Internet-Based Prep May Help Youths Before Tonsillectomy
March 7th 2008Teenagers and preteens who prepared for an upcoming tonsillectomy by using an Internet program had improved knowledge acquisition scores and satisfaction with their method of preparation, compared to youths who attended a standard preparation program at the hospital before the surgery, according to research published in the February AORN Journal.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Rare in Elite Athletes
March 5th 2008New research suggests that routine echocardiographic screening of elite athletes to detect hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may not be warranted, as HCM is extremely rare in this population, according to an article published in the March 11 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Less TV and Computer Use Helps Prevent Child Obesity
March 4th 2008Reductions in television viewing and computer use by young children can help prevent obesity, because of changes in energy intake rather than physical activity, according to study findings published in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Repetition Improves Parent-to-Teen Sex Education
March 3rd 2008Adolescents feel closer and more able to talk to their parents about sex if their parents discuss a broad range of sexual issues and repeatedly cover the same sexual topics, according to a report published in the March issue of Pediatrics.
Misuse of Legal Drugs Raises Drug Abuse Risk
March 3rd 2008College students who report non-medical use of prescription drugs are more likely than those who have only used such medications for their intended purpose to test positive for drug abuse, according to a report in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Internet Can Help Combat Teens' Binge Eating
March 3rd 2008Teenagers who start the day with breakfast are more likely to maintain a healthy body mass index, while Internet-based programs can successfully help adolescents avoid binge eating and maintain a healthy weight, according to two studies published in the March issue of Pediatrics.
Clinical Tip: Preventing labial adhesions during catheterization
March 1st 2008I work in a pediatric emergency department, and nurses frequently tell me they are unable to catheterize female infants and toddlers due to labial adhesions. Since we need to obtain sterile catheterized specimens for workups for fever, here is an easy way to remove adhesions.
Measuring bone density in children (CME)
March 1st 2008Growing bones and shifting hormone levels make determining a child's bone density much like hitting a moving target. Fortunately, technologies are evolving to make this measurement more accurate. Evidence on which patients warrant this procedure is also building.