Most Clicked AAP SmartBrief Stories
1. Pediatricians doubt effectiveness of sensory integration therapy
AAP SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
An AAP policy statement in Pediatrics says there is little evidence supporting the effectiveness of sensory integration therapy for children with sensory-based problems. The group recommends that pediatricians examine children for underlying developmental disorders instead of making a diagnosis of sensory processing disorder. Reuters (05/28)
2. Study links asthma drugs to higher arrhythmia risk
AAP SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Young patients with asthma who took high doses of inhaled anticholinergics were at greater risk of suffering from irregular heartbeat than other patients, according to a study to be presented at the conference of the American Thoracic Society. The increased risk, however, was not seen in patients who received tiotropium or who received ipratropium in combination with short-acting beta agonists. HealthDay News (05/22)
3. Controlled crying may leave babies distressed, study says
AAP SmartBrief | May 25, 2012
Babies ages 4 to 10 months who were left crying still had high levels of cortisol in their saliva on successive nights when they spent less time crying before sleep, according to a study published in the journal Early Human Development. Despite the elevated levels, researchers said the babies didn't demonstrate behavioral distress during the transition to sleep. Telegraph (London), The (05/24)
4. C-section delivery may double risk of childhood obesity, data show
AAP SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Data from records of 1,255 mother-and-child pairs in eastern Massachusetts showed that babies born via cesarean section were twice as likely to be obese at age 3 as vaginally born babies. The study appears in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. Washington Post, The (05/23) Google (05/24)
5. Breast-fed babies show slight advantage in cognitive development
AAP SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Researchers monitored the progress of almost 400 babies for one year and found that those who were breast-fed had a slight advantage over babies who were given soy-protein formula or milk-based formula in terms of mental development. The findings appear in the journal Pediatrics. Huffington Post, The (05/28)
6. Many babies at risk of development delays don't get early intervention
AAP SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Thirty-six percent of 118 children in California who failed the standardized developmental test and had no previous early intervention did not receive a referral during an initial follow-up visit at ages 4 months to 8 months, a study in Pediatrics found. Researchers said the numbers were similar at the second follow-up visit. Budget cuts to the state's early intervention services and stricter eligibility criteria might explain the low referral rate for such services, they said. Reuters (05/22)
7. Cranberry syrup can prevent recurrent pediatric UTIs, study says
AAP SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Cranberry syrup was effective and noninferior to trimethoprim for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection among children aged 1 month to 13 years, Spanish researchers wrote in the Open Access Journal of Clinical Trials. They also found that more than half of the recurrent UTI cases were attributed to Escherichia coli. NutraIngredients (05/28)
8. Fever during pregnancy increases risks of autism, developmental delays
AAP SmartBrief | May 24, 2012
Babies born to mothers who had a fever during pregnancy were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed later with autism or developmental delays than those whose mothers didn't have a fever, a study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders found. Researchers said taking medication to treat the fever slightly reduced the risk of developmental delays and significantly reduced the risk of autism. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model) (05/23)
9. Children's bodies absorb chemicals from PVC flooring
AAP SmartBrief | May 29, 2012
Urine samples of 83 babies ages 2 months to 6 months showed that those who had PVC flooring in their bedrooms had higher levels of phthalates. These flooring chemicals can be absorbed by the body through food, breathing and skin contact, Swedish researchers said. Yahoo! (05/25)
10. FDA approves younger children's use of Novo's diabetes drug Levemir
AAP SmartBrief | May 23, 2012
Novo Nordisk's insulin analog Levemir was approved by the FDA for 2- to 5-year-olds with type 1 diabetes. The agency based the expanded approval on a study that found the drug was as effective as neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin based on mean A1C values at one year. Family Practice News (05/22) Drug Store News (05/22)
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