Last week we considered fourth grader Josh who was given Concerta for his ADD. This resulted in improved academics and overall well being. However, the parents were very disturbed with his sleep deprivation. The medication Melatonin was being considered by his physician.   Another area where Melatonin has shown promise is in the patient with […]

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Fourth-grader Josh was diagnosed with ADD after a lengthy work-up and evaluation.   He had been struggling in school and homework was a nightmare for both he and his parents. After the diagnosis was confirmed, I put him on a long acting stimulant medication, Concerta, which is a form of Ritalin. The results were dramatic. […]

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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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