 |
|
This Month in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156:420.
Adolescent Vegetarians: How Well Do Their Dietary Patterns Meet the
Healthy People 2010 Objectives?
Vegetarian diets are increasingly common among adolescents. Perry and
colleagues studied more than 4500 adolescents to determine if adolescent vegetarians
were more likely to comply with the dietary recommendations of Healthy People
2010 than their nonvegetarian counterparts. Vegetarians were found to be more
likely to meet the Healthy People 2010 recommendations for fat, saturated
fat, fruits, and vegetables, but they consumed less vitamin B12,
more caffeine, and more diet drinks than nonvegetarian adolescents. Two thirds
of adolescents in both groups did not meet the recommended intake of calcium.
Vegetarian diets in adolescents can be a healthy alternative to the traditional
American meat-based diet.
(SEE ARTICLE)
An Anomaly Within the Latino Epidemiological Paradox: The Latino Adolescent
Male Mortality Peak
Despite high risk factors for poor health, Latino health outcomes are
generally similar to, or better than, those of white people. This study of
15- to 24-year-old populations in California during 1989 to 1997 confirmed
that the risk of death was generally lower among Latinos than among non-Hispanic
white individuals. However, among 15- to 24-year-old males, the risk of death
is increased nearly 2-fold compared with non-Hispanic white males, and the
major cause of this increase was homicides and motor vehicle crashes. Over
time, these differences in mortality from homicide seem to be decreasing,
while there appears to be no lessening in mortality differences due to motor
vehicle crashes.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Effects of the Seattle Social Development Project on Sexual Behavior,
Pregnancy, Birth, and Sexually Transmitted Disease Outcomes by Age 21 Years
The Seattle Social Development Project is a well-known controlled intervention,
begun in elementary school and with long-term follow-up, to promote bonding
of children to school and family. In this article, Lonczak and colleagues
report on the effect of this intervention on sexual behavior and associated
outcomes at age 21 years. The intervention decreased the number of sexual
partners and increased the probability of condom use for both sexes, and among
females it significantly reduced both the likelihood of becoming pregnant
and experiencing a birth by age 21 years. The study demonstrates that the
promotion of academic success, social competence, and bonding to school during
elementary grades can prevent risky sexual practices and adverse health consequences
in early adulthood.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Cramped, Synchronized General Movements in Preterm Infants as an Early
Marker for Cerebral Palsy
Because cerebral palsy continues to occur among premature infants, methods
to increase the reliability of early identification are necessary and important.
This international group of investigators conducted serial video recordings
of premature infants from birth until 56 to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age. Observations
of cramped synchronized general movements, poor repertoire of movements, and
abnormal fidgety movements proved to be 100% sensitive and highly specific
for cerebral palsy in this age group. These observations may provide a much-needed
tool for early identification and intervention for infants with neurological
damage.
(SEE ARTICLE)
Risk of Serious Bacterial Infection in Children With Fever Without
a Source in the Post–Haemophilus influenzae
Era When Antibiotics Are Reserved for Culture-Proven Bacteremia
In the last decade, rates of invasive infection due to Haemophilus influenzae type B have dropped dramatically following the
introduction of an effective vaccine, potentially altering existing guidelines
for evaluation of children with fever. This large study of more than 9000
children aged 2 to 36 months visiting emergency care with fever found that
3% were bacteremic, with Streptococcus pneumoniae
accounting for 84% of positive blood cultures. The mean time for a positive
culture was 17.5 hours. Only 0.08% of the patient population who had not been
treated with antibiotics at the initial visit developed serious bacterial
infections. This study suggests that reserving antibiotics for culture-proven
infection was not associated with an increased risk of developing serious
infections.
(SEE ARTICLE)
|
