News

A novel assay for distinguishing bacterial from viral infections significantly outperformed routine laboratory parameters and biomarkers in a study using serum remnants from children suspected to have acute infection.

Using a cost-utility model of a hypothetical group of symptomatic children aged younger than 2 years who were diagnosed with acute otitis media (AOM), investigators evaluated whether antimicrobial therapy reduces time to symptom resolution, overall symptom burden, and persistence of infection.

An 8-year-old girl is admitted to the hospital with complaints of right ear pain, right leg pain, left arm pain, and fever after a week of worsening symptoms.

We’ve been asking the same basic questions in our Annual Issues and Attitudes Survey for the past 4 years and listening to your answers so that we can discern any trends in your thinking and professional behaviors. The jury is in on 2017, so here are some of the key findings. No P values here, but lots of anecdotal comments. And still some interesting feedback on what you’re confronting and juggling from patients, parents, and payments.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a recent statement published in Pediatrics that discussed key ways to prevent and control infection in ambulatory settings.

Dr. Bass’ recent article in Contemporary Pediatrics, “Personalized medicine, right drug, right patient, right time,” provides a miniature but profound view of what may be the future of pediatric healthcare: focusing on healthcare that is truly individualized through precision science in the areas of diagnosis and treatment, rather than generalized, population-based treatment guidelines.

Eczema affects around 11% of children overall, but only about half of minority children with severe eczema are treated for the condition. A new study looks at why these children are overlooked.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a large retrospective cohort study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology that examined whether children with pediatric psoriasis are at increased risk of cancer and discusses 2 caveats to the findings.

Patients who refuse vaccines or use alternate schedules are less likely to make routine appointments, according to a new report.

The American Academy of Pediatrics stresses the importance of vaccinating all children aged older than 6 months early in the season for the best flu protection.

The premise is to use a patient’s own genetic information to guide decisions for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease and other health conditions.

Stratifying tumors by their clinical characteristics and underlying biology will enable future targeting of specific therapies for glioma in children.

A new subcutaneous therapy could offer a promising solution to a bleeding disorder in both children and adults.

Being exposed to recordings of their mothers’ voices limited pain preterm infants experienced while undergoing heel lance procedures, according to a study conducted in an Italian neonatal intensive care unit.

A study of the accuracy of a technology for assessing jaundice in outpatient neonates based on analysis of digital images demonstrated that this smartphone application (app) may be useful for screening newborns for jaundice.

A study of Mycoplasma pneumoniae disease during an epidemic in Norway found that preschool children infected with this bacterium had a significantly higher risk of severe disease, particularly severe pneumonia, than school-aged children.

Phase III clinical trials of new antiepileptic medications show promise for reducing frequency of convulsive seizures in children.

A physician’s curiosity leads to discovery of both the cause and a “cure” for the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on patient health.

From ear infections to croup to strep, I have found that the simplest diagnosis is often the best diagnosis.

New research looks at the role of maternal-placental-fetal interaction on cognitive function and disease.

A new customized therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) offers high remission rates but at a substantial cost, and only at specialized cancer centers.

A 3-week-old female presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of a progressively enlarging, erythematous, seemingly painful lump on her back.

A 16-year-old girl presents for evaluation of an asymptomatic brown rash over her central chest and back that developed over the preceding 6 months. She is embarrassed by the appearance.

A new device for the heart is designed to accommodate a child’s growth, potentially improving the success rate of a valve repair and reducing the need for more operations.

Despite a lack of consensus on the importance of screening infants for vision problems, there is proof that screening preschoolers can catch serious problems and allow for corrections to prevent permanent vision loss.

Surviving cancer is challenging enough, but now a recent report highlights the fact that survivors face double the chronic health challenges of the general population as a result of curative cancer therapies.

I highly recommend reading his article, and then reflecting on your current office- and hospital-based practices surrounding prescribing medications for children to determine areas to apply these best practice initiatives in your personal work settings.

AAP’s first ever clinical report on body modification guides pediatricians on medical precautions and counseling practices.

In-depth coverage of the 2017 American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois.

For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a study published in Pediatrics that surveyed mothers at 32 hospitals in the United States about their intention to follow American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations for safe sleep versus what the mothers practiced.