News
Handy cold packs for the young athlete who needs to chill
September 1st 2004The RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) prescription for strains and sprains works very well if the patient applies enough cold compresses. A common problem with home compliance is that the patient often runs out of ice (or frozen vegetables and other frozen foods often used as alternatives). I advise young athletes to keep a supply of cold packs on hand by folding several clean washcloths or hand towels lengthwise, soaking them in water (and squeezing out the excess to eliminate dripping), then wrapping them in clear plastic wrap and putting them in the freezer. Because the washcloths or towels are folded lengthwise, they aren't bulky and can be molded easily around joints or other curved surfaces such as a knee or thigh. If a cold pack comes out of the freezer too stiff to be practical, the patient can soften it by running tap water over the wrapped surface. The packs remain cold for approximately one hour. Best of all, they can be readily replaced by another pack waiting in the freezer.
The evolving role of pediatrics in the 21st century: 12 roles for a pediatrician
September 1st 2004As your specialty seeks to adapt to changing times, the issue is not whether pediatrics will rise to the occasion, but how. The author considers ways in which ingenuity and manpower can combine to meet the challenges ahead. Last of three parts.
Don't let Little League shoulder or elbow sideline your patient permanently
September 1st 2004These common overuse injuries are usually a minor problem but, if ignored, they can end a young athlete's playing days and lead to long-term problems. Here's what you need to know about evaluation, treatment, and prevention.
"That was then, this is NOW! Contemplating 20 years of pediatrics"
September 1st 2004In the years since Contemporary Pediatrics first hit physicians' desks, pediatric practice has undergone a phenomenal change. A longtime contributor and a former editor pause to consider just how far the specialty has come.
Shin pain in an adolescent soccer player: A case-based look at "shin splints"
September 1st 2004A 14-year-old high school soccer player, referred by her pediatrician, has been brought to the sports medicine clinic reporting a one-year history of "shin splints." She describes shin pain in both legs that seems to increase with running and brisk walking, mostly over the "front" of her shins. She characterizes her pain as a "tightness" that "pinches" her legs and becomes noticeable five to seven minutes after she begins activity. The pain has become more intense the past two months--to the point where she is unable to run for more than 10 minutes at a time.
Eye on Washington: Ordering analysis, not action, on stem cell research and genetically altered food
September 1st 2004Labor Day weekend is, in ordinary times, the end of summer vacation for members of Congress. Tanned and well-rested, senators and members of the House are ready to get back to work, to tackle at least some of the domestic policy issues they have been unable to resolve until now.But this is no ordinary summer: Some members of Congress responded to the publication of the report of the 9/11 Commission by returning to work in August, and-even with time off for convention-going and politicking in an election year-a special session to deal with homeland security may even be in the cards.
Behavior: Ask the experts: Parents and sports: Too much of a good thing?
September 1st 2004Q As a pediatric pulmonologist, I treat quite a few children and adolescents who have exercise-induced asthma and other causes of exercise limitation. The younger children often are reluctant to talk about their experiences with sports, but their parents enthusiastically carry the conversation. In many instances, I have noticed that, when sports are involved, a parent's enthusiasm can go well beyond the usual parental pride. Such parents actually seem far more interested and invested in the sport than the child is. The child may even appear weary and disinterested when the subject comes up.
Tourette syndrome: Much more than tics, part 1: Diagnosis
August 15th 2004Far more people have heard of Tourette syndrome than know what it actually looks and sounds like - or how it feels to the person who has it. That's a major reason the diagnosis of this condition - the most severe tic disorder - is often missed. This is part one of a two-part series. See Tourette syndrome--Much more than tics, part 2: Management
The evolving role of pediatrics in the 21st century
August 15th 2004What do physicians need to meet the challenge of providing high-quality patient care in this century? A set of well-defined competencies and a system for maintaining them throughout the course of professional practice. Part two of a three-part series.
Tourette syndrome: Much more than tics, part 1: Diagnosis
August 15th 2004Far more people have heard of Tourette syndrome than know what it actually looks and sounds like - or how it feels to the person who has it. That's a major reason the diagnosis of this condition - the most severe tic disorder - is often missed. This is part one of a two-part series. See Tourette syndrome--Much more than tics, part 2: Management
