News
What Caused This Skin Eruption?
December 1st 2006A 3-month-old infant presented with a 4-week history of a symmetric skin eruption on her face, axillae, distal extremities, and external genitalia. The infant was otherwise healthy, although colicky since birth. She was exclusively breast-fed and had a good appetite. Voiding and stooling patterns were normal. Her growth was appropriate for age.
New Study on SIDS Underscores Need to Improve Anticipatory Guidance to All New Parents
December 1st 2006Lately, the media has been riddled with news about a recent study pertaining to brainstem abnormalities in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). How pertinent are the findings to your everyday practice? Should this study change the anticipatory guidance that you provide to new parents?
Case in Point: Ups and Downs of Trampoline Use
December 1st 2006A 14-year-old girl came to the office with severe hip pain, which occurred after she attempted a cheerleading maneuver on a trampoline. She reported that she was bouncing as high as she could and landed on the trampoline with her left knee flexed and her right hip extended. On impact, she felt a "pop" that was immediately followed by right hip pain. She could barely move after the landing but managed to get off of the trampoline; she has been walking with pain since her injury.
Post-tonsillectomy problems: Read all about it!
November 6th 2006The use of a colorful, easy-to-read, two-page visual handout can decrease post-operative phone calls about side effects of minor concerns that occur following the removal of tonsils, a study presented in Toronto at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation has found.
Risk of alcoholism risk in adulthood is linked to drinking in the adolescent years
November 6th 2006A recent survey of 43,000 adults in the United States showed that those who begin drinking alcohol in their early adolescent years are at greater risk of an alcohol-related problem later. Furthermore, those who abused alcohol during their adolescent years were not only at greater risk of alcohol dependence at some point during their life but were also at greater risk of, first, dependence more quickly and at a younger age and second, chronic, relapsing dependence. Among all respondents who developed alcoholism at some point, almost half-47%-met diagnostic criteria for alcoholism by the time they were 21 years old.
Vitamin D: Benefits for bone, and beyond
November 1st 2006We are not yet sure how much vitamin D a growing child needs, but we do know that most need more than they get. New recommendations are forthcoming but, until they are formulated, pediatricians should encourage maximal vitamin D intake from food, supplements, and outdoor activities whenever possible.
Managing concussion in a young athlete
November 1st 2006A "rung bell" is common and can do significant acute and long-term harm to a developing brain. Because no guideline or protocol has been adequately studied for application to children and adolescents, take a cautious approach to management of concussion in youth, the author advises.
What you need to learn about homeschooling
November 1st 2006Effective health care for the homeschooled child requires understanding of the issues, an open line of communication to parents, and the vigilance to ensure that children not covered by the safety net of school screening get the care they need.
Ingested and aspirated foreign bodies: Making sure that what went in comes out
November 1st 2006The event may or may not be witnessed; the child may or may not have classic symptoms. A high index of suspicion and knowledge of the many possible presentations are your best insurance against the hazards of a missed or delayed diagnosis.
