Salt and sedentary habits contribute to childhood asthma
February 4th 2011Children who consume unhealthy diets, watch too much television, or spend too much time playing video games instead of playing outdoors are likely to experience a higher prevalence of asthma symptoms than children who are more active and follow a healthier, Mediterranean-style dietary model. The research appeared in the February issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.
Guidelines for vision screening in preschoolers revised
February 4th 2011Preschool-aged children should receive a vision screening to detect amblyopia or its risk factors at least once between the ages of 3 and 5 years, according to a revised grade B recommendation from the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published in the February issue of Pediatrics.
2011 recommendations for childhood and adolescent vaccination released
February 4th 2011The childhood and adolescent immunization schedules for 2011 have been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Centers for Disease Control), and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Vitamin D Recommendations: Do Dark-Skinned Children Require Supplements?
February 2nd 2011I saw a 12-year-old African American US girl as a new patient and checked her vitamin D level, as we usually do on our panels these days. The level was 8.8 ng/mL, with a "normal" reported as over 32 ng/mL. What are current recommendations for vitamin D replacement in children-let alone dark-skinned children?
Contemporary Pediatrics, Digital Edition, February 2011
February 1st 2011Bronchioloitis : Focus on hypertonic saline Fighting childhood obesity : Resources for the community pediatrician Dermcase : Annoying, warty plaque in preteen Puzzler : Unusual cause of chronic abdominal pain Updates : The Surgeon General on breastfeeding, Tdap vaccine, Sugar and cardiovascular risk
Combined tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine guidelines released
February 1st 2011A single dose of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for all persons 11 to 18 years old to boost immunity to pertussis.
Cardiovascular risks compounded by added sugars
February 1st 2011Daily consumption of calorie-loaded soft drinks and snack foods that contain high fructose corn syrup or refined beet or cane sugar now account for one-fifth of adolescents' daily sources of energy, putting this age group at increased risk for cardiovascular disease as adults, according to a new study.
Pediatric survivors of bacterial meningitis face years of complications
January 21st 2011Half of all children who survive bacterial meningitis may experience long-term complications from the infection in their lifetimes, including seizure disorders, other neurologic deficits, hearing and vision loss, behavior problems, motor delay, and impaired cognitive functioning, according to a study published in Pediatrics. These new findings may bolster the recommendation for vaccination of children against the disease.
Preschoolers exposed to passive cigarette smoke have higher blood pressure
January 14th 2011Second-hand smoke in the home increases arterial hypertension in children as young as 4 and 5 years, according to new evidence from a screening project of preschool children in Germany. Results of the study appeared online in the journal Circulation.
Behaviors, other factors affect parents' interpretation of ear pain in young children
January 14th 2011Parents of preverbal children with acute otitis media (AOM) look at their child?s observable behaviors to determine their pain level. Although no specific symptom dictates parental assessment of pain, ear tugging and fussiness appear to be the symptoms that most influence parental perception of pain. However, interpretation of these behaviors is influenced by other factors, like socioeconomic status, according to a study published in the Journal of Pain.