Charting Pediatrics

The United States has the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income nations and women of color, are disproportionately affected. For Black women in this country, the rate jumps from 22 deaths with every 100,000 births to 50 deaths for every 100,000 births . When it comes to postpartum depression, these same women are several times more likely to suffer, but less likely to receive treatment...

Pediatric providers around the world are focused on helping sick children — finding cures, creating new treatment options and developing innovative techniques to improve care. But when it comes to conflict zones and border areas, there are few er doctors available to protect the health of vulnerable children . Paul Wise , MD, MPH, is a physician who has dedicated his career to taking on that compl...

2024 marks 100 years since the Geneva D eclaration of the R ights of the C hild. I n the aftermath of W orld W ar I, this declaration called for universal attention to the needs of children , including their health. A century later, we've made progress, but children still face vast challenges here in the United States and around the world. How can we advance the global cause of children's health?...

Bringing a baby into this world is the start of many significant changes , yet one change that some families may not anticipate is post-partum depression (PPD). This condition affects more than the parent's wellbeing, it can impact children and other family members too . About one in five new parents experience mood or anxiety concerns during pregnancy or after delivery, making maternal mental hea...

From startups to global corporations , CEOs have the power to make immense strides in any respective industry. In pediatric medicine, they drive advancements in child health through high-quality care, coordinated programs, education, research and advocacy. While providers are working directly with patients, these leaders are preparing the infrastructure for success while pushing us to reimagine he...

The most common congenital viral infection in children is cytomegalovirus infection (CMV ) .   Oftentimes the mother will experience little to no symptoms, but the virus c an significantly affect the newborn, with outcomes ranging from no symptoms to sever e systemic and intercranial complications . What if we could prevent this infection all together with a vaccine? A candidate MRNA vaccine again...

As a child, a nosebleed can be painful and embarrassing . Surprisingly , it's also something primary care providers run into often in their practices . While the great majority of nosebleeds , also called epistaxis, are limited in severity and duration, about 6% of people who experience them will seek medical attention. Interventions range from self-treatment and home remedies to more intensive pr...

One of the great medical accomplishments of our time is the evolution of precision medicine. Th e ability to understand a patient's unique genetic profile has become more accessible to our patients , and now , there are multiple mechanisms for using that information to overcome disease. One of the  specialties leading the way in precision medicine is pediatric neurology. According to the World Hea...

Many of us avoid talking about suicide , not only because it's a difficult conversation , but also because we don't know how to. And avoiding that conversation can be a barrier to helping those most at risk. One family from Colorado is at the forefront of changing the stigma and creating opportunities for fearless conversations. They courageously shared their story in a powerful documentary releas...

In the state of Colorado , cases of N eonatal A bstinence S yndrome (NAS) and N eonatal O pi oid W ithdrawal S yndrome (NOWS) increased by 1 20 % from 2011 to 2016. Clinicians provide critical support to improve outcomes for these newborns , and there's been impressive collaboration among healthcare providers around this issue. Two important examples are the Colorado Hospitals Substance Exposed Ne...

Despite the pervasiveness of child trafficking in the United States, many communities aren't aware of the scope of th e issue . Here in Colorado, t he University of Colorado's Kemp e Center is recognized as a leader in the fight against child abuse , and they are important voices in the global conversation around identifying and ending child traffic k ing . By committing to responding , treating a...

With kids back in school, pediatric viral illnesses are revving their engines. It seems we have returned to normal seasonality for viral disease after the coronavirus pandemic . Top of mind with the arrival of fall is r espiratory s yncytial v irus (RSV). We know how quickly the onset of RSV season can take over our waiting rooms.    Last year, two important developments occurred that could change...

Children with autism spectrum disorder  (ASD) tend to have more medical complications than the average ki d. A mong the most common challenges are gastrointestinal (GI) disorders like abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. Untreated GI distress in kids with ASD has been linked to many other issues , including sleep, behavioral and psychiatric disorders. Many of these same kids also have select...

Sharing data transparently, whether at a local or a national level, is a foundational contributor to healthcare quality. Atul Gawande wrote about this in his 2004 essay labeled 'The Bell Curve'. Over the last several decades, we have seen many pediatric specialties organize and collaborate around data collection at a national scale to improve care. We've seen firsthand how our hospital's participa...

Over the last few decades, the roles of nurse practitioner s (NP s ) and physician assistant s (PA s ), also known as advanced practice providers (APPs) , have greatly expanded to touch even more patient-family lives . They are an essential part of the care we provide , and their roles have evolved over time. In this episode, we explore the crucial part they play in our medical system and how that...

Our medical community is committed to providing excellent patient care , and it's also our duty for that care to extend to our planet. Climate change is an increasingly important global health issue where children are the most vulnerable to adverse health outcomes. O ne major contributing factor to climate change in medicine is the use of nitrous oxide in spaces like the operating room and outpati...

  Over the last few decades, there have been many incredible medical advances in newborn care. At Children's Hospital Colorado, we're launching an exciting new initiative to take another step forward in care for our tiniest patients. For  newborns who need to be hospitalized, getting home as soon as possible is critical for their successful development. A commo n barrier for discharge that can kee...

Join us for another insightful season of Charting Pediatrics! The same hosts you know and love will continue to bring the latest and greatest information about pediatric medicine to your ears. Joined by renowned experts, we will explore prominent topics while being moved by their personal stories. This is a season you won't want to miss! For more information on Children's Colorado, visit:   childr...

We all know what it feels like to have a headache , but each person can experience that intensity for dozens of different reasons . Globally , headache disorders affect approximately 40% of the population , which is about 3.1 billion people. Headaches are also among the three most common neurological conditions for most age groups starting at age 5. As such a ubiquitous issue, it's important for p...

  For almost 50 years, Dr. Fritz Karrer has been wearing a  surgeon's cap , growing as a surgeon alongside the evolution of his specialty. For 40 of those 50 years , he's been at Children's Hospital Colorado, making an everlasting impact on kids and their families. On the brink of retirement, we look at his exemplary career and discuss how he's watch ed firsthand the progression of pediatric surge...

  More than 50% of rural counties in the United States do not have a pediatrician , and more than 80% of counties lack access to healthcare services that are simply needed to maintain the health of their population . The medical experts in those areas are lifelines to their communities. They are providing essential care, approaching resource and access challenges with creativity and innovation, an...

  Running  is an increasingly popular sport, with high school track and field programs seeing booming participation rates. With rising interest comes more cases of injury , however, incredible sports medicine advancements and programs are helping young runners manage and prevent injuries . To break down the most common running - related injuries in youth and discuss comprehensive approaches to pre...

For some, COVID-19 may seem like a thing of the past , but for medical professionals , the data regarding post-acute sequalae of COVID infection is only just emerging . Four years ago, the start of the pandemic left doctors puzzled by certain symptoms. Today , we are learning more about the long - term impacts of SARS-CoV-2 in children , oft en called long COVID or PASC. As the population continue...

Inflammatory bowel disease, otherwise known as IBD, is an illness pediatric providers need to consider when they see kids with abdominal pain, diarrhea or weight loss. IBD can present in a fairly straight forward way, or it can be incredibly challenging to diagnose. We've seen improvements in IBD diagnosis and care recently, including new screening tools and medications , as well as future treatme...

In simple terms, bioethics is the study of ethical, social and legal issues that arise in biomedicine and biomedical research. It provides guidelines for clinical decision - making and is vital to policy change. Despite standards s et by medical entities, significant gaps and variabilities exist within bioethics education for pediatric residents. Every resident will face ethical challenges in thei...