Treating eosinophilic esophagitis in children
December 1st 2013Eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasingly recognized condition in children and adults that may mimic gastroesophageal reflux but that does not respond to acid suppression. Current treatment focuses on dietary modification and topical corticosteroids. However, future studies are needed to better define this disease’s natural history and to identify effective therapies for children and adults.
Too many GERD diagnoses in those too young?
November 19th 2013A new study raises a question about whether too many antireflux procedures (ARP) are performed on children during a period of infancy when frequent regurgitation is normal and when already ambiguous measures of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are difficult to interpret at best.
New guide for managing HIV/AIDS-related infections
November 12th 2013Guidelines for preventing and treating HIV/AIDS-related opportunistic infections (OIs) in children recently received a facelift. Government agencies and industry associations banded together to update recommendations previously published in 2009.
Big gaps in info on concussions
November 5th 2013As a result of gaping holes in what is known about the actual incidence of concussions in young athletes and the effects of these traumatic brain injuries, the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council are calling for a national system to track sports-related concussions in children and adolescents aged 19 years and younger.
NIH and CDC launch registry of death in the young
November 5th 2013The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have joined forces to create a new registry of sudden deaths in young people. The hope is that the resulting database will provide researchers and health care practitioners with valuable information regarding the scope of the problem and ideas about how to prevent future tragedies.
Religion is no ground for refusing lifesaving care
November 5th 2013When parents’ religious or spiritual beliefs prevent children from getting necessary medical care, pediatricians should intervene and report the parents to state child protective services agencies for medical abuse and neglect, reiterates a new policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Antibiotics often prescribed for UTIs without urine testing
November 1st 2013Physicians often empirically prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs) without conducting urine testing (urinalysis or culture), according to a retrospective study of 40,603 treated UTI episodes in youngsters aged up to 18 years.