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MERRY CHRISTMAS and
REMEMBER TO ALWAYS CHECK INGREDIENTS!
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Good evening all, and welcome to the Red Carpet PGR!
Tonight we will be encountering many interesting posts from all over the pediatric blogosphere, dressed in their red carpet best.
However, unlike the Oscars, no actual awards will be given due to the recent report from Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck and colleagues cited in New York Magazine and featured in Treatmentonline.com that certain types of praise can be harmful. Apparently, praising a child for being “smart” or “intelligent” may raise their self-esteem, but makes them hesitant to try new tasks or fail because they are afraid of not being perceived as “smart/ intelligent”. Instead, we should be praising them for trying, for a job well done and for doing specific tasks and developing specific skills. Yikes! have we turned the next generation into “praise junkies”?
Next on the red carpet, we have the dashing Dr. Clark Bartram of Unintelligent Design and the always lovely NICU nurse Judy, from Tiggers Don’t Jump who both had bad experiences with ALTE’s. That’s “Apparent Life Threatening Events” for those of you “not in the know”. Treatment and evaluation of these episodes seem to require some basic equipment: a working brain and a good dose of common sense, both of which Dr. Bartram and Nurse Judy have in abundance.
Speaking of babies with life threatening problems, we have grrlscientist from Scientist, Interrupted with a post about Viagra being used in Newcastle, England to improve circulation in a premature baby, thus saving the child’s life. Leave it to the Brits to find a new market for Viagra. Another example of ingenuity comes from the suave Scot Trauma Queen who tells the tale of a wee lad with a Lego up his noggin.
And what’s a PGR without vaccines? Dr. Sidharth Sethi from Pediatricsinfo online tells us about the cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal vaccines in developing countries. Regarding the reports of intususception associated with the new rotavirus vaccination, we have not one, but two rants from our friends Dr. Sam Blackman at Blog MD and the prolific Dr. Flea. Flea also weighed in on Merck’s recent decision to cease and desist its lobbying for mandatory HPV vaccination of adolescent girls. Nurse Marcia of Ants Marching also objected to Merck’s campaign, which turned what should be a medical/ preventive health issue into a political one.
This might be “so last year” (actually, 6 months ago), but the IOM Report on the future of Emergency Care, pointed out the lack of adequate trained personnel, facilities, resources, and disaster preparedness for pediatric emergency care in this country, has there been any progress since the report came out? Methinks we should continue talking about it till we see some. Docwhisperer just whispered in my ear that in addition to these issues, there is a growing rift in the ER community between the “career” ER physicians and the residency trained docs.
Dr. Sam Blackman of Blog MD deserves an award (although we’re not handing out any), not only for having 2 posts in this edition of PGR, and for riding in the PanMassachusetts Challenge, a 192 mile bike ride to raise money for the Dana Farber Institute, but also for evangelizing and exhorting others to join the good fight versus pediatric cancer. Thanks to Shinga too for introducing me to Lucia, a plucky 17 year old on a soapbox. In this edition, she talks about JimmyTeensTV.com, a videoproject by teens for teens to help them deal with cancer. To complete the triangle, we also hear from Cancer Dad who shares some of the difficult decisions involved in parenting a seriously ill child.
Illness is difficult enough even when parents and physicians agree on treatment, complications multiply exponentially when they don’t. Dr. Steven Novella of Neurologica Blog points out the ethical and legal issues involved when parents and physicians disagree on the therapeutic plan, particularly when unproven or controversial procedures (like psychic healing) are being used.
Preemies have been in the spotlight lately. Aside from the aforementioned Viagra baby, there is Amilla Sonja Taylor, the earliest surviving preemie, born at 22 weeks gestation. NICU Nurse Laura from Adventures in Juggling weighs in on the realities and costs of caring for very early preemies and The Preemie Experiment discusses the ambivalent emotions many parents have and asks whether they are given sufficient information and counseling in making these difficult choices. Tales from the Womb also shares new information on the psychological and neurodevelopmental outlook for these kids.
Since this is a blog dedicated to allergies and asthma, we need at least one post on that topic. My thanks to Shinga from BreathSpa for Kids for submitting an excellent post debunking the increasingly common (and immensely profitable) use of IgG levels to “diagnose” food intolerance or allergy. Brava! You can also check the Food Allergy page on this blog for more information. I’d also like to thank Shinga for trolling the blogosphere and helping me find many of the excellent blogs featured today.
Wait! The orchestra’s starting to play and I haven’t thanked my agent yet! Since it is Oscars night, I’d like to plug three excellent films this year involving children (although not necessarily suitable for children), namely Pan’s Labyrinth, Little Children, and Little Miss Sunshine.
I’m also taking the liberty of pushing my current favorite children’s book: The Secret Science Project That almost Ate the School (click to download the podcast)
I’d also like to thank everyone who contributed to this PGR, and to anonymous black puppy in the cooler, I couldn’t have done it without you!
Darn! There’s that music again, no, wait it’s my current favorite children’s Indie rock band, the Sippy Cups! Before we rock out, don’t forget next PGR is at Blog, MD on March 11, 2007.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Sippy Cups!
Read Pediatric Grand Rounds 1:21 at Dr.Bartram’s Unintelligent Design
Spongebob Christmas Song:
From the National Jewish Medical and Research Center website:
Christmas trees are often cited as the source of allergy attacks during the holidays, but molds, associated with watering live trees, and the chemicals sprayed on the trees are more likely irritants. “The Christmas tree issue is overemphasized,” Dr. Dan Atkins says. He finds very few cases among allergy patients in which the tree is the culprit.
Allergic reactions usually occur shortly after an encounter with an allergen, such as dust mites or molds. Unpacking the Christmas ornaments can trigger allergic reactions. “Decorations stored for the past year in a damp basement harbor molds, dust mites and other allergens,” Dr. Atkins says. “Moving, carrying and unpacking the Christmas boxes stirs up dust and transfers allergens to the hands and the respiratory system. People are first aware of the symptoms while decorating the Christmas tree and assume that the tree is the cause.
“Keep ornaments and decorations stored in dry areas, off the floor, in plastic bags,” he advises. “Wash your hands after unpacking decorations. If you’re very concerned about allergy symptoms, allow others to trim the tree.”
Artificial trees can be a good alternative, depending on storage. “If it’s in pieces on the basement or attic floor for a year,” Dr. Atkins says, “the tree will collect dust and mold. Just remember to keep it sealed in a plastic bag in an area free of dust and moisture.”
Note: This information is provided to you as an educational service of National Jewish. It is not meant to be a substitute for consulting with your own physician.
© Copyright 2006 National Jewish Medical and Research Center
For anyone who has had trouble with their health insurance company, you will appreciate this cartoon video:
I found this shocking video on YouTube. It is a tragic example of what happens when a child is misdiagnosed and the family is given a diagnosis of “Multiple Chemical Sensitivity”.
From the video, I seriously doubt that this child is being treated by a board certified Allergist- Immunologist. Her treatment (sub-lingual drops for food allergy???) is definitely not a scientifically proven therapy. The insurance company is absolutely right. ($2500 a month? Who are they kidding?)
It also does not speak well of Fox News’ fact checking department. A phone call to any trained allergist would have revealed to them that this child’s treatment is bogus.
Also see Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and Food Allergy pages
June 2007 UPDATE: Thanks to Orac and “Respectful Insolence”, we have an insight into Dr. Patel’s finances and the income she has acquired through her practice($30M, dang! there’s gold in them thar neutralizing enzymes!)
LINKS:
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome Has Strong Psychological Component
This is my favorite food allergy cartoon. Bart and Principal Skinner engage in an epic “Duel of the Fates” battle ala “Star Wars” with peanut and shrimp instead of light sabers.
Disclaimer: Remember that in real life, food allergy is a dangerous and life-threatening problem. Allergic foods should be avoided (see Food Allergy tips)and always remember to carry your epinephrine injector. That being said, aren’t “The Simpsons” great? and of course, all rights are the property of the creator Matt Groening.
Unfortunately, this video is no longer available on youtube, but you can still see it on:
the bigtv
Something for the kids, I found this Disney Italy cartoon on Youtube starring a hero with allergies and asthma, Enjoy!
Intro
Episode 2 part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
