If you are a member of the media and would like to talk with a study author, please contact the Office of Public Relations at (847) 434-7877.

Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, May 6, 12:01 am (ET)

In this mailing:

The Table of Contents from the May 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, information on:

NEWS BRIEF ON PEDIATRICS STUDY - EARLY EMBARGO ON THIS STUDY ONLY

Information in this brief is embargoed for Wednesday, May 1, 1:30 pm (ET) to coincide with a special event hosted by US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. Secretary Thompson is hosting the event to highlight the rising epidemic of obesity in children, and encourage parents and communities to get involved in physical fitness for kids.

Hospital costs for diseases related to childhood obesity have increased threefold in the past 20 years, according to the study "Economic Burden of Obesity in Youths Aged 6 to 17 Years: 1979-1999." Obesity-associated annual hospital costs have increased from $35 million in 1979 to $127 million in 1999. The study also found that hospital discharges from diseases related to obesity increased dramatically -- diabetes nearly doubled, gallbladder disease tripled, and sleep apnea increased five-fold. The study's authors say the findings show a need for more diet and physical activity interventions for prevention of weight gain in children.

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Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, May 6, 12:01 am (ET)

NEWS RELEASE ON SPECIAL ARTICLE
1. Experts Unveil First "Blueprint for Action" for Childhood Asthma

NEWS DIGEST ON AAP POLICY
2. Pediatricians Can Help With Pediatric Organ Donation and Transplantation

NEWS DIGEST ON PEDIATRICS STUDY
3. Study Suggests Immunization Against Hepatitis A for all Children

NEWS BRIEFS ON PEDIATRICS STUDIES
4. Psychotropic Medication Use in a Population of Children Who Have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
5. Mortality Associated with Congenital Syphilis in the United States
6. How Should a Fever Mercury Thermometer Be Disposed Of? A Survey of Those Likely to Be Asked
7. Association Between Infantile Colic and Carbohydrate Malabsorption From Fruit Juices in Infancy
8. Occurrence of Celiac Disease After Onset of Type 1 Diabetes: A Six-Year Prospective Longitudinal Study
9. Effectiveness and Efficacy of Zinc for the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Young Children

NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS) WEEK
The AAP is a partner in this annual campaign, which takes place May 19-25, 2002. Organized by the American College of Emergency Physicians, along with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Emergency Medical Services for Children program, this year's observance salutes the nation's first responders to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For the second consecutive year, one day during EMS week-May 22-will be devoted to emergency medical services for children to focus national attention on the essential need for specialized emergency care for children to ensure that every child receives the highest quality emergency care possible. For more information, visit http://www.acep.org/emsweek/

BUCKLE UP AMERICA!
May 20-27 marks Buckle Up America! Week. The Buckle Up America! campaign began in 1997 with the goal of increasing seat belt use to 90 percent and reducing child fatalities by 25 percent by the year 2005. If this goal can be reached, $8.8 billion will be saved, and more than 5,500 deaths and 132,000 injuries will be prevented. The AAP is a partner in this effort, which is made up of community-based partnerships that include health groups, safety advocates, legislators and other elected officials, law enforcement, businesses, and concerned citizens.

CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION AWARENESS DAY
Sponsored by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), Childhood Depression Awareness Day will be recognized on May 7. This year the NMHA has expanded the observance to include other critical childhood mental illnesses such as bipolar depression, anxiety and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. May is Mental Health Month, during which the NMHA hopes to educate the public about the importance of mental health, and the reality of mental illness. For more information, visit http://www.nmha.org/children/green/index.cfm

NEW RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INFLUENZA VACCINE
The AAP, in conjunction with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging the use of flu vaccine in healthy children aged 6 to 23 months for the 2002-'03 flu season. This is a change from the current recommendations that indicate only those children at high risk should receive the vaccine while healthy children should be offered the vaccine if they wish to avoid influenza. The change in wording is prompted by data that show children in the 6- to 23-month age group are at a substantially increased risk for influenza-related hospitalizations. A full recommendation to annually vaccinate healthy children aged 6 to 23 months is expected in the next one to three years. (This story was reprinted from AAP News, May, 2002, and may be quoted with proper attribution.)
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1.

Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, May 6, 12:01 am (ET)

Below is a news release on a special article in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of the article, please contact the AAP Office of Public Relations.

EXPERTS UNVEIL FIRST 'BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION' FOR CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

CHICAGO - Childhood asthma is an epidemic with major public health and financial consequences. In 1998, nearly five million children under age 18 suffered an asthma episode or attack. Each year, the U.S. spends approximately $11 billion on asthma treatment.

In hopes of stemming this growing problem, the Rand Corporation, a nationally-known "think tank," as part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Pediatric Asthma Initiative, convened a panel of 10 nationally recognized experts and leaders in childhood asthma from across the country. The result is the report, "Improving Childhood Asthma Outcomes in the United States: A Blueprint for Policy Action." The panel reviewed more than 60 asthma-related recommendations, judging each one on strict criteria such as feasibility of implementation, reduction of costs and improvement of overall outcomes.

The panel's work resulted in 11 policy recommendations in two categories:
Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing, and Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure. The report includes detailed descriptions of the objectives behind each of these recommendations, as well as the steps needed to achieve them, including options for funding.

One of the overarching conclusions of the report is the need for "asthma-friendly" communities, in which children with asthma are quickly diagnosed and receive appropriate and ongoing treatment; health care, school and social agencies are prepared to meet the needs of children with asthma and their families; and children are safe from physical and social environmental risks that make asthma worse.

"At face value, the Blueprint presents a utopian picture of the public and private policies that are necessary to improve asthma outcomes for all children in the United States," the report says. "Recognizing this, the intent of the Blueprint is to provide a framework that can help integrate and monitor an incremental process toward long-term, large policy reforms… National dissemination and discussion of the recommendations put forth here are a key first step in meeting this goal."

EDITOR'S NOTE: A separate study, "Racial Variation in Asthma Status and Care Processes" also appears in the May issue of Pediatrics. The study discovered that black and Latino children had worse asthma status and less use of preventive asthma medications than white children within the same managed Medicaid populations. It concluded that increasing the use of preventive medications is a natural focus for reducing racial disparities in asthma.

EDITOR'S NOTE: World Asthma Day is May 7. On World Asthma Day, groups around the United States and the world host activities to raise awareness of the burden of asthma and to improve asthma care worldwide. More information can be found at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/lung/asthma/am_sp01/wad.htm

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2.

Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, May 6, 12:01 am (ET)

Below is a news digest on a new policy statement that appears in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). To receive the full text of the policy, please contact the AAP Office of Public Relations. The policy will be posted on the AAP Web site on May 6 at http://www.aap.org

PEDIATRICIANS CAN HELP WITH PEDIATRIC ORGAN DONATION AND TRANSPLANTATION

CHICAGO - Pediatric organ donation and transplantation are emotional issues, both for families donating and receiving an organ. Because the death of a child is often not foreseen, many families have not considered the possibility of organ donation. Unfortunately, children who require organ donations often have to wait a long time before organs are available because the number of individuals who are on the national transplant waiting list is far in excess of the number of organs available. According to a new policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), "Pediatric Organ Donation and Transplantation," pediatricians should become better acquainted with evolving national strategies involving organ procurement and organ transplantation to help acquaint families with the benefits of organ donation. In addition, pediatricians can help shape public policies that will aid in efforts to provide a system of procurement, distribution and finance that is fair and equitable to children and adults. Major issues of concern are availability and access; oversight and control; pediatric medical and surgical consultation throughout the organ donation and transplantation process; ethical, social, financial and follow-up issues; insurance coverage issues; and public awareness of the need for organ donors of all ages.

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3.

Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, May 6, 12:01 am (ET)

Below is a news digest on a study published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The study does not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the Academy. To receive the full text of this study, please contact the AAP Office of Public Relations.

HEPATITIS A INFECTION RATES AMONG CHILDREN MUCH HIGHER THAN PREVIOUSLY ESTIMATED

CHICAGO -A study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides new estimates showing that in the past two decades, there were more than 10 times as many cases of hepatitis A infection in the US as were actually reported. Hepatitis A infection is a viral infection of the liver, transmitted from person to person or through contaminated food or water. In adults, hepatitis A infection is characterized by extreme fatigue, anorexia and abdominal discomfort, followed after a few days by jaundice. The illness lasts from two weeks to several months, but does not lead to chronic hepatitis. However, children with hepatitis A infection rarely have any symptoms. From 1980 to 1999, each year 26,000 cases of hepatitis A infection in children and adults were reported. But the CDC researchers created a new mathematical model that more accurately assesses the rates of hepatitis A infection. Their model estimated approximately 270,000 cases annually during those same 19 years. More than half of these infections occurred in children younger than age 10. These data support the current policy of immunizing children in states where the incidence of hepatitis A is particularly high, and suggest that routine childhood immunization could substantially reduce hepatitis A infection rates among both children and adults.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The AAP currently recommends that children living in selected states receive the hepatitis A vaccine. Local health departments can provide information on specific areas at risk. To see the AAP policy, "Prevention Of Hepatitis A Infections: Guidelines For Use Of Hepatitis A Vaccine And Immune Globulin" go to http://www.aap.org/policy/01207.html

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Information in this mailing is embargoed for release: Monday, May 6, 12:01 am (ET)

Below are news briefs on studies published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the peer-reviewed, scientific journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) or Pediatrics electronic pages, the Internet extension of Pediatrics. These studies do not necessarily reflect the policies or opinions of the Academy. To receive the full text of these studies, please contact the AAP Office of Public Relations.

4.

A study finds that children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are more likely than children without ADHD to have a diagnosis for another neurobehavioral disorder, such as Oppositional-Defiant Disorder or depression. The study, "Psychotropic Medication Use in a Population of Children Who Have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder," also found that children with ADHD are more likely to receive anti-depressant medication in addition to traditional ADHD stimulant medications - despite little research on the safety and efficacy of these medications alone or in combination. The authors say initiatives to recognize and treat other disorders that often accompany ADHD may help to improve the long-term outlook for these children.

EDITOR'S NOTE: More information on ADHD can be found at http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n:&mstr=/ZZZ98TFTXSC.html&soc=AAP&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH/a>

EDITOR'S NOTE: In July 2001, the AAP issued a technical report urging pediatricians to stop using all mercury-containing devices, including thermometers, and encouraged parents to do the same. The technical report, "Mercury in the Environment: Implications for Pediatricians" can be viewed at http://www.aap.org/policy/t109907.html

7.

"Association Between Infantile Colic and Carbohydrate Malabsorption From Fruit Juices in Infancy" found that 4- to 6-month-old infants with a history of colic were more likely to show signs of carbohydrate malabsorption when fed certain fruit juices. Colic-prone infants were more likely to experience gas, fussiness and sleep disturbance after drinking juices such as apple juice and pear juice. The study showed that the age at which fruit juice is first introduced is one factor that may play a role in carbohydrate malabsorption, and the authors recommend that parents avoid early introduction of such juices to infants, particularly those with colic symptoms.

EDITOR'S NOTE: In the AAP policy statement, "The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics," the AAP recommends that fruit juice not be fed to infants younger than 6 months. The policy can be viewed at http://www.aap.org/policy/re0047.html
More information on colic can be found at http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n:&mstr=/ZZZN5PP3ZDC.html&soc=AAP&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH

8.

"Occurrence of Celiac Disease After Onset of Type 1 Diabetes: A Six-Year Prospective Longitudinal Study" found that more than 10 percent of children with new-onset type 1 diabetes had celiac disease (CD) at the time they were diagnosed with diabetes, or developed CD within six years of their diabetes diagnosis. CD is a malabsorption disease affecting the small intestine, and has been associated with serious complications if left untreated. Because most CD cases in type 1 diabetes patients are without symptoms, the authors recommend extending screening programs for the disease after diabetes onset.

EDITOR'S NOTE: More information on diabetes can be found at http://www.medem.com/search/article_display.cfm?path=n:&mstr=/ZZZT10SGGDC.html&soc=AAP&srch_typ=NAV_SERCH

9.

A new study shows children who receive three times the recommended daily allowance of zinc recover from acute diarrhea faster than children who receive a placebo. The study, "Effectiveness and Efficacy of Zinc for the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Young Children," involved almost 1800 children in Nepal, from all socioeconomic groups. Previous studies of zinc involved only poor, malnourished or hospitalized children. The researchers also found that giving massive doses of vitamin A to the children at enrollment made no difference in how quickly the children recovered.