Antibiotic Treatment for Children with AOM: Who Benefits?
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
The answer seems to be children younger than 2 years with bilateral AOM.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
March 22, 2007
Covering:
Rovers MM et al., Pediatrics 2007 Mar; 119:579-85
Features of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in Children
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
In a study of 92 children, coma and need for inotropic support or intravenous fluid boluses were associated with adverse outcome.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
March 21, 2007
Covering:
Buckingham SC et al., J Pediatr 2007 Feb; 150:180-4
Varicella Vaccine Needs Boosting
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
The incidence and severity of breakthrough disease both rise with time after vaccination.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 15, 2007
Covering:
Chaves SS et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Mar 15; 356:1121-9
Waning Immunity with the Varicella Vaccine
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Free
A population-based study shows declining immunity over time in individuals who receive only a single dose of varicella vaccine.
By Richard T. Ellison III, MD
March 14, 2007
Covering:
Chaves SS et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Mar 15; 356:1121-9
Acetaminophen Toxicity in a Newborn: Knowing When to Stop
Parents need explicit dosing instructions, including when to stop giving an analgesic.
By William P. Kanto, Jr., MD
March 7, 2007
Covering:
Walls L et al., J Perinatol 2007 Feb; 27:133-5
Oseltamivir Is Less Effective Against Influenza B Than Influenza A in Children
Emergency Medicine
Summary and Comment
This agent is costly, minimally beneficial, and potentially harmful.
By Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP
March 2, 2007
Covering:
Sugaya N et al., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Jan 15; 44:197-202
Rhinoviruses: Beyond the Common Cold
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Rhinoviruses play an under-recognized role in severe respiratory infections in young children.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
February 28, 2007
Covering:
Miller EK et al., J Infect Dis 2007 Mar 15; 195:773-81
The Spectrum of Herpes Simplex Encephalitis in Children
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
In 25% of children with herpes simplex encephalitis, CSF PCR results were negative; in another 13%, a positive PCR test followed a negative one.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
February 21, 2007
Covering:
Elbers JM et al., Pediatrics 2007 Feb; 119:e399-407
Flu Shots or Intranasal Flu Vaccine for Children?
The cold-adapted live attenuated intranasal vaccine is more effective than the intramuscular flu vaccine.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Belshe RB et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:685-96
Cox NJ and Bridges CB., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:729-31
CDC Reports Fatalities from Cold Medications
Inappropriate use of common cold medications can be fatal in infants.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Jan 12; 56:1-4
Do Corticosteroids Improve Outcome in Kawasaki Disease?
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
Free
Intravenous methylprednisolone is not indicated for the primary treatment of acute KD in children.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Newburger JW et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:663-75
Burns JC., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:659-61
Attenuated vs. Inactivated Flu Vaccine in Children: Benefits and Adverse Effects
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Free
An investigational attenuated flu vaccine has superior efficacy to standard inactivated vaccine, but it comes with a significant risk for medically important wheezing.
By Neil R. Blacklow, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Belshe RB et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:685-96
Cox NJ and Bridges CB., N Engl J Med 2007 Feb 15; 356:729-31
Preventing TB in HIV-Infected Children
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Isoniazid prophylaxis in very young HIV-infected children markedly decreased TB incidence and mortality.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
February 14, 2007
Covering:
Zar HJ et al., BMJ 2007 Jan 20; 334:136-9
Middle-Ear Effusion, Tubes, and Developmental Outcomes: Is the Controversy Over?
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Free
Tympanostomy tubes are not indicated for young children with minimal hearing loss and normal speech and language development.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
February 1, 2007
Covering:
Paradise JL et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Jan 18; 356:248-61
Berman S., N Engl J Med 2007 Jan 18; 356:300-2
PFAPA Syndrome: Broader Clinical Experience
Low doses of corticosteroids were effective, and antibiotics were not.
By F. Bruder Stapleton, MD
January 31, 2007
Covering:
Tasher D et al., Arch Dis Child 2006 Dec; 91:981-4
Predicting When Meningitis Is Bacterial
A simple scoring system proved to be highly accurate.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
January 31, 2007
Covering:
Nigrovic LE et al., JAMA 2007 Jan 3; 297:52-60
Chronic Cervicofacial Lymphadenitis: Still a Diagnostic Dilemma
PPD is a start, but assessment of lymph node tissue is often necessary.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
January 31, 2007
Covering:
Lindeboom JA et al., Clin Infect Dis 2006 Dec 15; 43:1547-51
No Apparent Risk for Guillain-Barré Syndrome Associated with Vaccination
Neurology
Summary and Comment
Reassuring epidemiologic data from the United Kingdom
By Kenneth C. Gorson, MD
January 30, 2007
Covering:
Hughes RA et al., Arch Intern Med 2006 Jun 26; 166:1301-4
Molluscum, Children, and Cures
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
In this study, curettage worked best and parents preferred it.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
January 26, 2007
Covering:
Hanna D et al., Pediatr Dermatol 2006 Nov/Dec; 23:574-9
Do the Benefits of a Flu Shot During Pregnancy Go Beyond Mom?
Infants are not protected by maternal influenza vaccination during pregnancy.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
January 24, 2007
Covering:
France EK et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2006 Dec; 160:1277-83
Predicting Bacterial Meningitis in Children
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
An existing prediction rule seems to perform quite well in the era of widespread pneumococcal vaccination.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
January 18, 2007
Covering:
Nigrovic LE et al., JAMA 2007 Jan 3; 297:52-60
Could Testing for HHV-6 Infection Change Fever Management?
Positive PCR testing of plasma for HHV-6 infection does not rule out serious bacterial infection.
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
January 17, 2007
Covering:
Zerr DM et al., J Pediatr 2006 Oct; 149:480-5
New Bronchiolitis Guidelines
Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
Evidence-based recommendations for diagnosis and management of bronchiolitis
By Cornelius W. Van Niel, MD
January 10, 2007
Covering:
American Academy of Pediatrics Subcommittee on Diagnosis and Management of Bronchiolitis., Pediatrics 2006 Oct; 118:1774-93
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Susceptibility in Immigrants
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Susceptibility to potentially severe childhood diseases is unacceptably high in recent immigrants to Canada.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
January 10, 2007
Covering:
Greenaway C et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jan 2; 146:20-4
Predicting Whether Meningitis Is Bacterial
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
A bacterial meningitis score correctly identified nearly all children with CSF pleocytosis who were at very low risk for bacterial meningitis.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
January 10, 2007
Covering:
Nigrovic LE et al., JAMA 2007 Jan 3; 297:52-60