Evaluating Pediatric Families' Understanding of and Reactions to COVID-19 Visitor Restrictions.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in hospital visitor policies and little is known about the impact on patients and their families. This study evaluated families' understanding of and reactions to COVID-19-related visitor restriction policy at an academic children's hospital. We conducted a cross-sectional study with families of patients admitted to the pediatric ICU and general pediatric wards from September 2020 to November 2020. Parents (n = 73) completed a survey assessing communication, understanding of and satisfaction with visitor policies, strategies of coping with illness, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores. Descriptive analyses were performed to summarize data. Associations between outcomes and participant characteristics were examined. A majority (88%) of respondents reported hospital visitor restrictions were explained, usually in-person (94%), and understood the policy "very well" (68%), but none correctly identified all reasons for visitation restrictions. Eighty-five percent reported other family/friends would have visited, however minority families were more likely to report they would have had fewer visitors if restrictions were not in place (P = 0.0385). A majority (69%) were satisfied with how the hospital handled visitor polices, and parents of older children were more satisfied (P < .0001). HADS scores were consistent with anxiety or depression in about half of respondents. Forty percent of respondents believed restrictions affected their own and their child's ability to cope during hospitalization. Parents expressed satisfaction with and understanding of visitor policies but did not understand the rationale for visitor restrictions. Visitor restrictions may impact parental and child coping and mental health outcomes.

A crawling case of benign acute childhood myositis.

Benign acute childhood myositis is a relatively uncommon complication of viral illness, particularly influenza A and B infections. In this abstract, we present a case report of benign acute childhood myositis secondary to influenza. On presentation, he was ill-appearing, febrile and had significant calf pain that limited mobility. Examination revealed mildly erythematous throat and bilateral calf tenderness with pain on dorsiflexion bilaterally. A respiratory virus panel was positive for influenza A subtype H3 and he was found to have an elevated creatine phosphokinase. He was diagnosed with benign acute childhood myositis secondary to influenza type A infection and symptoms gradually resolved following supportive management. Management involves oral hydration, pain management, and follow-up to ensure resolution. Extensive laboratory evaluation and hospitalization are often unnecessary. Benign acute childhood myositis is self-limiting with an excellent prognosis and should be included in the differential for a child who develops difficulty walking, particularly when presentation follows a respiratory infection.

Sex Differences in Maternal Restrictive Feeding Practices in the Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories Study.

BACKGROUND: Intervention Nurses Start Infants Growing on Healthy Trajectories tested an early life responsive parenting (RP) intervention designed for obesity prevention. Body mass index z-score at age 3 years was lower for the RP group versus controls with a larger effect for girls than boys. We sought to determine if child sex was associated with differing maternal feeding practices and whether sex moderated intervention effects on feeding. DESIGN/METHODS: Mothers (N = 279) completed the Infant Feeding Styles Questionnaire (IFSQ) at 28 weeks, the Structure and Control in Parent Feeding (SCPF) at 1, 2, and 3 years, and the Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) at 3 years. Study aims were tested using 2-way analysis of variance and repeated measures. RESULTS: Mothers reported greater restriction (limiting food quantity) for boys at 28 weeks (IFSQ: 3.0 ± 1.1 vs 2.8 ± 1.0, P = .07) and across annual measurements from age 1 to 3 years (SCPF: P = .04). At age 3, the intervention group effect on restriction differed by sex (CFQ: P = .047) such that higher restriction was reported by RP group mothers of boys versus girls (3.4 ± 0.7 vs 3.0 ± 0.9, P = .002) with no control group sex difference (3.4 ± 0.8 vs 3.3 ± 0.9, P = .79). There were no sex differences or sex by intervention group interactions in other reported feeding practices at any assessment (ie, structure-based feeding, pressure). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of boys used more restrictive feeding through age 3. These findings may be partially explained by previously reported better self-soothing and self-regulation abilities of participating girls.