Top Stories

• ADHD symptoms can persist into adulthood
  Nearly 30% of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder continued to have the disorder at age 27, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. Childhood ADHD also was linked to at least one other adult psychiatric disorder in almost 57% of cases, researchers said. USA Today (3/4)     

• Many women experience postpartum anxiety, study shows
  Anxiety after giving birth was more common in mothers than postpartum depression, particularly among first-time mothers and those who had cesarean sections, a study in the journal Pediatrics showed. Researchers noted that this type of anxiety was associated with shorter breast-feeding time as well as use of unplanned health care within the initial two weeks following childbirth. DailyRx.com (3/3)     

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Pediatric Health Care

• Study finds MRSA infection linked to season, age
  Children face a higher risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection during the summer, while older people are at greater risk of infection in winter, a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed. Although the findings failed to explain the seasonal- and age-related risk patterns, researchers suggest increased antibiotic use in the winter could play a role. U.S. News & World Report/HealthDay News (3/1)

• Widespread flu activity is declining in U.S., CDC says
  CDC officials reported on Friday that the number of states with widespread flu activity dropped as of last week, from 22 to 12. Despite the slowdown, the CDC won't declare the season officially over until there are several consecutive weeks of flu activity below the 2.2% baseline, CDC's Lyn Finelli said. USA Today (3/1)     

• BPA exposure may put children at greater risk for asthma
  Exposure to bisphenol A in early childhood was associated with a greater likelihood of childhood wheezing and asthma, according to a study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. However, researchers found no evidence that BPA exposure during the third trimester of pregnancy was linked to increased asthma risk. HealthDay News (3/1)     

• Incentive program helps children get more physical activity
  Participation in an incentive-based outdoor intervention yielded modest improvements in children's physical activity, researchers from Singapore found. Despite helping children meet activity goals, the intervention did not improve BMI or boost the overall health of the participants. The findings appear in The Journal of Pediatrics. Reuters (3/1)

• Eye problems tend to be mild after stem cell transplants
  Dutch researchers followed 49 children after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and found that 27% experienced adverse effects related to their eyes. For the most part, complications were mild with no long-term effect on vision, according to the study in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology. DoctorsLounge.com/HealthDay News (3/1)     

Trends & Technology

• Parenting classes may help target childhood obesity risk factors
  Children of parents who took specialized parenting classes consumed fewer sweets and sugary drinks, and had less television screen time than those whose parents did not participate in such classes, a study indicated. However, the researchers found no differences in physical activity or BMI among the groups. The results were published in the journal Pediatrics. DailyRx.com (3/3)     

• EHR incentive payments reach $11.78B
  CMS announced it has released $11.78 billion in Medicaid, Medicare and Medicare Advantage EHR incentives from 2011 through January of this year. The agency said almost $7.9 billion went to hospitals, while eligible doctors and other health care professionals received $3.7 billion. Modern Healthcare (subscription required) (2/28)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by AAP SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• AAP updates guidelines for treating ear infections (CNN/The Chart blog)

• AAP finds school suspension, expulsion counterproductive (Reuters)

• 5 mental disorders share same gene variations, study finds (DoctorsLounge.com)

• Review cites connection between acne, high-glycemic diet (DoctorsLounge.com)

• Ultrasound scans can detect autism risk in low birth weight babies (MedicalDaily.com)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Health Policy & Regulations

• First lady launches "Let's Move Active Schools"
  First lady Michelle Obama on Thursday launched a public-private partnership that builds on her "Let's Move!" campaign and provides financial help to schools for programs that improve student fitness. The "Let's Move Active Schools" initiative includes grants to schools from the Education Department, with Nike, GENYOUth Foundation, ChildObesity180, Kaiser Permanente and the General Mills Foundation pledging funding and other resources. Yahoo/The Associated Press (2/28)     

The Last Word - News from the AAP

• Save time and money -- Print patient education resources on demand
  A convenient Patient Education Online subscription gives you immediate online access to the extensive AAP collection of pediatric health information – brochures, CDC vaccine information statements, injury and violence prevention materials, and more. For a virtual tour, visit the Patient Education Online website.     

• New 18th Edition -- Coding for Pediatrics, 2013
  Written by pediatric coders for pediatric coders, this AAP exclusive complements standard coding manuals with proven pediatric-specific documentation and billing solutions, new and revised CPT and ICD-9-CM codes, a newborn coding decision tool, pediatric coding examples, scenarios, and vignettes to illustrate correct coding strategies.     

SmartQuote

The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret." --Henri Frédéric Amiel, Swiss philosopher, poet and critic