This JAMA Pediatrics Patient Page describes autism screening for children and how to access therapies.
Importance: Approximately 19.7% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years in the US have a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile for age and sex, based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts from 2000. The prevalence of high BMI increases with age and is higher among Hispanic/Latino, Native American/Alaska Native, and non-Hispanic Black children and adolescents and children from lower-income families.
Objective: The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) commissioned a systematic review to evaluate the evidence on interventions (behavioral counseling and pharmacotherapy) for weight loss or weight management in children and adolescents that can be provided in or referred from a primary care setting.
Population: Children and adolescents 6 years or older.
Evidence assessment: The USPSTF concludes with moderate certainty that providing or referring children and adolescents 6 years or older with a high BMI to comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions has a moderate net benefit.
Recommendation: The USPSTF recommends that clinicians provide or refer children and adolescents 6 years or older with a high BMI (≥95th percentile for age and sex) to comprehensive, intensive behavioral interventions. (B recommendation).
Sialorrhea is common in children with neurologic impairment
Sialorrhea can be normal in children with typical development until age 4 years. It occurs in as many as 44% of children with cerebral palsy.1 It typically results from poor oral motor control and fluctuates alongside the child’s developmental trajectory. Reversible contributors such as nasal obstruction, dental issues, and medication effects (e.g., benzodiazepines and clozapine) should be considered.
Background
Families face a range of barriers in supporting their children’s active play in nature including family circumstances, environmental constraints, and behavioral factors. Evidence-based strategies to address these barriers are needed. We aimed to develop and pilot test a primary care-based family-centered behavioral intervention to promote active outdoor play in 4–10 year-old children.
Methods
Project Nature, a provider-delivered intervention that provides informational resources and an age-appropriate toy for nature play, was initially developed for children ages 0–3. With stakeholder input, we adapted existing materials for 4–10 year-olds and conducted usability testing at an urban clinic serving families from diverse backgrounds. Subsequently, we conducted a mix-methods pilot study to evaluate intervention feasibility and acceptability. Parents of 4–10 year-olds completed pre- and post-surveys (n = 22), and a purposive subset (n = 10) completed qualitative interviews. Post-intervention, pediatric providers (n = 4) were interviewed about their implementation experiences.
Results
The majority (82%) of parents liked the information provided and the remaining (18%) were neutral. Qualitatively, parents reported that: the toy provided a tangible element to help children and parents be active, they did not use the website, and they wished the intervention emphasized strategies for physical activity during cold and wet seasons. Providers felt the materials facilitated discussion about behavior change with families. There were no statistically significant changes in PA and outdoor time pre- and post-intervention.
Conclusions
Project Nature was welcomed by providers and families and may be a practical intervention to promote outdoor active play during well-child visits. Providing an age-appropriate nature toy seemed to be a critical component of the intervention, and may be worth the additional cost, time and storage space required by clinics. Building from these results, Project Nature should be revised to better support active outdoor play during suboptimal weather and evaluated to test its efficacy in a fully-powered trial.
Question: Among children who snore without frequent obstructive events, does early adenotonsillectomy compared with watchful waiting with supportive care improve neurodevelopment, behavior, or other symptoms at 12-month follow-up?
Findings: In this randomized clinical trial of 458 children with mild sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), adenotonsillectomy compared with watchful waiting resulted in no significant differences in executive function or attention at 12 months. The adenotonsillectomy group had improved quality of life, symptoms, behavior, and blood pressure, which were among the secondary outcomes measured.
Meaning: In children with mild SDB, adenotonsillectomy resulted in no statistically significant differences in changes in executive function or attention but led to improved secondary outcomes including symptoms, behavior, and blood pressure.
Child, adolescent, and adult immunization schedules from the CDC for 2024.
This Patient Page describes safety measures parents can take to protect children from gun violence.
Guns are now the leading cause of death for children in the US.
Guns are even more lethal than motor vehicle crashes. The reasons for this gun violence increase in children are multiple, including a rapid rise in gun purchases, an increase in depression and anxiety in children and adolescents, and widespread stress from a global pandemic. The causes of these injuries and deaths vary by age. Younger children are more commonly injured unintentionally. Curious toddlers can find guns and fire them quickly. Older children and adolescents are more likely to be harmed by homicide or suicide.
The most important factor for children being injured or killed by guns is having a gun in the home where a child lives or the car where a child rides. Adults must make sure their guns are stored safely to prevent access by a child or adolescent. There are gun locks, safes, and other techniques to promote safer storage. As an additional safety measure, caregivers should strongly consider removing guns entirely from the home or vehicle, especially when children are older than about 11 years. These youths know how to find and access guns, even if they are stored safely. Considering the increase in mood disorders and risk of suicidal behaviors in older children and adolescents, they should not be around guns.
Parents and caregivers should follow the Be SMART framework to improve gun safety:
S: Secure all guns in your home and vehicle.
M: Model responsible behavior around guns.
A: Ask about unsecured guns in other homes.
R: Recognize the role of guns in suicide.
T: Tell others to Be SMART.
What Parents Should Know About Bugs and Bug Repellents
When out with your children, it is important to protect them from sunrays on sunny and cloudy days. Every sunburn will increase a person’s risk of having skin cancer later in life. Practicing sun safety can prevent skin aging and cancer.
The sun makes 2 types of ultraviolet (UV) rays, UVA and UVB, that are responsible for most sunburns. These rays are strongest between 11 AM and 3 PM, making this the most dangerous time to be exposed to the sun. People with light skin, blue eyes, and blonde or red hair are at higher risk for sunburns, but all skin types, dark or light, are at risk for damage from sunrays.
An action plan for parents of children with chronic functional constipation developed by the Uniformed Services University.
