Early adenotonsillectomy eases sleep apnea
August 1st 2013Compared with watchful waiting, surgical treatment of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome reduced symptoms and improved behavior, quality of life, and polysomnographic findings, according to a study of 464 children aged 5 to 9 years.
Almost half of teenaged drivers text when behind the wheel
August 1st 2013More than 44% of students at least 16 years old text while driving, data from the 2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows. The biennial survey, which is sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was conducted in public and private high schools throughout the country; participation was anonymous and voluntary.
Ensuring college success for students with ADHD
August 1st 2013Before adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) head off to college and away from home, many for the first time, their pediatricians need to initiate frank discussions about how ADHD will affect them both academically and in their daily living and to help them plan a successful transition to what lies ahead.
Wide variation exists in ED testing for pneumonia
July 30th 2013Wide variation exists in the amount of testing performed by emergency departments (EDs) to diagnose pediatric pneumonia. Although EDs that test more have higher rates of hospitalization, comparable ED revisit rates indicate that maybe all that testing isn’t necessary.
Has HPV vaccine coverage stalled?
July 30th 2013Despite significant annual increases in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage among adolescent girls during the period 2007 to 2011, coverage with at least 1 dose of the vaccine leveled off from 2011 to 2012 at about 53%, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Car seat insert reduces hypoxia in term infants
July 23rd 2013A simple car seat insert that maintains a baby’s head in a neutral position without its chin touching its chest reduces the severity of hypoxic events while the infant is in the car seat, but does not reduce the overall number of hypoxic events, a new study finds.
Pneumococcal vaccine cuts hospitalizations
July 16th 2013In the 10 years following the introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), hospitalizations for pneumococcal disease have been and remain drastically reduced, not just for children but also for adults and particularly for the elderly, according to a new report.
Finally, clear guidelines for tympanostomy tubes
July 9th 2013At last, clear guidelines emerge for the placement of tympanostomy tubes in children. A multidisciplinary panel associated with the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) has devised a 12-point clinical practice guideline regarding conditions for placement, perioperative management, and postoperative care and outcomes.
New recommendations for pneumococcal vaccine
July 9th 2013The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has updated its recommendations regarding the use of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in children aged 6 to 18 years with immunocompromising conditions.
Transitioning kids with HIV into adult health care
July 2nd 2013With more HIV-infected children surviving into adulthood, a formal plan for the process of transitioning these kids from pediatric to adult HIV caregivers needs to be part of their overall health plan, according to a policy statement from the Committee on Pediatric AIDS of the American Academy of Pediatrics.