuring hospitalization of a 6-month-old boy for respiratory syncytial virus infection, spiking fevers led to a bacteremia workup.
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Child With Fever and Neck PainIll-appearing 4-year-old girl with high-grade fever, without chills or rigors, and cough of 3 days’ duration. She also had a sore throat and was unable to move her neck because of pain. No history of rhinorrhea, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, or diarrhea. She had had tonsillitis 2 weeks earlier that was treated with a 1-week course of amoxicillin. Medical history otherwise unremarkable. Immunizations up-to-date.
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Pediatric Immunization Update-2009The expansion of the immunization schedule for 2009 has resulted in several success stories. Two rotavirus vaccines are now available. Following the introduction of immunization against rotavirus, a sharp decline in cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis was seen.
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Subclavian Central Venous Catheter Fracture and EmbolizationThe imaging studies shown are from 2 children with cancer who underwent placement of 9.6 French left subclavian central venous catheters (CVCs) to facilitate treatment. Fracture of the catheters with subsequent embolization of the distal fragment to the pulmonary arteries was noted at about 18 months after placement. Findings suggestive of impending fracture were missed in previous radiographs. In both cases, an interventional radiologist removed the fragment via percutaneous catheterization of the right femoral vein.
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Henoch-Schönlein Purpura in an 18-Year-Old BoyThis palpable, nontender, nonblanching rash had developed on the elbows of an 18-year-old boy and spread to the ankles and feet. The rash was accompanied by moderate abdominal pain associated with episodes of nonbloody emesis that did not change with eating or bowel movements. Diffuse joint pain developed the day after the rash appeared.
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What Caused This Skin Eruption?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.
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The Practice of Nonsuicidal Self-injury in Adolescents-Part 2In Part 2 of this podcast series, Dr Smith continues his discussion of the practice of nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents.
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X-Linked IchthyosisA 4-year-old boy was referred for evaluation of refractory eczema that first appeared at 1 month of age.
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Hydrocephalus Secondary to GBS MeningitisA female infant born at 29 weeks' gestation after premature membrane rupture was admitted to the neonatal ICU in respiratory distress.
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Neuroblastoma in a Child With Persistent Hip PainA 4-year-old boy presented for further evaluation of persistent right hip painof 2 months’ duration. Before the onset of the pain, he had been limping,favoring his right side. For several days before he was brought in forevaluation, he had had fevers and sweating in addition to the right hippain.
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Observation and Documentation Still the Foundation of Medical PracticeIn this age of evidence-based medicine and randomized clinical trials, it is easy to forget that careful clinical observation and documentation are the foundation of medical practice.
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Labial FusionThe mother of this 11-month-old girl was concerned that her infant’s vagina was almost obscured by a membrane. This was noted incidentally a few days earlier.
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Young Boy With Painful Swelling of the Eye and ForeheadFor several days, a 9-year-boy has had painful swelling on the top and left side of his forehead, bilateral eye swelling, intermittent fever, and nasal congestion. He was seen in the office 4 weeks earlier, after he had hit his left eye on a school desk. At that time, he presented with a left retro-orbital headache, nasal congestion and discharge, and intermittent fever.
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Foreign Body in the TonsilThe mother of an 8-year-old boy sought medical care for her son, who had complained of a sore throat for 3 days. No fever, drooling, rash, rhinorrhea, cough, congestion, ear pain, neck stiffness, or dyspnea was reported. The boy had not been in contact with any ill persons, although his complaints coincided with a local outbreak of streptococcal pharyngitis.
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Unilateral Laterothoracic ExanthemThis erythematous, blanching papular rash developed on the trunk of a 20-month-old boy 3 days after he became ill with a low-grade fever (temperature of 38.3ºC [101ºF]) and mild upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.
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What'sYour Diagnosis?Ten-month-old girl with swelling of the left knee of 7 weeks' duration. Unable to bear weight on the left leg for the past 2 weeks. No fever or history of trauma to the area. Infant has good appetite for breast milk and formula, but possible malaise.
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Genetic Disorders: Toddler With Skeletal, Ocular, and Cardiac AnomaliesA 15-month-old girl presents for evaluation of macrocephaly and unusual facial features. Her prenatal and natal history are unremarkable. The child is now developing normally after mild gross motor delays during the first 6 months of life. Mild scoliosis was noted on a babygram taken at 8 months during an evaluation for possible nonaccidental trauma.
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Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Presenting as Soft Tissue MassFor 3 months, a 9-year-old boy had swelling of the left upper arm. An MRI scan obtained at another facility 1 week after onset showed extensive edema of the soft tissue at the midhumeral level. Laboratory results, including complete blood cell (CBC) count and Lyme titer, were normal.
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Hypersensitivity to Vaccine StabilizerA 5-year-old boy with seizure disorder and developmental delay presented to our allergy and immunology clinic for a severe reaction that developed after he had received multiple vaccines. One month before our evaluation, the patient had been vaccinated against varicella, hepatitis A, and influenza at his pediatrician's office. Latex gloves were not used for vaccine administration.
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Case In Point: Infant With Aldosterone DeficiencyA 45-day-old boy was referred for evaluation of persistent hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. On the 9th day of the boy's life, his serum potassium level was elevated (8 mEq/L) and on the 12th day, his serum sodium level was low (131 mEq/L). Supplementation with sodium chloride was initiated.
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Diagnostic Challenges Associated With Pediatric Tuberculosis: 2 CasesA 10-week-old white baby girl with a history of difficulty in breathing presented with stridor, tachypnea, wheezing, and increased work of breathing.
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Evidence of Benefits of Allergy Assessment in Patients With AsthmaThe most common chronic medical problem that we pediatricians treat is asthma. We do our best to manage our patients' asthma by prescribing controller medications, providing asthma action plans, and guiding families through acute exacerbations. We often ask about possible environmental triggers, such as tobacco smoke and cockroaches, and we advise patients to reduce their exposure to those triggers.
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America's "Obesogenic" MessType 2 diabetes, once considered a disease of “adult onset,” is highly resistant to treatment in overweight American youth-a group succumbing to the disorder at an alarming rate.
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Infant With Persistent Fever and FussinessA 4-week-old boy with tactile fever for the past 24 hours and fussiness of 2 weeks' duration is referred to the emergency department (ED).
