Charting Pediatrics

What if the patient you're least worried about is the one most at risk? In pediatrics, we're trained to look for red flags such as low weight, failing growth curves and visible signs of malnutrition. But atypical anorexia challenges that instinct. These patients may sit comfortably on the growth chart, or even above it, while experiencing the same dangerous behaviors and medical instability as those with classic anorexia. In this episode, we rethink what we've been taught to look for. We explore how atypical anorexia presents, why it's so often missed and what it takes to recognize the warning signs hiding beneath the surface.  

To discuss this important topic, we are joined by Kimberly Sheffield, PhD. She is an eating disorders psychologist at Children's Hospital Colorado, as well as the clinical director of PMHI day programs, and the associate training director for psychology training. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
The differences between atypical anorexia and low weight anorexia
How pediatricians can make sure these kids are properly identified  
The impact of behavior on their actions 
How parents or family members involvement can make a difference

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Heart murmurs are one of the most common findings in pediatric practice, but determining which ones warrant further evaluation can be challenging. While many murmurs are innocent, others may signal underlying structural heart disease and require timely referral and management. 

In this episode, we discuss how pediatricians can approach the evaluation of heart murmurs, including key features of the child's history and physical exam that help distinguish benign murmurs from those that may be pathologic. We also explore how factors can influence what you hear through your stethoscope. 

Joining us is Christopher Rausch, MD, pediatric cardiologist and Director of the Cardiac Developmental Outcomes Program at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Rausch shares practical insights to help pediatricians feel more confident in evaluating murmurs, identifying red flags, and knowing when referral is appropriate. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
How to differentiate the sound of a murmur 
The biggest differences between a murmur during the first few days of life and as a teenager 
How common it is for children to experience a murmur during their developmental years 
Counseling families and deciphering fact versus fear 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Ebola has a way of cutting through the noise of the news cycle. Its name alone can shift conversations in exam rooms and on living room couches. But what's circulating in headlines is not always what's circulating in reality. For pediatricians, that gap matters. In this episode, we break down what's actually happening right now with Ebola, what is known about current risk and how clinicians can respond when families arrive with urgent questions shaped more by media than by medicine. 

To guide us through the science, we are joined by Sam Dominguez, MD, PhD. He is the Medical Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, as well as the Associate Medical Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
The current status of Ebola in Africa 
How difficult it is to contract Ebola
The role of the pediatrician in screening patients who are traveling from other countries 
How pediatricians can ease minds while also promoting the facts

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

There's a moment in a pediatrician's day that doesn't show up on the schedule. It's the bruise that doesn't quite match the story, or the awkward pause after a parent answers a question just a little too quickly or the child who won't make eye contact or let go of your sleeve. In these moments, pediatricians become more than clinicians. They become interpreters, advocates and sometimes the only line of protection.
To help us understand the latest on child abuse, we are joined by Denise Abdoo, PhD, CPNP. Dr. Abdoo is a pediatric nurse practitioner who specializes in child abuse and neglect. She is also an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Some highlights from this episode include:
What's changed in treating child abuse over the last decade 
The impact of social media on child abuse 
The most easily missed signs in a pediatric visit 
Recent changes in laws, reporting and expectations 

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

When a rare disease suddenly dominates headlines, questions spread quickly and so does anxiety. Over the past few weeks, hantavirus has re-entered the national conversation, leaving many families wondering how concerned they should be. For pediatricians, moments like this can be challenging as they balance public concern with clinical reality, and help families navigate information that is often incomplete, alarming or misleading. In this episode, we take a closer look at hantavirus through an evidence-based pediatric lens including what it is, how transmission occurs, who is truly at risk and what clinicians should know when these questions inevitably enter the exam room. 

To create clarity, we are joined by Samuel Dominguez, MD, PhD and Justin Searns, MD. Dr. Dominguez is the Medical Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, as well as the Associate Medical Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Children's Hospital Colorado. Dr. Searns specializes in pediatric infectious diseases and hospital medicine. Both of these experts teach at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. 

Some highlights from this episode include:
Differentiating the types of hantaviruses based on rodent and region 
Outlining the current status of the cruise ship outbreak 
Tips and tricks for talking with worried families 
The potential impact on patients
Below are some helpful resources related to hantavirus:
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome: CDC

"Super-Spreaders" and Person-to-Person Transmission on Andes Virus in Argentina: The New England Journal of Medicine


For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.