Kishor A. Mehta

Asymptomatic Toxocariasis in Children A Prospective Study and Treatment Trial

Screening of 153 Hispanic children attending a Hospital-based primary care clinic revealed a 16 percent prevalence of Toxocara canis infection. Infections were found in other household occupants for half of these children. Follow-up of 20 children (for periods of up to 7 years) with asymptomatic T. canis infection failed to demonstrate any clinical sequelae. However, longer periods would be necessary to entirely discount the possibility of latent ocular disease. Treatment with thiabendazole did not appear to alter the course of the infection in a controlled 1-year evaluation as measured by eosinophil counts and specific T. canis antibody titers.

Educating parents about injury prevention.

Pediatricians usually spend very little time counseling parents about childhood safety. The Framingham Safety Surveys (FSS) were developed for pediatricians to use in counseling on childhood injury prevention. The use of FSS and supplemental safety instruction are reviewed. This study found increased preventive behaviors in homes after safety counseling by pediatricians using FSS.

Developmentally-Oriented Safety Surveys Reported Parental and Adolescent Practices

A series of developmentally-oriented safety surveys has been utilized in both private practice and clinic settings in an effort to systematize safety counseling in a practical and meaningful manner, and to provide data com paring the educational needs of various socioeconomic and ethnic groups. Extraordinary deficiencies were identified in parental awareness and reported practice of basic accident prevention techniques at all levels and in all social and ethnic groups.

Injuries to adolescents and young adults

Death rates in adolescents are on the rise--the only age group for which this is true. Unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide account for 80 per cent of all deaths in this group. The authors summarize the available morbidity and mortality data.

Residency Training in Community Pediatrics

A required PL-3 rotation in community pediatrics, including assignments to preschool and school settings, private pediatric offices, and in-hospital re sponsibilities, is described. A university-affiliated community hospital pro vides the organizational base for the program. After 14 PL-3 rotations, analysis of program content, as well as resident and community response, shows the experience to be a practical and workable model for incorporating community pediatrics into residency training.