Pediatrician
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Superficial fungal infections are problems frequently encountered by the pediatrician. Presentation can be quite varied as causative organisms, environment, patient characteristics and secondary infections can significantly alter the clinical picture. A brief review of these common infections with an approach to examination and diagnosis is presented, as well as updated treatment recommendations.
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This paper provides an overview to the assessment and management of chronic and recurrent pain in children with chronic diseases. Relevant clinical research studies are cited, and practical guidelines are provided for the differential assessment and management issues inherent in the comprehensive care of chronic and recurrent pain in children and adolescents with hemophilia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, sickle cell disease, and cancer.
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Children are ideal patients for outpatient surgery. Thorough preoperative medical evaluation and selection of appropriate surgical and anesthetic procedures allow most pediatric surgery to be performed safely on an outpatient basis. ⋯ Good anesthetic management consists of selecting anesthetic agents and techniques to promote safety, minimize complications, reduce postoperative nausea, vomiting and pain, and facilitate recovery and discharge. Most importantly, the outpatient setting permits minimal disruption of a child's life and provides an opportunity for the pediatric patient and family to have a positive health-care experience while receiving necessary surgical care.
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Review Case Reports
Smokeless tobacco addiction: a threat to the oral and systemic health of the child and adolescent.
The use of smokeless tobacco (ST) within the United States has increased greatly in recent years, especially among adolescent boys and young men. Recent national data completed from several large scale studies indicate that 10-12 million Americans use some form of ST. Representing a significant systemic and oral health risk, ST usage can produce a wide range of negative effects on both soft and hard oral tissues. ⋯ Several recent Surgeon General's Reports list ST as being addictive. It is highly possible that ST users will 'graduate' to cigarettes if they eventually conclude that these products are socially unacceptable, inconvenient or out of vogue. Health professionals, educators, parents and schoolchildren need to be informed about the significant health risks associated with ST use.
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Review Clinical Trial
Assessment and management of postoperative pain in children.
This paper focuses on the knowledge base about the assessment and management of postoperative pain in children. The first section deals with the nature and characteristics of postoperative pain. A description of current pain management practices with children, focusing on analgesic administration, is derived from available research literature. ⋯ Recent advances in pain assessment and measurement in all age groups, particularly with verbal children and the new self-report measures, are discussed. The latest developments in pharmacological and nonpharmacological techniques for the relief of children's postoperative pain are also described. Finally, the paper concludes with a few suggestions for pediatricians relative to their role in assisting in the search for better assessment and management techniques in the care of postoperative children.