 |
|
This Month in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156:308.
Prevalence and Patterns of Intimate Partner Violence Among Adolescent
Mothers During the Postpartum Period
Although physical violence during pregnancy is well recognized as a
public health problem, there is little information available on the prevalence
and duration of violence among adolescent mothers. Harrykissoon and colleagues
interviewed 570 adolescents within 48 hours of delivery and followed them
for up to 24 months' post partum. One in 5 adolescent mothers reported being
victims of violence by 3 months' post partum, and three quarters of mothers
who had been abused prior to delivery were also abused after the birth of
the child. All women should be routinely screened for intimate partner violence
during pregnancy, as well as after the birth of the child.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Concurrent Serious Bacterial Infections in 2396 Infants and Children
Hospitalized With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Prior studies have indicated that many infants hospitalized for respiratory
syncytial virus infections are prescribed a regimen of antibiotics, especially
those who have abnormalities on chest radiograph. A review of nearly 2400
infants and children admitted to one hospital during 7 respiratory seasons
found that 70.5% had begun receiving antibiotics on admission. There were
no positive blood cultures for pathogens, and positive urine cultures were
found in 1.1%. Concurrent serious bacterial infection is rare in infants hospitalized
for respiratory syncytial virus, and empiric antibiotic treatment is not indicated.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Associations Between Health Risk Behaviors and Opposite-, Same-, and
Both-Sex Sexual Partners in Representative Samples of Vermont and Massachusetts
High School Students
Sexual minority youth are known to face a disproportionate number of
health risks compared with their heterosexual peers. In a population-based
sample of more than 22 000 high school students, both-sex students had
a 3- to 6-fold greater risk than opposite-sex students of being threatened
or injured with a weapon, making a suicide attempt, using cocaine, or using
risky means to control their weight. School- and community-based interventions
should be considered to prevent and reduce these health risks among adolescents
who have sex with both males and females.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Prospective Identification and Treatment of Children With Pediatric
Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated With Group A Streptococcal
Infection (PANDAS)
The possible association of streptococcal infections with the sudden
onset of neuropsychiatric disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder,
tics, and chorea has been described in psychiatric referral populations. In
this primary care, practice-based study, Murphy and Pichichero describe 12
school-aged children who had a greater than 3-year period with the sudden
onset of severe obsessive-compulsive behaviors accompanied by signs of acute
group A ß-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Antibiotics seemed to
be effective in treating the neuropsychiatric symptoms. The prevalence of
this is more common than other nonsuppurative complications of group A ß-hemolytic
streptococcal infection.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Does Soccer Ball Heading Cause Retinal Bleeding?
Increasing attention is being paid to the potential health consequences
of soccer players repeatedly heading the ball. Reed and colleagues studied
21 soccer players aged 13 to 16 years. These players averaged 79 headers in
the prior 2 weeks. None of the players had retinal hemorrhages. Examination
of the biomechanical forces in 7 children while heading the ball found linear
cranial accelerations of 3.7g, while rotational accelerations
were negligible. Headers seem unlikely to cause retinal hemorrhage despite
the considerable linear forces sustained.
(SEE ARTICLE)
|
