Pediatrics in Practice

Every summer children and families are drawn to oceans, pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, or streams for entertainment and exercise. As prehospital providers know all too well, fun events and gatherings near bodies of water can turn into an emergency setting in an instant.Although drowning injuries can affect anyone, according to the CDC, children ages 1-4 have the highest drowning rates, with most occurring in swimming pools. Fatal drowning is the 2nd leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-14 with the 1st leading cause being motor vehicle crashes. The risk for moderate to severe neurological complications and long-term disabilities are concerns for survivors of non-fatal drowning incidents. Whether in the hospital or prehospital setting, management of the pediatric drowning patient should aim to identify and treat complications, as well as prevent further anoxic injury.

The national Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) published the first expert panel report on the diagnosis and management of asthma in 1991. A comprehensive revision was published in 1997, and an update in 2002. the EPR 3 was published in 2007. The most recent guidelines, published in 2020, represent a paradigm shift in asthma treatment.

In this episode, Dr, Brandon Newell and NP Rebecca Flynn leads an interactive discussion on some of the more common cases seen in dermatology.

Idiopathic congenital clubfoot occurs in 1 in 1,000 infants in the U.S. and is considered the most prevalent musculoskeletal birth defect in the world. In this podcast, Richard Schwend, MD, FAOA, FAAP, Interim Chair, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Science at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, discusses a clinical report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics which covers background on the condition, evaluation and treatment – including the Ponseti technique, which is considered the gold standard of care. Click here to view the clinical report.

Massive transfusion protocols have become vital tools used within trauma centers across the country. Appropriately so, as many emergency providers know that hemorrhage is the most common cause of death within the first hour of arrival to a trauma center. Most recently, a medication called Tranexamic Acid or TXA has been found to assist in life-saving measures for trauma victims in both the pre-hospital setting and the emergency department. But is TXA a recommended medication for kids? This podcast segment highlights the safe use of TXA in pediatric traumas and beyond.

Did you know that more than 1 in 5 children with food allergies also experience food insecurity (FI)? Children whose families struggle to acquire adequate nutrition are at higher risk for a wide range of conditions, including asthma, obesity and mental health issues.  In this podcast, you’ll hear more on this topic, including guidance on FI screening in the pediatric care setting, from Jodi Shroba, MSN, APRN, CPNP, Food Allergy Program Coordinator for the Division of Allergy, Immunology, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine at Children’s Mercy Kansas City.

Currently 1 out of every 5 children (18.5%) meets the body mass index criteria for obesity (BMI ? 95th percentile). With this in mind, it’s important for providers to consider many factors when diagnosing and assessing a child for obesity. Kelsee Halpin, MD, MPH, pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, discusses more on this topic and what to look for in the primary care setting. For more information, visit the Common Endocrinology Conditions page on the Children’s Mercy website.

Girls and adolescents with more than 3 months between periods or those that remain otherwise irregular 2 years after menarche, should be evaluated for underlying causes. Emily Paprocki, DO, pediatric endocrinologist at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, discusses more on this topic and what to look for in the primary care setting. For more information, visit the Common Endocrinology Conditions page on the Children’s Mercy website.

Between 25-50% of the referrals to a pediatric endocrinology clinic are related to abnormal thyroid function tests (TFTs). However, the majority of these abnormal TFTs are not associated with a true thyroid problem, especially when these tests are ordered in the absence of any signs or symptoms suggestive of a thyroid disease. In this podcast, Francesco De Luca, MD, Division Director of Pediatric Endocrinology at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, covers tips for evaluating abnormal thyroid in the primary care setting. For more information, visit the Common Endocrinology Conditions page on the Children’s Mercy website.

When it comes to growth failure, many factors are involved. How short is the child? Is the child’s height velocity impaired? Is the child’s height/growth within the range for the family? In this podcast, Francesco De Luca, MD, Division Director of Pediatric Endocrinology at Children’s Mercy Kansas City, discusses key considerations for evaluating growth failure in the pediatric population. For more information, visit the Common Endocrinology Conditions page on the Children’s Mercy website.