Radio Rounds

Early reports of a multi-system inflammatory disorder in children with COVID-19 began in April 2020 in the United Kingdom. Since then, cases have appeared throughout the United States including our region. Known as “Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)”, the illness is characterized by prolonged fever, inflammation in the body and involvement of one or more organ systems.

In this episode, Dr. Alexis Elward, Chief Medical Officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Washington University pediatric infectious diseases specialist, shares more about the frequency of this syndrome, symptoms and treatment options.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way many of us are delivering care to our pediatric population. In an effort to keep patients, families and caregivers safe from possible exposure to the virus, St. Louis Children's Hospital is now offering virtual ED visits for pediatric patients who are experiencing respiratory symptoms.

Dr. Lozovatsky joins the show to talk about this new service and how your patients can access the service.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) refers to the kidney’s progressive inability to perform its functions such as removing waste and toxins, regulating vitamins and minerals, releasing hormones and vitamins that regulate the level of red blood cells, help control blood pressure and regulate the amount of certain nutrients. When this happens, a child becomes sick and the risk for kidney damage becomes higher.

Dr. Eileen Ciccia joins the show to discuss chronic kidney disease and when to refer to a specialist.

While transgender people have experienced growing visibility and acceptance in recent years, there’s still considerable confusion about even the most basic facts about trans people, gender identity and gender expression. What does it mean to be transgender versus transsexual? Are kids too young to know the difference? Are kids just “confused” or are they just suffering from psychological issues? The implications of such myths can further deny equitable opportunities to children who identify as transgender—from discrimination from health care providers, a reluctance to seek preventive care, and future employment discrimination, resulting in disproportionate unemployment rates and a consequent lack of any health insurance coverage.

Christopher Lewis, MD, pediatric endocrinologist and medical director of the Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Transgender Center, joins the show to debunk myths associated with transkids.

Tuberculosis is the top infectious disease worldwide, with an estimated 1.1 million new cases in children reported in 2018. While rates of tuberculosis remain low in the US, children are at high risk of developing disease if infected.

Dr. Rachel Orscheln joins the show to discuss global trends in TB, and appropriate screening strategies that can detect TB in those who are infected, and reduce false positives in those at low risk.

While recent studies suggest prolonged social media use can lead to anxiety and depression among teens, other studies show these platforms can have a positive effect on personal creative expression, peer connection and digital literacy. The pros and cons of social media usage are significant, so what do we tell our teens?

Dr. Mary Fournier joins the show to weigh the good and the bad when it comes to social media use among teens.

Past societal norms and formal education taught us that pronoun usage had rules based on a binary male/female and singular/plural framework. However, this framework often leads to misgendering people whose identity is nonbinary, including members of the transgender, genderqueer and gender nonconforming communities. Modern society now calls for updating the previously taught and accepted grammatical framework to be considerate of the intersections between gender, race, class and other complex layers of identity.

Christopher Lewis, MD, pediatric endocrinologist and medical director of the Washington University and St. Louis Children’s Transgender Center, joins the show to discuss the origins of gender-neutral pronouns, what they mean and how to use them.

The urology specialists at St. Louis Children's Hospital perform some of the most technologically advanced procedures when treating children, and is one of only a few pediatric facilities in the country—and the only one in the St. Louis region—to offer robotic surgery for children needing urologic procedures. In most of these cases, the children experience less pain, heal faster and benefit from stronger restoration than with the standard open surgical techniques.

Dr. Vricella joins the show to discuss advancements in pediatric urologic surgery, and when a pediatrician should refer a patient to a specialist.

Infantile Eczema (atopic dermatitis) can show up as dry, scaly patches on a baby's skin, often during their first few months. Babies can get the condition virtually anywhere on their bodies, but most often, it affects their cheeks, chin and joints of their arms and legs. While most babies outgrow atopic dermatitis, it is oftentimes itchy and painful.

Dr. Elizabeth Nieman joins the show today to discuss how pediatricians can help parents keep this condition under control, and at what point a baby should be referred to a specialist.

For children with a history of penicillin allergy, new evidence suggests a vast majority of kids could be “de-labeled” after undergoing a risk assessment and oral challenge in the pediatric emergency room. George Hoganson, MD, a Washington University emergency medicine fellow at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, is collaborating on a two-year, multi-center study to test children described as penicillin allergic, but who very likely do not have a true penicillin allergy in the St. Louis Children's Hospital Emergency Department.

Dr. Hoganson joins the show to discuss the study, which involves a penicillin oral challenge with observation in the Children’s emergency room.