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Children who present to the emergency department (ED) with moderate to severe acute asthma symptoms and receive oral corticosteroids from ED nurses show improvement earlier, are discharged sooner, and are less likely to be admitted to the hospital than children who are not treated until after assessment by the ED physician. Find out how a medical directive allowing nurses to initiate oral corticosteroid treatment significantly improved the efficiency of a pediatric ED.

Pediatric care providers should be familiar with the warning signs and symptoms of pediatric sudden cardiac arrest and ensure that those at risk are referred to a pediatric cardiac center for evaluation, according to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Learn why a comprehensive family history is critical in identifying individuals at risk.

Five-year survival for acute lymphoblastic leukemia among children and adolescents treated through Children's Oncology Group clinical trials increased from 83.7% from 1990 to 1994 to 90.4% from 2000 to 2005, according to a study showing similar gains in 10-year survival. The researchers credited the advances to treatment that comes as part of rigorous clinical trials.

Although emergency contraception (EC) is safe, effective, and widely available, misinformation communicated by pharmacies to adolescents and their physicians can make it difficult for teens to obtain EC in a timely manner. Do you know how to counter the misinformation and help your patients access EC?

Frontal headaches of a month’s duration trouble this 14-year-old girl. The pain is dull and worsens with Valsava’s maneuver.. She has gained weight recently, and shows papilledema.

A study of a large, multiethnic sample found that shifts in body mass index (BMI) are common in middle-school students. Are these changes associated with meaningful changes in cardiometabolic risk factors?

A study based on a nationally representative sample showed that, on average, 1 child younger than 5 years is treated in an emergency department every 6 minutes for a stair-related injury. See what simple precautions can be taken to reduce the number of injuries.

A study comparing 3 weight-loss diets for children with obesity found that all were effective, but some children adhere to certain programs better than others. Which diet appears to be the most promising for long-term weight management?

A study of Canadian children found that the youngest children in the class are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and prescribed medication than their peers in the same grade. Find out why overdiagnosis and overprescribing are a concern.

Intense bilateral frontal headache accompanied by severe retching followed by frequent bouts of emesis despite a normal neurological exam. What is going on in this 10-year-old?

The developers of a dedicated, Internet-based therapeutic application for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome-myalgic encephalomyelitis-say that in a study of treatment through the Fatigue In Teenagers on the interNET program, 63% of adolescents reported having recovered after 6 months, almost 8 times as many as those given standard care. Now effective treatment for adolescents suffering with chronic fatigue could be as close as their laptops.

Sweet-tasting solutions such as glucose and sucrose are commonly used to alleviate pain in infants undergoing minor invasive procedures. Expressed breast milk may be an alternative to sweet solutions, but evidence of its analgesic efficacy is limited. Two new studies look at what works for neonatal pain relief.

A recent study suggests that health outcomes of moderate or late preterm and early term infants are worse than those of full-term infants in the early years of life and that babies born even a few weeks early have worse health outcomes. What are the implications for long-term health outcomes of preterm births on future health care services for infants and children?

Vitamin D intake can cut the risk of stress fractures in adolescent girls in half, especially in those who engage in increased levels of high-impact activity, according to new study results. Could high calcium intake do the same?

The electrocardiogram (ECG) and the echocardiogram are acceptable screening tools for detecting common causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in children, according to a recent meta-analysis of the literature. However, more data are needed before adopting screening programs for asymptomatic children as public policy. Find out what concerns remain about widespread screening.

Low muscle tone, delayed motor milestones, and failure to gain weight. The mother was 38 at the time of delivery, but nothing else is noteworthy about this 9-month-old.

Two laws promoting pediatric drug studies have provided clinicians with a wealth of data on drug efficacy and safety in children, but a new report from the Institute of Medicine suggests that several improvements are needed before they are reauthorized this year. Read how the findings could help Congress strengthen the scope of the current laws to continue critical advances in drug studies that benefit the nation?s children.

Children who snore or who have other sleep-related breathing problems in the first years of life are more likely to have behavioral problems years later, according to new research. Addressing these problems early may prevent adverse behavioral outcomes.

Zinc supplementation reduces children?s risk of pneumonia, but it has only marginal effect as adjuvant therapy for severe pneumonia in young children, according to a new study. Could there be other factors affecting study results?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating another outbreak of human Salmonella enterica infections associated with pet turtle exposures in Pennsylvania. Here's what you can tell parents and caregivers about the hidden health risks associated with these tiny creatures.

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A gut reaction : Treating chronic abdominal pain When the pill isn't right : Understanding alternative long-term contraception in adolescents Dermcase : Omphalitis in a newborn Puzzler : More than a Moro - The case of a twitching infant.

Daily fish oil supplementation during the first 5 years of life may reduce the risk of later cardiovascular disease in those with impaired fetal growth.

The first influenza vaccine to contain 2 strains of influenza A virus and 2 strains of influenza B has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in healthy children aged 2 years and older and adults to age 49 years.

Updated recommendations from the AAP include routine use of the HPV vaccine for boys as well as girls.

Toddlers of African American, Asian, and Hispanic descent are less likely to be diagnosed early in life with autism spectrum disorders than their white peers.

A new policy statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirms its support for exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, with continuation of breastfeeding for 1 year or longer after solid foods are introduced as desired by mother and infant.