Pediatrics

Molecular Differences Between Pediatric and Adult Psoriasis Plaques

The pathology of pediatric psoriasis differs from that of adult psoriasis, a finding that has implications for treatment, researchers suggest.

Fertility Therapy Failure Tied to Increased Risk of Heart Problems

Fertility treatment failure is associated with a significant increased risk of cardiovascular disease over the long term.

Children with Certain Disabilities at Greater Risk of Abuse

A new study shows that children with intellectual disabilities and mental/behavioral problems are at greater risk of maltreatment than those with autism, Down syndrome or birth defects, but support for all are needed

Four Traits in Adolescents May Predict Future Substance Abuse

  • The Preventure program has been shown to reduce substance abuse among adolescents.
  • Identification of 4 personality traits along with intervention related to those traits reduces rates of substance abuse.
  • Program has been studied in randomized controlled trials in schools in the U.K.

Studies Link Backpacks, Back Pain in Kids, Adults


  • Studies link heavy backpacks with low back pain in children.
  • Chronic low back pain in children is strongly linked to chronic low back pain in adulthood.
  • Low back pain is one of the most frequent causes of missed work days and long-term disability.
  • Backpack weight should not exceed 15% to 20% of child’s body weight.
  • Societies and associations have published backpack guidelines to reduce incidence of low back pain.
  • This cost-free healthcare could prevent extensive future medical interventions.

Pediatric Academy Says No More Codeine for Kids

  • American Society of Pediatrics recommends that pediatricians stop prescribing the drug.
  • Codeine response is widely variable among children, outcomes are unpredictable.
  • This crude opioid is potentially lethal.
  • Other drugs are better suited for pediatric clinical scenarios.

Benefits of Fish Nutrition During Pregnancy Outweigh Mercury Risks

  • Nutritional benefits of maternal fish consumption outweighed the risk of neurologic deficits associated with mercury.
  • The better neurobehavioral performance observed in infants with higher mercury biomarkers should not be interpreted as a beneficial effect of mercury exposure, which is clearly neurotoxic.
  • Better neurobehavioral performance in mercury-exposed infants likely reflects the benefits of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake associated with fish consumption.
  • Polyunsaturated fatty acid intake has been shown to benefit attention, memory, and other areas of development in children.

Randomized Clinical Trial Finds Exposure Therapy Reverses Peanut Allergy in Infants, Toddlers

  • Exposure therapy for infants and toddlers leaves 4 out of 5 desensitized, study finds.
  • Primary endpoint of sustained unresponsiveness to peanuts achieved in significantly more children in treatment groups.
  • Earlier implementation of peanut protein exposure therapy yields superior results.
  • At 2 treatment doses, exposure therapy was effective in rapidly suppressing allergic immune responses and achieving safe dietary reintroduction of peanuts.
  • Study adds to collection of studies showing that exposure is treatment of many childhood allergies.

Oncologists Are Leading the Effort for Universal HPV Vaccination

  • HPV is thought to be responsible for more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, 70% of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
  • The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered to be nearly universally effective when properly administered.
  • Pediatricians and primary care physicians have been unable to succeed in providing widespread vaccination in preteens and adolescents.
  • Studies show that physician assertion of efficacy is the most effective means of convincing parents to inoculate young patients.

Hypertension in Kids Linked to Overweight, Adult Diabetes

  • As many as 44% of high school athletes are overweight or obese; 15% have hypertension.
  • National guidelines state that blood pressure should be measured every year in children, starting at age 3.
  • Treating hypertension, overweight in children can prevent later T2DM cases.
  • You can break the cycle by checking blood pressure in all kids and counseling parents on healthy weight.

Update: Zika Bordering on Epidemic in the U.S.

  • Florida reports 10 new cases of Zika, the largest one-day announcement ever in the U.S.
  • Total case in U.S. approaches 1000.
  • No vector-borne cases yet reported in U.S.
  • Nearly 300 pregnant, Zika-infected Americans currently being monitored by the CDC.
  • Zika linked to microcephaly, seizures and spasticity, facial abnormalities, and problems with feeding and vision in newborns.
  • Disease linked to Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome and Zika-related eye injury in adults.

Overweight in Children Linked to Later Substance Abuse

  • Weight status at ages 7 and 8 years was predictive of age of first substance use episode.
  • For girls, earlier substance use was associated with being overweight as a child, especially for Hispanic girls.
  • Girls who were overweight as children were found to be more likely to begin to use cigarettes, marijuana, or alcohol at an earlier age than their healthy-weight peers.
  • For boys, unhealthy weight status predicted later substance use.

Physicians Can Help Protect Patients Against Zika This Summer

  • Nearly 300 pregnant, Zika-infected Americans currently being monitored by the CDC.
  • Zika linked to microcephaly, seizures and spasticity, facial abnormalities, and problems with feeding and vision in newborns.
  • Disease linked to Guillain-BarrĂ© syndrome and Zika-related eye injury in adults.
  • Nearly 6000 cases of microcephaly have been confirmed in Brazil.

Oncologists Are Leading the Effort for Universal HPV Vaccination

  • HPV is thought to be responsible for more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, 70% of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
  • The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered to be nearly universally effective when properly administered.
  • Pediatricians and primary care physicians have been unable to succeed in providing widespread vaccination in preteens and adolescents.
  • Studies show that physician assertion of efficacy is the most effective means of convincing parents to inoculate young patients.

Oncologists Are Leading the Effort for Universal HPV Vaccination

  • HPV is thought to be responsible for more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, 70% of vaginal, vulvar, and oropharyngeal cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
  • The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is considered to be nearly universally effective when properly administered.
  • Pediatricians and primary care physicians have been unable to succeed in providing widespread vaccination in preteens and adolescents.
  • Studies show that physician assertion of efficacy is the most effective means of convincing parents to inoculate young patients.

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