Primary Care Perspectives

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects feeding, growth, and quality of life, traditionally diagnosed and monitored through repeated endoscopies. Recent advancements include the esophageal string test, a minimally invasive method that captures disease activity through biomarkers rather than tissue biopsies, potentially transforming personalized care for EoE patients. This discussion features insights from Amanda Muir, MD, MTR, a pediatric gastroenterology and Melanie Ruffner, MD, PhD, an allergist/immunologist, and highlights how the esophageal string test is being integrated into clinical care programs, such as the Frontier Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with ongoing research addressing unanswered questions in EoE to enhance patient-centered care.

 

For more information, visit: Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic Disorders | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death for children. In this episode, Drs. Rotherham and Stafford explain the “layers of protection” concept, including swim lesson timing, effective home pool safety measures, and the risks of floatation devices versus life jackets. We also clarify terms like “dry drowning” and dispel myths around water safety. This episode includes key water safety messages that all pediatricians should share with patients and families.

This episode qualifies for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Visit chop.cloud-cme.com and search for the episode title to claim credit.

The coauthors of a new study in the journal Pediatrics titled “Black Teenage Male and Caregiver Perspectives on Anticipatory Guidance for Police Encounters”, join Katie Lockwood, MD, MEd, in this episode to discuss how pediatricians can help prepare Black youth to safely navigate police interactions. We address the challenges and importance of conversations about racism, especially for racially non-concordant providers, the role of caregivers in facilitating these discussions, and the professional development needs of providers. Thank you to Jeffrey Eugene, MD, and Nikki Jaffe, MD, for sharing their research and lessons learned from their focus groups on how patients and caregivers want to have "the talk" with their pediatric provider.

In this episode, Haley Pearlstein, MD, a CHOP gastroenterologist, discusses cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS), a pediatric condition marked by recurrent severe nausea and vomiting episodes separated by symptom-free intervals, with a prevalence of up to 3.2% in children. We cover typical presentation in primary care, NASPGHAN guidelines, differential diagnoses including CNS tumors, and diagnostic work-up strategies. In addition, we explore how acute treatments parallel migraine therapies, recommended lifestyle modifications, and preventive medications.

For more information on CVS or to refer to CHOP GI, visit: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

In Philadelphia, a 2007 Board of Health regulation allows capable adolescents ages 11–18 to self-consent to vaccines that prevent reportable diseases, recognizing that teen vaccine coverage remains suboptimal in part due to access barriers and inconsistent uptake when decisions rest solely with parents. This episode explores how that policy works in practice and what it means for autonomy, equity, and public health.

We’re joined by Dr. Marva Schödel, co-author of a recent paper on adolescent vaccine self-consent, to unpack the real-world impact of this approach. This research was done with the Pediatric Research Consortium (PeRC), a primary care practice-based research network at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Schödel is, as of the time of publication, an employee of Merck, who manufactures the HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9.