Treatment of Otitis Media and Incidence of Mastoiditis
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Antibiotic treatment for otitis media halved the risk for mastoiditis, but 4831 antibiotic prescriptions were needed to prevent one case.
Burden of RSV Infection in Young Children
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The authors estimate that, in young children, RSV infection is associated with 1 of 334 hospitalizations, 1 of 38 ED visits, and 1 of 13 primary care outpatient visits annually in the U.S.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
February 10, 2009
Covering:
Hall CB et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 5; 360:588
Vicks: To Rub or Not to Rub
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
An animal study raises additional questions about the use of Vicks VapoRub in young children.
Invasive H. influenzae Infection in Children in Minnesota
<$EMPH_O>H. influenzae<$EMPH_C> is on the rise in Minnesota.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
February 4, 2009
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009 Jan 30; 58:58
Occult Bacteremia Is Rare in Young Children with Unexplained Fever
Since introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine, urinary tract infection has become the most common bacterial infection in children who have fever without localizing signs.
Need for Lumbar Puncture in Children with Simple Febrile Seizure
The decision to perform lumbar puncture in a child with a simple febrile seizure should depend more on the history and physical examination than just on the age of the patient.
Rapid Viral Testing in Febrile Infants
A positive viral screen should obviate the need for antibiotic prescription or further testing (other than a possible urine culture) in febrile infants who appear relatively well.
RSV Infection in Young Children
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
In recent years, the burden of respiratory syncytial virus infection in otherwise healthy youngsters has been unexpectedly large.
Interfering with Plantar Warts
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Interferon injection produced a surprisingly good cure rate for single plantar warts.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
January 23, 2009
Covering:
Aksakal AA et al., Clin Exp Dermatol 2009 Jan; 34:16
Decline in Pneumococcal Meningitis Following Introduction of Conjugate Vaccine
Vaccinating children has led to a 30% decline in the overall rate of pneumococcal meningitis in children and adults.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
January 14, 2009
Covering:
Hsu HE et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Jan 15; 360:244
No perfect test exists to supplant judgment and follow-up.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
January 14, 2009
Covering:
Bakir M et al., Ann Intern Med 2008 Dec 2; 149:777
Nicol MP et al., Pediatrics 2009 Jan; 123:38
How Might Viral DNA Contribute to Schizophrenia?
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
New research into human endogenous retrovirus has startling results.
By Steven Dubovsky, MD
January 12, 2009
Covering:
Perron H et al., Biol Psychiatry 2008 Dec 15; 64:1019
Torrey EF and Yolken RH., Biol Psychiatry 2008 Dec 15; 64:1017
Is CDAD incidence increasing Among children?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Data from 22 children’s hospitals showed that between 2001 and 2006, the annual incidence of <$EMPH_O>Clostridium difficile<$EMPH_C>–associated disease increased by 47%.
Penicillin vs. Cefuroxime for Perianal Streptococcal Dermatitis
Clinical improvement and bacteriologic cure were better with cefuroxime than with penicillin.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
December 24, 2008
Covering:
Meury SN et al., J Pediatr 2008 Dec; 153:799
Update on the 2008–2009 Influenza Vaccine: It’s Not Too Late to Vaccinate
The potential for increased resistance of influenza viruses to antivirals makes vaccination this year even more important!
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2008 Dec 12; 57:1329
Promising Results from Malaria Vaccine Trials
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
RTS,S malaria vaccine with the AS02D adjuvant didn’t interfere with routine infant vaccines; given with the AS01E adjuvant, it protected 56% of children against malaria.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Bejon P et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2521
Abdulla S et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2533
Treating Malaria in Areas with Multiple Plasmodium Species
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Drugs that are effective against falciparum malaria work poorly against vivax; treatment choices for vivax malaria are limited.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Karunajeewa HA et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2545
Baird JK., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2601
Is Empyema Increasing Among Children?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A medical center in California reports a fivefold increase in cases of childhood empyema since 2000.
By Robert S. Baltimore, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Hendrickson DJ et al., Pediatr Infect Dis J 2008 Nov; 27:1030
Why Did the Inactivated RSV Vaccine Increase Disease Severity?
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a mouse model, formalin-killed RSV induced antibodies with low avidity for protective epitopes; adding TLR agonists might solve the problem.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Delgado MF et al., Nat Med 2008 Dec 14
Mycoplasma -Associated Neurologic Disease
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
<$EMPH_O>Mycoplasma pneumoniae<$EMPH_C> caused a school-based cluster of respiratory disease with neurologic complications.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
December 17, 2008
Covering:
Walter ND et al., J Infect Dis 2008 Nov 1; 198:1365
Mercy, Mercy, MRSA
Dermatology Summary and Comment
It’s mercifully rare. Only 7% of patients presenting to a German dermatology clinic had MRSA infections.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
December 12, 2008
Covering:
Jappe U et al., J Invest Dermatol 2008 Nov; 128:2665
Can We Predict Lyme Disease as a Cause of Facial Palsy in Children?
Emergency Medicine Summary and Comment
Independent predictors of Lyme disease facial palsy were onset of symptoms during peak Lyme disease season, history of headache, presence of fever, and no history of herpetic lesions.
Malaria — A Potential Vaccine and New Treatments
The treatment of children with malaria must be based on knowledge of the specific organism and local resistance patterns.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
December 10, 2008
Covering:
Bejon P et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2521
Abdulla S et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2533
Karunajeewa HA et al., N Engl J Med 2008 Dec 11; 359:2545
Serious Bacterial Infections Are Rare in Young Infants with Bronchiolitis
In an office-based study, no infant with fever and bronchiolitis had serious bacterial infection.
What’s That Growing on Our Palms?
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Our hands can transmit infectious agents; what organisms are we carrying? If physicians are like undergraduates, the answer is not simple.
By Mark V. Dahl, MD
December 5, 2008
Covering:
Fierer N et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008 Nov 18; 105:17994
Grice EA et al., Genome Res 2008 Jul; 18:1043
Liu AH., J Allergy Clin Immunol 2008 Nov; 122:846
