Articles tagged with Pediatrics
Adolescent sports-related deaths from commotio cordis can be reduced with timely CPR and defibrillator use. The study suggests that accessible AEDs and CPR-trained coaches at organized sporting events are crucial in delivering effective first-responder therapy.
A research review of 42 studies found that viewing on-screen smoking increases the likelihood of teens starting to smoke. Eliminating tobacco scenes from youth-rated films could substantially reduce smoking initiation in adolescents.
A randomized controlled trial of 275 uninsured Latino children found that community-based case management resulted in a significant increase in insured children, with 96% obtaining health insurance compared to 57% without case managers. The intervention also showed improved parental satisfaction and faster insurance enrollment.
A new study at Boston Children's Hospital found that most children with severe congenital heart defects can safely participate in exercise programs. The 12-week program improved cardiac function and reduced anxiety in the children, who were motivated by games and activities tailored to their interests.
A study by Keith Barrington and Annie Janvier found that hospital policies, staff training, and parent expectations significantly influence neonatal resuscitation decisions. The authors advocate for better documentation to ensure clear decision-making processes.
A study found that 60% of healthcare providers, parents, and childcare workers knew the national guidelines for common childhood ailments only 60% of the time. Temporary exclusions are designed to prevent disease spread, but inconsistent application can lead to contentious issues between parents and caregivers.
Two studies by nephrologists at Texas Children's Hospital reveal that mild renal insufficiency is linked to poor outcomes in children with acute decompensated heart failure. Additionally, the research shows that hypertension in children is a silent disease that requires early screening and management.
The new CD-ROM provides a wide range of resources, including patient education brochures, professional educational materials, and web links to numerous useful resources. The CD-ROM has been overwhelmingly approved by healthcare professionals, who will use it to better understand and manage childhood rheumatic diseases.
A study of 3,530 elementary school students found that 22% were involved in bullying, either as a victim or bully. Psychologically distressed children are more likely to be involved in some form of bullying, and those who struggle academically are more likely to be victims and bully-victims.
A new study reveals a strong association between prolonged bottle-feeding and iron deficiency among Mexican-American infants, affecting up to 17% of this population. The longer children were bottle-fed, the higher their risk of iron deficiency, with 36.8% of Mexican American children still bottle-fed at 24-48 months.
Research finds significant regional variations in US low birth weight rates, with some areas having rates up to 3 times higher than others despite controlling for established risk factors like race and socioeconomic status. The study suggests that improvements in social and healthcare systems can lead to better neonatal outcomes.
A study found that gun-safety counseling improved safe storage practices among gun-owning families, with 50.9% of intervention group families showing improvement compared to 12.3% of control group families. Gun locks also significantly reduced the risk of injury.
A new study found that pediatricians frequently neglect to follow up on children who fail initial hearing screenings, leaving them without necessary treatment. This can lead to delayed diagnosis of hearing loss and potentially irreversible language delays in young children.
Researchers identified the DCDC2 gene as a significant contributor to dyslexia, disrupting brain circuitry that enables reading. The study's findings have the potential to lead to early and accurate diagnoses, as well as more effective educational programs for individuals with dyslexia.
Virginia Stallings, M.D., a leading researcher in pediatric nutrition, has been elected to the Institute of Medicine. Her work focuses on nutrition-related growth failure in children with chronic medical conditions, establishing national standards for nutritional care.
Pediatricians report encountering vaccine refusal in 85% of cases, with the most common reasons being safety concerns, philosophical reasons, and religious beliefs. Some physicians may choose to dismiss families from their practice if parental vaccine refusal is not addressed.
A study by Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD, found that the cerebellum grows rapidly late in gestation and is tightly interconnected with the cerebral hemispheres. Premature babies with cerebellar damage experience significant developmental delays, including motor problems, functional limitations, and global developmental delays.
A Canadian paper comments on a decline in cystic fibrosis birth rates since the onset of genetic testing. The study found that newborns with cystic fibrosis had lower birth weights and were at higher risk of prematurity compared to non-affected children.
A pediatrician at Brenner Children's Hospital found that genital warts in young children do not necessarily mean child abuse. The virus causing the warts can also be spread through non-sexual contact, such as from mother to child during birth or through contaminated objects.
Steroid treatment has been shown to reduce inflammation of the heart blood vessels by half in children with Kawasaki's disease. The use of steroids combined with aspirin and IVGB significantly decreases the risk of developing serious complications. Most children recover fully from Kawasaki's disease, which is treatable.
A survey of pediatricians found that 85% reported encountering a family refusal of at least one vaccine in the previous year. The most common reasons for dismissal were lack of shared goals and trust. Pediatricians may choose to end care for families who refuse vaccinations due to concerns about immunization safety.
A new study using real-time MRI reveals improved tools for evaluating heart disease in fetuses. This advanced imaging technique provides three-dimensional measurements of the fetal heart's volume and function, allowing doctors to plan more effective care before birth.
The pediatric acute liver study, directed from Children's, will investigate the causes and treatment of acute liver failure in children. The three aspects of the study include developing a registry, therapeutic clinical trials, and basic research into genetic causes of the condition.
During lowest-rated games, emergency room visits were 15% above normal volume due to fans showing up in the emergency department. However, after the Red Sox won a game, visits dipped by 5-15%. The study found an inverse relationship between Red Sox viewership and ER visits.
The new guidelines emphasize ongoing self-education and research participation, with a focus on developing physician-scientists. The report outlines specific training requirements in key areas, including echocardiography, electrophysiology, and adult congenital heart disease.
A study of over 33,000 children's doctor visits found that only 0.1% were diagnosed with obesity during well-child visits, despite the national rate being 13-15%. When doctors did diagnose obesity, they were more likely to discuss diet and exercise.
A wire injury from jumping on a bed can be more than just a minor knock on the noggin, according to Dr. Dante Pappano. He published a case study in Pediatric Emergency Care journal after discovering that a mattress wire snapped inside a Rochester boy's foot, leading to a serious injury.
The hospital will train four fellows a year in pediatric rheumatology, addressing the shortage of specialists due to limited certification. Dr. Raphael Hirsch's lab is working on finding new targets for therapy and improving diagnosis.
The number of students in US medical schools remained constant between 1994-1995 and 2004-2005, at approximately 67,000. Meanwhile, full-time faculty members increased by 32%, with many specialties experiencing an influx of new recruits.
A randomized trial found that hand sanitizer reduced the incidence of secondary GI illnesses by 59% in families with day care children. Families who used hand sanitizer also showed a lower risk of transmitting respiratory illnesses, although this effect was not statistically significant.
A new JAMA study compares sleep deprivation to alcohol ingestion and shows that long work hours impair young doctors' cognitive function. The researchers found that residents who worked extended hours performed similarly to those with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
A recent study found that children using community health centers in medically underserved areas have a higher prevalence of overweight compared to the general population. The study analyzed data from nearly 2,500 children aged 2-11 and found that overweight children made up 22% of younger kids and 24% of older kids in these centers.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that prompt ear tube insertion does not improve developmental outcomes in healthy children with middle-ear effusion, contrary to previous findings. The study enrolled 6,350 infants and followed them regularly for three years.
Residential injuries are a major cause of death in US children and teens, with the majority being preventable. A study found that fatal residential injuries decreased by 22% between 1985-1997, but disparities persist due to socioeconomic factors.
A new study found that high school age children with a healthy weight had favorable lipid profiles, including lower levels of triglycerides and higher ratios of HDL cholesterol. The leanest teens, those with less than 25 percent body fat, had the best lipid/lipoprotein profiles.
A survey of over 115 parents found that 74% had heard of using cranberry for UTI prevention, but few discussed it with pediatricians. Cranberry products were used by 29% to treat or prevent UTIs, often without medical guidance.
Researchers found that all relatives with aortic valve disease had mutations in the NOTCH1 gene, leading to early developmental defects. The study suggests that targeting these mutations could prevent calcification and slow disease progression, offering potential therapeutic avenues for patients at risk.
PediPump, a small rotary dynamic VAD, demonstrates excellent hemodynamic performance in children. Researchers plan to further reduce its size to enable implantation as a totally implantable pediatric VAD.
A study found significant variation among pediatricians in interpreting 'reasonable suspicion' for child abuse, with varying thresholds and inconsistent responses. This discrepancy has profound implications for victims, families, and caregivers, emphasizing the need for standardized guidelines and training.
Long-term effects of child early intervention programs show improved physical and mental health in adulthood. Participants who received more services had better health outcomes, including higher incomes and lower depression rates.
The report highlights the growth of female pediatricians and positive trends in medical student recruitment, but notes a lack of ethnic and racial diversity among pediatricians. The new policy aims to address geographic disparities and recruit more diverse pediatricians to serve the increasing population of minority children.
State-sponsored anti-tobacco media campaigns are associated with reduced youth smoking rates and increased antismoking attitudes. Students exposed to at least one state ad per four months were less likely to smoke and more likely to believe they would never start.
The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) proposes several key strategies to stabilize immunization financing, including expanded funding for vaccine programs and improved reimbursement structures. The NVAC also recommends expansion of the Vaccines for Children Program to include underinsured children in all public health clinics.
Health professionals from Physicians for Social Responsibility, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American Nurses Association file lawsuit against EPA over mercury rule. The rule threatens significant mercury reductions for 10-15 years longer than required by Clean Air Act, posing risks to brain development in children.
A new expert panel recommends that children spend at least an hour a day in moderate to vigorous physical activity. This can be achieved through appropriate school programs, parental influence, and community support.
A 13-member expert panel recommends that school-age children engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. This is based on a review of over 850 articles and 1,200 abstracts, which found that shorter periods of activity may not be enough to achieve similar benefits.
A study of pediatrician attitudes towards childhood obesity found that many felt unconfident in their ability to treat the condition, with a scarcity of educational materials and personal biases being major factors. Despite this, nearly half of overweight pediatricians did not identify themselves as such.
A new program, The Sibling Center, aims to support the emotional and behavioral well-being of healthy siblings of children with chronic medical conditions. Preliminary responses show promising results, including reduced anger and improved communication within families.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University found elevated levels of leptin may be the cause of cachexia, a common complication of CKD. Blocking the MC4-R pathway in the brain may provide a novel therapeutic strategy to combat this life-threatening complication.
Chronic drowsiness in teens can be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder, according to a new report. The study highlights the importance of rigorous pediatric sleep histories to diagnose potential conditions.
The new guidelines emphasize the importance of open communication between parents, camp officials, and medical professionals about a child's health needs. Camps are advised to provide parents with detailed information about their programs, including risks associated with certain activities, and to have staff trained in first aid and CPR.
A recent study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that the Medicaid system fails to identify 28% of children in foster care. The study also discovered that nearly 40% of these children never visited a healthcare provider after being placed in foster care, highlighting concerns about unmet medical needs.
The lack of effective cancer therapy access in developing countries is a pressing issue, with over 60% of children lacking treatment options. Experts propose twinning partnerships between institutions to improve pediatric cancer care through education and training.
Pediatric oncologist Peter C. Adamson emphasizes the need for targeted treatments that spare healthy cells, reducing toxic side effects. The Institute of Medicine report proposes a public-private partnership to develop new pediatric anticancer drugs.
Researchers found that using limited amounts of chemotherapy improved outcomes in 86.4% of patients and overall survival rates of 95.9%. Factors such as bone marrow count and extra chromosomes were key predictors of response to less intensive treatment.
A study found that approximately 30,000 US children have short stature due to non-growth hormone deficiency Primary IGF-1 deficiency. This suggests one-third to half of idiopathic short stature cases can be re-classified as Primary IGFD.
A phase 2 trial of MIBG therapy shows an overall response rate of 35 percent in children with refractory or relapsed neuroblastoma. The treatment selectively targets tumor cells and has a lower risk of toxic effects on blood cells compared to conventional treatments.
Children under five are most likely to die waiting for a liver transplant due to organ shortage. Living donor liver transplantation offers better graft and patient survival rates for pediatric patients.
A recent study by University of Vermont researchers found that a majority of US children are hospitalized at non-children's hospitals, with over one in twenty visits being for mental health conditions. The study also highlighted disparities in care, including higher rates of hospitalization among low-income patients and teenagers.
A study found that trampoline injuries among children increased significantly between 1990 and 2002, with 91% of injuries occurring at home. The incidence of severe injuries requiring hospitalization also rose dramatically during this period.