“ Bulking Up ” For Sports?
Discussion
Athletes, whether recreational or competitive, who participate in weight sensitive sports commonly gain or lose weight to achieve a particular body type or to improve performance. Athletes in duration or aesthetic sports (such as distance running, diving, dance, etc.) attempting to lose weight to be able to move the body against gravity better. Sports that emphasize strength and power including combat sports (such as football, wrestling, mixed martial arts, body building, etc.) often have athletes attempting to gain weight and lean muscle mass to improve performance. This is felt to increase the strength-to-weig...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - October 21, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
How Common is Lyme Disease Globally and in Urban Settings?
Discussion
Lyme disease (LD) is caused by several genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi senu lato that are transmitted by ticks of the Ixodes ricinus complex. In the U.S. and Europe it is the most common vector-borne disease. It is named for Lyme, Connecticut in the 1970s when it was “discovered,” but there are reports of LD-type disease in Europe since 1883. There are 18 distinct genospecies with B. afzelii, B. garinii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto being the 3 most common ones causing human infection. There are many species of Ixodes ticks but only 4 commonly bite humans. Ixodes ricinus mainly in Europe, I, p...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - October 14, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Can Radiolucent Foreign Bodies Be Identified?
Discussion
Foreign bodies are common problems for young children particularly ages 2-4 years who will mouth many objects and aspirate or swallow them. Children will also place foreign objects in other body orifices such as ears or noses. It is also not uncommon that young girls will inadvertently have toilet paper caught in the vaginal area during hygiene. Many of these foreign bodies may work their way out naturally not causing any problems, or may come to attention later because of chronic problems such as a foul-smell or discharge. Older children may tell adults that they have placed a foreign body in an orifice and thu...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - October 7, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
What Affects the Nutritional Quality of Plant-Based Milk Substitutes?
Discussion
People today may be eating more plant-based products because of:
Allergen avoidance – lactose or cow’s milk allergy, 14% of people with cow’s milk allergy will also have soy allergy.
Cultural importance
Contamination avoidance e.g. growth hormone or antibiotic residues in cow’s milk production
Specific diseases, e.g. cholesterol/lipid issues
Environmental impact
Ethical or religious considerations
Improved nutrition
With population growth “[t]he demand for food is expected to grow by 70% until 2050….While the expected protein consumption is believed to grow by 80%.” P...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - September 30, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
What Are Pulmonary Embolism Risk Factors?
Discussion
Pulmonary embolism (PE) is potentially life-threatening but fortunately rare event especially in the pediatric population. It was first described in children in 1861. PE is likely underreported because of minimal or non-specific clinical symptoms. The incidence is estimated at 0.05-4.2% with the 4.2% based on autopsy reports. It is probably also increasing as more central venous catheters (CVC) are used, and more children are surviving previously poor prognostic diseases. There is a bimodal distribution with cases < 1 year (especially neonates which account for ~50% of this group) and in teenagers. Neonates a...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - September 23, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Is This a Fasciculation?
Discussion
Benign fasciculations are very common and occur in up to 70% of the general population. They occur at different points in people’s lives. They can be brought out by stress, poor sleep hygiene and caffeine.
Caffeine has numerous uses especially for regulating sleep and attention. However too much can cause restlessness, jitteriness and sleep deprivation too. The recommended amount of caffeine for a teenager is < 2.5 mg/kg or 100-175 mg/day. A Red Bull® beverage has 80 mg of caffeine /12 ounces, while Mountain Dew® has 55 mg caffeine/12 ounces. A review of caffeine can be found here.
Adolescents, if l...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - September 16, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
How Good are Masks for Preventing Infection?
Discussion
With continued exposure to respiratory pathogens and the emergence of novel respiratory pathogens, personal protective equipment (PPE) and procedures are important for decreasing occupational exposure to respiratory pathogens. PPE and procedures are particularly important when anti-infective treatments or vaccination are unavailable or have limited effectiveness. Medical masks are “[a]lso known as a surgical or procedure mask. As personal protective equipment, a facial mask is intended to protect caregivers and health-care workers against droplet-transmitted pathogens, or to serve as part of facial protect...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - September 9, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
What is the Dosing of CBD Oil?
Discussion
Cannabis sativa makes small fruits which are usually named “seeds” although they are not technically a seed. Hemp oil is derived from the hemp seeds by cold-pressing or other means of macerating or squashing the seeds. Cold pressed oil is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids including various omega-3 and linolenic acids and antioxidants. It is used by some people for its nutritional value and “[a]ccording to an old legend, Buddha (Prince Siddharta Gautama) founder of Buddism, was able to survive eating only one hemp seed each day for six years.” The seeds themselves do not contain any psyc...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - September 2, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Pediatric Education Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Is Physical Activity the Same for Traditionally Schooled and Homeschooled Children?
Discussion
Homeschooled children are a diverse group of students who are not participating in the traditional model of a children going off to a separate school location 5 days a week for instruction by educational professionals. If homeschooled, children may not be subject to all or some of the regulations for traditionally-schooled children regarding curricular measures, record keeping, reporting, and testing. Children in homeschooled environments also may not have access to other services that are provided through traditional schools such as special education services. Some research data shows positive academic and soci...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - August 26, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
What Does the General Pediatrician Do When There Are Concerns for a Rare Disease?
Discussion
Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare disorder. It is usually considered an autosomal recessive disorder but there is significant intra-familial variability. There are multiple genes (~20 currently) involved and it is believed that the phenotypic variability is due to “…differences in the total mutational load across different BBS associated genes….” It is a ciliopathy where mutation changes in proteins in the cilias causes problems in the cilia’s functioning particularly signaling. Cilia are important in signaling to maintain tissue and cellular homeostasis. Obviously screening of ...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - August 19, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
Summer Break
PediatricEducation.org is taking a summer break. The next case will be published in on August 19th. In the meantime, please take a look at the different Differential Diagnoses, Symptom and Disease listed at the top of the page.
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Source: PediatricEducation.org - August 5, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
The Dengue Dance?
Discussion
Dengue is an important arboviral infection that affects about 40% of the world population. It is found mainly in topical and subtropical areas of the world mainly in developing countries but it range is spreading including the United States. A review of common arboviruses can be found here. It is a flaviavirus with 4 distinct serotypes named DENV-1 through DENV-4 and is spread by A. aegypti a day biting mosquito. Infection with one serotype confers immunity to that serotype but not the others. It does offer some protection for cross-infection but this only lasts a few months. Incubation period is 3-14 days with ...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - July 29, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
What Can You Do To Prevent Tinea Infections and Why?
Discussion
Superficial fungal infections are very common. “Dermatophytes are molds that can invade the stratum corneum of the skin or other keratinized tissues derived from the epidermis, such as hair and nails. Organisms most commonly affect the scalp, feet, groin and nails.”
Dermatophytes can be anthropophilic (human to human transmission), zoophilic (animal to human transmission) or geophilic (fomite to human transmission). Zoophilic dermatophytes are usually uncommon sources of human infection. Microsporum canis is the most common zoophilic dermatophyte and it can infect humans with close contact but this...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - July 22, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
How Common Are Cerebrospinal Fluid Leaks After Minor Head Trauma?
Discussion
Basilar skulls fractures are relatively common occurring in 4-20% of all skull fractures. Motor vehicle accidents, significant falls from heights and blunt trauma are the most common causes of basilar skull fractures. Basilar skulls fractures are even less common in children than adults. Complications can include meningitis, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, cranial nerve injuries or even potentially death. With more significant trauma to the head and body, it is not surprising that complications are more likely.
Nasoethmoid facial fractures have similar common mechanisms of injury including motor vehicle accid...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - July 15, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
What Are Common Presentations for Budd-Chairi in Adolescents?
Discussion
Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare liver disease caused by hepatic venous outflow obstruction (HVOTO). The obstruction can be anywhere from the small intrahepatic veins up to the inferior vena cava junction with the right atrium. The liver parenchyma itself is not directly affected but becomes compromised because of the increased hepatic sinusoidal pressure over time. The causes include: prothrombic events (35% of cases such as Protein C or Protein S deficiency, Factor V Leiden or antithrombin deficiency), myeloproliferative conditions, oral contraceptive use, and local factors.
BCS can occur in any age but i...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - July 8, 2019 Category: Pediatrics Authors: pediatriceducationmin Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news
