Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Pediatrics for October 2018. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
50 Percent of Children Aged 2 to 5 Years Fear Doctor Visits
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Half of parents report that their children aged 2 to 5 years are afraid of going to the doctor, according to survey results published in the Oct. 15 Mott Poll Report.
Sub-Concussive Hits May Not Be Tied to Neurocognitive Changes
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Sub-concussive head impacts suffered over the course of a single season of youth tackle football may not be associated with neurocognitive functional outcomes, according to a study published Oct. 12 in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.
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USPSTF: Evidence Lacking for Lead Screen in Kids, Pregnancy
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has concluded that current evidence is insufficient for assessing the balance of harms and benefits of screening for elevated blood lead levels in asymptomatic children and pregnant women. These findings form the basis of a draft recommendation statement published online Oct. 30.
Draft Recommendation Statement
Evidence Review — Children
Evidence Review — Pregnant Women
Antibiotics, Acid Suppressants in Infancy May Up Obesity Risk
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 31, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prescription of antibiotics and acid-suppressing medications in early childhood is associated with an increased risk for obesity, according to a study published online Oct. 30 in Gut.
Erectile Dysfunction Common in Childhood Cancer Survivors
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) is 29 percent among male childhood cancer survivors (CCS), according to a research letter published online Oct. 4 in JAMA Oncology.
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AMA Announces Initiative to Reinvent Physician Training
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced a new $15 million competitive grant initiative, the “Reimagining Residency” initiative, aimed at improving residency training.
Prenatal Exposure to Phthalates Linked to Language Delay
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prenatal exposure to phthalates is associated with language delay in children, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Mortality Among Young People Declined From 1999 to 2015
TUESDAY, Oct. 30, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Mortality rates for infants and youths generally declined in the United States from 1999 to 2015, though they remain higher than rates in Canada and England/Wales, with especially high rates among black and American Indian/Alaskan Native youth, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Low Levels of Flu Reported in U.S. From May to October
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From May 20 to Oct. 13, 2018, low levels of influenza activity were reported in the United States, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Health Officers Express Concerns About Vaccine Exemptions
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — After the passage of Senate Bill 277 (SB277) in California, which eliminated nonmedical vaccine exemptions for school entry, health officers and immunization staff reported concerns including an increase in medical exemptions, according to a study published online Oct. 29 in Pediatrics.
Many Hospitals Noncompliant With Record Request Regulations
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Among top-ranked U.S. hospitals, data reveal discrepancies in information provided to patients regarding medical records release processes as well as noncompliance with state and federal regulations, according to a study published online Oct. 5 in JAMA Network Open.
Paid Family Leave Policies May Modestly Increase Breastfeeding
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Women in states with paid family leave (PFL) policies have a modestly greater likelihood of exclusively breastfeeding at six months, according to a study published online Oct. 25 in the American Journal of Public Health.
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Odds of Overweight/Obesity Up for Children With Autism
MONDAY, Oct. 29, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have increased odds of overweight/obesity compared with general population controls after adjustment for child co-occurring conditions, according to a study published online Oct. 9 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
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Prior-Season Vaccination Does Not Curb Flu Shot Effectiveness
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Prior-season vaccination is not associated with reduced vaccine effectiveness (VE) among children aged 2 to 17 years, according to a study published online Oct. 26 in JAMA Network Open.
Cancer Survival Higher in Teens, Young Adults Than Other Groups
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall, cancer survival among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) has consistently exceeded that of other age groups except during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, according to a study published Oct. 15 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
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Trump Administration Announces Plan to Cut Drug Prices
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In an effort to cut high drug costs, the prices paid by Medicare for certain prescription drugs would be based on those in other advanced industrial nations, according to a proposal announced Oct. 25 by the Trump administration.
HHS Study
New York Times Article
No Drop Seen in CT Use for Pediatric Head Trauma
FRIDAY, Oct. 26, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Computed tomography (CT) neuroimaging did not decrease from 2007 to 2015 among pediatric patients evaluated in the emergency department for head injury, according to a study published in the October issue of Pediatrics.
Abstract/Full Text
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Infant HIV Infection Ups Risk for Congenital CMV Infection
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — HIV-exposed infants have high rates of congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection, and in utero HIV infection seems to be a major risk factor for cCMV, according to a study published in the October issue of The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal.
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Pace of Change Has Accelerated in Alternative Payment Models
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The impact of alternative payment models (APMs) on physician practices has been described in a study published by the RAND Corp. and the American Medical Association.
Nearly Half of Children Seen in ED for Bronchiolitis Get Radiography
THURSDAY, Oct. 25, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Despite guideline recommendations to the contrary, nearly half of children seen in the emergency department for bronchiolitis receive radiography, according to a research letter published online Oct. 16 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Almost One in 10 Treated in Hospital for Non-Fatal Injury
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In 2013, 9.8 per 100 people were treated in the hospital for a non-fatal injury, with costs estimated at $1.853 trillion, according to a study published online Oct. 8 in Injury Epidemiology.
7 Children Dead From Adenovirus Outbreak in New Jersey
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — New Jersey health officials on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of seven children after infection with an adenovirus.
More Information
Article from The Record (Bergen County)
FDA Approves First New Influenza Drug in 20 Years
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For the first time in nearly two decades, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new type of antiviral influenza drug.
Myo-Inositol Does Not Reduce Retinopathy of Prematurity
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Treatment with myo-inositol for up to 10 weeks does not reduce the risk for type 1 retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) or death versus placebo for premature infants younger than 28 weeks of gestational age, according to a study published in the Oct. 23/30 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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Prevalence of Pediatric Metabolic, Bariatric Surgery Examined
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — From 2005 through 2014, an estimated 14,178 metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) procedures were performed among pediatric patients aged 20 years and younger with severe obesity, according to a research letter published online Oct. 22 in JAMA Pediatrics.
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Arthritis in Adulthood Linked to Childhood Maltreatment
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 24, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The prevalence of arthritis is higher among adults who experience severe and/or frequent childhood maltreatment, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in Arthritis Care & Research.
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White House Unveils New Insurance Option for Small Firms
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A plan to allow small businesses to use tax-free accounts to provide health coverage for employees was announced today by the Trump administration.
AP News Article
More Information
Kids’ Sport Participation Tied to Higher Bone Mass in Young Adults
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Children who are consistent sport participators have greater bone mineral content (BMC) at age 20 years, according to a study published online Oct. 17 in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research.
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Advance Care Planning Lowers Symptoms in Teens With HIV
TUESDAY, Oct. 23, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Family-centered pediatric advance care planning (FACE pACP) is associated with a lower likelihood of symptoms and suffering for adolescents with HIV, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in Pediatrics.
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Strong Link for Peds Obesity, Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — High childhood body mass index (BMI) is strongly correlated with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), according to a study published online Oct. 22 in Pediatrics.
Postnatal Education Increases Pain Relief Use at Vaccinations
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — In-hospital postnatal education about infant pain management at vaccinations leads to more frequent use of pain relief interventions, according to a study published online Oct. 22 in CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Guidelines Outlined to Ease Peds Transition to Adult Health Care
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines have been updated to support the health care transition from adolescence to adulthood, according to a clinical report published online Oct. 22 in Pediatrics.
Adolescent, Young Adult Pod-Based E-Cigarette Use Up
MONDAY, Oct. 22, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Adolescents and young adults are increasingly using electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) products such as pod-based systems but have misperceptions and lack of knowledge about these products, according to a study published online Oct. 19 in JAMA Network Open.
CDC: Vaccination Rates More Than 95 Percent for Kindergartners
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Overall vaccination coverage is high among the nation’s kindergarten students, according to research published in the Oct. 12 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Variability in Geographic Availability of New Antibiotics
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — There is considerable variability in the geographic availability of antibiotics, according to a study published online Oct. 16 in PLOS ONE.
Asthma May Raise Obesity Risk Later in Childhood
FRIDAY, Oct. 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Early-onset asthma and wheezing may contribute to an increased risk of developing obesity later in childhood, according to a study published in the Sept. 1 issue of the European Respiratory Journal.
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HPV Vaccination Not Tied to Risky Sexual Behavior in Teen Girls
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Implementation of a school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Canada did not lead to an increase in sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescent girls, according to a study published in the Oct. 15 issue of CMAJ, the journal of the Canadian Medical Association.
Model Identifies Adolescents at Risk for Smoking Initiation
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — A novel prognostic tool can be used to accurately identify adolescents at risk for initiating cigarette smoking, according to a study published online Oct. 1 in Pediatrics.
Procurement Requirements Drive Interoperability in Health Care IT
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Interoperability of health care information technology (IT) must be improved to facilitate creation of a fully integrated health care system that can improve health and health care at lower cost, according to a report published by the National Academy of Medicine.
Limited Evidence for OTC Preps to Treat Nasal Symptoms of Colds
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Limited evidence is available for over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for nasal symptoms of the common cold, according to a report published online Oct. 10 in The BMJ.
Maternal Trauma Associated With Low Male Infant Birthweight
THURSDAY, Oct. 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Higher lifetime trauma among women is associated with decreased birthweight among male offspring, according to a study published Sept. 6 in The Journal of Pediatrics.
CDC Warns of Salmonella Illnesses Linked to Raw Chicken
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 17, 2018 (HealthDay News) — The number of people sickened in a Salmonella outbreak linked to raw chicken products now stands at 92 people in 29 states, U.S. health officials said today.
Global Prevalence of Eczema Estimated for Children, Teens 
Immunization Schedule for Children, Teens Updated for 2023 
Most Children Exposed to Makeup, Body Products for Play 
Surge in Severe Strep Cases in Children Was Really a Return to Normal: CDC 
2013 to 2022 Saw Increase in Group A Streptococcal Infections 
Rhinoviruses, Enteroviruses Persisted During Pandemic Among Pediatric Patients 
Genetic, Environmental Prenatal Risk Factors Play Role in Early Atopic Dermatitis 
Measles Outbreak in Ohio Declared Over After 85 Cases 
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