News

It’s that time again! Here are Dr Michael Burke’s favorite 10 articles he reviewed in Journal Club for Contemporary Pediatrics during the past 12 months that are most likely to change your practice, improve patient care, or illuminate future trends in pediatrics.

Recently, the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) cited a critical lack of pediatric residency training for behavioral and mental health problems and proposed more education in preventing, recognizing, and managing these conditions. Here’s why any change needs to start with a hard look at what our priorities are.

In this month’s article, Dr. Andrew Schuman focuses on improving the office visit experience for your young patients. By following his advice, you will be rewarded with parental loyalty, a busy and prosperous practice, and patients who look forward to their office visits.

Dr Bass’s article on “Factoring the Metabolic X Syndrome” in the latest issue of Contemporary Pediatrics provides us with information on the emergence of Metabolic X syndrome in the pediatric/adolescent populations, previously a syndrome seen only in adults. How can we, as nurse practitioners (NPs) prevent children from developing the symptoms for a diagnosis of Metabolic X Syndrome?

Obesity is rising in children and teens, according to a new report, but other health problems tied to obesity are increasing, too.

Findings of a recently published observational retrospective cohort study point to a need for increased efforts to improve timely completion of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine series among boys.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a recent study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine that looked at whether asthma in childhood contributed to the development of childhood obesity.

In its first-ever guidance on non-pharmacological interventions for pediatric mental health disorders, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) provides guidance, as well as a roadmap for future advocacy work.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a recent study published in Pediatrics that looked at the connections between maternal and paternal obesity and childhood development issues.

A large retrospective study of how infants with fever without a cause are evaluated found that physicians are selective in deciding which of these babies will have blood, urine, or cerebral spinal fluid cultures.

A comparison of 4 levels of pain management of routine vaccine injections found that of the remedies tried, only liposomal lidocaine applied at the injection site provided consistent relief.

Treating children with acute otitis media with amoxicillin-clavulanate for 5 days is less effective than following standard 10-day treatment, according to a study in 520 such children who were aged 6 to 23 months.

Results of a survey of more than 1360 parents conducted in pediatricians’ waiting rooms found that 75% of parents agree that pediatricians should advise about safe storage of firearms; those who disagreed were likely to be firearm owners.

After a cesarean delivery at 30 weeks, a 1430-gram premature female neonate was noted to have generalized thick, dark brown scale forming a tight membrane over her entire skin surface. Her mother was a healthy 19-year-old gravida 1 with normal prenatal screening ultrasound and laboratory studies. Family history did not reveal any congenital malformations or genetic disorders.

The mother of a 12-year-old girl brings her daughter to the office for evaluation of recurrent, itchy red bumps and blisters on her legs. The mother gets the same rash recurrently as well.

The last year or so has given the nation mixed pictures on childhood obesity, with plenty of challenges ahead.

It’s been a while since Dr Schuman reviewed medical applications for mobile devices, and many readers have requested an update. So, he looked at his iPhone and iPad and put together his recommendations for the best applications for pediatric providers.

As pediatricians we are all too aware of our nation’s struggle with childhood overweight and obesity. Approximately 1 of every 5 children that we see in the office every day is obese. Despite tremendous efforts to reverse this trend, it is clear we are in this battle for the long haul.

Although there is debate surrounding the definition of metabolic X syndrome in pediatrics and there are few long-term studies of outcomes in children with metabolic syndrome, pediatric metabolic syndrome needs to be on the radar of all pediatricians interested in ensuring a healthy adult life for their patients.

New recommendations for infant exposure to peanuts to prevent peanut allergy address something many pediatricians have long suspected: Early exposure to peanuts, even in infants that have eczema, could prevent development of peanut allergy.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced its approval of a new, corticoid-sparing ointment to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients aged 2 years and older.

Testing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) appears to predict children’s diabetes risk as well as fasting plasma glucose and 2-hour postload plasma glucose, according to a study on more than 2000 American Indian children.

Findings from a recent US Department of Agriculture report show that “sweetened beverages” were the number 1 category of items purchased by households participating in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

In their article, “Kid care on the slopes,” in the latest Contemporary Pediatrics, Drs. Brown and Fishman draw on their many years of caring for kids in Colorado ski country to provide this special primer on managing pediatric injuries sustained while skiing and snowboarding.

A trial comparing amitriptyline, topiramate, and placebo for prevention of migraine in children and adolescents with a history of migraine found that all 3 had about the same effect on reducing headache frequency or headache-related disability.

A mother brings her healthy 6-month-old girl to the outpatient clinic with disseminated, asymptomatic, golden-brown bumps that occasionally become red and swollen.

A follow-up trial conducted 6 years after the conclusion of a randomized controlled trial of early intervention in autism spectrum disorder demonstrated that the intervention had a long-term effect on autism symptoms and continued effects on parent and child social interaction.

A retrospective record review for youngsters admitted with asthma to a Midwestern children’s hospital revealed that overweight and obesity were underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and undertreated.

In a retrospective study of 27,000 infants aged younger than 3 months evaluated for urinary tract infection (UTI) with paired urinalysis and urine culture, investigators set out to determine the optimal urine white blood cell (WBC) threshold for UTI when using an automated urinalysis system stratified by urine concentration.

A congressional fact of life is the dangerous “Christmas tree” bill, which passes with so much on it that many things don’t get the scrutiny they deserve. The 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law by President Obama on December 13, 2016, is such a bill.