Pediatric News articles from June 2002

Pediatric News archives from June 2002

Group well-child visits catching on. (More Quality Time With Patients).
June 1, 2002... TACOMA, WASH. -- In a well-child visit that lasts a remarkable 2 hours Dr. Carl Plonsky meets with 19 parents of 1-year-old toddlers. The mood is relaxed as he sprinkles humor into a give-and-take discussion that ultimately covers...

AAP stand on gay adoptions angers some members: the AAP found no data suggesting risk to children in a family with gay parents. (Others Urge Tolerance).(American Academy of Pediatrics )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The American Academy of Pediatrics is meeting resistance from some of it own members on its decision to support adoption of children by gay persons. Some pediatricians want to see the policy rescinded. "It implies that all academy...

Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine available for office use: for now, limit use to priority indications. (Continue to Defer Booster).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Physicians can now resume ordering tetanus-diphtheria vaccine but should limit its use to wound care and other priority indications until the end of the summer. Aventis Pasteur has increased its supply of Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids...

Diagnostic Dilemma.(argininosuccinic aciduria)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A 4-day-old boy who presents with lethargy and difficulty breathing is brought to the ER at 2:20 a.m. The neonate's temperature is 35.8[degrees] C, heart rate is 120 beats per minute, and respiratory rate is 72 respirations per minute. Pulse...

Contaminated powdered formula given in NICUs. (Liquid Formula not Implicated).(neonatal intensive care unit )(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Powdered infant formula contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii poses serious health risks to hospitalized newborns, particularly premature or other immuno-compromised babies, according to a warning issued by the Food and Drug Administration....

Formula didn't protect SGA neonates from low blood glucose. (Breast-Feeding Benefited these Infants).(small-for-gestational-age)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Formula feeding or supplementation doesn't protect small-for-gestational-age neonates from low blood glucose as their metabolism adapts from the continuous in utero supply of glucose to a cyclic milk diet, said Dr. Laura de Rooy and Jane...

NYC kids still suffering. (Pediatric Briefs).(New York City, New York)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... NYC KIDS STILL SUFFERING Six months after Sept. 11, children in New York City were still exhibiting higher than average rates of mental health problems, a study conducted by Columbia University and the city's Board of Education found. Surveys...

New DTAP Vaccine. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... NEW DTAP VACCINE Aventis Pasteur has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensure to market DAPTACEL (Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoids and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed) for the first four consecutive doses of the recommended...

Recall roundup. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... RECALL ROUNDUP The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a "recall roundup" list of 12 hazardous products still found in millions of American homes. Most of the products have been involved in children's deaths. Among them are window...

Infant mortality rates. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... INFANT MORTALITY RATES Infant mortality among African Americans remained far higher than that of other racial/ethnic groups in the 60 largest U.S. cities during 1995-1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported (MMWR...

Bike injuries. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... BIKE INJURIES Kids aged 10-14 years suffer more traumatic brain injuries from bicycle accidents than do younger children, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign. Serious bike injuries were associated with traumatic brain injury in nearly...

Titanium scoliosis Tx. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... TITANIUM SCOLIOSIS Tx A novel titanium "rib" that corrects chest wall deformities has been implanted in two children with congenital scoliosis at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, by Dr. John T. Smith and his associates. Utah is one of...

A rash by any other name. (Pediatric Briefs).(dermatology lexicon research)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A RASH BY ANY OTHER NAME... could be dermatitis, an eruption, or perhaps an exanthem. And that, according to dermatologist Arthur Papier, is a problem. Dr. Papier of the University of Rochester (N.Y.) is leading a group of 25 dermatologists,...

Pediatric office visits really are getting longer. (Perception vs. Reality).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... BALTIMORE -- Pediatric office visits are getting longer rather than shorter, Dr. Jerry L. Rushton reported at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies. "Despite speculation to the contrary, pediatric patient provider time in...

Very low thyroid risky in preterm neonates. (Higher Mortality).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Preterm neonates with very low thyroid hormone levels were more likely to die or be ventilator dependent at 2 weeks than were preterm neonates with higher levels of the hormones, reported Dr. Sumita Biswas of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital,...

Mutant polio from oral vaccine arises overseas. (Twenty Cases in Hispaniola).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Polio isn't a front-burner issue for U.S. pediatricians, but the presence of a mutant strain may turn up the heat. The first known occurrence of polio caused by a mutant form of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) may spur revision of World Health...

Regimen reduces bronchiolitis hospitalizations.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Infants admitted to an emergency department with bronchiolitis who were immediately treated with oral dexamethasone plus albuterol showed significant clinical improvement and had fewer hospitalizations than infants treated with a placebo and...

Conjunctivitis goes along on spring break. (Outbreak at a College).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... An outbreak of conjunctivitis at a New England college was still going strong as students left for spring vacation to mingle with their counterparts from schools across the country, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...

Chart spearheads 'just say no' to antibiotics effort. (Hang it in Every Examining Room).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... ORLANDO, FLA. -- It changed Dr. S. Michael Marcy's life--simply posting a chart on the wall of every examining room in his pediatric practice at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. The chart, drawn from a classic study by the Centers...

Bacteremia is rare in febrile children aged 3-24 months. (Making the Diagnosis).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... SARASOTA, FLA. -- Bacteremia is uncommon in febrile children aged 3-24 months, Dr. Mark Joffe said at a pediatric meeting sponsored by American Medical Seminars and Temple University. Even among those with very high fever, the rate is less...

Watch for MRSA in children with severe eczema. (Community-Acquired Disease).(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... NEW ORLEANS -- More pediatric eczema patients are presenting with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, including some community-acquired infections, Dr. Denise W. Metry said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of...

Measles cases fell to a record low--86 cases--in 2000. (Imported Cases a Problem).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... The number of measles cases in the United States fell to a record low in 2000, with a total of 86 confirmed cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health departments. The tally represents a 14% drop from...

Daily observed tuberculosis Tx for 2 weeks works. (Then Twice Weekly Tx for 24 Weeks).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... Two weeks of directly observed daily therapy, followed by 24 weeks of twice-weekly medication, are effective in treating tuberculosis in children, reported Dr. Fahad S. Al-Dossary and his associates at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. ...

Chronic illness, crowded homes worsen RSV. (Breast-Feeding Somewhat Protective).(respiratory syncytial virus infection)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... Alaska Native children who had underlying medical conditions and those living in crowded homes were more likely to be hospitalized for a respiratory syncytial virus infection, although breast-feeding provided some measure of protection against...

Exam gloves do not provide a perfect barrier. (Nitrile Gloves Most Resistant to Puncture).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... PHOENIX, ARIZ. -- Gloves are an important way to reduce infection transmission, but they are not quite the 100%-effective barrier many assume them to be, Dr. Curtis P. Hamann said at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association....

Stop giving antibiotics for the common cold. (Stand Your Ground, Expert Says).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Pediatricians face numerous pressures to simply write out yet another antibiotic prescription, rather than stand their ground. But if enough pediatricians stand their ground enough of the time, they could make dramatic...

Public sector cost of childhood immunizations may skyrocket. (First Inflation-Adjusted Study).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... BALTIMORE --With the addition of as many as seven new vaccines and progressive price hikes, the public sector cost of the recommended series of childhood immunizations through the age of 6 years could rise to as high as $1,200 per child by the...

Data Watch: national vaccine supply shortages.(Illustration)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
June 1, 2002... DATA WATCH National Vaccine Supply Shortages * Vaccine Shortage Expected Duration Hepatitis B no Diphtheria, yes through end Tetanus,...

Many pediatricians need heads up on tinea capitis. (Look for Broken Hairs, Redness).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... SAN ANTONIO -- A true case of athlete's foot rarely stumps pediatricians, but fungal infections of the scalp are another story, Dr. William Weston said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. "Pediatricians...

PANDAS: atypical strep throat and OCD. (In Consult).(pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with group A beta hemolytic streptococci; obsessive-compulsive disorder)
June 1, 2002... A definitive association between compulsive disorder behaviors and streptococcal infection has been identified for the first time in a prospective study by Dr. Marie Lynd Murphy and myself. We have now seen 25 patients with pediatric autoimmune...

Multidrug-resistant bacteria outbreak in Ga. (Streptococcus Pneumoniae).(Georgia)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A multidrug-resistant strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae was discovered in 10 children in a Georgia child care center, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The S. pneumoniae index strain was found in middle ear...

HPV puts adolescent girls at high cervical cancer risk. (Adolescent Cervix Vulnerable to HPV).(human papillomavirus)
June 1, 2002... ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The new Bethesda criteria for managing Pap smears are much more aggressive, and much depends on whether the Pap smear shows evidence of human papillomavirus, Dr. Richard Kreipe said at a conference on pediatric infectious...

Eating disorders put doctors' skills to the test. (Listen, Build Trust).
June 1, 2002... BOSTON -- The struggle to diagnose, then effectively treat, eating disorders in adolescent girls is the biggest challenge that adolescent medicine specialist Michael D. Dickens said he faces in his pediatric practice. Since he and his...

Heart problems often a consequence of eating disorders. (Routine Screening Needed).
June 1, 2002... COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Adolescents with restrictive eating disorders often have accompanying heart problems, said Dr. Elissa Gittes at a pediatric conference sponsored by the University of Missouri. But these problems are not always symptomatic...

Surveillance maneuvers will help you assess early developmental skills. (Look and Listen).
June 1, 2002... HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- Careful observation by a pediatrician works at least as well as fancy screening tests in assessing development in young children, Dr. Barry S. Zuckerman said at a meeting on clinical pediatrics sponsored by Boston...

Family detente over sibling rivalry. (Behavioral Consult).
June 1, 2002... Few family milestones are as significant as the birth of the second child. Suddenly, the family dynamic changes, and the stage is set for sibling conflict--an issue so significant that it stands as the number one reason why families seek...

VLBW infants do less risk taking as adults. (More Developmental Problems).(very-low birth-weight)
June 1, 2002... CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- Infants with very low birth weight experience more developmental and functional problems as adults, but they also engage in fewer acts of high-risk behavior than their normal birth-weight peers, Dr. Steve Parker said at a...

New genetic tests diagnose unexplained cases. (Mental Retardation, Childhood Deafness).
June 1, 2002... CAMBRIDGE MASS. -- New and more accurate diagnostic testing strategies for unexplained mental retardation, DiGeorge syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, and the genetic causes of childhood deafness are among the advances made by genetic scientists...

Neurologic symptoms affect most tuberous sclerosis patients. (Seizure Disorder Very Common).
June 1, 2002... NEW ORLEANS -- Although tuberous sclerosis complex is characterized by involvement of several different organ systems, its predominant effects are neurologic, Dr. David Kwiatkowski said at a meeting sponsored by the American College of Medical...

Cats and yogurt discussed in top asthma articles. (Expert's Picks From 2001).
June 1, 2002... ORLANDO, FLA. -- The best asthma articles of 2001 covered topics ranging from inhaled steroids to cats and yogurt, Dr. John McBride said at a pediatric pulmonology meeting sponsored by the American College of Chest Physicians. The...

Forced oscillation test assesses lung function in children who wheeze. (Less Cooperation Required).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... NEW YORK -- A forced oscillation procedure may be useful as an objective measure of lung function in young children, Mary D. Klinnert, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Forced...

AAP guidelines target obstructive sleep apnea. (Snore No More).(American Academy of Pediatrics)
June 1, 2002... Ask parents whether their children snore. New practice guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics state that chronic snoring can be a symptom of childhood obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, a common disorder that can result in severe...

Ask if child snores to make obstructive sleep apnea Dx. (Physical Exam Often Spots Culprit).
June 1, 2002... Exploring the possibility that a child has obstructive sleep apnea must start with the simple question: "Does your child snore?" a pediatric otolaryngologist and a sleep expert told this newspaper. Given the prevalence of obstructive sleep...

Tonsillectomy, CPAP are highly effective for sleep apnea. (Try Steroid Therapy First).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Continuous positive airway pressure breathing can be an option for children with severe obstructive sleep apnea, but in most cases, tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy will be the treatments of choice, Dr. Charles M. Bower said in an interview....

Data Watch: sleep disorders in children.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... DATA WATCH Sleep Disorders in Children Age Group Early Late Preschool Elementary Elementary Sleep...

Four benign disorders behind most rectal bleeding. (Seemingly Healthy Infants and Children).
June 1, 2002... MAUI, HAWAII -- Four benign disorders cause most cases of rectal bleeding in seemingly healthy infants and children, Dr. Frank R. Sinatra said at a meeting sponsored by the University Children's Medical Group and the American Academy of...

Wireless capsule endoscopy reveals IBD. (Requires No Sedation).(inflammatory bowel disease)
June 1, 2002... MONTREAL -- Wireless capsule endoscopy holds particular promise in the management of children with inflammatory bowel disease, Dr. Ernest G. Seidman said at an international symposium on pediatric gastroenterology sponsored by Sainte-Justine...

Breast-feeding may lead to higher IQs later on. (Adult Intelligence).
June 1, 2002... Breast-feeding may have long-term positive effects on adult intelligence, reported Erik Lykke Mortensen, Ph.D., of Copenhagen University Hospital, and his colleagues. In a prospective, longitudinal, birth cohort study involving 3,253...

Premature infants may need more than just breast milk. (Supplementation Appears Necessary).
June 1, 2002... BALTIMORE -- Human milk lacks some things premature babies need, Dr. Edward Lawson said at a meeting on pediatric trends sponsored by Johns Hopkins University. Long-term studies as far ahead as high school performance in reading and math...

Eye injuries may be more serious than they look. (Specialists Are Not Always Available).
June 1, 2002... PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. -- Although many pediatricians think of eye injuries as problems to refer to specialists, there are times when pediatricians must deal with these conditions on their own. That's why it's important to have a working...

In-office screening tests can detect early hearing problems. (Pediatricians Are On the Front Lines).
June 1, 2002... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Pediatricians are definitely on the front lines of both identification and intervention for childhood hearing loss. They are often the first people whom parents approach with concerns about their child's hearing, said Holle...

Videoconferences can tweak cochlear implants. (No Repeat Hospital Visits).
June 1, 2002... Children with cochlear implants can have their hearing fine-tuned without the trauma of repeat hospital visits. Audiologists at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have introduced...

Peer intervention promotes STD education. (Teens Willing to Listen).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... BOSTON -- A community-based STD intervention program that employed adolescents to provide information about sexually transmitted diseases to 1,444 of their peers successfully disseminated the information during 95% of the interactions between...

Letters.(Honesty: The Best Policy?)(AOM Drug Allergy Potential)(Vaccine Info Not Optional)(Tympanometry Over Otoscopy)(Letter to the Editor)
June 1, 2002... Honesty: The Best Policy? As child advocates, pediatricians need to be forthright about a diagnosis, no matter how remote or serious. This does not prevent us from being empathetic to parents; I agree with Dr. Stan Block that one should...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
June 1, 2002... The photo that accompanied the article "Sports Exams Are No Substitute for Comprehensive Physicals" (April 2002, p. 34) was of Dr. Melvin Levine of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, not of Dr. Albert C. Hergenroeder, chief of the...

My day in court. (Letters From Maine).(child abuse)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... About a year ago I saw a 4-week-old in the office for her well-child exam and discovered some soft biparietal swellings and a firm knot in the middle of her left clavicle. Had I not seen her on her first and seventh days of life, I might...

Pediatric ER care has improved. (Guest Editorial).(Brief Article)(Editorial)
June 1, 2002... There tends to be much ignorance about the strides being made in how pediatric patients are being treated in emergency departments in this country. Pediatric emergency care has been steadily improving, particularly of late, and it will continue...

Invite the parents out of the room to get an accurate history from adolescents. (Confidentiality is Key).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If you don't guarantee confidentiality with teenagers in your practice, you're not practicing a standard of care, Dr. Albert C. Hergenroeder said at a pediatric update sponsored by the Phoenix Children's Hospital. If...

President's abstinence plan flawed, says Guttmacher Institute. (Safe Sex Endangered).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... President Bush's plan to increase funding for abstinence-only education is misguided and could endanger the health of teenagers, according to an analysis from the Alan Guttmacher Institute. The plan seeks to add $33 million to the FY 2003...

Teaching hospitals fear 15% cut in Medicare. (Called 'Devastating').(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... A 15% Medicare cutback scheduled for Oct. 1 could do permanent damage to teaching hospitals a new report concludes. "Now is not the time to weaken one of the greatest resources of our health care system," said Dr. Jordan Cohen, president of...

Free running test for asthma. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... The free running test assesses asthma in children better than peak expiratory flow rate measurement, said Dr. Samuel I. Hammerman of Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg, Pa., and his cob leagues. A group of 801 student athletes aged...

Ear pressure, otitis media risk. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Abnormal pressure in the middle ear during children's colds doesn't automatically cause otitis media and generally resolves without treatment, said Dr. Birgit Winther of the University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, and her...

Teen moms at risk for violence. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Teenage mothers are at increased risk for postpartum abuse by their partners, said Samantha D. Harrykissoon of Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and her associates. A prospective study followed 570 ethnically diverse girls aged 18 years and...

Getting ahead in soccer. (Journal Scan).(player health issues)(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... "Heading," which is hitting a soccer ball with one's head, does not appear to cause retinal bleeding in adolescent players, said Dr. William F. Reed of the University of Washington, Seattle, and his colleagues (Arch. Pediatr. Adolesc. Med....

Sleep apnea relief. (Journal Scan).(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... Bilevel positive airway pressure therapy reduces obstructive sleep apnea in children and adolescents, said Dr. Raj Padman and colleagues at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Del. In a study of 10 pediatric patients (aged...

Vital sings: top 10 drugs mentioned during pediatric office visits in 2001.(Brief Article)
June 1, 2002... VITAL SIGNS Top 10 Drugs Mentioned During Pediatric Office Visits in 2001 % OF ALL MENTIONS OF DRUGS Amoxicillin ...