Clinical Tip: 'Spaghetti arms'-a relaxing concept
It is often difficult to get a child to relax enough so that you can test for reflexes or muscle tone. Young children do not seem to know what to do when asked directly to relax. I have found that asking the child to "make your arms and legs like spaghetti" works very well. Not only does the request sound funny-often eliciting a smile or laugh from an otherwise reserved child-but, for some reason, it seems to communicate clearly to children that you want their limbs to be loose and floppy.
Jennifer Madan, MDBronx, N.Y.
Major congenital malformations not linked to first trimester tetracycline use
November 22nd 2024A large population-based study found that first-trimester tetracycline exposure does not elevate the risk of major congenital malformations, though specific risks for nervous system and eye anomalies warrant further research.
