In Bacterial Meningitis, Can Dexamethasone Help?
December 1st 2007Adjunctive therapy with dexamethasone should be considered in selected cases of bacterial meningitis in infants and children. Dexamethasone has reduced hearing impairment in children with Haemophilus influenza type b meningitis when given with or before starting antimicrobial therapy.
Are Late-Preterm Infants Mature Enough?
December 1st 2007In addition to term infants (born after at least 37 weeks' gestation), many hospitals currently consider late-preterm infants (born between 34 and 36 weeks' gestation) mature enough to be admitted to the well-baby nursery. Several studies, including one recently published by Young and colleagues1 from Utah, have shown an increased mortality among these late-preterm (also known as near-term) infants.
Crib Bumpers: Soft and Snug--or Deadly Decor?
November 1st 2007When preparing a nursery, most parents buy bumper pads to soften the sides of the crib and to add a decorative touch. Traditional thinking has been that bumpers protect infants' heads from the hard sides of the crib and prevent arms and legs from becoming stuck between crib rails. The AAP recommends that if bumpers are used, they should be thin and firm.1 They advise parents to avoid pillow-like bumpersand to remove them when the child is pulling to stand.2 However, a study recently published in The Journal of Pediatrics may lead us to rethink what we tell parents about the dangers of decorative bedding.
Sudden Cardiac Death Warning Signs
October 29th 2007Sudden cardiac death (SCD) should not be a surprise. The young athlete who drops dead during a game and the teen who is found dead in bed one morning seldom die without warning signs. The problem is the physicians, coaches, and parents who fail to recognize the warnings.