Let’s look at three patients who presented with very similar histories and physical examinations. Each child could make a compelling case for acute appendicitis. Yet, only one of the three actually had appendicitis.   Jeff   Jeff was a six-year-old boy who woke up not feeling well. He was nauseated and didn’t want to eat […]

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Attention deficit disorder (ADD) affects approximately 3-5 percent of all school age children in the United States.   This is also the incidence that is reported in Western Europe and Japan. ADD is not a single entity; rather, it is a constellation of symptoms that include inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The symptoms are usually detectable […]

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Dawn, a charming 14-year-old girl, just had her eighth grade graduation.   Her parents had scheduled an hour appointment to discuss the possibility that she might have ADD. Sifting through her chart and my notes I was reminded that she was essentially a straight A student through grade school and middle school.   When I […]

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The article appeared in the February 10th edition of The Wall Street Journal; “Canada Halts Adderall Sales, Citing Deaths.” The distraught phone calls came to our office in the ensuing days   “My son’s been on Adderall for three years and he has done great in school. What are we gonna do? There is no […]

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One of the first dictums that is taught in clinical medicine is that appendicitis is the great imitator.   While there is a classic presentation for an acute appendicitis, far too often it can be subtle and take on the appearance of something entirely different. That is why clinicians must have a very high index […]

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