Intussusception With a Pathological Lead Point
June 1st 2008A 4-month-old girl was admitted to a rural hospital with nonbilious vomiting and bloody stools that began the prior evening. The parents reported that the infant had periods of excessive irritability mixed with periods of calm. She had no fever, exposure to illness, or surgical history.
Strabismus: What to Tell Parents and When to Consider Surgery
June 1st 2008Alignment. Accommodative esotropia is treated initially with glasses. The glasses may not improve visual acuity. They are used so the child does not have to make the accommodative effort; the eyes may not "turn in" and the child can use the eyes together, binocularly. If the eyes are aligned with spectacle correction, surgery may never be required. However, if the eyes are not aligned with glasses and/or bifocals, or if the child cannot be weaned from bifocals as he or she grows, then surgery may be indicated. We all lose our ability to accommodate for near tasks as time goes by-the loss of accommodative effort over time is of benefit to children with accommodative esotropia, because they may outgrow the need for glasses and avoid muscle surgery.
FDA Advises on Switch to HFA-Propelled Albuterol Inhalers
May 30th 2008The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory alerting patients and health care providers to make the switch to hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-propelled albuterol inhalers because chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-propelled inhalers will no longer be available in the United States after December 31, 2008.
Vitamin D Supplementation Safe for Children
May 30th 2008Vitamin D supplementation to children and adolescents at the equivalent of 2,000 IU/day is safe for as long as a year and increases serum vitamin D to desirable levels, according to study results released online April 29 in advance of publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
ACSM: Healthy Doctors May Mean Healthier Patients
May 30th 2008Medical students who understand the value of physical activity on a personal and professional level may be more likely to subsequently "prescribe" exercise to patients in their practices, according to a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Indianapolis.
Flat Cola Inadequate for Pediatric Viral Gastroenteritis
May 29th 2008In children with acute viral gastroenteritis, flat fizzy drinks such as cola contain too few electrolytes, too little water and possibly too much glucose to provide adequate rehydration, according to an article published online May 27 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
New Drug Guidelines Proposed for Nursing/Pregnant Women
May 29th 2008Revised physician labeling for prescription drugs to enhance safety information for use during pregnancy and breast-feeding have been proposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Although the changes are for information targeted at physicians, the same information is sometimes used in an adapted format for patients.
Rate of Preterm Births Increasing in United States
May 29th 2008The percentage of preterm singleton births in the United States has risen to nearly 11 percent, with most of the increase due to higher rates of Caesarean section deliveries, according to a report in the June issue of Clinics in Perinatology.
Antioxidants Discouraged During Cancer Treatment
May 29th 2008Cancer patients receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy should not take supplemental antioxidants due to a lack of clear data on their effects on cancer treatment, according to a review published online May 27 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Bed Wetting Linked to Lighter Sleep and Inability to Wake
May 28th 2008Children who have severe problems with bed wetting may sleep more lightly due to higher brain arousability but cannot completely awaken, and have an overactive bladder, according to a report in the May 29 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.