Highlights in this issue

Abstract

Growing evidence suggests that infants who die while sleeping with others differ from infants who die sleeping alone. A mini-review by Collins-Praino and Byard 1 reports that neuropathological studies have indicated that babies who died while sleeping alone showed evidence of repeated episodes of brain injuries. In contrast, infants who died while sharing sleeping surfaces, such as their parents’ bed, appear to have experienced a more rapid death, consistent with overlaying. This suggests that many deaths diagnosed as sudden infant death syndrome could have been accidental suffocation by the infants’ parents or siblings. Möllborg 2 comments on the findings. Forsell et al. 3 studied 64 children aged 8–13 with obesity who were randomised to one-year lifestyle treatment programmes at Swedish primary care centres, which included regular advice on diet, physical activity and sleep. Both groups received input from a nurse and dietician, but one group also saw a physiotherapist. The four-year follow-up showed that the number of children with obesity had significantly decreased, with no difference between the groups. In another study, Hirschfeld-Dicker et al. 4 reported that using the terms unhealthy body weight or unhealthy lifestyle were more desirable terms than fat or obese when speaking to children who were obese. In an Evidence-Based Neonatology commentary, Bourque and Dietz 5 suggested that results from a 2017 late hypothermia trial by Laptook et al. 6 should prompt neonatal intensive care units to consider hypothermia for infants with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy beyond six hours of age. In their response to that commentary, Walløe et al. 7 express concern that the strong conclusions presented by Bourque and Dietz are not supported by the findings and could lead to a relaxation of the current strong requirement that babies should be cooled as soon as possible after birth. Laptook et al. 8 and Bourque and Dietz 9 respond to those concerns. Johansson et al. 10 followed 363 children with coeliac disease in hospitals in Malmö and Lund, Sweden from 2011 to 2013 and then from 2014 to 2016 when they had merged to form Skåne University Hospital. Both Lund and Malmö provided regular follow-up visits from paediatricians, whereas Skåne provided mainly dietician-led visits. The results showed that dietary compliance was similar, regardless of whether the care was provided by a dietician or a paediatrician. Dietician-led follow-up visits may reduce costs in the long term. Also in this issue, Öman et al. 11 report that there was no increased occurrence of coeliac disease in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis when they were compared to healthy children. Meanwhile, Nurminen et al. 12 report that extraintestinal manifestations were common in children with coeliac disease. Hip examinations form part of the routine medical examinations performed on all newborn infants and these may be painful. In a randomised controlled study of 100 healthy newborn infants, Olsson et al. 13 concluded that oral glucose provided pain relief during hip examinations. Total crying time, crying time during the hip examination and pain scale measurements were all significantly decreased when infants received glucose rather than water. Readers may also be interested in the review by Pirelli et al. 14, which provides guidelines for pain management during screening and treatment for retinopathy of prematurity. Figures 1: Johner Images/Alamy, 2–5: Istockphoto.com.