Pediatrics
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Comparative Study
Association between sudden infant death syndrome and prone sleep position, bed sharing, and sleeping outside an infant crib in Alaska.
To determine the contribution of prone sleeping, bed sharing, and sleeping outside an infant crib to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). ⋯ Almost all SIDS deaths in Alaska occurred in association with prone sleeping, bed sharing, or sleeping outside a crib. In the absence of other risk factors, SIDS deaths associated with parental bed sharing were rare.
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Investigators have sought to establish "low-risk" criteria to identify febrile young infants who can be observed safely without antibiotics. Previous studies have used criteria for standard urinalysis to identify suspected urinary tract infection; however, cases of urinary tract infection have been missed. Enhanced urinalysis, using hemocytometer cell count and Gram stain performed on uncentrifuged urine, has been shown to have greater sensitivity and negative predictive value than standard urinalysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of criteria that incorporate enhanced urinalysis to identify febrile young infants who are at low risk for serious bacterial illness (SBI). ⋯ . The application of low-risk criteria using enhanced urinalysis improves identification of infants who are at low risk for SBI.
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To evaluate the diagnostic value of peripheral circulatory reactive hyperemia and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in early-onset neonatal sepsis. ⋯ Newborn infants with septicemia have increased reactive hyperemia and elevated cytokine levels very early in their disease. Reactive hyperemia in skin can be analyzed at the bedside and noninvasively and therefore may serve as an additional diagnostic tool in neonatal sepsis.
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Bicycling remains one of the most popular recreational sports among children in America and is the leading cause of recreational sports injuries treated in emergency departments. An estimated 23 000 children younger than 21 years sustained head injuries (excluding the face) while bicycling in 1998. ⋯ Recently, a group of national experts and government agencies renewed the call for all bicyclists to wear helmets. This policy statement describes the role of the pediatrician in helping attain universal helmet use among children and teens for each bicycle ride.