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MedPulse is a weekly index of key news and features on Medscape's

specialty sites compiled by Medscape's Editors.

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___________________ NEW FEATURE ARTICLES THIS WEEK ____________________

PREGNANCY AND VARICELLA VACCINE

Should a pregnant woman be immunized with varicella vaccine if she has not had varicella?

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46355.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46355.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

VARICELLA VACCINE FOR SUSCEPTIBLE CHILD WITH SUSCEPTIBLE PREGNANT WOMAN

Should the child of a susceptible pregnant woman be immunized against

varicella?

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46239.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46239.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

CHRONIC ASPIRIN THERAPY AND VARICELLA VACCINE

Is it contraindicated to give the varicella vaccine to a child on

maintenance aspirin therapy given for shunt preservation?

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46354.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46354.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

PREVENTION OF ZOSTER AND VARICELLA VACCINE

Should people over 50 years old be given varicella vaccine to prevent zoster?

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46240.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46240.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

A CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY OF ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA: RISK FACTORS, SEVERITY, AND TREATMENT AT INITIAL VISIT. REPORT FROM THE INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY CARE NETWORK (IPCN) AND THE AMBULATORY SENTINEL PRACTICE NETWORK (ASPN)

Comparing the prevalence of risk factors for AOM and evaluating their

association with severity of attacks and of severity with antimicrobial

treatment.

J Am Board Fam Pract 14(6):406-417, 2001

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46341.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46341.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

PREVENTING VIOLENCE THROUGH FAMILY CONNECTION

While school shootings are a genuinely rare occurrence, they have come to represent something that we take to be a growing insidious decay at the heart of our society.

Brown Univ Child and Adol Behav Ltr 17(12):1, 3-4, 2001

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46238.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46238.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

THE SPRAINED ANKLE

The sprained ankle is the most common musculoskeletal injury seen by

physicians caring for active youngsters and adults.

Clinical Cornerstone 3(5):38-49, 2001

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46400.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46400.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

FLU SEASON UPDATE!

The remaining supply of flu vaccine is being made available in December,

and itís not too late for patients to get their flu shots. Get the

latest flu facts, vaccine supply news, CDC weekly surveillance reports,

and treatment and management information, free online from Medscape.

http://www.medscape.com/mp/rc/influenzone

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___________________________________ NEWS ______________________________

MOST CHILDREN WITH A NEGATIVE OR UNKNOWN VARICELLA HISTORY ARE IMMUNE

Contrary to widely held beliefs, most 10-year-old children with negative or unknown chickenpox histories are actually immune to varicella.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46200.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46200.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

LOW VARICELLA VACCINE EFFECTIVENESS IDENTIFIED AT DAY CARE CENTER

New study findings indicate that, at least among one group of children, the varicella vaccine is much less effective than previously reported.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46369.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46369.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

CHILDHOOD VACCINATIONS ARE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH RISK OF TYPE 1 DIABETES

There is no association between routinely recommended childhood vaccines and an increased risk of type 1 diabetes.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46267.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46267.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

DOSE-DEPENDENT IMMUNE INTERFERENCE IDENTIFIED WITH COMBINATION VACCINE USE

A weakened immune response to Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) has been noted in children after immunization with a Hib/diphtheria-tetanus

toxoids-acellular pertussis (DTaP) combination vaccine.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46360.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46360.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

VACCINATING CHILDREN AGAINST HEPATITIS A REDUCES DISEASE RATE IN COMMUNITY

Results of a community-based demonstration project show that hepatitis A vaccination of children significantly reduces the rate of infection among both children and adults.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46378.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46378.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

KAPOSI'S SARCOMA-ASSOCIATED HERPESVIRUS MAY BE VERTICALLY TRANSMITTED

New findings suggest that Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus can be transmitted from mother to child, adding new fuel to a long-standing debate on the routes of transmission of this virus.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46296.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46296.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

EARLY DATA SUGGEST LOW TERATOGENIC POTENTIAL OF ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUGS

While it may take several years to accumulate enough data to reach

definitive conclusions, early data from the antiretroviral pregnancy

registry (APR) suggest that antiretroviral drug use during pregnancy does not increase the risk of birth defects.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46309.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46309.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

ANTIRETROVIRALS PLUS PCP PROPHYLAXIS INCREASE RISK FOR CONGENITAL DEFECTS

Among HIV-positive women, exposure to the combination of folate antagonists for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis and antiretroviral drugs during the first trimester increases the risk of congenital abnormalities in their offspring.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46410.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46410.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

OMALIZUMAB DECREASES SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Omalizumab, a recombinant humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody,

significantly reduces symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis, an effect

that is associated with a reduction in serum-free IgE.

http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46305.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101

<a href="http://pediatrics.medscape.com/46305.rhtml?srcmp=ped-122101"> Read

it Here</a>

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ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.