Pediatric Anxiety and Depression in the Time of COVID-19.

Pediatricians and other primary care clinicians are responsible for the screening of numerous health issues. As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic persists, the adverse mental health effects on patients, their families, and the community at large are evident. Therefore, pediatricians are tasked with assessing, triaging, and initiating treatment for common mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression. Complicating the picture is long-COVID. This article reviews the epidemiology of pediatric and adolescent anxiety and depression and data about pediatric long-COVID. Additionally, strategies and tools for pediatricians and their office staff to address the mental health needs of their patients are outlined. [Pediatr Ann. 2022;51(4):e154-e160.].

Helping and supporting hospitalized youth experiencing homelessness: An American perspective.

Despite many similarities, there are key differences in the ability of providers in the United States to assist homeless youth compared to their colleagues in the United Kingdom. However, legislation, and strategies to identify and advocate for youth experiencing homelessness can lead to improved health outcomes and other psychosocial improvements for youth. This article highlights, compares and contrasts the systems with a goal of greater understanding and opportunities to assist youth experiencing homelessness in either country.

Homelessness in Pediatric Populations: Strategies for Prevention, Assistance, and Advocacy.

Recent data indicate that homelessness among pediatric and adolescent populations is significantly higher than previous studies and point-in-time counts indicate. Pediatricians and other health care providers often see children and youth who are at risk of or are currently experiencing homelessness, but may not be aware of their status. This article summarizes current definitions of homelessness and data on common health issues for pediatric patients. Information on how to recognize and help those experiencing homelessness as well as areas for continued advocacy is shared.

What's Normal? Accurately and Efficiently Assessing Menstrual Function.

Many young women are unsure of what constitutes normal menses. By asking focused questions, pediatric providers can quickly and accurately assess menstrual function and dispel anxiety and myths. In this article, we review signs and symptoms of normal versus pathologic menstrual functioning and provide suggestions to improve menstrual history taking.

Young men and the morning after: a missed opportunity for emergency contraception provision?

OBJECTIVES: Although adolescents and young adults of lower socioeconomic status (SES) are disproportionately affected by unintended pregnancies, research on experiences with emergency contraception (EC) in this population has lagged. Furthermore, it is unclear whether EC-related knowledge and behaviour varies between young men and women. This study investigated knowledge, attitudes and experiences with EC among low SES young men and women aged 18-25 years. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight new enrollees at two Los Angeles primary medical care clinics completed surveys about their knowledge, past use and likelihood of using EC. Chi square (χ(2)) and regression analyses assessed gender differences in knowledge and attitudes. RESULTS: Women were more likely than men to accurately answer questions about EC and its use. Across both sexes, accurate knowledge predicted future willingness to use EC. Only half the women and a third of men knew that EC could be directly dispensed by pharmacists; even fewer knew that the legal access age for EC was 17 years (13%) or that men could access EC from pharmacies for their female partners (24%). Although respondents most commonly reported that friends were their source of current information about EC, both men and women chose health care professionals as their desired source of future information about EC. CONCLUSIONS: Young men in this sample were significantly less knowledgeable than young women about EC. Educating young men about EC by health care providers during routine visits may be a unique opportunity to increase EC knowledge, access and use among low-income young couples to decrease undesired pregnancies.

Diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas in adolescents.

CME EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: 1.Determine and discuss issues surrounding consent, confidentiality, and billing for sexually transmitted infection (STI) care delivery in the adolescent population.2.Review currently available testing modalities for STIs and their applicability in the adolescent population.3.Provide treatment and prevention strategies for the most commonly encountered STIs in the adolescent demographic. Adolescents and young adults, 15 to 24 years of age, carry a disproportionate burden of sexually transmitted infections compared with other age groups in the United States (see Figure 1).1.