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How the Internet can teach us a thing or two about comprehensive health care for children.

A 4-year-old girl presented with bilateral deviation of the fifth fingers. The deformity was noted in early childhood. There was no history of trauma or family history of a similar deformity. Physical examination was normal except for incurving of the fifth fingers.

In recent years, adolescents have begun to turn to unconventional sources of drugs to abuse. One such drug that is becoming more and more popular among teenagers is dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in many cough and cold medications. In large doses, dextromethorphan is broken down into dextrorphan, which can produce euphoria and hallucinations--effects similar to those of phencyclidine

I appreciated the excellent photograph of cutaneous leishmaniasis thatCPT Kenneth Brooks recently contributed to Photoclinic (CONSULTANT, June2004, page 1018, Figure).

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in October an over-the-counter medication to relieve eye itch. Zaditor (ketotifen fumarate), manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., is an eye itch relief drop safe for children as young as three years of age. With just one drop, Zaditor provides up to 12 hours of continuous relief.

The National Institutes of Health recently launched Genetics Home Reference, a free Web site with up-to-date information on genetic conditions and the basics of genetic science. The site can be accessed at http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding five new research projects on antidepressant medications, notably selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and their association with suicidal thoughts and actions (suicidality). SSRI use in children and adolescents has become a controversial issue, with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), issuing a black box warning for all SSRIs in 2005.

What's the cause of a hyperpigmented patch on an adolescent boy's back?

A 5-year-old boy's constant need to remove all his clothing before using the toilet to void or defecate.

Here's how to analyze the numbers that reveal the financial health-or sickness-of your practice.

This year: A CLIA-waived test for blood lead levels, a high-tech hearing screener, nonsurgical help for OME, a quieter electronic stethoscope, great software, and more. Plus, a 25th-birthday salute to the personal computer.

Does sexualized content in advertisements and entertainment media directed at children have a cumulative effect? We don't know for certain, but available data suggest real cause for concern.

The keys to optimal use of psychostimulant and nonstimulant medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are careful screening of patients, appropriate dosage regulation, and-most of all-close monitoring of both positive and adverse outcomes.

A 5-year-old boy arrives at the ED for management of sepsis and evaluation of "blast cells" on a peripheral blood smear. His guardian says that he is "always sick." What's causing this medical mystery?

As the prevalence of obesity in children increases, so does metabolic syndrome, with its attendant health risks-chiefly cardiovascular disease. Early identification and treatment are essential to stave off complications and lower the risk of premature death in adulthood.