Pediatric News articles from June 2008

Pediatric News archives from June 2008

Plethora of shots burdens providers.(News)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HONOLULU -- A complex regimen of 21 vaccines added to the routine child immunization schedule since 2000 has left many health care providers shaking their heads. Dr. Andrew D. Racine, chief of clinical pediatrics...

Albuterol therapy lied to myocardial injury, hypotension: nebulization for asthma attack can harm.(News)
June 1, 2008... HONOLULU -- Myocardial injury was detected in nearly half of 50 children undergoing more than 2 hours of albuterol nebulization for acute asthma attacks in a study presented at the joint meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies and the Asian...

CA-MRSA spurring severe musculoskeletal infections.(News)
June 1, 2008... ALBUQUERQUE -- Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is causing a growing number of sudden, severe musculoskeletal infections in otherwise healthy children, according to two reports at the annual meeting of the...

Top 10 drugs prescribed by pediatricians.(VITAL SIGNS)
June 1, 2008... Top 10 Drugs Prescribed by Pediatricians Amoxicillin 9.2% Azithromycin 5.0% Amoxicillin/clavulanate 3.7% Singulair (montelukast) 3.4% Cefdinir 2.9%...

AD risk tied to antibiotics in infancy.(News)(Clinical report)
June 1, 2008... KYOTO, JAPAN -- Exposure to antibiotics in infancy appears to be a risk factor for subsequent development of atopic dermatitis, according to a prospective study of 370 German children. "Due to the high overall morbidity and social burden of...

FDA frets about medical device use in teens.(News)
June 1, 2008... Infusion pump technology for the treatment of diabetes and pain management might pose special risks for adolescent patients, a 10-year Food and Drug Administration analysis of 1,647 medical device adverse event reports among patients aged 12-21...

Comorbid flu predicts adverse asthma outcome.(News)
June 1, 2008... Honolulu -- Consider influenza testing in children hospitalized for asthma because children with both conditions have almost five times the chance of intubation or death, compared with asthmatic children without a comorbid condition, according...

Cardiac screening--ADHD meds policy clarified.(News)
June 1, 2008... The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Heart Association have issued a joint statement clarifying recent recommendations made by the AHA on evaluating and treating children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity...

Larger-than-expected impact of rotavirus vaccine.(ID Consult)
June 1, 2008... We're starting to see the first evidence that rotavirus disease rates are going down, perhaps even more than we expected, thanks to the vaccine. Although rates of both respiratory syncytial virus and influenza were up this past winter,...

Nontraditional pets pose increased risk of serious infections.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... LA JOLLA, CALIF. -- Parrots, baby chicks, and turtles may be endearing to young children, but exposure to such exotic and nontraditional pets in the home and in public settings puts children at risk for serious infectious diseases. "When a...

Steroids fail to aid survival in bacterial meningitis study.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... Adjuvant corticosteroid therapy did not improve survival or shorten hospitalization in the largest observational study of its kind ever conducted in children, researchers reported. These findings held true across all pediatric age groups...

Neonatal GBS incidence falls; stricter guidelines credited.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... The incidence of invasive group B streptococcal disease declined among infants aged 0-6 days after stricter measures for perinatal prevention were widely adopted across the country in 2002, federal scientists have reported. However, there...

Antiretroviral therapy conveys metabolic risks in HIV youth.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... BOSTON -- Long-term exposure to antiretroviral therapy appears to convey substantial metabolic risk to adolescents and young adults with HIV infection, according to a National Institutes of Health study. In a cross-sectional investigation...

Patient-held records improve vaccination rates.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... Patient-held vaccination records were associated with improved childhood immunization rates in an analysis of National Immunization Survey data. The rate of up-to-date vaccinations was 84% for children with a patient-held vaccination...

Necrotizing pneumonia incidence is increasing.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- More children with pneumonia are developing necrotizing pneumonia from a growing variety of infectious agents, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, according to a retrospective, 15-year study. ...

Mistimed vaccines add to suboptimal coverage.(Infectious Diseases)
June 1, 2008... Compliance with immunization recommendations goes beyond missed doses: Administration of vaccines before the recommended age and/or too close together may add to suboptimal coverage, according to data analysis by scientists from the Centers for...

Do what you can for a homeless child.(Behavioral Consult)
June 1, 2008... Homeless children will break your heart. They break your system, too. The first statement is self-evident. You know when a homeless family walks in the door of your pediatric practice that you're not going to be able to fix their most...

Cyberbullying appears common, psychologically damaging.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Report)
June 1, 2008... CHICAGO -- Bullying over the Internet is common, and it is associated with symptoms of psychopathology in boys and gifts, according to researchers at the University of Florida in Gainesville. "Peer victimization using the medium of...

Functional assessment helps behavioral treatment.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
June 1, 2008... BALTIMORE -- A functional assessment of behavior problems in children with developmental disabilities helps clinicians form a hypothesis for why a problem behavior occurs and what reinforces it, so they can use the information to guide...

Poor working memory is cited in ADHD.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
June 1, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- Children with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder performed worse than children without the disorder on tests of working memory--an important factor in learning and academic success, according to a case-controlled study...

Medication mistakes, misdiagnoses top list of likely errors in managing ADHD.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
June 1, 2008... MIAMI BEACH -- To avoid mistakes in the management of a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, consider the patient's receptive language age, comorbidities such as depression, and medication to protect a young child when a parent...

Program aids counseling of grieving families.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Report)
June 1, 2008... MIAMI -- Educate children in a straightforward way when they experience a loss, and rely upon their resiliency as children, a pediatric trauma specialist suggests. Age-appropriate interventions for grieving children are important. "Kids of...

Screen for maternal depression at 2-month well-child visit.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
June 1, 2008... NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. -- Screening for postpartum depression at the 2-month well-child visit caught most cases of maternal depression that developed within 6 months of delivery, according to a study of 199 young mothers. In addition, an...

Developmental factors play role in teen drinking: drinking problems of youths have their beginnings well before alcohol use is initiated, researchers say.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
June 1, 2008... A complex mixture of biologic, psychological, and social evidence suggests that alcohol consumption in children and adolescents is a developmental issue, based on data from several studies. Studying the developmental components of underage...

Waxing philosophical.(Letters From Maine)(Viewpoint essay)
June 1, 2008... "My goodness, what is that?" With the golden brown nugget that was the size of a pencil eraser still perched on my stainless magic wand, I waved it triumphantly and replied, "That, Mrs. Alcott, is a cerumen plug, manufactured by your...

Caring for soldiers and their children.(Guest Editorial)
June 1, 2008... Why did they send a pediatrician to serve in the war in Afghanistan? This was the question I was asked over and over again when I arrived for my assignment with the Charlie Medical Company, 82nd Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade of the...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)(Cartoon)
June 1, 2008... NOTE TO SELF: REINFORCE DOOR BETWEEN OFFICE AND WAITING ROOM [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Low vitamin D linked with musculoskeletal pain.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... ALBUQUERQUE -- A prospective pilot study of 41 children with complaints of nonspecific musculoskeletal pain found their average levels of vitamin D were low even though the youngsters lived in the sunny southwestern United States. The mean...

Acute trauma can yield chronic family needs.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... MIAMI -- Community pediatricians can facilitate the long-term rehabilitation of a family after a child experiences traumatic injury, according to Dr. Steven Stylianos, a pediatric trauma surgeon. Behavioral problems and functional...

Sand beats wood fiber for playground safety in Canadian study.(Clinical Rounds)(Report)
June 1, 2008... ALBUQUERQUE -- Canadian schoolchildren had five times as many upper-extremity fractures when falling on wood fiber as opposed to sand in the first randomized, controlled trial known to compare the two playground surfaces. During 2 1/2...

Worst infantile hemangiomas are major traumas.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... CORONADO, CALIF. -- "Some of the most painful and troublesome hemangiomas I've taken care of are those in the genital area," Dr. Sheila Fallon Friedlander said at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association. "They are extremely...

New once-daily topical therapy for acne is on the horizon.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... WAIKOLOA, HAWAII -- Food and Drug Administration marketing approval is anticipated for a novel topical acne therapy: the combination of the retinoid adapalene 0.1% and benzoyl peroxide 2.5% in a fixed-dose gel formulation applied once daily,...

Most adolescents misjudge their asthma control.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... HONOLULU -- Nearly three-quarters of adolescents with asthma overestimate their level of asthma control, according to a study of more than 200 teens. Their degree of overestimation is often large as well, said Dr. Maria Britto of...

Strattera.(New & Approved)
June 1, 2008... Strattera (atomoxetine HCl, Eli Lilly & Co.) The Food and Drug Administration approved Strattera for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder maintenance therapy in children and adolescents aged 6 years and older. This is the first...

Hypothyroidism discounted as key to weight gain.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... HONOLULU -- Hypothyroidism has only a minor effect on weight gain, and correcting hypothyroidism does not result in significant weight loss, according to the findings of an observational study. "Thyroid [dysfunction] does not cause the...

From developmental screening to assessment.(Special Needs: Realizing Potential)
June 1, 2008... Pediatricians are playing an increased role in developmental screening, and with good reason. The incidence of developmental problems diagnosed before age 18 years is estimated to range from 12% to 18% of children in the United States. The age...

Banning other snacks is key to boosting fruit consumption.(Clinical Rounds)
June 1, 2008... Selling schoolchildren nothing but fruits at a snack bar increases consumption of fruits only if such a strategy is reinforced by bans on bringing salty or sugary treats to school, according to a Welsh study of more than 1,600 students at 43...

Community collaboration aids well-child visits.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2008... MIAMI -- Enhance your practice and patient care through collaboration with community resources for children, said Dr. Francis E. Rushton Jr. "The role of the pediatrician in the community requires use of community resources in...

Fax, e-mail feedback from hospitalists favored.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- E-mail and fax are the preferred tools for pediatric hospitalists to use when communicating with referring physicians, according to the results of a small survey of 77 physicians. In this survey of referring pediatricians...

ATS issues policy statement on palliative care.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2008... Palliative care for children and adolescents with chronic or advanced respiratory and critical illnesses is a significant part of a new clinical policy statement issued by the American Thoracic Society. In issuing the 15-page policy on...

Bush signs bill to prohibit genetic-information bias.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2008... Patients will soon be able to undergo genetic testing without fear of discrimination from either their health insurers or their employers, thanks to a new law signed by President Bush. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (H.R....

IAN registers nearly 24,000.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... The Kennedy Krieger Institute has announced that its Interactive Autism Network (IAN), the first U.S. autism registry, has registered nearly 24,000 individuals in its first year and is helping to facilitate approximately 75 research projects...

CMS softens SCRIP policy.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will make it a little easier for states to expand coverage under the State Children's Health Insurance Program. States had expressed concern that they would not be able to achieve the required...

Few meet activity guidelines.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... Children who do not meet American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for activity and screen time were much more likely to be overweight than children complying with both AAP recommendations, a study in The Journal of Pediatrics showed. The AAP...

Poorer children in ED more.(Policy & Practice)(Report)
June 1, 2008... Lower-income children made almost twice as many visits to hospital emergency departments as higher-income children in 2005, according to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. AHRQ's analysis found that the rate of emergency department...

Nearly one-third on drugs.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... Thirty percent of children under age 19 years were taking a prescription medication to treat at least one chronic health condition in 2007, according to Medco Health Solutions. Prescriptions for children most often involved asthma or allergy...

FDA pushes for event reports.(Policy & Practice)
June 1, 2008... The Food and Drug Administration is working with a medical software firm to get more physicians to submit adverse event reports. Doctors who use Epocrates products have received a message on their personal digital assistant explaining how...

Private groups roll out health care reform plans: one, the "Building Blocks" program, would expand Medicaid and SCHIP to cover all eligible families.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2008... The presidential candidates aren't the only ones with proposals to reform the American health care system. Although the designs are different, more and more players in the health care arena are unveiling their own detailed plans to provide...

Minimize employee lawsuits by hiring right and being fair.(Practice Trends)
June 1, 2008... MIAMI -- Minimizing exposure to employee lawsuits--including sexual harassment and discrimination claims--begins with hiring the right employee for your office, a labor and employment attorney told a gathering of pediatricians. Also,...

Children receiving quality health care by clinical area.(DATA WATCH)
June 1, 2008... Children Receiving Quality Health Care by Clinical Area Upper respiratory tract infections 92% Allergic rhinitis 85% Acne 57% Fever 51% ...

Planning an extended leave.(On the Learning Curve)(Standards)
June 1, 2008... Planning for an extended time away from work is a topic that has been foremost in my mind lately. I will be taking maternity leave next month and have a lot of things to prepare or delegate before I go. There are many ways to ease such a...

At 'town hall,' a tale of two visions.(Health Policy: The Fine Line)
June 1, 2008... There are some opportunities afforded those of us who live in Washington that we take for granted. We can walk among cherry blossoms in the springtime, sit at the feet of a large Abraham Lincoln sculpture, and wait in artificial traffic for 30...

The doctor will laugh with you now.(The Rest of Your Life)
June 1, 2008... Until a few years ago, pediatrician Dr. Stu Silverstein was giving four to five medical humor talks at medical conventions, staff retreats, and other health care events around the country each month. He started performing stand-up comedy in...