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.
Exposure to imaging procedures may pose health risk to children
January 14th 2011Use of medical diagnostic or therapeutic imaging procedures in children requires balancing the long-term risks of ionizing radiation exposure with the necessity of making clinical decisions, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
Aberrant Predisposition Not Political Rhetoric to Blame for Tucson Tragedy
January 14th 2011The recent murders in Arizona are horrific. That a 9-year-old girl was one of the victims magnifies the horror even more. Of course, it is natural to seek explanations for why someone would lash out like this. However, when rationalizing random acts of violence, it is important to consider the path leading up to the tragic event and be wary of current opinions propagated in the media.
What Rash Consists of These Brownish Macules?
January 13th 2011A 4-year-old boy who is new to your practice presents for a well-child visit. His parents report that he has had brownish patches on his torso and back since early infancy. The lesions have decreased in size and number as he has aged. The rash is intermittently pruritic, especially when anyone touches the individual lesions.
Assigning Blame in Medicine: Where Are We Headed?
January 10th 2011Warning: this is a column about political correctness. If you find it impossible to be judgmental in any situation, or are incapable of offering decisive opinions about anything, you are advised to go no further-your feelings will be hurt.
Toddler With Chest Pain, Trouble Breathing, Cough After Heart Surgery
January 10th 2011A 3-year-old boy with chest pain and trouble breathing that had developed over the past 24 hours was brought to the emergency department. The parents reported that his most prominent symptom was a cough. The chest pain appeared to worsen with coughing. He had undergone open atrial septal defect repair about 3 weeks before presentation.
More ammunition emerges to counter parents' vaccine concerns
January 7th 2011Even more information has emerged about the 1998 Andrew Wakefield measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) study that is important for you to communicate to parents, especially those who are concerned about their perceived risk of autism. Here are highlights of the latest reports in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) discrediting Wakefield,s work (originally published in the Lancet), which make the case that Wakefield purposely set out to skew data and present fraudulent information to support an association between vaccination and the onset of developmental and behavioral problems in British children.
FDA cautions possible risk of death with recombinant human growth hormone
January 7th 2011The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a potential risk of death for persons treated with recombinant human growth hormone. The FDA is reviewing information and will publish new recommendations when its investigation is complete.
Contemporary Pediatrics, Digital Edition, January 2011
January 1st 2011Childhood obesity : Challenging pediatricians with averting this epidemic even in their littlest patients Catalyst for change : Motivational interviewing can help parents to help their kids Dermcase : Navel battles! Puzzler : An odd case of pallor and splenomegaly Updates : Varicella vaccine, AEs with CAM use, Food allergies, Meningococcal vaccination