Pediatric Migraine: Strategies for Maintaining Control
August 1st 2008The management of pediatricmigraine incorporates lifestyle strategieswith acute therapy and preventivemeasures. Lifestyle changes that candiminish the frequency and intensity ofmigraines include maintaining regularsleeping, eating, and exercise habits;staying well hydrated; dealing withstress; and avoiding dietary triggers ofmigraine. Acute treatment represents arace against the clock: the longer aheadache continues to smolder, the harderit is to treat. An over-the-counteragent may help in the very early stagesof headache: if it does not, however,it must be followed within an hour by atriptan. Patients with significantmigraine disability may need preventionmedications or alternative therapies.
Torticollis and Fever: A Case of Grisel Syndrome From Group A Streptococcus Infection
August 1st 2008A previously healthy 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after 2 weeks of persistent fever (temperature to a maximum of 38.9C [102F]) and a 2-day history of neck stiffness. There was no history of cough, rhinorrhea, or dysphagia. The oropharynx could not be examined because of neck stiffness. The patient had bilateral anterior cervical lymphadenopathy.
Why Children Born as Late-Preterm Infants Should Be on Our Radar
August 1st 2008For years, babies born between 32 and 36 weeks'gestation have been thought to have developmentaland neurological outcomes similar to those offull-term infants. Although studies have shownthat these infants are at greater risk for short-termmorbidities, such as respiratory distress, hyperbilirubinemia,hypoglycemia, and feeding problems,1 little researchhad been done regarding school outcomes for moderatepreterm(32 to 33 weeks) and late-preterm (34 to 36weeks) infants. Now a study in The Journal of Pediatricsby Chyi and colleagues2 has shown that these infantsmay also be at greater risk for difficulties in school laterin life.
Pregestational Diabetes Raises Birth Defect Risk
July 31st 2008Pregnant women with pregestational diabetes mellitus are more likely than pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus to have a child with birth defects, according to a report published online July 31 in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Adverse Outcomes in IVF Babies Analyzed
July 31st 2008Babies conceived spontaneously and as a result of assisted fertilization by the same woman have similar risks of adverse outcomes, meaning that adverse outcomes among assisted fertilization babies may be attributable to the underlying causes of infertility rather than the fertility treatment itself, according to a report published online July 31 in The Lancet.
Repeated Episodes of Abdominal Pain Followed by Emesis in a 22-Month-Old
July 30th 2008Twenty-two-month-old girl seen in the emergency department (ED) after several hours of abdominal pain associated with non-bloody, non-bilious emesis. Over past 2 months, has had 7 or 8 similar episodes of abdominal pain followed by emesis 1 to 2 hours later.
Kids' Cancer Survival Low in Many Countries
July 29th 2008Annual per-capita government health expenditures are associated with survival of children with cancer in 10 low- and middle-income countries, and half of these countries offer very poor chances of survival for these children, according to research published in the August issue of The Lancet Oncology.
Diabetes-Diet Link Examined in Trio of Studies
July 28th 2008Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables may decrease the risk of diabetes mellitus, while increased consumption of fruit drinks may increase risk, and diets low in fat have no effect on development of diabetes, according to three articles published in the July 28 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Timing Is Crucial in Measles Vaccination
July 25th 2008The age at which the protective effect of maternal measles antibodies wears off varies widely from region to region and should be taken into account when formulating optimum immunization strategies, according to an editorial published online July 24 in BMJ.
On-Site Vaccination Utilized to Control Pertussis Outbreak
July 25th 2008A school-based vaccination clinic was set up to control an outbreak of pertussis in a Cook County, Ill., high school after multiple recommendations to get vaccinated went unheeded, according to a report published in the July 25 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
'Tier 4' Drugs Raise Questions About Affordability
July 23rd 2008The emergence of a fourth tier of copayment for expensive drugs calls into question how Americans are going to handle the rising costs of health care, according to a perspective article in the July 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Consequences of Genetic Non-Discrimination Act Examined
July 23rd 2008The Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act (GINA), recently signed into U.S. law, creates a troublesome distinction between those at genetic risk for a disease and those with other characteristics that predispose them to a condition, according to a perspective article published in the July 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Topiramate Therapy During Pregnancy Raises Concerns
July 22nd 2008The use of topiramate as monotherapy or as an adjunct to other treatment for epilepsy during pregnancy raises some concerns about the increased risk of congenital malformation, according to a report published in the July 22 issue of Neurology.