This post collects together the precis of the major articles - perspectives, leading articles and original articles - in the November 2007 issue.

Perspectives

Sleep and behaviour

Murray and Ramchandani look at the effects of behavioural interventions on infant sleep after 6 months. Here.

Meningitis - longterm consequences

Marlow and Johnson examine the need for educators to be aware of the subtle long term effects of serious illness in childhood. Here.

Leading Articles

History and Language

Gillis and Loughlan look at the impact that some of the metaphors used to describe paediatrics have had on the development of the speciality. Here.

Status epilepticus

Novorol, Chin and Scott review the outcome of convulsive status epilepticus, concluding that the outcome is most strongly linked to the underlying cause. Here.

Original articles

Infant Sleep

In 328 mothers reporting infant sleep problems at seven months old, those randomised to a behavioural intervention had improved both infant sleep and maternal mental health at 10 and 12 months. Here.

Meningitis

In a cohort of 461 teenagers who had meningitis in infancy, nearly half did not attain national educational standards. Here.

Physical activity

In 5595 children aged 11 in the ALSPAC cohort, only 2.6% met physical activity recommendations as measured by accelerometer. Here.

Pertussis

72 children were admitted to PICU in Auckland with pertussis over a 12 year period, of which 40 had been coughing for less than a week. Early discharge from PICU was associated with an increased risk of readmission. Here.

HIV status and Pneumonia

Of 425 children under five treated along WHO guidelines for pneumonia in South Africa, 82 were HIV positive, of which the 27 under one year old had a threefold higher treatment failure rate. Here

Allergy

In Canadian schools, 5 of 861 lunches in schools with peanut-free guidelines contained peanuts, compared to 84 of 845 lunches in schools without guidelines. Here.

Malaria

Of 90 refugee children with falciparum malaria in Australia, 56 who met specific criteria were successfully treated on an outpatient basis. Here.

Developmental Coordination Disorder

As a screening tool for developmental coordination disorder, the subscales of a tool called “Children’s Self-Perceptions of Adequacy in and Predilection toward Physical Activity” - (CSAPPA) - were as good as the whole tool. Here

Obesity

Comparing Dutch national growth studies reveals that obesity in childhood is increasing in The Netherlands. Here.

Constipation

51 children with chronic constipation were randomised to polyethylene glycol 3350 plus electrolytes or placebo, with a crossover design and washout period. The treatment group had fewer constipation symptoms and no increase in side effects. Here.

Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome

In follow up of a series of 41 children with cyclical vomiting syndrome, 60% reported resolution of vomiting, many within weeks of the diagnosis. Somatic symptoms were common in children with and without vomiting. Here

Sudden Infant Death

In a Swiss population, the increased risk of SIDS in children of mothers with HIV was specifically associated with opiate use by the mother. Here.

Pneumococcal Disease

Since the introduction of a heptavalent pneumococcal immunisation in France there has been a fall in the incidence of pneumococcal meningitis in children under 2 years. Here.

Short reports

Endocarditis

Of 486 returned questionnaires about body art given to children and young people with cardiological risk factors, 56 of the 88 who had piercings knew of the endocarditis risks. Here

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