Pediatric Essentials

11/05/2025

10/07/2025

Acetaminophen is an over-the-counter medicine used to reduce fevers and relieve pain. It is sold under many brand names, including Tylenol.

Decades of research have found that acetaminophen is safe for children when administered as recommended. Misleading claims link the medicine to autism. These false claims send a confusing, dangerous message to parents and expectant parents and does a disservice to autistic individuals. Read more at the link below.
https://bit.ly/42G47Y9

04/21/2025

Pope Francis offers a lot of wisdom that can shape you both as a physician and as a person. Here’s what you could draw from him:

*As a physician:
- Compassion over judgment: His “Who am I to judge?” attitude reminds you to meet patients where they are, not where you wish they were. Every patient carries invisible struggles.
- Humility and service: He constantly emphasizes servant leadership. As a physician, you're not just treating symptoms; you're serving people at their most vulnerable.
- Attention to the marginalized: Francis talks a lot about the forgotten and discarded. In medicine, that translates into caring for underserved populations, listening to the voiceless, and advocating for those who can't advocate for themselves.
- Listening deeply: He models "slow listening" — being present without rushing to fix. Patients often need to be heard before they need to be healed.
- Care for the whole person: Mind, body, and soul are all part of healing. He reminds us that every human being is complex and sacred.

*As a human being:
- Joy in simplicity: Francis radiates joy through simple living. You don’t need wealth, prestige, or perfection to live fully and richly.
Mercy as a daily practice: Forgiveness — of yourself and others — is essential to freedom and inner peace.
- Respect for the Earth: His calls to care for creation remind you that healing also means nurturing the world you’re part of.
- Hope amid suffering: Even in moments of pain or loss, Francis insists on hope — not naïve optimism, but a grounded belief that love wins.
- Interconnectedness: We belong to one another. Your well-being is tied to your neighbor’s. Your patient’s pain is partly yours to carry. His view of fraternity calls you to deeper solidarity.

*If you were to take just one lesson, it might be this:
“Go to the margins — that’s where life is.”
It applies to medicine, friendships, society, even your own heart.

03/07/2025

03/07/2025

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, but two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing children from contracting the virus. Pediatrician and chair of AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases Dr. Sean O’Leary joins pediatricians Joanna Parga-Belinkie and David Hill on the latest episode of the Pediatrics on Call podcast to discuss the ongoing measles outbreak and the 2025 vaccine schedule. Tune in wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ClPjGnHXdbScOPG2wv31H?si=bOwJw4mOTPCVxNlCOzfY2Q

02/22/2025

Most viewed in the last 7 days from JAMA Pediatrics: In this study, greater screen time for children aged 1 year was associated with developmental delays in communication and problem-solving at ages 2 and 4 years.

https://ja.ma/3Xd6krw

03/28/2024

Photo Gallery- Significance of Physical Findings in the Neonate

by Janelle Aby, MD - Stanford Medicine.

https://med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/photo-gallery.html?fbclid=IwAR09O4ggad-74w7PzPZoCSJbkPVeBp_AFWTP7hR5oBAfi0nUA0MI6hq3nWM_aem_AW5XvFVXp4yQgnpETfXN6xBU3mGtn9-hk-FX6RctI4zIqLM4zo-jXmIaE38d74zVlnEqLbAiEII8nGa_pIepX2bS

03/06/2024

01/24/2024

Safe Sleep and Your Baby: How Parents Can Reduce the Risk of SIDS and Suffocation

American Academy of Pediatrics - June 29, 2022

About 3,600 babies die each year in the United States during sleep because of unsafe sleep environments. Some of these deaths are caused by entrapment, suffocation, or strangulation. Some infants die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). However, there are ways to keep sleeping babies safe.Here is...

10/10/2022

Hi all,

My name is Tu. I am a doctor from Vietnam and the one who created and has been managing Pediatric Essentials for six years. I never wanted to show my face or say anything about myself on this page because I prefer to do things and help others in silence. But probably this is the right time.

Some of you may notice this page has not really been active for the last two years. Because I moved to the US in September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, studied for USMLE, got ECFMG certificate, and just applied for the 2023 Match. Never in my dream would I have thought that a crazy idea when studying at a coffee shop has reached nearly ten thousand doctors and medical students worldwide. I am blessed and appreciate every single message and email I have received from many followers of this page.

Pediatric Essentials has brought many amazing things to my life. First, it has pushed me to keep studying and updating my medical knowledge since graduating from medical school in 2016. Second, I got more connections and friends all around the world, such as in Syria, Ukraine, Italy, Nepal, India, and Azerbaijan. Third, it got me jobs. Everyone was curious about this page. Haha. And last, I put Pediatric Essentials into my personal statement when applying for US residency, and people will probably ask me about this page again. Lol. I don't know how I will end up at Match Day next year. But I want to say thank you for everything.

I hope you all will have a happy life and try to help your patients and the people around you as much as you can.

Sincerely,
Tu Nguyen

08/05/2022

[ August 5, 2022 ]

Clinical Practice Guideline Revision: Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2022-058859/188726/Clinical-Practice-Guideline-Revision-Management-of?utm_campaign=social&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=pediatrics&utm_content=hyperbilirubinemia&utm_term=8_5_22