AAP News Research Articles

Section on Allergy and Immunology

Founded in 1948, the Section on Allergy and Immunology is dedicated to ensure that children receive the highest quality of allergy and immunology care. To accomplish its mission, the Section provides a number of educational programs, training and research programs, and continually advocates for improved allergy and immunology care and services.The Section sponsors educational programs for both pediatric generalists and subspecialists at the AAP (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition each fall and at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology annual meeting each spring. The Section’s other educational endeavors include this annual “Best Articles in Pediatric Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology” Supplement to Pediatrics, Visiting Professor Program, electronic quality improvement in practice program on asthma diagnosis and management (eQIPP) that meets the ABP maintenance of certification criteria, and a number of public education materials. The Section is also active in contributing to educational programs and resources such as AAP News, educational brochures, Clinical Reports, and many other endeavors.To support training and promote research in pediatric allergy and immunology, the Section awards travel grants to residents and training fellows to participate and present cases at the AAP NCE and provides outstanding abstract awards for training fellows and junior faculty for presentation at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Annual Meeting. In close collaboration with other subspecialty societies, the Section is actively involved with initiatives to improve subspecialty education, such as the American Board of Allergy and Immunology maintenance of certification requirements. Section members represent the AAP in national and government conferences and provide input on federal legislation on behalf of the AAP. For more information on all AAP allergy and immunology resources and initiatives, visit https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/committees-Councils-Sections/allergy-and-Immunology/pages/about-us.aspx.

The invisible child: childhood heart disease in global health

Congenital heart disease is the most common of all birth defects, occurring in about nine per 1000 livebirths globally. 1 van der Linde D Konings E Slager M Birth prevalence of congenital heart disease worldwide. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011; 58: 2241-2247 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1860) Google Scholar The cause of most cases of congenital heart disease is unknown and the rate of disease is fairly stable across countries and populations, making the burden heaviest on low-income countries with high fertility rates. Although overall child mortality has decreased by half globally, death and disability due to congenital heart disease has consistently increased in low-income and middle-income countries over the past two decades. 2 Institute for Health Metrics and EvaluationGlobal Burden of Disease 2015. http://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-toolDate: 2016 Google Scholar Access to care for children with heart disease has not kept pace. Of the 1·35 million children born each year with congenital heart disease, 1 van der Linde D Konings E Slager M Birth prevalence of congenital heart disease worldwide. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011; 58: 2241-2247 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1860) Google Scholar 90% live in places that do not have adequate access to diagnostics or care. 3 Tchervenkov C Jacobs J Bernier P et al. The improvement of care for paediatric and congenital cardiac disease across the world: a challenge for the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. Cardiol Young. 2008; 18: 63 Crossref PubMed Scopus (81) Google Scholar Furthermore, individuals with congenital heart defects need lifelong care and follow-up from primary care specialists, special attention to dental care, and, in many cases, more surgical interventions from trained health professionals. 4 Oster M Gurvitz M Why lifelong care for patients with congenital heart defects is important. AAP News. 2015; 36: 8 Google Scholar An estimated 58% of congenital heart disease burden could be averted if surgical practices of high-income countries were brought to scale in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). 5 Debas H Donkor P Gawande A Jamison D Kruk M Mock C Disease control priorities, third edition: volume 1. Essential surgery. World Bank, Washington, DC2015 Crossref Google Scholar

2008 CPT manual includes telephone care, e-mail visit codes

![][1] AAP News photo by Jeff Knox The approval of four new “non-face-to-face” care codes sets the stage for physicians to receive payment for telephone care and online medical services. Pediatricians who support payment for evaluation and management (E/M) services provided

Proven prevention programs, not random drug testing, can help schools reduce illicit substance abuse among students

According to the U.S. Supreme Court, middle and high schools have the authority to conduct random drug tests on students involved in extracurricular activities. But the law doesn't bind them to provide any treatment or support for youths who test positive. ![][1] AAP News photo by

Answering the call: Pediatricians should educate themselves, staff on how to provide telephone advice

Taming the telephone is a high priority for pediatricians who love practicing but want to minimize its intrusion into their personal lives. ![][1] AAP News photo by Jeff Knox Thirty percent of pediatric care is provided by non-face-to-face methods, primarily the telephone,

Services must follow the dollar

Reginald L. Washington, M.D., FAAP, is quoted in an August AAP News article ([p. 1][1]) on new recommendations to fight childhood obesity. He states that many insurance companies do not reimburse for the type of care the expert committee is recommending. It is time that the AAP recognizes that “

`The forgotten evacuees': While some of Katrina's children have rebounded since the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, many others are displaced and suffering, with little hope of access to health care.

Editor's note: This special AAP News report examines how children and medical personnel are faring on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. ![][1] The storm highlighted the urgent need for electronic medical records and more detailed disaster planning specifically geared

Potty training as easy as clicking the remote

Editor's note: The following was submitted in response to the AAP News article “Toilet Training 101” (May, p. 16). I am amused that our children learn at 10 to 12 months of age to manipulate remotes and telephones and the art of going through Mom's purse without ever being taught. Almost every

'Wonderful' futures in jeopardy?

As I read about Dr. Severson ( AAP News , February, [page 17][1]) I think: 1. What a wonderful family. 2. What a wonderful man. 3. What wonderful work. And then I wonder: How will the “young ones” do this with managed care destroying all of the above? [1]: /lookup/volpage/28/17?iss=

Kudos to Academy for opposing retail-based clinics

I'd like to take issue with some of the assertions regarding retail-based clinics (RBCs) in the letters from Drs. LoPreiato, Callanan and Silverman in the January 2007 AAP News (page 31). In the St. Louis area, RBCs have operated for the past six months. With regards to pediatric patients, access

Vital sign: Report encourages using menstruation to evaluate health of female patients

Menstruation is an important vital sign in evaluating the overall health of girls and teens, requiring clinician knowledge and early, ongoing dialogue with parents and patients, according to a new clinical report. ![Figure][1] AAP News photo by Jeff Knox Begin discussions about puberty

Advocacy leads to improved coverage, reimbursement for pediatric services

Editor's note: This is another in a series of AAP News articles on the AAP Private Payer Advocacy Advisory Committee's initiatives. Private payer ad vocacy works! ![Figure][1] Dr. Francis Recent changes by private payers demonstrate that advocacy at the local, chapter and national

Hassle form helps identify, solve problems with health plan practices

Editor's note: As part of an ongoing series in AAP News on private sector advocacy, this article looks at how data from the AAP Hassle Factor Form aids advocacy efforts. ![Figure][1] Dr. Francis Hassles with health plans are a daily occurrence for pediatricians. The AAP Hassle Factor

AAP resources assist pediatricians with contract negotiations

Editor's note: This is another in a series of AAP News articles on the AAP Private Sector Advocacy Advisory Committee's (PSAAC's) initiatives. ![Figure][1] Dr. Berman It used to be that payment and negotiation were not openly discussed by pediatricians. In today's economic environment

AAP panel promotes payment for phone, e-mail care

Editor's note: This is another in a series of AAP News articles on the AAP Private Sector Advocacy Advisory Committee's (PSAAC's) initiatives. ![Figure][1] Dr. Berman An important objective of PSAAC is to advocate for coverage of non-face-to-face care by private payers. Strategies

AAP working to ensure carriers reimburse physicians fairly

Editor's note: This is another in a series of AAP News articles on the Private Sector Advocacy Advisory Committee (PSAAC) work plan. An important objective of PSAAC is to advocate for adequate payment by private payers for pediatric services. ![Figure][1] Dr. Berman Strategies

Child death rate overstated

I'm writing in response to an article in the July AAP News (“Academy heeds call to work for child injury prevention,” [page 19][1]). In the table of crude death rates, homicide in the 1- to 4-year age range is seen as rising over four-fold (0.6 to 2.7 /100,000) from 1950 to 2002. This apparent

AAP seeks fair payment for provision of mental health care

Editor's note: This is another in a series of AAP News articles on the AAP Private Sector Advocacy Advisory Committee's (PSAAC's) initiatives. An important objective of PSAAC is to ensure that health plans cover and pay pediatricians appropriately for providing mental health services. Working with

AAP Publications Retired and Reaffirmed

SevereInvasive Group A Streptococcal Infections: A Subject ReviewPediatrics. 1998;101:136–140Policy Statement: Hepatitis Virus C InfectionPediatrics. 1998;101:481–485Technical Report: Irradiation of FoodPediatrics. 2000;106:1505–1510Policy Statement: Age for Routine Administration of the Second Dose of Measles-Mumps-Rubella VaccinePediatrics. 1998;101:129–133Technical Report: Congenital Adrenal HyperplasiaPediatrics. 2000;106:1511–1518Policy Statement: Medical Necessity for the Hospitalization of the Abused and Neglected ChildPediatrics. 2001;101:715–716Policy Statement: Care of Children in the Emergency Department: Guidelines for PreparednessPediatrics. 2001;107:777–781Policy Statement: Human Embryo ResearchPediatrics. 2001;108:813–816Policy Statement: Falls From Heights: Windows, Roofs, and BalconiesPediatrics. 2001;107:1188–1191Policy Statement: Ethical Issues With Genetic Testing in PediatricsPediatrics. 2001;107:1451–1455Policy Statement: Condom Use by AdolescentsPediatrics. 2001;107:1463–1469Policy Statement: Lawn Mower-Related Injuries to ChildrenPediatrics. 2001;107:1480–1481Parent Page: Lawn Mower-Related Injuries to Childrenhttp://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;107/6/1480/DC1Technical Report: Lawn Mower-Related Injuries to ChildrenPediatrics. 2001;107(6):e106Policy Statement: Sexuality Education for Children and AdolescentsPediatrics. 2001;108:498–502Policy Statement: Precautions Concerning the Use of TheophyllinePediatrics. 1992;89:781–783Policy Statement: The Hazards of Child LaborPediatrics. 1995;95:311–313Policy Statement: Reappraisal of Lytic Cocktail/Demerol, Phenergan, and Thorazine (DPT) for the Sedation of ChildrenPediatrics. 1995;95:598–602Policy Statement: Gonorrhea in Prepubertal ChildrenPediatrics. 1998;101:134–135Policy Statement: Pediatric Primary Health Care AAP News. 1993;11:7. Available at: http://aapnews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/e2005173v1Policy Statement: The Use of Chaperones During the Physical Examination of the Pediatric PatientPediatrics. 1996;98:1202Policy Statement: Adolescents and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: The Role of the Pediatrician in PreventionPediatrics. 2001;107:188–190Policy Statement: Counseling Families Who Choose Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Their Child With Chronic Illness or DisabilityPediatrics. 2001;107:598–601Policy Statement: Promoting Education, Mentorship, and Support for Pediatric ResearchPediatrics. 2001;107:1447–1450

Keep AAP, AARP interests separate

I write this to disagree strongly with the “Letter from the President” ([January 2004. AAP News , page 6][1]). Carden Johnston, M.D., FAAP, suggests the Academy should enlist the support of the AARP for the purpose of advancing the causes of children. He bases this on AARP’s success in