Altered gut bacteria raising the rate of ASD?
May 29th 2014Compared with children without autism spectrum disorder (ASD), children with ASD have significantly altered levels of certain bacteria-produced gut metabolites that affect brain function, according to a small study presented as a poster presentation at this year’s American Society for Microbiology meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
Lipid-lowering agent slows growth of kidney cysts
May 22nd 2014Pravastatin-commonly used to treat lipid disorders-slows the progression of structural kidney disease in children and young adults with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, according to the findings of a randomized, placebo-controlled study.
Smartphone device provides useful ECGs
May 22nd 2014A smartphone-compatible device provides remote electrocardiogram (ECG) tracings of sufficient quality to allow outpatient management of children and adolescents with arrhythmias, according to information presented at the Heart Rhythm Society meeting in San Francisco, California.
Antimicrobials slash rate of recurring UTIs
May 15th 2014Antibiotic prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole significantly reduces the risk of recurrence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children with vesicoureteral reflux after UTI, but does not reduce the risk of renal scarring, according to a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
ACOG and AAP issue report on neonatal brain injury
May 15th 2014A “broader perspective” and a “comprehensive multidimensional assessment” are necessary to establish a causal link between intrapartum hypoxic events and neonatal encephalopathy, according to the latest report from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Task Force on Neonatal Encephalopathy.
USPSTF updates how to prevent caries in kids
May 15th 2014Fluoride supplements and varnish are in, but the jury is still out on whether oral screenings for dental caries performed by primary care physicians provide any benefit, according to the US Preventive Services Task Force’s (USPSTF) updated recommendations for preventing dental caries in children aged 0 to 5 years.
Vaccines work, but parents still don’t participate
May 8th 2014Since it was first implemented in 1994, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is estimated to have prevented 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths for a net savings of $295 billion in direct costs and $1.38 trillion in total societal costs, making it one of the most effective tools for improving the health of our children, according to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
VIDEO: The rising prevalence of food allergies
May 5th 2014Corinne Keet, MD, MS, assistant professor, Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, discusses the increased incidence of food allergies, particularly life-threatening, in children and her recent meta-analysis published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
Iron supplementation is effective treatment for restless leg syndrome
May 1st 2014A retrospective chart review of 97 children who were treated at a children’s hospital for restless leg syndrome (RLS) showed that iron supplementation, either alone or in combination with other treatments, is effective in treating pediatric RLS.
Pediatricians' Ready Reference Guide for managing asthma in children
May 1st 2014This article highlights key recommendations from the expert panel of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the classification, treatment, and control of asthma in children.
Lack of asthma medication compliance seen in CHIP and Medicaid patients
May 1st 2014Sixty-three percent of fee-for-service Medicaid/Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) child beneficiaries had discontinued their asthma medication after 90 days from the start of their first prescription, according to new research from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
Children's prosthetic thoracic device passes FDA postmarket review
May 1st 2014The “titanium rib,” a surgically implanted device to treat thoracic insufficiency syndrome, passed through a postmarket review by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Pediatric Advisory Committee in April with flying colors and plaudits from the committee members.