AAP's first-ever action plan for epinephrine and anaphylaxis
August 1st 2017Anaphylaxis is a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur suddenly without warning. In children and adolescents, the leading cause of anaphylaxis is exposure to food allergens. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published 2 clinical reports that discuss guidance on appropriate epinephrine use for anaphylaxis and developing an emergency action plan for patients at risk.
Teen vaping: Time to clear the air
August 1st 2017The vaping culture of using non–cigarette tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is the latest risky trend among adolescents and young adults. Vaping is the use of high-tech, advanced electronic devices such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), refillable atomizers, and other tobacco products as an alternative or in addition to regular cigarettes.
Pediatricians could be overprescribing combination antifungal/corticosteroids
August 1st 2017A review of a large claims-based database suggests that they are. Investigators identified almost 10,000 children aged up to 14 years who were prescribed either Lotrisone or Mycolog-II creams (antifungal and corticosteroid combination products) by pediatricians and other specialists from 2007 through 2014.
E-cigarettes: A legislative update
August 1st 2017On August 8, 2016, Mitch Zeller, JD, blogged on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website that beginning that day, federal law would protect the public-especially kids-from the dangers of all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), vapes, and more. The law, known as the Deeming Rule, would regulate the largely unregulated market that he referred to as having been the “wild, wild West.”
How to perform a better physical exam
August 1st 2017There is a trend in internal medicine to get away from doing complete physical examinations on each visit, with a minimalistic approach to a healthy patient. I am not prepared to go that far just yet, but I have modified my examination in many ways over the years. Here are some gems I have unearthed.
Does strep elevate risk for mental disorders? (VIDEO)
July 26th 2017For Contemporary Pediatrics, Dr Bobby Lazzara discusses a large cohort study published in JAMA Psychiatry that examined whether children with a positive strep test are more likely than their counterparts to develop mental disorders, particularly tic disorders and OCD.
Why are teens not being treated for opioid use disorders?
July 11th 2017Although opioid use disorders among teenagers and young adults are increasing, the number of teenagers and young adults who receive medication to treat opioid use is decreasing, with significant inequalities among population types.
Tympanostomy tubes improve short-term hearing but lack long-term benefit
July 6th 2017Tympanostomy tubes are widely used in pediatric care, taking first place as the most popular ambulatory surgery. However, new research reveals that tube placement provides just short-term hearing improvement and has little impact on quality of life.
All Healthcare is not Local: The Human Cost of Disparate Health Data
July 6th 2017Improving care coordination across the healthcare continuum has the potential to dramatically improve patient care, reduce duplicative tests and procedures, and positively impact care quality. This whitepaper explores data coordination that more easily locates records, reduces test and procedure duplication - and boosts your quality of care.
Adverse childhood experiences are linked to ADHD
July 1st 2017Diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age 9 years is associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), according to an analysis of data for 1572 children who are part of the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) birth cohort.
Are children with asthma prescribed too many OCSs?
July 1st 2017An analysis of 2015 claims data for about 69,000 children with an asthma diagnosis suggests that the answer to this question is “yes.” Of these children, who were insured through a large Texas health plan for children with Medicaid and CHIP and who ranged in age from 1 to 18 years, 42.1% were given an oral corticosteroid (OCS) 1 or more times during the year; 9.9%, 2 or more times; and 3.3%, 3 or more times.
Fever without a source, think UTI first
July 1st 2017In children aged older than 2 months, the pediatrician is often faced with the scenario of fever with no apparent source. Because symptoms in young patients are nonspecific and reliable urine samples require invasive testing, there can be a delay in both diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). This delay may be associated with increased risk of renal scarring and a longer duration symptomology for the young child.
Persistent agitation in children with neurologic impairments
July 1st 2017Crying and agitation for no apparent reason in children with severe neurologic impairment is a common and frustrating problem for parents and providers alike. A methodical approach is helpful in dealing with this problem, yet sometimes the cause is not apparent, even after a thorough search. It is helpful to explain to parents and caretakers that the cause of the distress may take some time to figure out, and that diagnosis is often difficult. However, in most cases, a satisfactory treatment can be found.