Pediatric News articles from February 2002

Pediatric News archives from February 2002

How to save a tooth, save a smile. (Expert Advice on Baby, Permanent Teeth).
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO --The decision about whether to save a primary baby tooth when there is dental trauma depends on the risk to the developing permanent teeth. Some knocked-out baby teeth may simply have to go to the Tooth Fairy a little early,...

Nationwide shortages of Varivax vaccine reported: Merck blames manufacturing modifications. (Transient Supply Shortfalls).
February 1, 2002... Temporary shortages of Varivax vaccine are aggravating pediatricians around the United States this winter. Joyce Buford, who is director of public affairs for Merck Vaccines, told this newspaper in an interview: "There are intermittent...

CDC to draft new GBS screening recommendations: Data show greatest reduction in infant GBS risk with universal screening. (AAP Recommendation Finally Prevails).(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's group B streptococcal risk report)
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is drafting new guidelines for the prevention of early-onset group B streptococcal disease, recommending the universal screening--based method over the risk-based method. The move...

Fatty liver disease is linked to obesity. (Vitamin E Promising in Pilot Study).
February 1, 2002... MAUI, HAWAII -- Many fat children have fatty livers. Should they all get liver function tests? There's a 20%-25% chance you'll find elevated transaminase levels in obese children. Some physicians use this to send a message to parents and...

Diagnostic dilemma. (News).
February 1, 2002... A 19-year-old white man was found lying on the floor of his kitchen wearing only underwear. A can of lighter fluid was found next to him along with some cigarette rolling papers, although he was not known to smoke or use illicit drugs. He was...

Obstructive sleep apnea affects behavior, intellect. (Tonsillectomy, Adenoidectomy Helps 85%).
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- A child's snoring may signal obstructive sleep apnea, even mild cases of which can lead to significant short-term and long-term problems. "Snoring really is something serious we need to evaluate," Dr. David Gozal said at...

Funding pediatric programs. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2002... The fiscal year 2002 budget agreement for the Department of Health and Human Services didn't skimp on children's health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's childhood immunization programs received $628 million, a $76 million...

Otitis Media in Day Care. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2002... The National Association for Child Care Professionals has launched an educational campaign on acute otitis media as a result of a GlaxoSmithKline-funded survey of 300 pediatricians. Ninety-eight percent of the pediatricians reported that their...

Birth defects. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2002... Disparities among states in newborn screening tests are causing delays in diagnosis of birth defects, according to the March of Dimes. A ninth recommended screening test has been added to the core list of recommended newborn...

Raccoon disease. (Pediatric Briefs).(raccoon roundworm encephalitis)
February 1, 2002... Ten of the 12 cases of severe or fatal cases of raccoon roundworm encephalitis identified in the United States since 1981 have occurred in children aged 9 months-6 years (MMWR 50[51]:1153-55, 2002). Humans become infected by ingesting infected...

Resistance risk. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2002... A small but worrisome rise in strains of Haemophilus influenzae with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones could potentially pose threat to immunosuppressed patients or infants under 1 year of age who are not yet fully vaccinated, Dr....

Violent videos and behavioral disorders. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2002... Boys with behavior disorders show a preference for violent video games, and chronic exposure to these games appears to be associated with a decline in empathy Dr. Jonathan Kaplan said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry...

Group a strep pharyngitis highly resistant to macrolides. (One-Third of Cases Resistant in Pittsburgh).
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- Macrolides should not be prescribed for group A streptococcal pharyngitis in the absence of susceptibility testing, Dr. Michael Green advised at the annual Inter-science Conference on Antimicrobials and Chemotherapy sponsored by the...

Swallowing toothpaste poses greatest risk of fluorosis. (Limit Fluoride Supplements, Rinses).
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO --If a child is old enough to spit, he is probably old enough to brush his teeth unsupervised. Nonetheless, parents should be counseled on the risk of fluorosis from swallowing toothpaste, especially in children under 2 years...

Fewer doses of azithromycin approved for AOM. (Single Dose, 3-Day Course of Zithromax).(acute otitis media)
February 1, 2002... Both a 1-day and a 3-day course of azithromycin have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for treating acute otitis media in children aged 6 months-12 years. The newly approved single dose is 30 mg/kg. With the 3-day...

Good prognosis seen in neonatal survivors of EHC. (Aggressive TX Warranted).(enterovirus hepatitis and coagulopathy)
February 1, 2002... The prognosis for survivors of neonatal enterovirus hepatitis and coagulopathy is favorable, despite a 31% case-fatality rate, reported Dr. Mark J. Abzug of the University of Colorado, Denver. The medical literature suggests that...

Pediatric exclusivity law has a few new touches. (Retains Incentives for Pediatric RX Trials).
February 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- A law granting patent exclusivity to drug companies that test products for use in children was reauthorized with a new provision to establish time frames to expedite label changes. On Jan. 4, President Bush signed the Best...

Insurer's departure underscores malpractice market problems. (Points to Need for Federal Tort Reform).
February 1, 2002... St. Paul Companies' exit from the medical malpractice insurance market dramatically demonstrates the need for federal tort reform legislation, some observers say. The insurance firm's decision will end coverage for 42,000 physicians, 745...

Five factors predict bacterial meningitis sequelae. (Averting Learning, Behavior Problems).
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- Five factors predict the presence of sequelae in a majority of school-aged children who survive bacterial meningitis, Dr. Irene Koomen reported at the annual lnterscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy sponsored...

Inactivated hepatitis A vaccine recalled. (Antigen Content too Low).(VAQTA recalled)
February 1, 2002... VAQTA, an inactivated hepatitis A vaccine supplied in prefilled syringes, has been voluntarily recalled because reduced antigen content was found in some syringes. Merck & Co., the vaccine's maker, distributed a "Dear Doctor/Health Care...

Drug combo shows promise for chronic HCV. (No Currently Approved Pediatric Therapy).(Intron-A and ribavirin for hepatitis C treatment)
February 1, 2002... BETHESDA, MD. -- The manufacturer of Intron-A has conducted two clinical trials of the combination of Intron-A and ribavirin in children and adolescents with chronic hepatitis C and expects to file the data with the Food and Drug Administration...

There's a 100% guarantee that you will see influenza and RSV. (ID Consult).(respiratory syncytial virus)
February 1, 2002... A midst all the frightening headlines about bioterrorism, don't forget that influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are the two most likely respiratory illnesses your patients are likely to bring into your office during the winter months. ...

Antibiotic prescriptions dropped during 1990s. (Especially True in Office-based Practices).
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- Physicians began to put a lid on antibiotic prescribing during the 1990s. This was especially true among children seen in office-based settings and among children, compared with adults, Linda McCaig reported in a poster...

Antibiotic-resistant Anthrax still susceptible to doxycycline. (In Vitro Study).
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- Doxycycline appears to be superior to ciprofloxacin, or any other quinolone or macrolide, for long-term therapy or prophylaxis against anthrax, Dr. Itzhak Brook reported in a poster presentation at the annual Interscience Conference...

Premature infants may need earlier DTaP booster. (Immunity Lower by 5-6 Years of Age).(diphtheria-tetanusacellular pertussis booster)
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- The long-term immune response to pertussis vaccination may be reduced in premature infants, Dr. Susanna Esposito said at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy sponsored by the American Society...

Outbreak spreads because pertussis isn't recognized. (At Iowa School).
February 1, 2002... A pertussis outbreak among highly vaccinated students at an elementary school spread because of a failure to recognize and control the disease in a timely manner, said Dr. Nino Khersuriani of the National Center for Infectious Diseases at the...

Reserve flu medications for compelling cases. (Immunocompromise or Pulmonary Disease).
February 1, 2002... ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors shortens the course of influenza among children, but physicians should look for more compelling reasons to use this treatment in specific patents, Dr. W Charles Huskins said at a...

Parents of high-risk children follow flu vaccination advice. (Immunization Rates Low).
February 1, 2002... Immunization against influenza was low in one group of high-risk children surveyed, and many of those parents who had their children immunized reported they did so on the recommendation of their pediatrician, reported Dr. Katherine A. Poehling...

Live virus in intranasal flu vaccine can be transmitted to unvaccinated kids. (No Evidence of Clinical Illness).
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- The live intranasal influenza vaccine can be transmitted to unvaccinated children in a day care setting, but at a very low rate and without evidence of clinical illness, Dr. Timo Vesikari said at the Annual Interscience Conference on...

Multiple vaccines not tied to immune dysfunction. (Biologically Plausible, But No Evidence).
February 1, 2002... SEATTLE -- A link between multiple childhood immunizations and the development of immune system dysfunction is theoretically possible, but available evidence doesn't back up the claim. That conclusion came from speakers at an immunization...

Consider public view when making vaccine policy. (Correcting Parental Misconceptions Key).
February 1, 2002... SEATTLE -- Future immunization policy decisions must take public perception into account in order to maintain acceptability, Dr. Edgar K. Marcuse said at an immunization conference sponsored by the Institute of Medicine. "In the past,...

Varicella outbreak among vaccinated at day care. (Might be an Anomaly).
February 1, 2002... CHICAGO -- The majority of children who became infected with varicella in a New Hampshire day care center outbreak had been vaccinated, Dr. Brent Lee reported in a poster presentation at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial...

Raw alfalfa sprouts can cause Salmonellosis. (Avoid Giving to Children).
February 1, 2002... Parents who consider alfalfa sprouts as a healthy diet choice for their children may be shocked to learn that the sprouts can be a source of salmonella. The California Department of Health confirmed the presence of Salmonella serotype...

RSV is major cause of persistent cough at colleges. (Clinically Identical to Other Pathogens).(respiratory syncytial virus)
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Respiratory syncytial virus is a major cause of persistent cough among college students, Dr. Jo-Ann Harris reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Persistent cough due to respiratory...

Testing patience, not ability. (Letters From Maine).(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2002... Distracted by the instability of the post-dot.com job market, my adult children haven't gotten around to passing on the genetic material that Marilyn and I so kindly shared with them. Unlike some of our friends who are beginning to grumble...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2002... Breast-Feeding Support I understand Dr. William C. Wilkoff's concern about follow-up of newborns in our era of early discharges ("Neonates Can't Wait," Letters From Maine, December 2001, p. 43). The need to support breast-feeding and...

Kids dropping out of sports. (Guest Editorial).
February 1, 2002... I'm a pediatric orthopedist, and every year I see an increasing number of children who are suffering from a combined orthopedic and psychiatric disorder. These children--many of whom are involved in highly competitive sports--typically...

ADHD: More than meets the eye. (Behavioral Consult).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
February 1, 2002... Pediatricians often say that they have P trouble diagnosing comorbid psychiatric conditions in children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. I certainly understand where they're coming from--these kids are hard to diagnose. To...

Fifteen minutes isn't enough for ADHD Dx. (It Takes At Least Three Visits).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
February 1, 2002... MAUI, HAWAII -- You can't diagnose attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in a single 15-minute appointment, Dr. Chris P. Johnson said at a meeting sponsored by the University Children's Medical Group. Proper diagnosis often takes three...

Treatment for conduct disorder equally important for elementary school girls. (Subset of 820 Girls Highly Disruptive).
February 1, 2002... Prevention and treatment of antisocial behavior during elementary school years may be as important for girls as for boys, said Sylvana Cote of Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, and her associates. The researchers found that a subset...

Customize ADHD drugs to facets of the disorder. (Expert Advice on Dosing, Timing).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder )
February 1, 2002... MONTEREY, CALIF. -- Tailoring medication to the specific components of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is key Dr. Margaret C. McBride said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. For example, clonidine...

Growth delay seen with long-term Adderall use. (Monitor Height and Weight).
February 1, 2002... HONOLULU -- Growth reductions seen in a 2-year study of 44 children taking mixed amphetamine salts for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder spotlight the need to monitor height and weight, Dr. Peter A. Ahmann said. Higher doses of the...

Stimulant drug abuse reported in high schools. (ADHD Drugs Sold).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
February 1, 2002... Misuse of stimulant medication is not uncommon among middle and high school students, according to a questionnaire given to 651 Wisconsin students from five public schools. Treatment for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with...

Orthopedic-psychiatric disorder sidelines athletes. (Pain Disproportionate to Injury).
February 1, 2002... SAN DIEGO -- Adolescent athletes can develop a combined orthopedic and psychiatric disorder after a sports injury in which they suffer pain and disability disproportionate to the anatomic pathology, Dr. Michael J. Goldberg reported at a meeting...

Risperidone cut Tourette's tic frequency by 25%. (Small Study).
February 1, 2002... HONOLULU -- Eight weeks of risperidone reduced tic frequency by 25% in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 34 children and adults with Tourette's syndrome, Lawrence Scahill, Ph.D., reported in a poster presentation at the...

Fetal alcohol exposure tied to behavior problems. (Even at Low Levels).
February 1, 2002... Fetal alcohol exposure--even in very small amounts--is associated with significant behavioral problems during childhood, Dr. Beena Sood and associates of Wayne State University, Detroit, reported. While it has long been known that heavy...

History gets to the root of low back pain. (Not Analogous to Back Pain in Adults).
February 1, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- Asking the right questions is the best way to pinpoint the cause and location of low back pain in children, Dr. Steven J. Anderson said at a meeting on advances in pediatrics sponsored by California Chapter 2 of the American...

Burn depth assessment critical to management. (Rehab for Children Differs From Adults).
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO--One of the many challenges of managing pediatric burns is assessing the depth of the injury, which is important because it can determine whether a child can be treated as an outpatient or should be referred to a surgeon or burn...

Five Leading Causes of Death for Children Aged 1-19 in the U.S., 2000. (Data Watch).
February 1, 2002... DATA WATCH Five Leading Causes of Death For Children Aged 1-19 in the U.S., 2000 Percent Change Cause Number Percent 1999-2000 1. Accidents (unintentional...

A bigger diaper may be all that's needed to resolve a rash. (Friction Compromises Skin Barrier).
February 1, 2002... CANCUN, MEXICO -- The first line of defense against diaper dermatitis could be a bigger diaper. A lot has been learned about diaper rash since the days when it was thought ammonia in the urine was the cause, and it is now known that diaper...

Three behaviors distinguish ADHD from epilepsy. (96% Accuracy).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
February 1, 2002... PHILADELPHIA -- A child who often stares inattentively could have epilepsy or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Telling the two apart is a challenge. Assessment of three behaviors made it possible to distinguish epilepsy from...

Check for insulin resistance syndrome in obese. (African American Children).
February 1, 2002... Monitoring risk factors for insulin resistance syndrome should become part of routine medical care for overweight or obese African American children, said Deborah Young-Hyman, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and her associates....

Early drug failure flags refractory epilepsy. (Temporal Lobectomy then an Option).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... PHILADELPHIA -- If children with temporal lobe epilepsy respond to their first antiepilepsy drug, their seizures usually remain controlled for at least the next 2 years. In contrast, children whose epilepsy does not respond to their...

Rate of diabetes-related deaths unchanged. (In Children for 1984-1998).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... Diabetes-related deaths among children did not decline from 1984 to 1998, despite significant improvement in methods for managing the disease, said Dr. John H. DiLiberti and Dr. Rodney A. Lorenz of the University of Illinois, Peoria. Death...

Beware potentially fatal skin reactions to lamictal. (One in 100 Children React to Antiepileptic).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... LAS VEGAS -- One in every 100 children and 3 in every 1,000 adults given the anticonvulsant lamotrigine will develop life-threatening cutaneous eruptions, according to Dr. Adelaide A. Hebert. Ten percent of all patients on lamotrigme will...

Alternative therapies can cause serious problems. (Cardiovascular Effects, Drug Interactions).
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Certain complementary and alternative therapies can cause adverse cardiovascular effects and drug interactions, according to presentations made at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Don't...

Recurrence of vulvar lichen sclerosus common. (Premenarchal Girls).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Clobetasol propionate is an effective treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus in premenarchal girls, but the dermatosis commonly recurs, reported Dr. Yolanda R. Smith and Dr. Elisabeth H. Quint of the University of Michigan Health Systems in Ann...

Bump up booster seat use for 4- to 8-year-olds. (Educate Parents About Proper Use).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- A slight improvement in booster seat use in children aged 4-8 years is encouraging, but more education and prevention are needed, according to presentations at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. ...

Car crashes among teens drop with graduated licensing program. (Data From Michigan and North Carolina).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The implementation of a graduated approach to licensing 16-year-olds to drive in two states has resulted in a significant decrease in car crashes among this age group, according to data reported out of Michigan and North Carolina. ...

Once-daily Pulmicort Turbuhaler aids asthma. (Children Previously on Multidose Therapy).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Once-daily inhaled budesonide significantly improved pulmonary function and asthma symptoms in asthmatic children who previously were maintained on a multiple-dosing regimen of inhaled corticosteroids, reported Dr. Gail G. Shapiro of Asthma...

Poor asthma control? Look to the face mask. (In Very Young Patients).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Incorrect use of a face mask should be presumed to be the cause of poorly controlled asthma in small children until proven otherwise. Before considering a change in medication or dosage, ask the parent or caregiver to demonstrate the usual...

Scrutiny soars for office-based infection control. (New Practice Policies Needed).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... BOSTON -- When establishing infection-control policies for your practice, don't try to reinvent the wheel. "Hospitals have infection-control policies. Take the lead of your local institution. It's not worth writing your own," Dr. JoAnn S....

Poor access to care for mentally retarded patients. (Surgeon General Calls for Better Training).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- Medical school training must be changed to teach physicians how to care for mentally retarded children and adults, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at a press briefing on mental retardation. Health insurance...

Risk assessment comes first in compliance plan. (Don't Do an Audit First).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... WASHINGTON -- The first step in developing a compliance plan should be a risk assessment, not an overall practice audit, Charles Artz said at a meeting sponsored by the American Health Lawyers Association. "If you do an audit first, and...

Two surfactants, both safe. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... There was no difference in mortality when surfactants Infasurf and Survanta were used in neonates less than 36 weeks' estimated gestation, reported Dr. Reese H. Clark of the Pediatrix Medical Group Inc., Sunrise, Fla. In a retrospective study...

All coins are equal. (Journal Scan).(swallowing of foreign objects)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Kids who swallow pennies are at no greater risk for esophageal mucosal injury than those who swallow other pocket change, reported Dr. Santos Cantu Jr. and Dr. Gregory P. Conners of the University of Rochester (N.Y). Concerns about greater...

Cetirizine delays asthma. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Treating a particular subgroup of children with atopic dermatitis with cetirizine before asthma symptoms develop may delay asthma onset, said Dr. John 0. Warner of the University of Southampton (England) and his associates (J. Allergy Clin....

Enough urine tests? (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Pediatricians appear to selectively use urine testing in febrile infants to check for urinary tract infections (UTIs), but they may be using the wrong clinical predictors, said Dr. Thomas B. Newman of the University of California, San...

Helping young hearts. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Pediatric surgeons may become more likely to consider radiofrequency catheter ablation for treating infants with tachycardia, said Dr. Andrew D. Blaufox of the Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, and his colleagues. The...

States taking advantage of adoption bonuses. ($11 Million to be Split).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia will split $11 million in bonuses for increasing the number of children adopted from their public welfare agencies, according to Health and Human Services. "These awards demonstrate that...