Vitamin D testing in children and adolescents in Victoria, Australia: are testing practices in line with global recommendations?
Conclusion
Testing volumes increased 30-fold, but the odds of detecting low 25OHD remained steady. Current Australian policy and the Global Consensus Recommendations for the prevention and management of nutritional rickets do not support routine 25OHD testing. Education and electronic pathology ordering tools may assist GPs to better align practice with current recommendations. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Zurynski, Y., Munns, C. F., Sezgin, G., Imai, C., Georgiou, A. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
What about positive childhood experiences?
Much has been written about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and we know that they can have a huge effect on long term adult physical and mental health as well as many social and behavioural outcomes and premature mortality. What can we do about them? Are there any protective factors; positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and can we use them to have an impact on the detrimental effects of the ACEs? Huang CX et al (Pediatrics 2023;152: e2022060951. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-060951) have examined the associations between composite score of PCEs and adult health, importantly with adjustments for ACEs. They ha...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Miscellanea Source Type: research
Childhood/adolescent Sydenhams chorea in the UK and Ireland: a BPSU/CAPSS surveillance study
Conclusions
SC remains a rare condition in the UK and Ireland but has not disappeared. Our findings emphasise the impact that the condition can have on children’s functioning and confirm that paediatricians and child psychiatrists should remain vigilant to its presenting features, which commonly include emotional and behavioural symptoms. There is a further need for development of consensus around identification, diagnosis and management across child health settings. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Wooding, E. L., Morton, M. J. S., Lim, M., Mitrofan, O., Mushet, N., Sie, A., Knight, B., Ford, T., Newlove-Delgado, T. Tags: Open access Original research Source Type: research
Acceptability of multiple coated mini-tablets in comparison to syrup in infants and toddlers: a randomised controlled study
Conclusion
Multiple coated mini-tablets are a suitable age-appropriate alternative to liquid formulations in the paediatric population. No safety concerns with the use of coated mini-tablets were observed in the study.
Trial registration number
DRKS00010395. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Klingmann, V., Hinder, M., Langenickel, T. H., Chen, F., Khder, Y., Breitkreutz, J., Bosse, H. M. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Navigating two 'truths: a qualitative study of physician-led end-of-life decision-making for children with life-limiting conditions
Conclusions
Paediatricians feel responsible for facilitating the alignment of parental understanding of the child’s health status with their own. This is achieved either through direction or by holding differences between parental and medical truths about the child’s health in tension to provide time, space, and clarity. This alignment was seen as key to enabling end-of-life treatment decisions, without which conflict in end-of-life decision-making can arise or persist. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Vemuri, S., Hynson, J., Williams, K., Gillam, L. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
What is the impact of high-profile end-of-life disputes on paediatric intensive care trainees?
Conclusion
UK PIC trainees feel unprepared and anxious about future high-profile cases. A parallel can be drawn to child protection improvements following significant educational investment after government reports into preventable child abuse deaths. Models for supporting trainees and establishing formal PIC training are required to improve trainees’ confidence and skills in managing high-profile cases. Further research with other professional groups, the families involved and other stakeholders would provide a more rounded picture. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Bell, C. E., Dittborn, M., Brierley, J. Tags: Original research Source Type: research
Can mediation avoid litigation in conflicts about medical treatment for children? An analysis of previous litigation in England and Wales
Conclusion
The potential of mediation to avoid future litigation may be more limited than hoped for. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Neefjes, V. Tags: Press releases Original research Source Type: research
Randomised controlled trials in child and adolescent health in 2023
In the year July 2022 to June 2023 there were 501 publications from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in child and adolescent health in developing countries identified through a standardised search strategy that has been going for 20 years. This year, trials addressed the widest range of diseases and conditions that affect the health, development and well-being of children, newborns, adolescents and mothers. RCTs reflected old, neglected and new problems, the changing epidemiology of child health, social and economic circumstances in many countries, local and global priorities of low-income and middle-income countries, e...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Duke, T. Tags: Editor's choice, ADC Global child health Source Type: research
Neurosurgical management of elevated tone in childhood: interventions, indications and uncertainties
Elevated tone (hypertonia) is a common problem in children with physical disabilities. Medications intended to reduce tone often have limited efficacy, with use further limited by a significant side effect profile. Consequently, there has been growing interest in the application of Neurosurgical Interventions for the Management of Posture and Tone (NIMPTs). Three main procedures are now commonly used: selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), intrathecal baclofen (ITB) and deep brain stimulation (DBS). This review compares these interventions, along with discussion on the potential role of lesioning surgery. These interventions va...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Lumsden, D. E. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Preventing food allergy fatalities
We describe the data behind the good practice points to facilitate their adoption in routine practice without generating additional anxiety for what is a comparatively rare event. We also propose an information leaflet for patients and carers, developed with patients and endorsed by two major allergy charities, to facilitate dissemination of the recommendations in this review. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Foong, R.-X., Patel, N. B., Turner, P., Roberts, G. C., Fox, A. T. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections in children
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are commonly used for the long-term management of hydrocephalus in children. Shunt infection remains a common complication, occurring in about 5%–15% of CSF shunts. This narrative review summarises key evidence from recent literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, outcomes and prevention of CSF shunt infections in children. The majority of shunt infections occur due to contamination at the time of surgery, with coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus being the most common infecting organisms. Clinical presentations o...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Konrad, E., Robinson, J. L., Hawkes, M. T. Tags: Review Source Type: research
Toxic and addictive effects of nicotine on children and adolescents: are we sleepwalking into a public health disaster?
Livingston FC, a mid-table team in the Scottish Premier league, has announced a new sponsorship deal. This may seem of little interest to UK paediatricians, but this is the latest commercial link between sport and the vaping industry. The UK worked hard to reduce the exposure of children to combustible tobacco and its toxic by-products such as nicotine. Since the 1960s, teenage use of cigarettes has steadily decreased via a campaign highlighting negative health impacts, stopping advertising, banning use in social spaces, raising the legal age and limiting access in shops. The alarming rise, from 3% to 43%, in the number of...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Coutts, J., Langley, R. J. Tags: Viewpoint Source Type: research
Jumping in puddles and other goods of childhood
‘When life throws you a rainy day, play in the puddles.’ —Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne Jumping in puddles on a rainy day is a pleasurable activity of childhood although I rarely do it now. Jumping in puddles has no practical purpose yet is full of significance and meaning. Therefore, this is an ideal activity to consider the goods of childhood. Recently, philosophers have considered the goods of childhood; whether such goods exist, what these goods might be and how they might be distinct from other human goods, and whether adults have a duty to provide these goods to children.1–5 The goods of childhood...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Massie, J. Tags: Viewpoint Source Type: research
SARS-CoV-2-related bronchiolitis: a multicentre international study
Conclusions
SARS-CoV-2 rarely causes bronchiolitis in infants. SARS-CoV-2-related bronchiolitis mostly has a mild clinical course. (Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood)
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Cozzi, G., Sovtic, A., Garelli, D., Krivec, U., Silvagni, D., Corsini, I., Colombo, M., Giangreco, M., Giannattasio, A., Milani, G. P., Minute, M., Marchetti, F., Gatto, A., Debbia, C., Gortan, A. J., Massaro, M., Hatziagorou, E., Ravida, D., Diamand, R., Tags: COVID-19 Original research Source Type: research
Atoms
TimingPnomh Penh 22.10 After a protracted delivery and some unexpected hesitancy after the cord is deftly cut by the obstetrician, Achariya draws her first breath under the glare of the maternity theatre lamp. Lusaka 17.10 Had her parents delayed leaving the village any longer (the temporary crepuscular defervescence having been falsely reassuring), Mary’s outcome (and ‘the lab had never seen such a high degree of parasitaemia’ said the paediatrician while coupling the artemether), might have been very different. Asuncion 11.10 The surgeon, calm, her operating theatre embalmed in the soothing Guarania mel...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - August 17, 2023 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Brown, N. Tags: Highlights from this issue Source Type: research
