Pediatric News articles from April 2006

Pediatric News archives from April 2006

Ultimate multitasker: lawyer, weekend doc.(News)
April 1, 2006... It's Saturday afternoon and your patient is sick, but you don't want to refer her to the emergency department. Time to call a lawyer? Pediatricians in suburban Chicago can do just that, because Dr. Stephen Roth, who is in solo practice in...

New warning OK for ADHD drugs, but no black box: FDA pediatric panel gives second opinion.(News)
April 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- The potential for certain cardiovascular and psychiatric adverse events associated with drugs approved for ADHD should be well communicated to physicians, parents, and caregivers of children on these drugs, but not in the...

Board endorses hospice, palliative care specialty.(News)
April 1, 2006... The directors of the American Board of Pediatrics voted to join six other specialty Boards and cosponsor an application to make hospice and palliative medicine a subspecialty under the American Board of Medical Specialties. The move closed...

Strep more likely in children of smokers.(News)
April 1, 2006... Children exposed to second-hand cigarette smoke in the home are more likely to have Streptococcus pneumoniae colonization in their nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal mucosa than are children of nonsmokers, reported Dr. David Greenberg of Soroka...

Corticosteroids aid in adenoidal hypertrophy.(News)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Nasal corticosteroids significantly improve symptoms in children with nonallergic rhinitis, and may reduce the need for an adenoidectomy, Dr. Shiang-Ju Kung said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma,...

Study: once-daily atomoxetine and twice-daily methylphenidate equally effective against ADHD.(News)
April 1, 2006... TORONTO -- Once-daily atomoxetine is just as effective as twice-daily methylphenidate in reducing symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, Dr. Yufeng Wang of Beijing Medical University reported in a poster at the joint...

FDA panel: modafinil not safe for children.(News)
April 1, 2006... GAITHERSBURG, MD. -- A Food and Drug Administration advisory committee said modafinil is not safe for treating ADHD in children and adolescents by a 12-1 vote, although committee members unanimously agreed the drug was effective for that...

Low atomoxetine dose can control ADHD in some.(News)
April 1, 2006... TORONTO -- Lowering the dose of atomoxetine is feasible for children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder who responded well to the medication, but those children may experience side effects, Dr. Jeffrey Newcorn reported in a poster at...

Pediatrics holds steady in the resident match.(News)
April 1, 2006... The fill rate for pediatrics positions dropped slightly in this year's resident match, but experts in the field say interest in the specialty continues to be strong. This year, 2,288 pediatric residency positions were offered. Of those,...

MRSA trends: skin infections rising in children.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... STOWE, VT. -- Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection incidence in children is increasing each year; and while sensitivities vary by region, the problem is not limited to areas of the United States previously...

Hep B vaccine, immunoglobulin protect neonates.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Hepatitis B vaccines, hepatitis B immunoglobulin, and a combination of the two all prevent the infection from developing in newborns of mothers who are positive for hepatitis B surface antigen, reported Chuanfang Lee, a clinical pharmacist at...

MRSA now seen to jump from pets to people.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- As if there weren't already enough reasons to be worried about methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, the troublesome organism is now turning up in the pet population and appears to be able to move readily between animals...

Pediatric delirium often overlooked, mistreated.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. -- Pediatric delirium is rarely discussed in the medical literature and hardly ever diagnosed in practice, but Dr. Susan Beckwitt Turkel contends that children may be as vulnerable as elderly patients. "When we say...

First distinguish neonatal rash as infectious or not.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Although there is no single classification for neonatal rashes, subdividing these conditions into infectious versus noninfectious conditions, and further separating them by lesion type, provides a framework for diagnosing...

Vesicoureteral reflux and UTIs.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Mild to moderate vesicoureteral reflux did not increase the incidence of urinary tract infections, recurrent pyelonephritis, or renal scarring in children with acute pyelonephritis, reported Dr. Eduardo H. Garin of the University of South...

Adult Tdap called safe for children.(Clinical Capsule)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The adult formula of the tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) can be given to children and adolescents starting at 18 months after a children's formula tetanus and diphtheria vaccine, said Dr. Scott A. Halperin...

DTaP reactions defeat OTC drugs.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Neither acetaminophen nor ibuprofen had a significant preventive effect against localized reactions to the fifth dose of the diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine based on data from 372 children aged 4-6 years. Dr. Lisa A. Jackson...

Pneumococcal vaccine also works vs. H. influenzae.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... Children receiving an investigational conjugate pneumococcal vaccine that uses a carrier protein derived from Haemophilus influences experience a one-third reduction in acute otitis media episodes compared with controls, said Dr. Roman Prymula...

HIV infection adds to spread of hepatitis C.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The risk of transmission of hepatitis C from mother to infant is increased by concomitant HIV infection. The study turned up the surprising result that girl babies are at twice the risk of vertical transmission as are boys (J. Infect. Dis....

Recalcitrant otorrhea 'after the tubes'.(ID Consult)
April 1, 2006... Novel approaches are necessary to address the emerging problem of the child who fails conventional therapy for acute otorrhea following tympanostomy tube insertion. We've seen an increase in the number of children with otorrhea through a...

Review highlights need for more data on CSOM treatment.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... Available data, though limited, suggest topical quinolone antibiotics are better than systemic antibiotics for treating chronic suppurative otitis media, according to a new Cochrane review of systemic antibiotic and topical treatments for the...

Be vigilant for travelers' malaria risks, treatment.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- Increases in travel between the United States and developing countries, as well as immigration from developing countries to the United States, raises the potential for transmission of malaria within the United States, Dr....

Skin lesions rare in systemic, CNS neonatal herpes cases.(Infectious Diseases)
April 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Most cases of disseminated and CNS neonatal herpes don't present with skin lesions, Dr. M. Jeffrey Maisels said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and its California Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4. "You...

Filling in the blankety blanks.(Letters From Maine)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... The good, bad, and the ugly--to everything there is a season. I would put school and camp forms among the ugly, and their seasons are approaching. For college and summer camp forms it's May and June. In July and August, it's time for fall...

On the precipice: private-sector vaccine delivery.(Guest Editorial)
April 1, 2006... The 20th century was marked by major breakthroughs in science and public health--none more significant than childhood immunizations. The number of vaccines recommended for children grew from 4 in the 1950s (polio, pertussis, diphtheria, and...

No more 'insurance only' courtesy.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Could Dr. Scott explain what he means by "the days of "accepting insurance only' are over--that practice may be considered fraud" ("Office Synchronization, Part III," Efficient Pediatrician Practices, February 2006, p. 63)? How does...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2006... Of course kids today are overweight. The backpack adds 40 pounds.

Wrestling with homework issues.(Behavioral Consult)
April 1, 2006... Homework may seem like an inappropriate topic for pediatricians to address, but in fact, it can be one of the most explosive and emotional issues affecting the parent-child relationship. I see it as the beachhead for oppositional behavior in...

Adolescent latinas likely to report depression.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
April 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- Variables that affect the development of major depressive disorder among adolescent Latinas reflect those found in the general adolescent population, Alinne Z. Barrera said at the annual meeting of the Association for Behavioral...

Teen suicide events in fluoxetine Tx discounted.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
April 1, 2006... TORONTO -- Few suicide attempts occurred during the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study, but suicide-related events were more common in both fluoxetine arms than in the placebo arm, Dr. Graham J. Emslie reported at the joint annual...

Reject psychiatric view of attention disorders.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
April 1, 2006... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- The time has come for pediatricians to rescue children diagnosed with attention deficit from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, according to Dr. Melvin D. Levine. "Bring attention deficit hack...

Six patterns of behavioral woes.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Behavioral problems often accompany learning problems. They are secondary to feelings of inadequacy, Dr. Levine said, describing six patterns that he has observed: * Humiliation backlash. Forcing a child who can't do math problems to...

Don't overlook inhalant abuse in adolescents: most teens are unaware that 'huffing' from spray paint or computer keyboard cleaner can be catastrophic.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
April 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- A total of 1.8 million U.S. youth aged 12-17 years--including about 17% of eighth graders--reported that they had initiated inhalant use within the year during the years 2002-2004. This was according to data from the report by...

Impulsivity drives adolescent suicide attempts, study shows.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
April 1, 2006... SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. -- Only 4% of 164 adolescents who tried to kill themselves left a suicide note, in a retrospective, single-institution study reported at the annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. "This situational...

Skilled observation during the office visit is key.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
April 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Closely observing young children during an office visit provides subtle but important clues about whether a child's motor and behavioral skills are developing normally, Dr. Barry Zuckerman said at a meeting sponsored by the Los...

Adenotonsillectomy said to cut asthma symptoms.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Adenotonsillectomy in children with asthma is associated with a significant improvement in their symptoms, Dr. David E. Karas reported in a poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and...

Task force nixes infant screening for hip dysplasia.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... A new statement from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force cites insufficient evidence to support the routine screening of newborns for developmental dysplasia of the hip. The statement may come as a surprise to many physicians who...

Full moon = younger ED patients?(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... SAN FRANCISCO -- A test of the full-moon effect--the notion that emergency departments get busier on nights when the moon is full--has arrived at some surprising results, according to a poster presented by Dr. Elliott R. Haut at the annual...

Peanut allergens can make for dangerous kisses.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... MIAMI BEACH -- Peanut-buttery kisses aren't good for children with peanut allergies, Dr. Jennifer Maloney said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Peanut allergens can persist in saliva for up...

Lab test spares need for food challenge in suspected allergy.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Quantitative measurements of food-specific IgE antibodies are a useful shortcut in predicting symptomatic food allergy--provided they're interpreted cautiously, Dr. F. Dan Atkins said at a meeting sponsored by the National...

Rhinitis common in patients with sleep apnea.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- All patients with obstructive sleep apnea should be evaluated and treated for rhinitis, an extremely common coexisting condition, Dr. Robert Ballard said at a meeting sponsored by the National Jewish Medical and Research...

The bad news in pediatric asthma is progression.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- One-quarter of children with mild to moderate asthma experience progressive loss of lung function over time--and existing asthma medications don't put a dent in the process, Dr. Joseph D. Spahn said at a meeting sponsored by...

Stuffed noses in infants are not always benign.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Infants with nasal obstructions resulting from upper-airway infections tend to experience frequent oxygen desaturations during sleep, according to a poster presented by Dr. Henning Wulbrand at a conference on sleep...

Sofa-cosleeping SIDS up, despite total SIDS drop.(Clinical Rounds)(sudden infant death syndrome)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The prevalence of sudden infant death syndrome cases associated with cosleeping on a sofa has risen in the last 20 years, reported Peter S. Blair, Ph.D., of the University of Bristol (England), and his colleagues. This trend has occurred...

Ages at onset of puberty, menarche don't match.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... Unlike girls born at the turn of the last century, young girls today increasingly show minimal correlation between onset of puberty and age at menarche, reported Dr. Frank Biro and his colleagues. In their study, 541 black girls and 615...

Poorer teens less aware of stigma of obesity.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Many young teens from disadvantaged backgrounds do not perceive obesity as unacceptable, and despite common perceptions, not all of them are striving for thinness, reported Wendy Wills of the Centre for Research in Primary and Community Care,...

Weight gain on valproate often normal growth.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Children taking sodium valproate for epilepsy may not be as vulnerable as adults to significant weight gain associated with the medication, said Dr. Cia M. Sharpe. Previous studies have shown that weight gain associated with...

Children with epilepsy at risk for bad fractures.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... LOS ANGELES -- Children with treated epilepsy experience significant osteopenia, placing them at high risk for pathological fractures, early results from an ongoing prospective study have shown. The findings suggest that epilepsy or its...

Infants with hyperbilirubinemia: NICU, not ED.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- If a very jaundiced baby presents to your office and you think hospital admission is necessary, send the infant directly to the pediatric floor or the neonatal intensive care unit, not the emergency department, Dr. M. Jeffrey...

Self-management key to beating obesity in youth.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... LAS VEGAS -- Posing an open-ended question is the best way to approach the topic of treatment options when talking with an obese child or adolescent and the patient's family, Dr. William H. Dietz advised at a meeting sponsored by the American...

Vusion ointment, Astelin nasal spray.(New & Approved)
April 1, 2006... Vusion Ointment (0.25% miconazole nitrate, 15% zinc oxide, 81.35% white petrolatum ointment; Barrier Therapeutics Inc.) The Food and Drug Administration approved Vusion ointment, the first product indicated for the treatment of diaper...

Teen girls' dropping activity levels linked to rises in BMI and obesity.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... A steep decrease in activity levels among teenaged girls as they age correlates with increases in body mass index and adiposity, particularly among African American girls, reported Dr. Sue Y.S. Kimm, of the University of New Mexico,...

Children highly vulnerable to imaging radiation.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Radiation exposure from the diagnostic imaging of children greatly increases their risk of cancer and death decades later, according to speakers at a pediatric update sponsored by Phoenix Children's Hospital. Dr....

New nonsteroidal cream cuts atopic dermatitis relapse risk.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... KOLOA, HAWAII -- The use of MimyX nonsteroidal prescription cream plus Eucerin cream as foundation care in atopic dermatitis patients markedly reduced relapse risk, compared with Eucerin cream alone, in a randomized multicenter trial, Dr. James...

Wart and molluscum management made easy.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Warts and molluscum in children are often more troubling to their parents, and it is acceptable to wait for them to resolve on their own, Dr. Anthony J. Mancini said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics meeting sponsored by...

Infliximab found effective in Pediatric Crohn's.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Three infusions of infliximab in an induction regimen produced a clinical response in 88% of 112 pediatric patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease, according to a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the North...

Pediatricians treat constipation more persistently.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Pediatricians and family physicians choose different treatments for constipation in infants and children, a survey of 328 physicians found. Of the 185 pediatricians who responded to a mailed questionnaire, 84% treated...

Treat pediatric GERD aggressively, expert says.(Clinical Rounds)(Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
April 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Gastroesophageal reflux disease impairs the quality of life of children and adolescents and requires continuous treatment to manage symptoms, results of two separate studies suggested. Sixty percent of 102 children and...

Survey: many docs unaware of GERD guidelines: and more than 70% of pediatricians who are aware of the guidelines report that they don't follow them.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Only 12% of 1,021 primary care pediatricians and 12% of 224 pediatric specialists surveyed said they were aware of clinical practice guidelines published in 2001 for management of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux, Dr....

Fructose malabsorption found to cause pain, other GI symptoms.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Fructose malabsorption may be a common cause of functional bowel disorders in children. Limiting fructose can improve symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, flatus, and diarrhea, Dr. Robert E. Gomara said in a poster...

Anemia, upper GI disease common in newly diagnosed Crohn's disease patients.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SALT LAKE CITY -- Seventy-seven percent of 78 pediatric patients newly diagnosed with Crohn's disease were anemic, and 88% had upper gastrointestinal tract disease, Dr. Meena Thayu reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the...

Numerous nevi mark melanoma risk in children: lack of prevention keeps children's melanoma rates rising, despite physicians' educational efforts.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... BAL HARBOUR, FLA.--The strongest risk factor for melanoma in children is the presence of more than 100 nevi that are 2 mm or larger in diameter, Dr. Elizabeth Connelly said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics Conference sponsored by the...

'Don't let the bugs bite': tell parents to use repellents.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- "The hardest thing to instill in parents is a mind-set of preventing bug bites, [but] prevention is the best treatment," Dr. Elizabeth Connelly said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics conference sponsored by the University...

Signs of the triad syndrome are found in female athletes at high school level.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... A significant proportion of female high school athletes meet the criteria for one of three health disorders that constitute the female athlete triad syndrome, according to a cross-sectional study. Jeanne E Nichols, Ph.D., of San Diego State...

Verbatim.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... 'Smoking by staff sends the wrong message to our patients. I can't stop employees from smoking, but I can insist that they smoke where no child or parent can see the actual puffing.' Dr. Charles A. Scott, page 74

Headache, disturbed sleep often are comorbid.(Clinical Round)
April 1, 2006... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- About 20% of children with episodic headaches have at least one symptom of sleep disturbance, according to a poster presented by Dr. Lenora M. Lehwald at a conference on sleep disorders in infancy and childhood,...

Surgery improves cardiac measures in severe apnea.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... RANCHO MIRAGE, CALIF. -- Children who undergo adenotonsillectomy for severe obstructive sleep apnea show significant decreases in heart rate and heart-rate variability, according to a poster presented at a conference on sleep disorders in...

Some fractures need a specialist, and some don't.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... SAN DIEGO -- Many bone fractures are so simple to treat that even your mother could handle them, Dr. Angela Anderson said at a meeting sponsored by the Los Angeles Pediatric Society. Such cases may require little more than a thorough...

Give premature infants nutrients to prevent neonatal rickets.(Clinical Rounds)
April 1, 2006... DALLAS -- The best treatment for osteopenia of prematurity is prevention by early recognition of high-risk infants and making sure they get the best possible nutrition, Dr. Charles P. McKay said at a conference sponsored by the American Society...

FDA, European agencies extend cooperation pact.(Practice Trends)
April 1, 2006... U.S. and European drug regulators have announced "intensified" information sharing and dialogue that aims to foster cooperation in drug approval and surveillance activity in the world's two largest pharmaceutical markets. At a March...

Obesity prevalent in Medicaid kids.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Children on Medicaid are six times more likely to be treated for obesity than children with private insurance are, according to a study from Thomson Medstat, a consulting/research firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich. The study looked at 2004 data...

AAP, Microsoft seek Internet controls.(Policy & Practice)(American Academy of Pediatrics )(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... The American Academy of Pediatrics is working with Microsoft to develop a new line of parental controls for the Internet. The free program, called Family Safety Settings, will be part of Microsoft's Windows Live platform and will start rolling...

Medicaid prodded on mental health.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Congress should not give Medicaid too much flexibility when it comes to providing services for children with emotional and substance use disorders, according to a new report from the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems and the...

Docs' drug-test methods miss mark.(Policy & Practice)(Brief article)
April 1, 2006... Pediatricians and other primary care physicians often don't use the right urine sampling techniques and validation procedures when they perform drug tests on adolescent patients. Dr. Sharon Levy of Harvard Medical School and her colleagues...

Physician writers share their zeal for storytelling.(The Rest of Your Life)
April 1, 2006... Dr. Robert H. Bartlett was so mad that he had to find a way to channel his anger. He chose written words. It was the late 1970s and Dr. Bartlett was on the surgery faculty at the University of California, Irvine. He also directed the...

Appearances do matter.(Efficient Pediatrician Practices)
April 1, 2006... This month's column, at the suggestion of a reader, is devoted to the appearance of your office and your staff. Let me begin by discussing office decor in general. As someone once said, you never get a second chance to make a first...

Choking prevention poster offered.(FYI)
April 1, 2006... The International Food Information Council Foundation and the National Safe Kids Campaign have developed a poster offering guidelines and tips to help prevent airway obstruction or choking in young children. Single copies are free and...

Web site offers bulimia resources.(FYI)
April 1, 2006... ECRI, a nonprofit health services research agency, has launched a Web site to provide comprehensive, evidence-based resources for those affected by bulimia nervosa. The site's information includes risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options...

Health care IT resources online.(FYI)
April 1, 2006... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has launched a Web site, www. healthit.ahrq.gov, featuring tools and resources to help health care providers adopt information technologies. The site offers a library with links to health...

Brochure has tips for family fitness.(FYI)
April 1, 2006... The National Association for Sport and Physical Education and Walk4Life Inc. offer a new brochure encouraging parents to set an active example for their children. "101 Tips for Family Fitness Fun" gives parents ideas for family fitness...

Family history tool in Spanish.(FYI)
April 1, 2006... The Department of Health and Human Services has updated its free Spanish-language computerized tool, "My Family Health Portrait," designed to help Hispanics create a family health history report, which can be shared with physicians. For more...