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This Month in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:329.
Factors Preventing Gun Acquisition and Carrying Among Incarcerated
Adolescent Males
There has been a dramatic decline in the rate of firearm homicides involving
adolescents and young adults in the United States from the peak in 1992. Reasons
for this decline are hotly debated by experts around the country. This ethnographic
study of 45 incarcerated adolescents indicated that fear of arrest or incarceration
were the most important demand-side factors discouraging gun acquisition or
carrying. High price and lack of availability were cited as frequent supply-side
deterrents. This study indicates that actions by the criminal justice and
regulatory community have had an affect on gun acquisition and gun carrying
by youth.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Accuracy of a Noninvasive Temporal Artery Thermometer for Use in Infants
While rectal temperatures remain the gold standard for the assessment
of fever in infants, newer noninvasive thermometers have been developed. This
study compares these noninvasive methods with rectal temperatures in infants
younger than 1 year. While temporal artery thermometers correlated better
with the rectal temperatures than did tympanic devices, and were somewhat
more sensitive in identifying febrile infants, neither had adequate sensitivity
to detect fever in these children.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Effectiveness of a Practice-Based Intervention to Increase Vaccination
Rates and Reduce Missed Opportunities
Achievement of a 90% up-to-date vaccination rate by 2 years of age remains
a national goal that has been difficult to achieve. Missed opportunities are
a major reason for our lack of success. This study found that simple, inexpensive
reminders attached to charts at the time of acute care visits significantly
improved vaccination delivery rates, particularly among children continuously
enrolled in a health plan.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Television Watching, Energy Intake, and Obesity in US Children
More adults are overweight now than 20 years ago, and the prevalence
of overweight among American children and adolescents is increasing. Data
on more than 4000 children in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination
Survey study indicated that obesity was 2.6-fold greater among children watching
4 or more hours of television per day, compared with those watching 1 hour
or less. The caloric intake was nearly 400 kcal higher in girls who watched
this much television. This study clearly indicates the need to reduce sedentary
behaviors such as television watching and to promote a more active lifestyle.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Witnessing Violence Among Inner-city Children of Substance-Abusing
and Non–Substance-Abusing Women
A strikingly large portion of young children, especially in the inner
city, witness violence in their lives. Schuler and Nair found that children
of non–substance-abusing mothers witness as much violence as children
with substance-abusing mothers. Almost half of 6 year olds had witnessed a
beating, and 1 in 14 had seen someone shot or stabbed. Not surprisingly, these
children had more problems with aggression, attention, and stress than children
not exposed to violence. The long-term effects on children must be examined,
and appropriate interventions implemented.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Significance of Grunting Respirations in Infants Admitted to a Well-Baby
Nursery
While standard pediatric texts list grunting as a sign of respiratory
distress in newborns, the significance and course of grunting have not been
examined. This study of 466 newborns found an incidence of grunting in the
first 4 hours of life for 17.4%. Grunting stopped in 93% of infants by 2 hours.
These infants were more likely to have received bag mask ventilation in the
delivery room, and their mothers were more likely to have received
intrapartum antibiotics. Since grunting resolved quickly in the vast majority
of infants, laboratory evaluation can be postponed for 1 to 2 hours.
(SEE ARTICLE)
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