Email a Friend
Print Article
Dr. P's Top 10 Pediatric Stories of 2007
It's that time again. I don't know about you, but it's positively scary how fast each new year rolls around! Here, in no particular order, are my picks of the most interesting or important pediatric stories of 2007:
- Baby Einstein or Baby Birdbrain?
Turns out that studies show that Baby Einstein won't turn your infant into an adult genius. In fact, these DVDs may even have a negative effect if used as an electronic babysitter/teacher in lieu of human interactions. Come on, you didn't really believe you could plop an infant in front of a DVD and make him/her smarter.
Aside from the fact that Einstein himself never had the benefit of Baby Einstein, infants learn best in the context of a relationship which offers not only one-way stimulation (like a video), but interaction - complex responses based on what the baby does or does not do - and, most importantly, teaching that occurs in the context of a burgeoning emotional attachment with a beloved caregiver. What video can even come close to that? - Immunizations rule.
The new Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine appears to be very safe and effective. For the inevitable future scary outbreak, a new bird flu vaccine has been developed. Intranasal flu vaccine appears to work well. And more vaccines are in the pipeline.
Repeat after Dr. P: Immunizations are one of the great human inventions of the 20th century. Don't be tragically misled by fear-mongers who try to convince you that immunizing your kids is somehow irresponsible, rather than one of the great gifts you as a parent can provide your children. - New antibiotic-resistant bacteria emerge.
What goes around comes around. For years we have known that bacteria eventually develop resistance to antibiotics. And for years we have been prescribing (and many parents have been insisting on) unnecessary antibiotics (e.g., for viral respiratory infections.). The result: the usual bacterial suspects are becoming more antibiotic resistant.
Who will eventually emerge victorious in this do-or-die contest: the drug manufacturers' ability to stay ahead of the curve and invent new antibiotics or the bacteria's ability to become resistant to them? There's no cause yet for panic, but we need to learn our lesson: no more unnecessary antibiotics for viral infections "just to be safe". - Cold meds a hot topic.
Although I believe their danger has been overblown and they are pretty safe, there have been case reports of nasty side effects, especially in pre-school kids given more than the recommended dose of cold medications.
More important than potential risks, in my view: cold medications are pretty much useless and therefore not worth any risk, however small. Cough medicines, for example, are totally ineffective (in fact, if they did work they could be harmful. We need to cough up the goop and not let it just hang out in the back of the throat.). Decongestants probably can help some to stem the flow of mucous and offer some relief but, especially in young kids, is that slight edge worth the potential side effects? Finally, antihistamines do nothing to alleviate cold symptoms, but occasionally do make some kids sleepy at night (which, I suppose, is nothing to sneeze at).
All in all, grandma was right: chicken soup, hot lemon tea and honey, a vaporizer, elevate the head of the bed, provide a healthy dose of TLC, and wait for tincture of time to cure the cold. - New sources of stem cells.
This is a good news story of 2007. It doesn't take a lot of imagination to see the wonderful potential of stem cells to cure human disease. The very good news in 2007 has been that new sources (other than controversial frozen embryos) have emerged which are likely to be effective.
Aside from transforming plain old human skin into stem cells, the placenta and amniotic fluid seem to have an abundance of these cells. In 2008, watch for plans to harvest these tissues and cells to create "banks" of stem cells which can be later offered to genetically compatible recipients to cure their diseases. And watch for more parents to "bank" some of these amniotic/placental cells for the infant him/herself, should s/he contract some disease in later life. Ain't modern medicine grand? - Sleepy heads.
More evidence is emerging about the importance of a good night's sleep for kids. Those who have apnea or significant snoring or don't sleep enough hours seem to have more daytime problems, such as poorer concentration, moodiness, behavioral problems, information processing issues, etc.
There is no perfect answer - some kids just aren't great sleepers and others perhaps don't even require as much sleep as the books say. But the (awful) term "good sleep hygiene" can be applied to every child: a consistent bedtime with a soothing bedtime ritual (e.g., a warm bath and a story), a bedroom free of distractions (like the TV), and the incentive allow the child to put himself to sleep on his own. - Get the lead out.
As by now you are well aware, it turns out surveillance of the safety of children's toys has been spotty. It's not just toys from China that are of concern. My understanding is that many countries recycle old metals and paints - some of which contain lead - into their new toys and paints. As a result, it can be kind of random if a toy might have lead or not. And, I don't need to remind you - lead at any level does not belong in your child's body.
Watch for more lead testing in 2008 by the toy manufacturers, by US agencies, and by local toy stores. Insist on purchasing only those toys which have been approved as safe and lead-free. - Better school grades for kids with ADHD who take their meds.
Most doctors (like me) and most parents dealing with ADHD know the incredible benefits that stimulant medications can provide a child. But while there are a ton of studies demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of these medications in the short run, there has been little evidence of long term benefits.
That's why it was reassuring to see the results of an analysis in 2007 showing that kids with ADHD taking stimulant medication had better grades in school, compared to kids with ADHD who don't take meds. And, need I remind you, success in school is the name of the game for the 21st century child. - New asthma guidelines.
New guidelines for treating this most common of chronic diseases were published in 2007. The good news: they are sensible and should go a long way to decrease symptoms and hospitalizations due to asthma. The bad news: the majority of pediatricians do not follow them and hence deliver suboptimal asthma care.
Got a child with asthma? Be sure your pediatric provider is aware of and following these effective new guidelines. - The numbers of uninsured children remains a national disgrace. In 2006, about 11 million children under the age of 19 were uninsured (with the vast majority in families in which one or more parents were employed). A few unidentified flying facts: Uninsured children are 13 times more likely to lack a usual source of health care, 3 times as likely not to have seen a doctor in the past year, 5 times more likely to have at least one delayed or unmet health care need.
And of course you know our no-child-left-behind champion used his veto to nix the expansion of SCHIP (the supplemental bare bones insurance offered to uninsured kids). He's worried that its financial eligibility criteria would be too liberal and thereby turn SCHIP into a middle class entitlement.
Sorry, I just don't get why universal health insurance for our children isn't a no-brainer national mandate. If Dr. P has said it once, he's said it a thousand times: Of all the stupid ways for our society to save money, not providing all kids with health insurance has to be among the stupidest.
Here's to a stellar 2008 for you and your family!
Enjoy your kids!
- Dr. P
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags:
top 10, list, pediatrics, adhd, sleep, MRSA, asthma, HPV, vaccine, stem cell
