Pediatric News articles from May 2007

Pediatric News archives from May 2007

Baby teeth woes can impair growth.
May 1, 2007... MIAMI -- Proper care of baby teeth is important to childhood growth and development, including cognitive and psychosocial development, Dr. Rosie Roldan said at a pediatric update sponsored by Miami Children's Hospital. Caries, trauma, and...

Menactra vaccine deemed to reach target populations: aimed at preteen visit, high school entry.(News)
May 1, 2007... KANSAS CITY, MO. -- The strategy of immunizing all children at the 11- to 12-year preadolescent visit and those entering high school with the new meningococcal conjugate vaccine appears to be working, according to preliminary Centers for...

Benefits said to outweigh risks of antidepressants.
May 1, 2007... The latest study looking at the impact of antidepressant therapy on children and adolescents indicates that "overall the scales have been tipped further toward the efficacy of antidepressant treatment for depression, anxiety, and...

AAN weighs in on anticonvulsants.(American Academy of Neurology)
May 1, 2007... Generic anticonvulsants may not be an appropriate choice for patients with epilepsy, and Insurance companies should not force physicians to prescribe them in an effort to cut costs, according to the American Academy of Neurology. Nor...

Dental sealants protect most primary teeth up to 10 years.
May 1, 2007... MIAMI -- Dentists recommend sealants for all children when primary and secondary molars come in--at approximately age 67 years, and again around 11-12 years. However, only 31% of children aged 6-11 years in the United States had sealants...

Prophylactic antibiotics ruled out for most heart patients.
May 1, 2007... Most patients with heart conditions don't need to take antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection prior to a dental procedure, according to revised American Heart Association guidelines. The new guidelines represent a change from previous...

Loperamide not recommended first for diarrhea.
May 1, 2007... The complications from loperamide outweigh any potential benefits for the treatment of diarrhea in children younger than 3 years, based on a meta-analysis that included data from more than 1,700 children younger than 12 years. Although...

Respond rapidly to SCA in athletes, schools told.(sudden cardiac arrest)
May 1, 2007... School sports personnel must be prepared to respond when a student athlete collapses during a practice or game, according to a recent consensus statement. Quick action can make the difference between life and death in cases of sudden...

First avian flu vaccine approved for U.S. stockpile.
May 1, 2007... The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first vaccine that could be used in the event of an avian influenza virus pandemic in the United States. The approval, announced April 17, is for active immunization against influenza...

Hepatitis A and B incidence hits all-time low.(infectious diseases)
May 1, 2007... The rates of new acute hepatitis A and B infections in the United States have plummeted to the lowest levels ever recorded, and may herald the eventual elimination of the diseases in this country. New infections from both viruses declined...

Tuberculosis is a pediatric issue.(ID)
May 1, 2007... We should not let the declining rate of tuberculosis in the United States lull us into missing opportunities for identifying and treating children who have latent infection or are at risk for the disease. Happily, the tuberculosis rate in...

New tests on the horizon to detect latent TB.(tuberculosis)
May 1, 2007... KEYSTONE, COLO. -- New tests that detect latent tuberculosis infection by quantifying interferon-y released from sensitized lymphocytes in whole blood may be a big step toward the elimination of TB, Dr. Charles Daley said at a meeting on...

Topical antifungals: some oldies are still goodies.(infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2007... MAUI, HAWAII -- The newer topical antifungals have essentially the same cure rates as do those available since the 1970s--their advantage is that they work faster, Dr. Douglas W. Kress said at the annual Hawaii Dermatology seminar sponsored by...

Expert warns of ominous signs in AIDS fight.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2007... Los ANGELES -- The number of Americans diagnosed with AIDS is now approaching the 1 million mark, with more than a half-million deaths since the epidemic began and 17,000 more people dying of the disease each year, Dr. Harold Jaffe said during...

Pediatricians must prepare for influenza pandemic.(Kathryn Koelemay at North Pacific Pediatric Society)
May 1, 2007... LYNNWOOD, WASH. -- An influenza pandemic may seem abstract right now, but it will happen, Dr. Kathryn Koelemay, M.P.H., said at a conference sponsored by the North Pacific Pediatric Society. "The time that we spend preparing for it will be...

Resistant influenza B is transmissible.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2007... Influenza B viruses with partial resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors have emerged during routine antiviral therapy and appear to be transmitted from person to person within communities as well as within families. That finding emerged...

Pet turtles carry lethal salmonella risk, FDA warns after infant dies.(Food and Drug Administration)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Pet turtles, especially those with shells less than 4 inches in length, are often natural hosts to Salmonella bacteria, and handling them or coming into contact with their habitats can lead to salmonellosis, the Food and Drug Administration has...

Decline in frequent otitis media tied to PCV7.(Infectious Diseases)(Survey)
May 1, 2007... After routine administration of the seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine began in mid-2000, the frequency of otitis media and pressure-equalizing tube insertions among children in Tennessee and New York born between 2000 and 2001...

Serotype surge follows PCV7 success in Alaska.(pneumococcal 7-valent conjugate vaccine )
May 1, 2007... The phenomenal success of the PCV7 vaccine in Alaska Native children has been blunted by a dramatic rise in infections with "replacement" pneumococcal organisms--that is, serotypes that weren't covered by the vaccine--investigators reported....

HPV vaccine cost makes some doctors hesitate: private providers could pay between $10,000 and $15,000 in vaccine inventory per month.(Infectious Diseases)(human papillomavirus vaccine)
May 1, 2007... KANSAS CITY, MO. -- In the rush to mandate the human papillomavirus vaccine, several implementation issues, not the least of which is cost, remain unresolved, Dr. Howard Backer said at the National Immunization Conference sponsored by the...

Consider newer therapies to treat new strain of C. difficile.(infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2007... STOWE, VT. -- Although Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea is now more severe and more drug resistant than before, because of the evolution of a recently identified and more robust strain, a variety of new agents are in the pipeline. ...

Pertussis booster protects teens beyond 5 years.
May 1, 2007... The acellular pertussis booster vaccine provides immunity that persists beyond 5 years in adolescents, and it likely will do the same in adults, reported Dr. Karl Edelman of Turku (Finland) University Hospital and her associates. In what...

Cantharidin called best molluscum treatment.(Infectious Diseases)
May 1, 2007... VAIL, COLO. -- Many pediatric dermatologists have begun to treat molluscum contagiosum with cantharidin, a blistering agent produced by a beetle, instead of with liquid nitrogen. The reason they have switched is that cantharidin is much...

Two peaks of MRSA in infants reflect sources.(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
May 1, 2007... PHILADELPHIA -- Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred in a bimodal pattern in the first year of life, with peaks in the first 5 months and again shortly before the first birthday. The peaks reflect two...

Worst-case scenarios.
May 1, 2007... One of my partners has a bit of an issue with anxiety. She claims this is a congenital thing and isn't the least bit timid about owning up to her nervousness. As you might expect, she is quite clever at imagining worst-case scenarios, which is...

ADHD assessment tools are essential.(Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
May 1, 2007... The most common neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in childhood is attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. In addition to following DSM-IV criteria, learning to interpret and score either the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale or the Conners'...

Teaching pediatrics to residents.
May 1, 2007... After I had spent many years practicing pediatrics and adolescent medicine in a multispecialty group practice, a new family practice residency program opened at our community hospital. With some trepidation, I made the transition from...

Allow time for a personal life.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I had to send a note of appreciation for Dr. Lee Savio Beers' column ("Resolved: To Avoid Burnout," On the Learning Curve, January 2007, p. 57). I am a pediatrician and the wife of an emergency department physician, and we are 2 1/2 years...

Widespread CDAD testing needless.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I appreciated Dr. Christopher J. Harrison's update on CDAD ("Clostridium difficile-Associated Disease," ID Consult, March 2007, p. 12), and indeed I have encountered community-acquired CDAD in my own practice. However, I would like to add a...

Problems with vaccine mandates.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I believe government should be strongly involved in health care advocacy, but I completely disagree with legislative fiat ("Doctors, Legislators Differ on HPV Vaccine Mandates," February 2007, p. 1). That would deprive individuals of the...

Motivate patients by explaining Hb[A.sub.1c].(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... While I concede the arguments made for a more accurate reporting of true "mean" blood glucose levels instead of hemoglobin [A.sub.1c], this fact must be acknowledged: Hb[A.sub.1c] is now a household word with physicians, and that benchmark has...

Don't be mean about Hb[A.sub.1c] change.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I hope the American Diabetes Association, of which I am a member, involves the diabetes care community before embarking on a major change in the terminology of [A.sub.1c] ("Panel Debates Best Way to Report Glycemic Values, " February 2006, p....

'Performance' definition is elusive.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... Pay for performance, my foot! We hear so much about it, but is there a consensus as to what constitutes good performance? ("Pay for Performance Not Yet Showing Efficacy," October 2006, p. 69.) Let's say that from a doctor's perspective,...

'Ethics police' enforce draconian rules.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... I'm sure I am not alone when I say that the self-appointed "ethics police" have taken to a new extreme the topic of pharmaceutical sales promotions to physicians ("Med Schools Just Say No to Pharmaceutical Gifts," January 2007, p. 65). ...

CHCs merit continued support.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2007... As a pediatrician at a community health center, I was glad to see Dr. Bryan R. Fine's article ("The Role of Community Health Centers," Health Policy: The Fine Line," January 2007, p. 57). CHCs adhere to practice management and quality...

Exam room artwork illuminates many problems: a pediatrician collects drawings from patients during visits to aid his own and the parents, understanding.
May 1, 2007... VAIL, COLO. -- Family drawings, initiated while a child waits to see the doctor, can produce some unique and beneficial teaching moments for parents, children, and pediatricians, according to Dr. Martin T. Stein. Family drawing is a tool...

Recent delinquent behavior linked to suicidal ideation in teens.(Clinical report)
May 1, 2007... Teenage delinquency was significantly associated with an increased risk for suicidal behavior in girls, according to data from a nationally representative sample of American teens. Previous studies have shown an association between...

The technology generation.
May 1, 2007... They've been called "Generation M" for Media--the kids who fill our waiting rooms, phones attached to their ears, fingers flying as they answer text messages or play games on their handheld computers. In a single generation, technology has...

Be alert to the signs of "dusting" in teenagers.
May 1, 2007... MIAMI -- "Dusting," or inhaling gas from computer keyboard cleaner in order to become high, is a practice that is becoming alarmingly popular among adolescents, Dr. Robin McFee said at the annual meeting of the American College of Preventive...

Atopic dermatitis: barrier function era is at hand.
May 1, 2007... MAUI, HAWAII -- A new epoch in the understanding and treatment of atopic dermatitis has arrived: the era of barrier function, Dr. Sheila Fallon Friedlander said at the annual Hawaii Dermatology seminar sponsored by Skin Disease Education...

Novel moisturizers score well in eczema trials.
May 1, 2007... MAUI, HAWAII--Special attention to the types of skin moisturizers and cleansers used in atopic dermatitis patients markedly improved disease management in two randomized controlled trials presented at the annual Hawaii Dermatology Seminar...

Fewer but larger meals may aid obese children.
May 1, 2007... INDIANAPOLIS -- Obese children may eat less when offered larger, less frequent meals, Dr. Rinku Mehra reported at the annual meeting of the Midwest Society for Pediatric Research. "The preliminary results of our study suggest that altering...

Managing problem behavior in autism.(Special Needs: Realizing Potential)
May 1, 2007... Children diagnosed with autism are at increased risk for developing problem behaviors, such as aggression, disruptive behavior, and self-injury through head-banging, head-hitting, and self-biting. Research suggests that about half of children...

A sacral dimple can be benign or a sign of a spinal anomaly.
May 1, 2007... CHARLESTON, S.C. -- A baby's sacral dimple is usually benign, but in rare cases, a sacral dimple signals a serious spinal anomaly, Dr. Gerald Tuite Jr. said at a pediatric meeting sponsored by the Medical University of South Carolina. A...

Altabax, Keppra.
May 1, 2007... DAMIAN McNAMARA, MIAMI BUREAU Altabax (retapamulin ointment 1%, GlaxoSmith Kline) The Food and Drug Administration approved Altabax (retapamulin ointment 1%) for topical treatment of impetigo caused by susceptible strains of...

Nasal spray eases ragweed allergy in clinical trial.(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... SAN DIEGO--Once-daily fluticasone furoate nasal spray improves quality of life in people who suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis, Dr. John T. Given said in a poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy,...

Lidocaine contact allergy may be increasing.
May 1, 2007... AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Lidocaine contact allergy may be on the rise, Dr. James S. Taylor said at a symposium sponsored by the Dermatology Foundation. Although lidocaine, the most commonly used injectable anesthetic, is less likely than...

Oxybutynin may get a label rewrite, FDA says.
May 1, 2007... ROCKVILLE, MD. -- More information on reports of hallucinations and other central nervous system effects associated with oxybutynin should be included in the drug's label, according to Food and Drug Administration safety reviewers. At a...

Shipping of Tigan suppositories halted by FDA.
May 1, 2007... ELIZABETH MECHCATIE Senior Writer Tigan and other suppository drug products that contain trimethobenzamide hydrochloride have not been shown to be effective for nausea and vomiting and should no longer be marketed, according to the...

Watch or refer: make the call on spinal concerns.
May 1, 2007... MIAMI -- Back pain in children and adolescents is rarely serious unless it persists or impairs daily functioning, Dr. Harry L. Shufflebarger said, offering advice on when to refer this and other problems to a spinal specialist. Similarly,...

Three findings help rule out pelvic x-ray in blunt trauma.
May 1, 2007... PHILADELPHIA -- A simple three-point algorithm can reliably exclude pelvic fracture and eliminate the need for routine pelvic x-rays in some pediatric blunt trauma patients, Dr. Andrew Wong said at the annual meeting of the Eastern Society for...

History, exam recommended for sports screen: an ECG for routine preparticipation sports screening is considered unworkable in the United States.
May 1, 2007... Mandating the use of a 12-1ead electrocardiogram for large-scale preparticipation screening for cardiovascular abnormalities in competitive athletes likely is impractical in the United States, according to an American Heart Association...

Short, light training helps prevent ACL injuries in girls.(anterior cruciate ligament)
May 1, 2007... VAIL, COLO. -- Girls and young women who engage in sports will have enhanced performance and less risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury with specific strength and proprioceptive training that lasts only 15 minutes rather than a longer...

New asthma drug has dual effect, expert says.(Symbicort)
May 1, 2007... VAIL, COLO. -- The new asthma drug Symbicort can be used by patients as both their controller medication and their relief medication, Dr. Carolyn M. Kercsmar said at a meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This is...

Texas legislators bar Gardasil mandate.(papillomavirus vaccines)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Texas lawmakers last month rejected Gov. Rick Perry's mandate that 11- to 12-yearold girls in the state be vaccinated against human papillomavirus before entry into the 6th grade. The legislature overwhelmingly approved a bill that bars the...

AAP alarmed at vaccine prices.(American Academy of Pediatrics)(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... The American Academy of Pediatrics said it is very concerned that the soaring costs of vaccines--combined with lower reimbursements from insurance companies--will lead to the underimmunization of U.S. children and unnecessary outbreaks of...

High-deductible plans penalize some.(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Families with children taking even one medication are likely to suffer financially in health plans with high deductibles, according to a study from Harvard Medical School, Boston. The study also found that high-deductible plans penalize women...

Resources for children challenged.(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... Children will see their share of federal domestic spending and the gross national product decline by double digits over the next decade, according to a report from the nonpartisan Urban Institute. Federal resources for children are caught...

SCHIP benefits adolescents.(Policy & Practice)
May 1, 2007... When given health insurance through the state children's health insurance program (SCHIP), teenagers see their doctors more often, racial disparities are eliminated, and more preventive care is received, according to a study from the University...

Off-label drug use rife in hospitalized children.
May 1, 2007... Nearly 80% of hospitalized children were treated with drugs not approved for use at their age for any indication in a large U.S. study, reported Dr. Samir S. Shah of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and associates. The researchers...

Simple label makers sub for electronic records.(Brief article)
May 1, 2007... If you're not ready to invest thousands of dollars in an electronic medical records system, a desktop label writer may be just what the doctor ordered. "This is a very cost-effective alternative for anyone who doesn't have an EMR system,"...

The dilemma of child care.
May 1, 2007... A few weeks ago, I was having lunch with some friends, all of whom re working mothers. As it often does, the conversation shifted to our children. One of my friends was describing how she forgot that her child's nanny had the day off...

Beyond Medicaid.
May 1, 2007... A 5-year-old child came to my office recently for a well-child checkup. He hadn't been seen by a pediatrician in 3 years because he only recently enrolled in Medicaid and his mother couldn't afford routine care. What medical benefits is he...

Physicians seek federal funds to finance EMRs.(electronic medical records)
May 1, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Several individual physicians and professional organizations urged members of Congress to extend tax credits or deductions and small business loans to physicians who purchase information systems and to require Medicare to offer an...

Senate panel votes 5-year renewal of best pharmaceuticals for children act.(Practice Trends)
May 1, 2007... The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has voted to fund another 5 years of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act. Companies that conduct pediatric studies of their products are eligible for additional patent life under...

Moving teens with spina bifida to adult health care.
May 1, 2007... DENVER -- Lessons learned by clinicians at a multidisciplinary program regarding the transition of pediatric patients with spina bifida to an adult medical home can help others meeting the same challenges, according to a presentation at a...

A 'role' call for meetings, part 2.
May 1, 2007... Last month I listed a number of the "whys" for holding staff meetings for your practice, and the take-home message was that you absolutely need to have regular meetings. Now we can turn to the "whats" and the "hows" of such meetings. ...