When The PediaBlog published its first entry on August 1, 2012, I promised readers “an informative and, hopefully, entertaining way that we at Pediatric Alliance can communicate important topics unique to pediatrics.” Today, 11 years, 1 month, 14 days, and 4,206 blog posts later (a little more than one per day), I am publishing the blog’s final entry, proud to keep that promise. I am also proud to say that The PediaBlog is unique — there is nothing like it pertaining to medicine or pediatrics on the internet or on social media — and it’s had quite a run! The plan, in the beginning at l ..read more

Lone Star Tick (CDC)   An unusual and serious allergy to red meat, first recognized by researchers in 2008, is on the rise in the United States. Thought to develop as a result of a tick bite — the lone star tick (pictured above) is the main suspect, although other ticks have been implicated — it is unclear how many Americans suffer from alpha-gal syndrome, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a serious, potentially life-threatening allergic condition. AGS is also called alpha-gal allergy, red meat allergy, or tick bite meat allergy. AG ..read more

  According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), more than 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogs in the U.S. every year. At least half of those who are bitten are children. In addition: • Almost 1 in 5 people bitten by dogs require medical attention [more than 800,000 per year]. • Children are the most common victims of dog bites and are far more likely to be severely injured [especially when the injury involves the head and neck area]. • Most dog bites affecting young children occur during everyday activities and while interacting with familiar dogs.   Unfort ..read more

  It’s been nearly a year since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced a nationwide shortage of immediate-release (short-acting) amphetamine/ dextroamphetamine (Adderall), a drug commonly used to treat attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), binge eating disorder, and uncontrollable episodes of deep sleep (narcolepsy). While the production problem for Adderall has mostly been alleviated, demand for the popular drug continues to rise, causing an ongoing supply shortage: The current shortage of stimulant medications is the result of many factors. It began last fall due ..read more

Blondie by Dean Young (Arcamax.com/thefunnies)           ..read more

HIGHER GROUND/Mont Blanc Massif from Flo Nick on Vimeo: Every year millions of people come to experience the majestic mountains around Chamonix in the French Alps. Whether theyʼre mountain climbers, backcountry skiers, hikers or tourists – they all embrace the Mont Blanc massif in their very own way. And so did I as a filmmaker and timelapse photographer when I created this timelapse film. It takes you to the higher grounds of the Mont Blanc massif – where nature is shaped by giant mountains and glaciers.     ..read more

*This post originally appeared on The PediaBlog on September 8, 2021.   School Refusal     Why does Charlie Brown’s little sister hate school? Is she sad her summer vacation is over? Is she anxious about starting a new school year? Is she being bullied by another student? We tried to diagnose “the three saddest words pediatricians hear” a few years ago on The PediaBlog: “I hate school” is one of those things pediatricians consider a red flag because the comment indicates one of three things we don’t want to miss: 1. “I hate school” really means “I’m having a rea ..read more

  If you want your child to grow into a healthy eater, Tara Parker-Pope advises parents to avoid this common food mistake: Feeding a child a squash brownie doesn’t teach them to like squash — it just teaches them to like a brownie. A better approach to teaching kids to eat more vegetables is to create “food bridges.” If you know your child likes carrots, for instance, try introducing other orange foods like sweet potatoes or pumpkin. Mashed potatoes are a short food bridge to mashed cauliflower. If your child likes corn, add a few peas or carrots into the mix. Even if your child picks t ..read more

  Although it’s a relatively rare occurrence in childhood, cancer is the leading cause of pediatric death from disease in the United States. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital estimates that 400,000 children around the world develop cancer each year. In the U.S. this year, it is estimated that 9,910 children younger than 15 and 5,280 teenagers 15-19 will be diagnosed with cancer. Statistics from the American Society of Clinical Oncology are both frightening and encouraging at the same time: In children under 15, leukemia makes up 28% of all childhood cancers diagnosed. The next most ..read more

  We’ve seen before on The PediaBlog how too much screen time in young children can interfere with development, sleep, and overall well-being. A new study, published last month in JAMA Pediatrics, underscores the negative impacts screens can have on early cognitive and social development. More time spent on devices by age 1 was associated with specific developmental delays detected later on, says Jennifer Henderson: Young children who spent more time in front of screens — whether television, video games, or mobile phones and other electronic devices — had higher likelihood of devel ..read more