Pediatric News articles from January 2002

Pediatric News archives from January 2002

Residency misses office-based touch. (Education on the Unusual).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... When Dr. Jennifer Shu finished her residency, she was not prepared for the realities of office-based pediatrics. After 3 years of mostly hospital-based training--much of it in the pediatric ICU--she could diagnose and treat rare diseases,...

DTAP, prevnar shortages spur interim plan: Development of statement on removal of thimerosal-containing vaccines postponed. (ACIP Juggles Supply Problems).(diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine)(conjugate pneumococcal vaccine)(Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Shortages of two routine childhood vaccines have prompted new interim recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Shortages of both the conjugate pneumococcal and the...

Virulent influenza-linked encephalitis strikes Japan: Potentially deadly encephalitis is unique. (Sporadically Reported in Other Countries).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- An influenza-associated encephalitis "much, much, much different than anything we've ever seen" is being reported among children in Japan, Dr. Jon S. Abramson said during a Red Book Committee session at the annual meeting of...

Vital signs: Top 10 reasons for office visits.(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... VITAL SIGNS Top 10 Reasons for Office Visits Number of Visits Principal Reason for Visit (*) (in millions) All visits 75.7 General medical...

Diagnostic dilemma.(pharyngitis)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A 4-year-old boy has had fever ranging from low grade to 102 [degrees] F. He complains of a sore throat and general malaise. When you examine him, you observe a reddened pharynx and tonsils, mild anterior cervical lymphadenopathy, and a...

Youths seek web-based health Info. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Teenagers and young adults cruise the Internet more often to seek health information than to shop, play games, download music, or chat, a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found. In a random telephone survey of 1,209 people aged 15-24...

Bugs, drugs, and docs. (Pediatric Briefs).(antimicrobial resistance )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A Canadian educational campaign about antimicrobial resistance succeeded in influencing physician prescribing behavior and attitudes, Dr. Edith Blondel-Hill reported at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and...

Teen pregnancy: United States suffers by comparison. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Across all socioeconomic levels, adolescents in the United States have similar levels of sexual activity but more childbearing than do teens in Canada, Great Britain, France, or Sweden, the Alan Guttmacher Institute reported. The U.S. teenage...

Pregnancy and rubella vaccine. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Women need only avoid pregnancy for 28 days after receiving a rubella-containing vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said (MMWR 50[49]: 1117, 2001). Previous guidelines called for a 3-month waiting period. Of 680 live births...

Atopic dermatitis and other ills. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Children with atopic dermatitis are more prone to upper respiratory illnesses than are other children, Dr. Maria Boehme said at an international atopic dermatitis symposium. Among 4,089 Swedish children followed from birth to age 2 years, 25%...

CPSC leader leaves. (Pediatric Briefs).(Ann Brown, Consumer Product Safety Commission)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Ann Brown, the longest-serving chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission, stepped down after 7.5 years. Under her leadership, the CPSC passed safety regulations imposing mandatory standards for bunk beds, bicycle helmets, child-resistant...

School injury guidelines. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are aimed at helping local health and education agencies and other organizations in preventing unintentional injury, violence, and suicide in schools (MMWR 50[RR22]:1-46, 2001)....

Influenza a infection poses higher risk for febrile seizures. (Call for Annual Immunization for all Kids).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Febrile seizures are nearly twice as common among children hospitalized with influenza A infections, compared with children admitted with either parainfluenza or adenovirus infections, reported Dr. Susan S. Chiu and her associates at the...

Increase in obesity prevalence marked in subsets. (Boys, African Americans, Hispanics).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Prevalence of childhood obesity is rapidly increasing, with the sharpest increases seen in boys, African Americans, Hispanics, and those living in southern states. This finding was reported by Dr. Richard S. Strauss of the Robert Wood...

Obesity tied to low physical activity in boys. (Girls Less Affected).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Higher percentages of body fat, fat mass, weight, and body mass index in boys--but not in girls--were associated with lower physical activity and energy expenditure levels as a percentage of total energy expenditure, said Elizabeth J. Ball of...

Concern about weight crosses ethnic lines. (Not Previously Reported in Such Young Kids).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... The emphasis on extreme thinness permeates our culture to such a degree that many girls and boys in all ethnic groups show excessive concern about their weight by the third grade. This was the findings of Dr. Thomas N. Robinson of the...

Nonstimulant ADHD drug under review. (Atomoxetine).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A nonstimulant adrenergic medication that has been found to be effective in treating children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, with a favorable safety profile, is currently under review at the Food and Drug Administration. In...

New sections on 2002 immunization schedule. (Interim Recommendations not Reflected).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The 2002 United States Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule chart does not reflect interim recommendations to delay doses of certain vaccines due to current shortages. (See story p.1.) Aside from those, there are no new...

Maternal vaccine: Preventing RSV in newborns. (Investigational Vaccine's Initial Results).(respiratory syncytial virus)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- An investigational vaccine to prevent serious respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants by immunizing their mothers during pregnancy has passed its first clinical safety hurdle. The Wyeth-Lederle respiratory...

Two-Dose measles vaccine feasible in infants. (Period of Waning Immunity).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A two-dose regimen of the live attenuated measles vaccine in infancy could compensate for early loss of passively acquired measles antibodies in infants of vaccinated mothers, reported Dr. Hayley Cans of Stanford (Calif.) University, and...

Nasal swabs as good as nasopharyngeal swabs. (Detecting Viral Respiratory Infections).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Nasal swabs are as accurate as nasopharyngeal swabs and significantly less painful for the diagnosis of viral acute respiratory infections in children. That was the finding of a prospective cohort study of 199 children...

How colds are transmitted misunderstood. (Parental Survey).
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Parental misconceptions abound regarding prevention of viral cold transmission in families that have children in day care, Dr. Grace M. Lee reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The...

CSF sterilized quickly after antibiotic treatment. (Can Affect Lumbar Punctures).(cerebrospinal fluid)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Sterilization of the cerebrospinal fluid occurs more rapidly after initiation of antibiotic therapy than has been realized, reported Dr. John T. Kanegaye and his associates at the University of California, San Diego. It is widely believed...

Painless skin ulcerations may be sporotrichosis. (Playing in the Dirt).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ASPEN N, COLO. -- Think sporotrichosis in a patient presenting with one or more painless skin ulcerations, particularly if the patient has frequent exposure to soil, Dr. Marsha Anderson said at a conference on pediatric infectious diseases...

Dr. Block's predictions: Flu vaccine, MRSA, bioterrorism, AOM, and more. (Id Consult).(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(acute otitis media)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Ambulatory pediatric infectious disease has made quantum leaps this year--unlike my neuronal synapses. First, let's review some of the predictions I made last year. * OK, I was off in my prediction about a new cephalosporin for acute...

Early viremia in congenital CMV predicts bad outcome. (DNA PCR Test Flags High-Risk Patients).(cytomegalovirus)(polymerase chain reaction)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Viremia in neonates with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection predicts worse long-term clinical outcome than in non-viremic disease, Dr. Russell D. Bradford said at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases...

Ganciclovir benefits hearing in infants born with CMV symptoms. (Phase III Study).(cytomegalovirus)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Early ganciclovir therapy maintained or improved hearing at 6 months and 1 year in infants born symptomatic for cytomegalovirus infection, Dr. David W. Kimberlin reported at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Deciding who to evaluate for immune deficiency. (Check Severe, Recalcitrant Infections).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ASPEN, COLO. -- Primary immune deficiency is rare in children, but when it does occur there are numerous clues to determine which child needs a diagnostic work-up, Dr. Roberta DeBiasi said at a conference on pediatric infectious diseases...

Data watch: Tailoring non--[beta]-lactam antibiotic treatment to specific organisms(*).(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... DATA WATCH Tailoring Non--[SS]-Lactam Antibiotic Treatment to Specific Organisms (*) Penicillin- Group A nonsusceptible DRUGS (+) ...

Limiting recurrent AOM prophylaxiz. (Minimal Problems Under Age 2 Years).(acute otitis media )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Restricted use of antibiotic chemopro-phylaxis in the first 2 years of life is not associated with significantly increased rates of new-onset acute otitis media episodes or ventilating tube insertion, according to the results of a large study...

Homeopathy shows some promise in AOM. (Obstacles to Study This Therapy Remain).(acute otitis media)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Do you feel pressured by parents to "do something" for the child clearly hurting with acute otitis media? Are you conscious of the negative public health implications of routinely prescribing antibiotics for a condition that in most cases...

Expanding antifungal armamentarium welcomed. (Second-generation Drugs).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO An exciting major expansion in systemic therapeutic options for serious opportunistic fungal infections is getting underway, Dr. Thomas J. Walsh said at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. ...

Pediatric study planned for severe sepsis Tx. (Trade Name in Xigris).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... A study of a genetically engineered therapy in children and adolescents with severe sepsis is among the postapproval studies being planned by the manufacturer of drotrecogin alfa (activated), which has the trade name Xigris. Late last...

Streptococcal carriage complicates pharyngitis Dx. (Viral or Bacterial Pharyngitis?).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... FARMINGTON, PA. - Distinguishing streptococcal etiology from viral etiology in pharyngitis is further complicated by the possibility of streptococcal carriage. In most cases, streptococcal carriage is a benign state that does not require...

HBV vaccine may have prevented 25,500 infections. (Estimate of Influence).(hepatitis B virus )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... Routine hepatitis B immunization of infants has prevented an estimated 25,500 infections, including 12,100 chronic infections that would have lead to 3,000 premature deaths from cirrhosis or liver cancer among children born in 1998, according...

Don't overdiagnose streptococcal pharyngitis. (Runny Nose, Cough Rule out Infection).
January 1, 2002... LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. -- The diagnosis and treatment of sore throat is "fraught with error," said Dr. James K. Todd. In a recent study of 517 patients complaining of sore throat, two-thirds of the antibiotics prescribed by family physicians...

PCR is key to HSV encephalitis diagnosis. (Imaging Confirms it).(polymerase chain reaction)(herpes simplex virus)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... MAUI, HAWAII -- Polymerase chain reaction testing is now important for diagnosing neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis, Dr. Wilbert Mason said at a meeting sponsored by the University Children's Medical Group. Children with neonatal herpes...

Screening can spot first signs of autism early. (As Young as 2 Years of Age).
January 1, 2002... New Jersey is leading the way in an effort to improve the lives of autistic children and their families through a screening program intended to identify the disorder early, when intervention is most likely to be beneficial. "While we don't...

ICSI Conception is not tied to poor outcomes.(intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
January 1, 2002... Children conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection are no more likely than other children to experience neurodevelopmental problems, perinatal morbidity, postnatal health problems, or congenital abnormalities, according to a...

Counsel caution in international adoptions. (Developmental, Behavioral Problems).
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO - Summer visitation programs and potential changes in some nations' international adoption laws may have "devastating" effects on the success of certain international adoptions, specialists in international adoption fear. ...

Good days make for good nights. (Behavioral Consult).
January 1, 2002... Sleep problems in older children more often than not are the result of faulty limit setting. Truth be told, I love it when parents come to me complaining of frustrating sleep issues in children who seem to have few limits. This shows that...

Careful questioning can uncover drug abuse. (Peer Pressure is Powerful).
January 1, 2002... LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. -- If you suspect a teen of using drugs, ask his or her friends. Dr. Richard Rupp said at a pediatric update of the Phoenix Children's Hospital. If his peers are using, chances are the kid is using too. Peer pressure can...

Certain injuries highly specific to child abuse. (Don't Jump to Conclusions).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. -- Some injuries point overwhelmingly to a diagnosis of child abuse, especially if they occur in a child aged 2 years or younger, according to Dr. Thomas Slovis. Other types of injuries might appear suspicious but could...

Detecting shaken baby syndrome. (Milder Cases Pose Dilemma).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Pediatricians tread a very fine line when they decide to initiate an investigation for shaken baby syndrome, according to an expert in this field. "To do this in a tactful way and not lose any rapport you have developed...

Falls by kids rarely are the killing kind. (Significant Morbidity).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Traumatic falls cause significant morbidity but rarely are the cause of death in children 15 years old and younger, Dr. David B. Tashjian said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. A retrospective...

Modulen IBD formula treats Crohn's disease. (Contains Bioactive Molecule).
January 1, 2002... STANFORD, CALIF. -- The introduction of Modulen IBD is easily the most exciting recent development in pediatric formulas, Jo Ann Hattner said at a conference on perinatal and pediatric nutrition. Release of Modulen IBD last year was a...

Insulin lispro safe, effective in diabetics aged 2-11. (More Convenient).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Insulin lispro, a fast-acting analogue of human insulin, is safe and effective in diabetic children aged 2-11 years, said Dr. Larry C. Deeb of the Children's Clinic, Tallahassee, Fla., and his associates. In a study of 59 children treated...

Neocate for infants intolerant of most formulas. (Those Highly Sensitive to Cow's Milk).
January 1, 2002... STANFORD, CALIF. -- Physicians have in Neocate an ace in the hole to be played in the small proportion of infants who are highly sensitive to cow's milk protein and have clinical reactions even to extensively hydrolyzed formulas, Dr. John A....

Help educate Hispanic immigrant parents about proper car seat use. (Lack of That Custom in Native Country).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- A survey of Hispanic families seeking prenatal or newborn care at two rural North Carolina health departments and a separate survey of health care workers show some interesting disparities in perceived use of car seats. ...

Risk factors may predispose some to sports-related injury. (Age Decreased Flexibility).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. -- Some children have risk factors that make them more prone to sports-related injuries, according to Dr. Stephen Heinrich. Attention to these factors could decrease the risk of injury among 8- to 16-year-olds, he said...

School backpacks do not appear to be behind new-onset, chronic back pain. (Alternatives Probably Unneeded).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- School backpacks do not appear to be a frequent cause of new-onset, chronic back pain in children, Dr. John Spears said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Pediatrics. After performing a chart review of...

Newborn screening issue may increase liability. (Tell Parents About Supplemental Screening).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Differences in newborn screening that previously varied only by state may soon vary by socioeconomic status as well--as more private firms begin offering supplemental screening for a fee. Physicians and hospitals may be at...

IV Glucagon resolves persistent hypoglycemia. (Sick Preterm Infants).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- A continuous infusion of glucagon is an effective treatment for persistent hypoglycemia in sick preterm infants, neonatal nurse-practitioner Dianne S. Charsha reported in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the...

Reflux drugs don't improve apnea in premature infants. (Apena Actually Worsened).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Medications for gastroesophageal reflux do not improve apnea in premature infants despite the biologic plausibility of this treatment, reported Dr. Amy L. Kimball and Dr. David P. Carlton of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. In fact,...

FDA okays Elidel for atopic dermatitis in children. (Aged 2 Years and Older).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The Food and Drug Administration has granted marketing approval for pimecrolimus, the first nonsteroidal prescription cream for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in patients aged 2 years and older. The product, which will be marketed by...

Under attack. (Letters from Maine).(Needle-stick Safety and Prevention Act )(Brief Article)(Column)
January 1, 2002... Circle the wagons, stockpile your weapons, and prepare yourself for what could be a long and unconventional war. Evildoers have infiltrated the very heart of our country's defenses and are trying to frighten us into abandoning the...

Letters.
January 1, 2002... AAP Pposition Misstated The article "Vaccines With Thimerosal: Out of Office by March 31" misstated the American Academy of Pediatrics' position (November 2001, p. 1). The draft of a joint statement was discussed at the Advisory...

Ask patients, families how culture affects health care, perceptions. ('Cultural Humility').(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Physicians must first consider their own perceptions and beliefs before understanding how culture affects patient health care, perceptions, and outcomes. Also integral to this understanding is a recognition that the...

New AAMC guidelines set limits on residents' hours. (80 Hours a week maximum).(American Association of Medical Colleges)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The American Association of Medical Colleges has issued new guidelines on graduate medical education that include limits on resident duty hours. According to the new guidelines, residents should be on duty no more than 80 hours per week...

Work-family conflict is a major contributor to physician burnout. (One of Many Important Stressors).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... MORAN, Wyo. -- New insights into the toll on psychological health exacted by work-family conflict hold vital lessons for workaholism-prone physicians, Wayne M. Sotile, Ph.D., said at a conference sponsored by the American College of Cardiology....

AMA leaders call for unity on Hill Agenda. (Interim Meeting).
January 1, 2002... SAN FRANCISCO -- Leaders of the American Medical Association urged the House of Delegates at its interim meeting to set aside differences and unite on Medicare reform and other legislative issues important to physicians. "When medicine is...

Pediatric CPT representation. (AMA Briefs).(medical specialty coding)(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... An attempt by the American Academy of Pediatrics to get the AMA to include a pediatrician on the panel that writes and revises the CPT codes failed to pass the House. Currently, a pediatric specialist advises the panel when it writes CPT codes,...

Vaccine shortages. (AMA Briefs).(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services must set up a task force to address the recurring and increasingly serious problem of vaccine shortages, the delegates said. There are a number of reasons why these vaccine shortages...

SCHIP. (AMA Briefs).(State Children's Health Insurance Program)(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Efforts should be made to see that more children get enrolled in the Stare Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) program before it is expanded to adults, the delegates said. The American Academy of Pediatrics-sponsored resolution also...

Safety-net hospitals. (AMA Briefs).(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The AMA must act to save safety-net hospitals, which are in serious jeopardy the delegates said. In the last few years, the hospitals that provide the most indigent care have been financially devastated by Medicaid cuts and by the fact that...

Physician prescribing data. (AMA Briefs).(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Debate continued to rage in the House over the AMA's sale of its master file on physicians, which includes the physician's Drug Enforcement Administration number, which pharmaceutical salespeople can then match with prescription data purchased...

HIPAA privacy. (AMA Briefs).(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The AMA will study the federal privacy regulations associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and propose that the government delay enacting them if they are found to be too burdensome. The privacy regulations,...

Smallpox bioterrorism. (AMA Briefs).(American Medical Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... The House declined to urge for a call to vaccinate the U.S. population against smallpox as a protection against a terrorist attack with the disease, which was eradicated in 1979. The House instead pledged to follow the lead of government...

Detecting bacterial infection. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... C-reactive protein concentration is superior to the absolute neutrophil count and the white blood cell count in picking up clinically undetectable serious bacterial infection in febrile children requiring antibiotic therapy, said Dr. Patrick N....

Vitamin D and diabetes risk. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2002... Supplementing infants' diets with adequate amounts of vitamin D in their first year can reduce the risk of type 1 diabetes, said Elina Hypponen, Ph.D., of the Institute of Child Health, London, and her associates. In a birth cohort study...

Parental smoking views matter. (Journal Scan).
January 1, 2002... If both parents strongly oppose smoking and communicate this message consistently over time, their adolescents are less likely to become established smokers, said Dr. James D. Sargent and Madeline Dalton, Ph.D., of Dartmouth Medical School,...

Sleep apnea predicts SIDS. (Journal Scan).(sudden infant death syndrome)
January 1, 2002... Infants who went on to die of SIDS had more frequent obstructive and mixed apneas than controls, said Ineko Kato of Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan, and associates. Polygraphic recordings of infants aged 4-19 weeks taken...

Publicize supine sleep. (Journal Scan).
January 1, 2002... African American grandmothers and other older adults (senior caregivers) support putting infants to sleep on their backs after they understand the risk factors for SIDS, said Louise Flick, R.N., of St. Louis University and her colleagues. Prior...

Correction.('New Rotavirus Vaccines Under Investigation,' in November 2001 issue)(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2002... In the article "New Rotavirus Vaccines Under Investigation" (November 2001, p. 12), the risk for vaccine-associated poliomyelitis should have read 1 in 720,000.