Pediatric News articles from March 2005

Pediatric News archives from March 2005

Menactra advised for preadolescents.(News)
March 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- The new conjugate meningococcal vaccine should be given to all children at the 11- to 12-year preadolescent visit and to those entering high school, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization...

Public support for various health reforms.(Vital Signs)(Illustration)
March 1, 2005... Public Support for Various Health Reforms Require publication of negative drug trial results 72% Change patent laws to favor generics 59% Expand tax-free health savings accounts 57% ...

Antidepressant prescriptions for youth drop 10%: physicians cite concerns about liability.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
March 1, 2005... A recently reported 10% decline in the number of children taking antidepressants last year is not surprising, given all the controversy and publicity preceding the FDA's black box requirement, leading psychiatrists and pediatricians said. ...

ACIP sets priorities for a flu vaccine shortage.(News)(Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices)
March 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2005-2006 season will seek to minimize disruption in the event of another shortage and will strongly urge annual vaccination of health care workers against influenza. A risk-based...

Neurologic ills are added to flu high-risk list.(News)
March 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Children and adults with neurologic and neuromuscular conditions that place them at increased risk for influenza complications will be added to the list of individuals who should be targeted to receive the vaccine, the Centers for...

FDA panel echoes WHO in 2005-2006 flu vaccine choice.(News)
March 1, 2005... BETHESDA, MD. -- A federal advisory panel unanimously recommended that only one of the current virus strains be changed in the production of the 2005-2006 influenza vaccine. At last month's meeting of the Food and Drug Administration's...

Children of overweight mothers prone to obesity.(News)
March 1, 2005... By the time children of overweight mothers reach 6 years of age, they are 15 times more likely to be obese, compared with children of lean mothers, results from a novel study suggest. "These are kids at extraordinary risk for developing...

Non-BMI assessments Miss overweight kids.(News)(body mass index )
March 1, 2005... Assessments of overweight that use methods not based on body mass index may grossly underdiagnose that condition in children, according to findings from a retrospective study. During well-child visits, only 29% of overweight children were...

Free asthma screenings in May.(News)
March 1, 2005... The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology is offering free asthma screenings through its ninth annual Nationwide Asthma Screening Program. Beginning in May, the screenings will be held at more than 300 locations. The program is...

Pertussis takes toll on teens.(News)
March 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Pertussis in adolescents is an increasingly reported problem across the United States, Margaret M. Cortese, M.D., said at a meeting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. ...

Survey finds physicians will accept routine Tdap for 11- to 12-year-olds.(News)
March 1, 2005... ATLANTA -- Physicians who take care of adolescents are likely to accept routine vaccination of 11- to 12-year-olds with a tetanus-diphtheria--acellular pertussis vaccine instead of the current tetanus-diphtheria vaccine, Karen R. Broder, M.D.,...

Babies may benefit from HIV drugs in breast milk.(Infectious Diseases)
March 1, 2005... BOSTON -- High levels of antiretroviral drugs measured in the breast milk of HIV-positive mothers and in the blood of their breast-fed infants could protect against transmission of the virus from mother to baby, Roger L. Shapiro, M.D., said at...

Yale investigators discover novel coronavirus.(Infectious Diseases)
March 1, 2005... A novel human coronavirus discovered by molecular testing in Connecticut may account for about 9% of respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. The initial discovery is similar to that of a coronavirus identified by...

HAART stabilizes CD4+ counts.(Clinical Capsules)(highly active antiretroviral therapy)(CD4+ T-cell counts )(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The CD4+ T-cell counts of 31 children aged 2.4 months-16.4 years with HIV-1 remained stable throughout 4 years of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), reported Pieter L.A. Fraaij, M.D., of Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's...

Varicella vaccination cuts mortality.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Mortality due to varicella fell from an average of 0.32 deaths per million between 1990 and 1994 to an average of 0.07 deaths per million between 1999 and 2001 among children aged 1-4 years due to the adoption of universal childhood varicella...

E. coli linked to diarrhea.(Clinical Capsules)(Escherichia coli)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli was isolated significantly more often in children with acute gastroenteritis in an emergency department compared with inpatients and controls, said Mitchell B. Cohen, M.D., of Cincinnati Children's Hospital...

Urinalysis predicts kidney diseases.(Clinical Capsules)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Children with a combination of microhematuria and proteinuria were at significantly increased risk for kidney disease or decreased kidney function in a retrospective chart review of 239 children, reported Jayanthi Chandar, M.D., and colleagues...

Pertussis outbreaks underline need for vaccination: vaccines for teens and adults could be beneficial, as immunity from infant immunization wanes.(Infectious Diseases)
March 1, 2005... Three recent hospital pertussis outbreaks and one infant death from the disease strongly point to the need for improved recognition and protection against transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The cases, from...

Diagnosing and treating UTIs in newborn called difficult.(Infectious Diseases)(urinary tract infections)
March 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Diagnosis of a newborn urinary tract infection is challenging, but identification is crucial to prevent potentially serious complications, according to a review of recent literature. Although urinary tract infections (UTIs)...

Metapneumovirus underreported in bronchiolitis.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Human metapneumovirus may be underreported as a pathogen in bronchiolitis and may lead to admittance to intensive care, especially when it infects infants in combination with human respiratory syncytial virus, reported Malcolm G. Semple, M.D.,...

Transmission of MRSA traced to breast milk.(Infectious Diseases)(methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus)
March 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been transmitted via breast milk, Dawn Terashita Gastelum, M.D., reported in a poster presentation at the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. ...

Critical period exists to suppress P. aeruginosa.(Infectious Diseases)(Pseudomonas aeruginosa)
March 1, 2005... Children with cystic fibrosis can acquire nonmucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa and mucoid P. aeruginosa very early in life, and the prevalence of the mucoid form increases significantly as children age, according to results from a long-term study....

Pediatric UTI Tx: attention to susceptibility.(Infectious Diseases)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... BAL MARBOUR, FLA. -- Concentrate on Escherichia coli susceptibility when selecting therapy for initial and first recurrent urinary tract infections in children, Sarah Long, M.D., advised at the annual Masters of Pediatrics conference sponsored...

Hasten vaccine schedule for international travelers: if travel to a measles-endemic area is planned, consider giving MMR beginning at 6 months of age.(Infectious Diseases)
March 1, 2005... MIAMI BEACH -- Accelerated immunizations for pediatric travelers can optimize disease prevention before international travel, Elizabeth D. Barnett, M.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. ...

Exotic pets can transmit serious dermatologic diseases.(Infectious Diseases)
March 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A growing number of Americans choose exotic animals as pets without knowing that even handling these unusual creatures may result in serious dermatologic diseases, Dr. Ted Rosen said at the annual meeting of the Florida Society...

GAS isn't always strep throat.(ID Consult)(group A streptococcus)
March 1, 2005... For your viewing pleasure..." as Rod Serling once said, I invite you to peruse four alternative group A streptococcus presentations that might not be so obvious at first and for which the approach may be controversial: * Urticaria. Hives...

Federal adoption initiatives.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I thought your readers might be interested in learning of federal initiatives to increase the number of children being adopted into loving homes ("How to Prepare for Adoption," The Rest of Your Life, December 2004, p. 39). In July 2002,...

Use positive adoption language.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... It was wonderful to read the article on preparing for adoption, but I have one objection to some of the language used ("How to Prepare for Adoption," The Rest of Your Life, December 2004, p. 39). In the section on confronting fears, Dr....

Should newborn screening be expanded to include rare, potentially disabling conditions?(Pro & Con)
March 1, 2005... YES A fundamental tenet of newborn screening is proven benefit to the infant, traditionally limiting newborn screening to conditions for which there are identifiable treatments known to alter the course of the disease. Many genetic...

Medicaid patients visit 'free' ER.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I agree with Dr. William G. Wilkoff's observations about emergency rooms, but I disagree with his causality and solutions ("Home Rules," Letters From Maine, December 2004, p. 13). Around here, the ERs all are filled with Medicaid patients...

Medical home strategies.(Letters)
March 1, 2005... The three A's still apply: ability, amiability, and availability ("Home Rules," Letters From Maine, December 2004, p. 13). After 31 years in practice, I find myself reviewing the changes that have made my practice better. The first...

Offending words.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I found the opinion piece by Tom Connally, M.D., in "Health Care 2004: You Decide," offensive ("The Kerry Proposal Presented," October 2004, p. 23). While I am accustomed to a difference of opinion in many position statements, I do not...

'Primary care psychiatry'.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... I am a board-certified internist in southern Oregon and have transitioned into a mostly psychiatric practice due to needs here in our community ("Innovations Extend Reach of Mental Health Care," November 2004, p. 16). As a result, I am...

Deter frivolous lawsuits.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... To prevent a total collapse of our medical delivery system, some type of financial deterrent against frivolous lawsuits is needed. I propose a federal filing fee of 1% of the award being sought. The fee would be paid by the lawyers bringing...

Pain relievers.(Opinion)
March 1, 2005... "You need more free time to just be a kid? I'll see if there's a class for that."

The pen is mightier.(Letters From Maine)(Column)
March 1, 2005... As I scrolled through my e-mail this morning, I encountered an announcement that today is the 6-month anniversary of our group's electronic medical record system. I was one of the foot-dragging prelaunch skeptics, but I am now fully on...

Your hardest task.(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... Firing an employee is arguably the most difficult task most employers face, and it is particularly tough on physicians. We hate doing it so much that many of us prefer to tolerate poor and marginal employees rather than replace them with good...

The chronically ill child.(Behavioral Consult)
March 1, 2005... Every parent wishes for a happy, perfectly healthy child. Illness--especially chronic illness--threatens the loss of that dream. If a child is seriously ill, the potential exists for that hope to be destroyed. A diagnosis of epilepsy...

Trichotillomania is usually a passing phase in children.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
March 1, 2005... NEW YORK -- When a child has trichotillomania, the pulling and breaking of one's own hair leading to alopecia is usually a self-soothing activity that occurs as a brief phase, similar to finger-sucking or nail-biting. Treatment is usually...

Antidepressant black box warning draws fire by not including suicide causality.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
March 1, 2005... Revised requirements for antidepressant labels that would omit references to a causal link between the drugs and suicide in children and adolescents have drawn mixed reactions from clinicians. "I think it's good that the FDA has shied away...

Canada suspends sale of Adderall XR due to sudden deaths.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Drug regulators in Canada have suspended sales of Adderall XR based on postmarketing reports of sudden deaths in 12 children in the United States between 1999 and 2003. Shire Pharmaceuticals Group PLC markets Adderall XR, a...

Certain bruising patterns suggest abuse.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
March 1, 2005... Bruises that occur in nonmobile infants, those over soft tissue areas, and those that carry the imprint of the implement used or multiple bruises of uniform shape could be signs of physical abuse. That is the key conclusion from the...

Methylin recall expanded.(Behavioral Pediatrics)(Alliant Pharmaceuticals Inc)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Alliant Pharmaceuticals Inc. has expanded the Methylin (methyl phenidate) chewable tablets recall to include all lots of the product because some tablets may contain too much or too little active ingredient. The recall includes the 2.5-mg...

Imaging can match brain structure to behavior.(Behavioral Pediatrics)
March 1, 2005... IRVINE, CALIF. -- Neuroimagingisoffering a window into the brain structure abnormalities that underlie the unique mental and behavioral features of some rare genetic disorders, Allan Reiss, M.D., said at the annual conference of the EEG and...

Step-up drug therapy can curb systemic JIA.(Clinical Rounds)(juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
March 1, 2005... SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- Newly diagnosed patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis fare best on a step-up drug therapy program aimed at maintaining function and preventing joint damage until the disease enters remission, Bram H....

Greek study ties atopy to superclean households.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... FLORENCE, ITALY -- A case-control study conducted in Greece lends support to the theory that a "superclean" environment during infancy and early childhood may predispose children to atopic dermatitis. Penny Emmanouil, M.D., and associates...

Bleach bath can kill bacteria in atopic patients.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... WASHINGTON -- Bleach baths can be an effective tool for killing bacteria and helping to clear atopic dermatitis, Cheryl Lee Eberting, M.D., said at a meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. Experts generally recommend 1/2 cup of...

Troublesome 3-year-olds may face asthma risk.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Asthma does not usually come to mind when a 3-year-old presents with major behavior problems and normal breathing. However, the lack of self-control could be a red flag for future respiratory problems. A British...

Study finds growth delays due to steroids are temporary.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Growth delays from inhaled corticosteroids are temporary, an analysis of data from a 5-year study of nearly 3,000 asthmatic children has shown. Whether these findings will satisfy parents is questionable, Soren Pedersen,...

Internalized racism may affect adolescents' metabolic health.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... DETROIT -- Internalized racism--the degree to which blacks agree with the racist stereotypes about themselves--may have adverse effects on metabolic health in adolescents, Earle C. Chambers, Ph.D., reported at a meeting sponsored by the...

Mouth and throat problems.(Beyond Chicken Soup)
March 1, 2005... Youngsters are prone to several problems in the mouth and throat. Some, such as cold sores and chapped lips, are more annoying than serious; others, such as a sore throat, can be a sign of a more serious problem that should be evaluated by a...

New glucose monitors tout more accuracy, ease.(Clinical Rounds)(TheraSense FreeStyle Navigator)(DexCom G1)
March 1, 2005... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- Look for next-generation continuous glucose monitoring devices to be more accurate, less obtrusive, and easier for diabetic patients and their families to use, according to H. Peter Chase, M.D. Among the devices in...

Childhood type 2 diabetes affects next generation.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... QUEBEC CITY -- The long-term complications of childhood type 2 diabetes can stretch beyond the patient and into the next generation, according to new data from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg. In a cohort of almost 90 children born to...

Hemangiomas: some need treatment, others don't.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... SPOKANE, WASH. -- The top three reasons to consider treatment of a neonatal hemangioma are the same as the top three determinants of value in real estate: location, location, and location, explained Howard B. Pride, M.D. While most...

Dermatologic infections often are emergencies.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... BAL HARBOUR, FLA. -- Infections are a major cause of emergencies in pediatric dermatology, Howard Pride, M.D., said at the annual Masters of Pediatrics Conference sponsored by the University of Miami. Though rare, such conditions must be...

Rule out leukemia in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis evaluation.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... SANTA MONICA, CALIF. -- The symptoms characterizing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are disturbingly similar to the symptoms that characterize juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but all too often, clinicians fail to consider ALL, the rarer...

Decavac, Clolar IV infusion.(New & Approved)
March 1, 2005... Decavac (tetanus and diphtheria toxoids preservative-free vaccine, Aventis Pasteur) Decavac, a reformulated preservative-free tetanus and diphtheria combination vaccine, is available on the market. The Food and Drug Administration cleared...

Obesity affects reproductive organs in girls.(Clinical Rounds)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... NEW ORLEANS -- Childhood obesity has significant effects on ovarian and uterine morphology in prepubertal girls, Arlene Mercado, M.D., said in a poster session at the annual meting of the Endocrine Society. Dr. Mercado, a fellow at the...

Rapid protocol safely jump-starts allergy relief.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... BOSTON -- A new immunotherapy protocol can substantially and safely reduce the amount of time it takes for children with allergies to experience relief from their symptoms, compared with conventional allergen vaccination, reported William...

Allergic rhinitis hits hard in the classroom.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... BOSTON -- Uncontrolled symptoms of allergic rhinitis and adverse effects from medications used to treat the condition can diminish cognitive function and learning, impair behavioral and psychosocial development, and negatively affect overall...

Microdiskectomy good course for herniated disk.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Children with herniated spinal disks fared better after microdiskectomy, compared with conservative management, in a study of 52 patients treated from 2000 to 2004. The series is not the largest in the medical literature,...

No deformity is seen years after spinal fusion.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Seventeen children under the age of 6 who underwent occipital cervical fusion using transarticular screws showed normal growth and alignment of the spine an average of 28 months later, Richard C.E. Anderson, M.D., said at a...

New congenital vertebral/ cervical anomaly reported.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... SAN FRANCISCO -- Physicians identified a previously undescribed congenital cervical anomaly in three patients, Paul Klimo Jr., M.D., said at a meeting on pediatric neurologic surgery. The children were "quite myelopathic," and two had a...

Sibutramine improves obesity factors in teens.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2005... LAS VEGAS -- Sibutramine (Meridia) enabled obese adolescents to shed weight and improve obesity-related risk factors in a 12-month, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The proportion of teenagers who lost at least 5% of body...

FDA's new drug safety board under scrutiny: lawmakers and consumer groups have questioned how much independence the board will actually have.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2005... Many questions surround the authority of a new drug safety board that would oversee the management of drug safety and provide emerging information to physicians and patients about the benefits and risks of medicines on the market. Such a...

Now boarded: pediatric dermatology a recognized subspecialty.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2005... When Kenneth E. Bloom, M.D., sat down in front of a computer monitor and keyboard to take the first-ever pediatric dermatology board certification exam in October, he felt a sense of accomplishment before he entered a single keystroke. ...

Adding exercise to your routine.(The Rest of Your Life)
March 1, 2005... Brooke Jackson, M.D., describes herself as a "late bloomer" to the notion of exercising on a regular basis. Her turning point came in 1997, when she moved to Houston for her Mohs fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine. One day she spotted...

Who should answer?(Efficient Pediatrician Practices)
March 1, 2005... Where should the phones ring in your office, and who should answer them? In most practices, incoming calls are answered and handled by the staff at the front desk, a place that arguably may be the busiest site in your office. If you are...

Infant mortality rate rises.(Policy & Practice)
March 1, 2005... Infant deaths increased to 27,970 in 2002, compared with 27,568 the year before, mainly because of a rise in the number of babies born at very low birth weights, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. This resulted in 7.0...

Health insurance for all children.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) has introduced a bill, S. 114, aimed at insuring every child in the United States. Under his plan, the Kids Come First Act, the federal government would pay for all Medicaid outreach and coverage costs for children...

Proposed cuts to Medicaid.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Medical organizations and other health care groups decried the $60 billion in proposed spending reductions to Medicaid over the next 10 years that were included in President Bush's budget request. The dollar amount lost in the fifth year of the...

States meet their match.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... States have been known to recycle payments returned by health care providers, using them to draw down additional federal dollars for Medicaid--and the reds are tired of it. The administration's budget request seeks to curb such tactics, by only...

Autism education costs high.(Policy & Practice)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The cost of educating children with autism is almost triple that of educating children who receive no special education services, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office. The GAO reviewed data from the Special Education...

Practice automation software.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Total Solution software automates most aspects of the patient management process, including registration, scheduling, and billing. For more information, contact MDeverywhere Inc. by visiting www.mdeverywhere.com or by calling 866-340-5500.

Patient health care summary.(Products)
March 1, 2005... The Practical Medical Record: Patient Healthcare Summary system allows for the quick creation of a legible health care summary that can be placed at the front of a patient's chart. The software includes a demonstration CD and costs $300, plus...

Wall storage for charts.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... The Vertical Chart Stacker is a wall-mounted storage unit that can accommodate five charts--low-profile privacy clipboards, springloaded charts, emergency department clipboards, or 1-inch side- or top-opening ring binders. For more information,...

New formulation of Nasonex.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... A scent-free, alcohol-free formulation of Nasonex (mometasone furoate monohydrate) nasal spray, 50 mcg, has been approved to help prevent most seasonal nasal allergy symptoms in adults and children 12 years and older, when started 2-4 weeks...

Blotter strips stop the bleeding.(Products)
March 1, 2005... Seal-On blotters use a microdispersed oxidized cellulose to stop bleeding from minor wounds, scrapes, and razor nicks. When the Seal-On blotter strips come in contact with blood, a soft gel-like layer is formed to stop the bleeding. For more...

All-day formula Allegra-D.(Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Allegra-D (fexofenadine 180 mg and pseudoephedrine 240 mg) extended-release tablets are approved for once-a-day dosage for the relief of symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children 12 years of age and older. For...

Fun tongue depressors.(Products)(from Silver Consumer Products Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... FunDepressors are child-sized wooden tongue depressors that feature designs such as basketballs, daisies, and polka dots. Nontoxic inks are used for safety. The tongue depressors cost $6.99 per box of 100. For more information, contact Silver...