How risky is anesthesia for young children?
March 10th 2015Growing concern about the effects of general anesthesia on brain development in infants and young children has prompted a call for more research and a warning to parents and physicians to take into account the potential risks when considering surgery for children aged younger than 3 years.
Docs spread out vaccine schedule despite concerns
March 5th 2015More than 90% of primary care physicians surveyed in a new study say that in a typical month they encounter parental requests to spread out the recommended vaccination schedule for their children by reducing the number of vaccines given simultaneously or postponing some vaccines until an older age. Most agree to do so at least sometimes despite reservations.
Pediatricians need training with IUDs
March 3rd 2015The American Academy of Pediatrics recently recommended, for the first time, intrauterine devices as a first-line contraceptive option for adolescent girls. However, few pediatricians have adequate training in placing the devices, which can limit their use.
Are teen users of electronic cigarettes at increased risk for substance use?
March 1st 2015Teenagers who smoke the popular electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are less likely to use substances than adolescents who use both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (dual users) but more likely to use them than teenagers who have never used either product (nonusers).
Food allergy panel testing often leads to misdiagnosis
March 1st 2015To determine the utility of food allergy panel testing among patients referred to a pediatric food allergy center, investigators conducted a retrospective chart review of such patients for whom a primary care provider had obtained a standard panel of immunoglobulin E (IgE) tests.
Enhanced medical home benefits high-risk children with chronic illness
March 1st 2015Compared with usual care, comprehensive care provided to high-risk children with chronic illness substantially increased access to care and parent satisfaction and decreased by 55% the number of such children with a serious illness, a recent study showed.
Acute otitis media: Update 2015
March 1st 2015In May 2004, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joined with the American Academy of Family Physicians to publish a clinical practice guideline on the diagnosis and management of acute otitis media (AOM). In 2013, the AAP revised the guideline with important changes presented in this review.
Feds weigh in on "vaccine wars"
March 1st 2015On the same day in February, the US Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the falling vaccination rates among the nation's children and, across town, the National Vaccine Advisory Committee met to discuss how to make vaccines part of the new push to combat antibiotic resistance.
AAP updates bronchiolitis guideline
February 19th 2015A revised guideline on bronchiolitis in children aged 1 to 23 months from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends dispensing with chest radiographs and respiratory syncytial virus swabs for diagnosis and foregoing albuterol, epinephrine, systemic corticosteroids, chest physiotherapy, and antibiotics during treatment.
Pediatric ACO scores a success for Medicaid kids
February 17th 2015An Ohio pediatric accountable care organization serving a Medicaid population has achieved a lower cost-rate increase than Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care providers while maintaining or improving quality of care on both federal measures and internal goals, a new study reports.