Parental stress can increase screen exposure in young kids
February 11th 2020Guidance abounds for how much screen time children should have and when they first should be given access. However, a new study indicates that parental stressors can have an impact on when and how much very young children are exposed to media and screens.
Should adult criteria for prediabetes be applied to youngsters?
February 6th 2020A study of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels that compared levels in normal-weight and obese middle schoolers found that overall distribution of HbA1c was similar in the 2 groups and that the adult-defined cutoff was seen in 2% of normal-weight youth.
$123 million spent annually on unneeded pelvic exams for teens
February 4th 2020It’s a source of worry and a potential reason for adolescent girls to forego needed gynecologic care: the pelvic exam. A recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at just how many unnecessary exams are performed on teenagers and young women who don’t need them.
Virtual reality education reduces the stress of chest radiography
February 3rd 2020Children who received virtual reality (VR) education before undergoing chest radiography showed lower levels of stress during the procedure than their peers who did not receive the VR exposure, a randomized trial in 99 children found.
Study confirms group B meningitis vaccine efficacy
January 31st 2020Group B meningitis poses a serious health risk to children, but the disease is vaccine preventable. A recent study evaluated the efficacy of vaccination with the multicomponent meningococcal group B (4CMenB) vaccine in young children with positive results.
Certain marijuana types lead to chronic use
January 30th 2020As more states legalize marijuana and the variety of products containing cannabis proliferates, the question becomes whether this will impact adolescent use of the drug and possibly lead to persistent use of cannabis. A new study in JAMA Network Open looked at how experimental use of 5 different cannabis products impacted progression of use.
14 questions to assess safety skills in a child with autism
January 30th 2020Children with autism spectrum disorder are at risk of wandering or elopement. Asking parents some key questions about how their child’s communication skills and how the child acts in public areas can help keep the child safe. Here are 14 questions that can help keep these children safe.
Are the issues and attitudes PNPs have similar to or different from pediatricians?
January 28th 2020I believe that professional practitioners survey results/research, and especially comparative survey results, offer professionals and professional organizations opportunities to make impactful change, and, in this case, changes that can improve health care delivery for infants, children, adolescents, and their families.
Teen bariatric surgery won’t solve mental health woes
January 27th 2020It seems to be a logical conclusion: Weight loss in severely obese teenagers will result in better mental health outcomes in addition to the more obvious health benefits. However, a new Swedish study indicates that this may not be the case.
Visits to pediatricians are decreasing
January 24th 2020The typical day in Pediatrics is a busy one and the pressure to see as many patients as possible is felt by many. However, a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics indicates that more and more children aren’t being seen by a pediatrician for problem visits.
8 questions for a thorough history to diagnose migraines
January 22nd 2020When evaluating and diagnosing migraines in pediatric patients, a thorough medical history is key to giving a diagnosis. These 8 questions are structured to pinpoint concerning headache patterns earlier in the diagnosing process.
Fluoride exposure in pregnancy can affect offspring’s IQ
January 17th 2020A study in 512 mother-child pairs from 6 major cities in Canada found that exposure to higher levels of fluoride during pregnancy was associated with lowered intelligent quotient (IQ) scores in their children at the age of 3 to 4 years.
11 clinical tips for treating congenital limb deficiency
January 15th 2020Treating a child with a congenital limb deficiency can be a challenge. It is imperative that the clinician care not only for the child, but the family, and cover not only physical health, but mental health and educational progress. Here are 11 tips to improve care in your practice.