Factors prompting referral for cardiology evaluation of heart murmurs in children

Article Abstract:

Pediatricians may refer patients with heart murmurs to pediatric cardiologists for reasons other than a high index of suspicion of heart disease. A group of 143 Canadian pediatric caregivers responded to a questionnaire on their reasons for referring 235 children with heart murmurs. In all cases, the children had no history of heart disease or prior referrals or evaluations for heart disease. Sixty-one percent of the children had innocent murmurs. Based on the caregiver's estimate of the likelihood of disease, 62% of the children referred were estimated to have less than a 50% likelihood of illness, and caregiver predictions proved accurate at estimating disease likelihood. Newly recognized murmur was the commonest reason for referral, a reason less likely when the caregiver had been consistently caring for the child. Fourteen percent of caregivers referred children because the parents were anxious or because of caregiver concern about medicolegal issues.

Usage, Diagnosis, Practice, Medical referral, Pediatricians, Heart murmurs

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Physicians' attitudes toward a pediatric notification program of transfusion-related human immunodeficiency virus risk

Article Abstract:

Academic physicians and pediatric subspecialists may be less likely than other physicians to provide HIV screening to children at-risk for transfusion-acquired infection. Researchers surveyed 574 physicians to characterize their attitudes and behaviors about testing at-risk patients for transfusion-related HIV infection. Physicians cited common barriers to HIV screening that included: concern about the patient's response to possible HIV exposure, feeling uncomfortable counseling patients, and lack of time for proper counseling. Practitioners were significantly more likely than academic physicians to ask patients about HIV risk factors, to encourage HIV testing among at-risk patients, and to provide HIV screening. Subspecialist pediatricians were less likely to screen for HIV or to feel comfortable providing patient counseling compared to other physicians.

Health aspects, Testing, Physicians, Medical professions, Beliefs, opinions and attitudes, HIV infection in children, Pediatric HIV infections, Blood transfusion

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Garlic Extract Therapy in Children With Hypercholesterolemia

Article Abstract:

Garlic extracts do not appear to lower cholesterol levels in children with elevated blood cholesterol levels. Researchers randomly assigned 30 children with elevated cholesterol levels to take garlic capsules every day for eight weeks or a placebo. At the end of the study, there were no differences between the groups in blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. Blood pressure was also not affected. The garlic capsules caused few side effects.

Physiological aspects, Diet therapy, Hypercholesterolemia, Garlic

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