Marian Freedman

Watchung

Medical Writer and Editor at Freelance

Contributing Editor at Contemporary Pediatrics

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Articles

Confirming celiac disease is getting easier

3 weeks ago | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

Published in Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and NutritionIn the wake of the no-biopsy approach to diagnosing celiac disease (CD) introduced in the 2012 European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines, Israeli investigators demonstrated that a repeated anti–tissue transglutaminase-2 (anti-TG2) test could replace the antiendomysial antibody (EMA) test required by the guidelines as the confirmatory serology test for diagnosing CD.
Viral studies reduce antibiotic use in hospitalized febrile infants

4 weeks ago | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

Published in Acta PaediatricaHow should a positive viral test result influence the management of young infants who have been hospitalized for fever? One proposal comes from a study in a single children’s hospital, where all febrile infants are admitted to a dedicated infectious diseases unit and are tested for respiratory viruses, herpes simplex virus, enterovirus, and parechovirus, then given 24 hours of antibiotic treatment if found to have a viral infection and no growth on bacterial culture.
IV acetaminophen with opioids in EA/TEF repair has advantages and disadvantages

Feb 4, 2025 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

Analysis of data for infants who underwent esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) repair suggest that the use of intravenous (IV) acetaminophen along with opioids (IV APAP) instead of opioids alone is associated with a longer length of stay (LOS) but decreased daily costs and mortality.
ADHD with ASD and without it: Should they be treated differently?

Jan 29, 2025 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

A retrospective review of electronic health records of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) without autism spectrum disorder (ADHD – ASD) and children with both ADHD and ASD (ADHD + ASD) found that for children with ADHD – ASD, stimulant medications were significantly more effective than α2 agonist (α2A) medications. For those with ADHD + ASD, however, stimulants and α2As had similar effectiveness.
Discussing genetic diagnoses with parents can be tricky

Oct 14, 2024 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

To determine parents’ preferences and motivations for receiving and discussing prognostic genetic test results, Australian investigators conducted semistructured interviews with parents of children with neurodevelopmental conditions that are chronic and not life-limiting. The interviews, which were conducted over Zoom or via telephone or email, were with 32 parents of children with fragile X syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, or Angelman syndrome.
The jury is still out on the efficacy of lactase for alleviating colic

Sep 5, 2024 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

Details A meta-analysis of 5 studies on the effect of lactase supplementation on infant colic found that the effectiveness of this treatment is still open to question. The analysis was based on 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 391 infants aged from 23 days to 6 months who were diagnosed with infant colic and were treated orally with either lactase or a placebo for 7 days to 28 days.
Does nebulized magnesium added to standard therapy ease asthma exacerbations?

Sep 2, 2024 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

According to a meta-analysis, adding nebulized magnesium sulfate to standard medical therapy (SMT) does indeed lead to a small statistically significant improvement in treatment outcomes in children with asthma exacerbations compared with using SMT alone. However, the effect size of the differences is probably too small to be clinically relevant.
Appendectomy patients give ice a thumbs-up for controlling pain

Aug 30, 2024 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

Patients believe cold therapy helps alleviate pain after an appendectomy, a recent study found. Such therapy does not reduce the need for narcotics, however, according to the results of the randomized controlled trial. Investigators divided into 2 groups 58 patients aged at least 7 years who had undergone laparoscopic appendectomy. One group, ie, the treatment group, received cold therapy in addition to standard postoperative analgesia.
Should thyroid testing be part of screening for SCFE?

Aug 1, 2024 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

After finding that almost one-third of their patients with slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE) had thyroid abnormalities, the authors of a retrospective study in such patients concluded that thyroid testing should be included in screening for the disorder. Researchers conducted the review in 98 patients with 106 hips who were treated for SCFE at a single pediatric hospital during a 1.5-year period.
Fewer opioids lead to fewer pain-related visits after T+A

Jun 26, 2024 | contemporarypediatrics.com | Marian Freedman |Jon Matthew Farber

Following a FDA black box warning against prescribing opioids after tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy (T+A), opioid prescriptions indeed fell in this population and so did pain-related return visit rates. At the same time, prescriptions for steroids increased among youngsters undergoing T+A. These were the findings of a retrospective cohort study in 4,778 patients with a median age of 5 years who underwent T+A in a 3-year period during which the FDA issued its warning.