From Lab To Life: 2006 Study Archive

In the largest population-based study to date of the safety of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in young children, there were very few medically attended events, none of which were serious, significantly associated with the vaccine. This study provides additional evidence supporting the safety of universally immunizing all children 6 to 23 months old with influenza vaccine.

This should be music to all parents' ears. With so much misplaced concern about vaccine safety and in particular the influenza vaccine, studies like this help clarify the facts. This study reviewed over 45,000 kids who collectively received over 60,000 vaccinations betweeen 1991 and 2003 and no significant side effects were detected.

My bottom line: if your kids are at risk for the flu or are between th ages of 6months to 5 years, call your pediatrician and schedule the flu shot.

Parental Rules and Monitoring of Children’s Movie Viewing Associated With Children’s Risk for Smoking and Drinking (Pediatrics)

Parental rules and monitoring of children’s movie viewing may have a protective influence on children’s risk for smoking and drinking, over and above parental monitoring of nonmedia related behaviors. This highlights a potential role for parents in preventing early initiation of tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents.

This is an important study in my mind because it highlights that there is danger to our kids beyond just inappropriate content for watching R-rated movies. Movies do glorify behaviors and shielding our kids from those behaviors while young may keep them out of trouble as they become more independent.  Screening questionable movies would allow parents to make an informed choice about what movies their kids see and prepare for questions that may arise.

An Effective Nonchemical Treatment for Head Lice: A Lot of Hot Air (Pediatrics)

Our findings demonstrate that one 30-minute application of hot air has the potential to eradicate head lice infestations. In summary, hot air is an effective, safe treatment and one to which lice are unlikely to evolve resistance.

Treating head lice is no easy matter! With the simplicity of a hair dryer-like devise, no less! This could revolutionary lice treatment if the lousebuster company finds a way to make the devise more attainable. Right now the treatment would need to done in a doctor's office where the defice is located.

Circumcision Status and Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infection in Young Adult Males: An Analysis of a Longitudinal Birth Cohort (Pediatrics)

These findings suggest that uncircumcised males are at greater risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infection than circumcised males. Male circumcision may reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infection acquisition and transmission by up to one half, suggesting substantial benefits accruing from routine neonatal circumcision.

The issue of neonatal circumcision is hotly debated in today’s culture. This study starts to shed light on medical advantages of circumcision we were not as aware of. As part of making an informed decision, studies like this can help parents who may be on the fence about what to do.

Study Title

Wait and See Prescription for The Treatment of Acute Otitis Media (ear infections)(JAMA)

Study Conclusion

The WASP approach substantially reduced unnecessary use of antibiotics in children with AOM seen in an emergency department and may be an alternative to routine use of antimicrobials for treatment of such children.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

This is one of many studies that has concluded that often time and pain control are all that is needed to help a child through an ear infection.

My conclusion: Next time a child has ear pain, wait it out 2-3 days and call your doctor if the pain persists. And, remember that going to the ER will not get your child an antibioic any sooner.

Study Title

Mixed Report on Adolescent Health (J.Watch Pediatrics)

Study Conclusion

See Report for Details

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

2005 data published in the Weekly Morbidity and Mortality report of the CDC.  Teens are healthier in some ways but still demonstrating risky behaviors with violence and poor nutrition.

My conclusion: we can do better and pay more attention to teen health in all our communities. Afterall, today’s teens are tomorrow’s adults.

Study Title

Promoting Physical Activity in Youth and Children (Circulation)

Study Conclusion

Schools are potentially attractive settings in which to promote positive health behaviors because students spend large amounts of time in the school environment, elements of the traditional school curriculum relate directly to health, and schools typically provide extracurricular programs that can promote health. Although schools are under increasing pressure to increase student scores on standardized tests, the recent dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents in the United States suggests that there is a pressing need for the nation’s schools to systematically and effectively promote behaviors that will prevent the development of overweight. Physical activity is a key determinant of weight status. Disquieting trends in other segments of American society, such as increased "screen time" and decreased reliance on physically active transport, indicate that the schools should assume a leadership role in ensuring that young people engage in adequate amounts of physical activity each day. This statement advances policy initiatives that, if fully implemented, would position American schools as societal leaders in addressing an enormous public health challenge.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

How many studies and statements need to come out demonstrating our kids are not moving enough? Time for all of us at home and in schools to find creating and fun ways to get kids moving more. I love the idea of schools being more involved.  It isn’t enough for schools to offer gym, however. The physical part of physical education is what needs to become more rigorous. Middle Schools and High Schools have kids change for gym so the kids can engage in real exercise. I’d suggest Elementary Schools follow suit.

My conclusion: kids need more time to play and move.

Study Title

School Bullying and Youth Violence (Arch. Psych)

Study Conclusion

Our study results support the conclusion that psychopathologic behavior, including social problems, aggression, and externalizing behavioral problems, is a consequence rather than a cause of bullying experiences. This causal relation is supported by the strength and specificity of the association and the temporal antecedence of bullying. Because school bullying is a known correlate of youth violence, such a finding adds greater urgency to the search for programs to prevent or diminish bullying among schoolchildren.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

Bullying is more common than we want to admit to but studies are clear on how profound the impact of bullying is on a child’s psyche. Parents need to pay attention to how their children describe interactions with other kids, or even adults. I’d argue that any child who comes home from school describing an intense encounter with another child deserves to have that encounter looked into by a grownup.

My conclusion: In my mind, if a child is feeling picked on, that alone is the red flag to explore.

Study Title

Age of Alcohol Dependence: Associations with Severity of Dependence and Seeking Treatment (Pediatrics)

Study Conclusion

Adolescents need to be screened and counseled about alcohol, and treatment services should be reinforced by programs and policies to delay age of first alcohol dependence.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

Teens often dabble in drinking, some much younger than we realize. We need to find better ways to identify teens at risk.

My conclusion: I’d like to see more funding for preventative programs that target kids just before the teen years to cut down on drinking altogether. And, for those that do get into trouble, we need better screening tools.

Study Title

Cognitive Function and Behavior of Children With Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy Suspected of Having Obstructive Sleep-Disordered Breathing (Pediatrics)

Study Conclusion

Risk of impaired cognitive function and behavior can be predicted from snoring history, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and race but not tonsil size. The combination of snoring history and polysomnographic variables predicted impaired cognitive scores better than did either alone. The snoring history predicted more test scores than the number of episodes of apnea and hypopnea per 1 hour of sleep.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

Big tonsils alone are nothing to worry about. But, if your child is a snorer and is having behavioral issues, there may be a problem with the quality of sleep and removing the tonsils could help. A referral to an ENT would be the first step.

My conclusion: Many kids snore but are just fine.  

Study Title

Improving Pediatric Prevention via the Internet: A Randomized, Controlled Trial (Pediatrics)

Study Conclusion

A Web-based intervention can activate parents to discuss prevention topics with their child's provider. Delivery of tailored content can promote preventive practices.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

I love this study! It helps demonstrate that arming people with information before they see their pediatrician makes the visit more productive and satisfactory.

My conclusion: Even if actual practices do not utilize their own internet information system, there are many reliable web resources already available.

Study Title

Childhood Bullying Involvement and Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence

Study Conclusion

In our sample, children who were 6 to 13 years of age reported a substantial amount of bullying and victimization; a large majority were bully-victims and female. Regression analyses did not show that children who were exposed to intimate partner violence were more likely to engage in relational bullying. However, children who are exposed to intimate partner violence have a higher likelihood of internalizing behaviors and physical aggression.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

More and more studies are confirming the profound impact of bullying on children and that is it more common than we realize. It is important to consider bullying as a possibility in any child who is acting out.

My conclusion: pay attention to changes in your child’s mood and consider bullying if you can’t put your finger on something obvious. Better to look and have nothing be wrong than miss such an important, and common, childhood problem.

Study Title

The Relationship Between Watching Professional Wrestling on Television and Engaging in Date Fighting Among High School Students

Study Conclusion

For males and females, the frequency of watching wrestling was highest among students who fought with their dates when alcohol or other drugs were involved. The association between watching wrestling and date fighting was stronger among females than males. The relationship between watching wrestling on television and being the perpetrator of dating violence was also stronger among females and remained consistent over a 6- to 7-month time period.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

The conclusion is very descriptive but does not convincingly explain a correlation of date fighting and the actual watching of professional wrestling. The study has significant short-comings: the data are 7 years old and only represent 1 school district in 1 state.  The WWE posted a rebuttal that raises some interesting points and is worth the read.

My conclusion: don’t make too much of this one yet.

Study Title

Epidemiology of Lawn Mower–Related Injuries to Children in the United States, 1990–2004

Study Conclusion

Injuries related to lawn mowers are an important cause of pediatric morbidity. The relative consistency of the number of lawn mower–related injuries to children during the 15-year study period is evidence that current prevention strategies are inadequate. Passive protection that is provided by safer product design is the strategy with the highest likelihood of success in preventing these ongoing injuries.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

Important topic and data that highlight an issue that we all need to pay more attention to.

My conclusion: keep your kids inside when the lawn is being mowed. That is the one sure way to avoid injury.

Study Title

Escalator-Related Injuries Among Children in the United States, 1990–2002

Study Conclusion

There was a disproportionate number of escalator-related injuries among children who were younger than 5 years. Entrapment occurred more frequently among children who were younger than 5 years than in any other age group....Young children should be supervised properly and should not be transported in a stroller while riding on an escalator. All passengers should use caution and remain alert when riding an escalator to avoid injuries related to falls or entrapment. Additional research is needed to determine the relationship among passenger behavior, escalator design, and escalator-related injury.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

With summer ending and more families spending time at malls, this information is very timely. I can’t tell you how often I see busy parents attempt to maneuver onto an escalator with one child in tow and another in a stroller. 

My conclusion: The safest route of passage with children in strollers is to use the elevator or ramp. Whatever you do, please don’t try to supervise more than one small child on an escalator.

Study Title

Does Maternal Control During Feeding Moderate Early Infant Weight Gain?

Study Conclusion

Maternal control of solid feeding can moderate infant weight gain.

Dr. Gwenn’s 2 cents

Feeding a baby should be fun and will be messy. This study highlights the importance for parents to let the baby determine the pace and tempo of eating solids. 

My conclusion: let the baby be in charge! Put newspaper on the floor and let the baby go to town. You can hose the tot off in the sink when all done. If done well, baby feeding will be a lot like a controlled food fight.

Study Title

Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading Music Lyrics and Sexual Behavior Among Youth