AAP PRESS ROOM - FEBRUARY 2009 MEDIA MAILING

(Please do not reply directly to this e-mail, as you will not receive a response. Contact Debbie Linchesky at dlinchesky@aap.org if you have questions about the contents of this mailing.)

Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, January 26, 2009 at 12:01 am ET, unless otherwise specified.

PLEASE RESPECT THE EMBARGO DATE.

The Table of Contents (TOC) from the February issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Pediatrics electronic pages, the Internet extension of Pediatrics. These are available electronically and can be viewed at:

Current issue TOC:
http://www.pediatrics.org/current.shtml

Future issue TOC:
http://www.pediatrics.org/future.shtml

Also in this mailing:

STUDIES
1. Rates of infant suffocation, strangulation in bed increase
2. Daily school recess leads to better classroom behavior
3. Cell phones are distracting to child pedestrians
4. Teens more likely to smoke if parents do
5. Psychotic symptoms associated with use of ADHD drugs in children
6. Children without a usual source of care have more unmet needs

AAP POLICY
7. Preschool home visiting programs enhance development

AAP NEWS RELEASES
8. Talking to kids about the economy
9. February is National Children's Dental Health Month

AAP PARENTING TIPS
10. Fourteen ways to show love to your child on Valentine’s Day

Below are news releases on articles appearing in the February issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of these articles, contact the AAP Department of Communications.

Note: Please attribute the source as “the journal, Pediatrics,” when covering information from this mailing. Please note this is the February issue of Pediatrics, which is published online Jan. 26.

STUDIES

1. RATES OF INFANT SUFFOCATION, STRANGULATION IN BED INCREASE

Infant mortality rates attributable to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed (ASSB) have quadrupled since 1984, with the most dramatic increase occurring after 1996, according to the study, “U.S. Infant Mortality Trends Attributable to Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed From 1984 Through 2004: Are Rates Increasing?” The reason for the increase is unknown, but black male infants under 4 months of age are disproportionately affected. The analysis found rates for ASSB increased during the same time that rates for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) declined, while the total rate of sudden, unexpected infant deaths remained stagnant. The impressive decline in SIDS during the 1990s has been credited to the national “back to sleep” campaign. While SIDS rates have continued to decline, since 1998 the decline has been offset by an increase in other sudden unexplained infant deaths. The way these deaths are classified may have changed, the authors report. The authors suggest prevention efforts should target those at highest risk and focus on helping caregivers provide safer sleep environments.

2. DAILY SCHOOL RECESS LEADS TO BETTER CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR

A break during the school day was associated with better classroom behavior in the study, “School Recess and Group Classroom Behavior.” Researchers studied an equal number of U.S. girls and boys, ages 8 to 9 years, and found that a break of 15 minutes or more was associated with better classroom behavior as judged by the teacher. Presently, many schoolchildren are given less free time and fewer physical outlets at school because many school districts responded to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 by reducing time committed to recess. The present study illustrated that this trend especially affects those children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Also, this study showed that among those children who do not have recess, almost 2/3 had minimal other physical activity in school. The available research indicates that recess may play an important role in the social development, learning and health of children in elementary school, and parents should learn about physical activity and recess programs before selecting a school for their child.

3. CELL PHONES ARE DISTRACTING TO CHILD PEDESTRIANS

For the first time, a new study examines how cell phone usage distracts preadolescent children while crossing the street. In “Effects of Cell Phone Distraction on Pediatric Pedestrian Injury Risk,” researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham used data from children aged 10 to 11 years in simulated road crossings in an interactive, virtual pedestrian environment. Distraction was only by cell phone conversation with a research assistant, not by other commonly used devices such as portable audio players or text messaging. Results indicate that when distracted, children were less attentive to traffic, left less time between themselves and the next oncoming vehicle, and were involved in more collisions and near misses. While cell phones offer convenience and safety to families, the study authors indicate that pedestrians - especially children - are likely to be more distracted than adults, and should limit cell phone use while crossing the street.

4. TEENS MORE LIKELY TO SMOKE IF PARENTS DO

If parents smoke, chances are their adolescents will too. The study, “Parental Smoking and Adolescent Smoking Initiation: An Intergenerational Perspective on Tobacco Control,” looked at 564 adolescents enrolled in the New England Family Study. The authors found that there is a direct link between parental smoking and initiation of smoking by adolescents. The factors impacting the initiation of smoking by teens were parents who were active regular smokers and parents who smoked around their children before age 13. Fathers who smoke are more likely to influence teen boys than girls. The authors conclude that this study can be used to encourage parents to quit smoking as part of an effort to curb the initiation of smoking among teens.

Note: The February issue of Pediatrics features two additional articles on tobacco use: “Decreased Aortic Elasticity in Healthy 11-Year-Old Children Exposed to Tobacco Smoke,” and “Water-Pipe Tobacco Smoking Among Middle and High School Students in Arizona.”

5. PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH USE OF ADHD DRUGS IN CHILDREN

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common diagnosis in U.S. school children, and many of these children are treated with medication. In the study, “Hallucinations and Other Psychotic Symptoms Associated With the Use of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs in Children,” researchers analyzed data from 49 randomized, controlled clinical trials as well as postmarketing surveillance data on ADHD drugs. The data show that some people, including some with no identifiable risk factors, can develop drug-related symptoms of psychosis or mania at usual doses. Hallucinations involving visual or tile sensations of insects, snakes or worms were reported in pediatric postmarketing cases. Patients and physicians should be aware that these symptoms may represent adverse drug reactions.

6. CHILDREN WITHOUT A USUAL SOURCE OF CARE HAVE MORE UNMET NEEDS

The proportion of uninsured children who did not have a usual source of care has grown in recent years, according to the study, “Usual Source of Care and Unmet Need Among Vulnerable Children: 1998-2006.” Children who have a usual source of medical care have higher rates of preventive care, and require fewer acute care visits (those for illness or injury) and hospitalizations. The study looked at data from the National Health Interview Survey to examine the influence of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and the President’s Health Center Initiative on helping children to have a “medical home,” as well as to identify the degree of unmet medical need for these groups of children. Although there were fewer uninsured children in 2006 than in 1998, the number of uninsured children without a usual source of care was higher. Children with private or public insurance who had no usual source of care were two to three times more likely to have unmet medical needs in most study years.

AAP POLICY

7. PRESCHOOL HOME VISITING PROGRAMS ENHANCE DEVELOPMENT

A revised AAP policy statement reviews the history of home visiting programs in the United States, and reaffirms that these programs help ensure families have appropriate social support and ongoing health and safety education. The policy, “The Role of Preschool Home-Visiting Programs in Improving Children’s Developmental and Health Outcomes,” outlines the benefits of home-visiting programs and reports sufficient evidence that home visiting can drastically reduce violence, child abuse and delinquency, especially for at-risk families. Successful home-visiting programs appear more successful when performed by professionally trained staff. Pediatricians should become familiar with and participate in the development of home-visiting programs in their communities to help reduce disparities in health and development.

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AAP NEWS RELEASES

8. TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE ECONOMY

The recession can take a toll on families. Parents in economic turmoil may find it difficult to pay attention to health issues, and they may be anxious or depressed, making it harder to care for their children. Children depend on the adults around them to feel secure. Talking to children about the economy is important, and this can help them develop strategies for coping with current financial problems and with everyday life. The AAP offers guidance for pediatricians, tips for parents and other caregivers, and relevant resources at http://www.aap.org/disasters/economy.cfm

9. FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DENTAL HEALTH MONTH

Dental caries (known as “tooth decay,”) is the most common infectious disease of childhood. Caries is particularly problematic for children from low-income families and certain racial/ethnic groups. The AAP’s Bright Futures Guidelines recommend a child’s first dental visit six months after the first tooth erupts or by 12 months of age. Pediatricians increasingly are being trained to assess young children’s oral health as well. For more information on the importance of early dental care, including resources for parents, go to the AAP’s oral health page. For an interview with an AAP expert, please contact the AAP Department of Communications.

AAP PARENTING TIPS

10. FOURTEEN WAYS TO SHOW LOVE TO YOUR CHILD ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Show your children how much you love them this Valentine’s Day. Parenting tips are available in both English and Spanish at http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/febvaltips.cfm

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The FAAP designation following a pediatrician’s name stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians with a FAAP designation have obtained board certification in pediatrics and made an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy for children.

MEDIA REQUEST FORM

To request copies of AAP news releases, briefs, policy statements or studies from Pediatrics, go to:
http://www.aap.org/mediamailing/mediarequestform.cfm?cp1=F41brs1

The FAAP designation following a pediatrician’s name stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatricians with a FAAP designation have obtained board certification in pediatrics and made an ongoing commitment to lifelong learning and advocacy for children.