Pediatrics
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Youth spend an average of >7 hours/day using media, and the vast majority of them have access to a bedroom television, computer, the Internet, a video-game console, and a cell phone. In this article we review the most recent research on the effects of media on the health and well-being of children and adolescents. ⋯ However, recent evidence raises concerns about media's effects on aggression, sexual behavior, substance use, disordered eating, and academic difficulties. We provide recommendations for parents, practitioners, the media, and policy makers, among others, for ways to increase the benefits and reduce the harm that media can have for the developing child and for adolescents.
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Comparative Study
Measles outbreak in a highly vaccinated population, San Diego, 2008: role of the intentionally undervaccinated.
In January 2008, an intentionally unvaccinated 7-year-old boy who was unknowingly infected with measles returned from Switzerland, resulting in the largest outbreak in San Diego, California, since 1991. We investigated the outbreak with the objective of understanding the effect of intentional undervaccination on measles transmission and its potential threat to measles elimination. ⋯ Despite high community vaccination coverage, measles outbreaks can occur among clusters of intentionally undervaccinated children, at major cost to public health agencies, medical systems, and families. Rising rates of intentional undervaccination can undermine measles elimination.
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Comparative Study
Effectiveness of the informed consent process for a pediatric resuscitation trial.
When prospective informed consent is not feasible, clinical research that presents more than minimal risk can proceed only with an exception from informed consent. Our objectives were (1) to describe the in-hospital community consultation and public disclosure process for a clinical trial and (2) to evaluate our in-hospital public disclosure process. ⋯ Parents endorsed resuscitation research with an exception from informed consent. Public disclosure yielded >80% parental awareness. Efforts should be made to ensure awareness of the ability to opt out.
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Comparative Study
Outcome of early-onset sepsis in a national cohort of very low birth weight infants.
Early-onset sepsis (EOS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality among infants with a very low birth weight (VLBW); however, there is a sparse amount of complete data on large cohorts. ⋯ Although only 2.4% of VLBW infants had an episode of EOS, these infants were at an approximately threefold excess risk of death or major neurologic morbidities.
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Computed tomography (CT) is used often in the evaluation of orbital infections to identify children who are most likely to benefit from surgical intervention. Our objective was to identify predictors for intraorbital or intracranial abscess among children who present with signs or symptoms of periorbital infection. These predictors could be used to better target patients for emergent CT. ⋯ We confirmed that patients with proptosis and/or pain or limitation of extraocular movements are at high risk for intraorbital abscess, yet many do not have these predictors. Other features can identify patients who do not have such obvious predictors but do have significant risk of disease. A recursive partitioning model is presented.