Is it asthma? Assessing and managing wheeze in pre-school children

Wheeze in children aged under five years is common and often...

Preventing and managing bronchiectasis in high-risk paediatric populations

Bronchiectasis is a lung disease characterised by bronchial...

Managing cows' milk protein allergy in infants

Dietary avoidance of cows’ milk is the only management strategy...

Selected topics in acute pain management for primary care

There are a multitude of causes of acute pain, however, the...

Paracetamol dosing for children in primary care

Paracetamol dosing errors can lead to acute liver failure in...

4% dimethicone lotion: a subsidised treatment for head lice

From 1 May, 2017, 4% dimethicone lotion can be prescribed fully...

Bronchiolitis: when to reassure and monitor, and when to refer

Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection, most often...

Childhood eczema: improving adherence to treatment basics

Emollients form the basis of treatment for all patients with...

Topical corticosteroids for childhood eczema: clearing up the confusion

Topical corticosteroids are one of the key medicines used in...

Medicine use in youth mental health

This report provides an overview of dispensings of medicines...

The role of medicines for the treatment of depression and anxiety in patients aged under 18 years

Psychological and behavioural approaches are the cornerstone...

Treating childhood eczema - a topical solution for a topical problem

Asthma education in primary care: A focus on improving outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples

Addressing mental health and wellbeing in young people

Melatonin: is it worth losing any sleep over?

Managing frequently encountered mental health problems in young people: non-pharmacological strategies

Young people experience a variety of mental health conditions....

Addressing mental health and wellbeing in young people

This is the first of a series of articles which will examine...

Asthma education in primary care

Māori and Pacific peoples in New Zealand are disproportionately...

Melatonin: is it worth losing any sleep over?

Modified-release melatonin is an unsubsidised medicine that...

Treating childhood eczema - a topical solution for a topical problem

Emollients, topical corticosteroids and avoidance of triggers...

The Integrated Performance and Incentive Framework (IPIF): A Healthy Start

IPIF is a quality improvement programme designed to enhance...

News Updates

Medicines update: removal of Special Authority status | Antianginal...

Measles: what to be aware of during an outbreak

The current measles outbreak in New Zealand highlights the importance...

Encouraging children to swallow tablets or capsules

Many health professionals will encounter children who are reluctant...

News Updates

Evidence that alternate dosing of paracetamol and ibuprofen...

Changes to the National Immunisation Schedule: rotavirus vaccine now added

Changes to the National Immunisation Schedule will soon take...

The use of analgesics in children

This report discusses the use of analgesics for the treatment...

Managing pain in children aged under 12 years

“Pain is what the patient says it is”. This definition of pain...

Hazardous substance poisoning in children: poisons in and around the house

Children are great explorers, and preschool children spend much...

The use of omeprazole in infants is still high

Omeprazole is not approved for use in infants (children aged...

Assessing wheeze in pre-school children

Wheeze in children aged less than five years has many potential...

Upfront - Sudden unexpected death in infancy: Where are we now?

The incidence of SUDI has declined significantly since public...

Smoking prevention and cessation in adolescents: Changing futures, saving lives

On average, New Zealanders who smoke try their first cigarette...

Pertussis: halting the epidemic by protecting infants

Infants who have not yet completed the National Immunisation...

Bronchiolitis in infants

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection...

Otitis media: a common childhood illness

It has been suggested that otitis media is an unavoidable illness...

Pertussis: an avoidable epidemic

This article is out of date. Please see: Pertussis: halting...

The management of community acquired pneumonia

Pneumonia is a significant cause of hospitalisation and mortality...

Managing urinary tract infections in children

Although relatively uncommon in children, urinary tract infection...

Prescribing for children with asthma

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma...

Diagnosing and managing asthma in children

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of childhood asthma...

Upfront: Vulnerable children and young people in New Zealand

In this conclusion to the series on abused and neglected children...

Irritable infants reflux and GORD

In New Zealand, empiric treatment with omeprazole for infant...

Upfront: Mental health issues in adolescents who have experienced abuse and neglect

In the fourth article in our series on vulnerable children and...

Upfront: Infant mental health and child protection

The third article in our series on vulnerable children and young...

Upfront: Detecting child abuse in general practice

This second article in our series on children and young people...

Upfront: Meeting the needs of children and young people in New Zealand who have been abused and neglected

Nearly one quarter of New Zealand children and young people...

Allergy to cows' milk protein and the appropriate use of infant formula

Extensively hydrolysed formula for infants aged under six months...

Prescription Kitchen videos

Links to video files of the TV show broadcast on Sky channel...

Contraception in early adolescence

Young people are having sex. Advice about sexual health and...

Immunisation in Pacific children: a success story

Childhood immunisation plays an important role in the health...

Close contact infectious diseases: an increasing concern for Pacific peoples

Pacific peoples have poorer health status than other New Zealanders,...

Rheumatic fever - the neglected disease

New Zealand continues to have high rates of rheumatic fever,...

The burden of bronchiectasis in Pacific peoples

In most developed countries the incidence of bronchiectasis...

Do cough and cold medicines work in children?

The short answer is no. There is little evidence that cough...

Cough in children

Children who cough are frequently seen in general practice....

Identifying the risk of serious illness in children with fever

A “traffic light” approach to assessing the risk...

Immunisation in children by age two years

An important focus of the PHO Performance Programme is to ensure...

Avoiding medication errors in children

Medication errors may never be completely eliminated, but strategies...

Common issues in paediatric oral health

How to recognise and manage common oral health issues in younger...

Key Messages & Introduction

Evidence indicates that early interventions in a number of mental...

Recognition and Assessment of Common Mental Disorders in Young People

In this section the clinical features of the common mental disorders...

Management of depression in young people in primary care

A stepped care approach is used with the intensity of treatment...

References

References for Depression in Young People BPJ special edition...

Appendices

Appendices for Depression in Young People

Childhood asthma programme summary

Te huango o te tamaitiA short overview of childhood asthma,...

Childhood Asthma: References

References and bibliography

Asthma Education Desktop Prompt

This desktop prompt has been used extensively by GPs, practice...

Asthma education for children and their families

Asthma education of the child and the family should lead to...

Inequalities in asthma prevalence morbidity and mortality

Māori and Pacific children with asthma suffer more severe...

Guide to asthma management in children

To compliment the childhood asthma decision support tool. This...

Selected topics in asthma

Intermittent or persistent asthma? Which inhaled corticosteroid?...

Bronchiolitis update

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection...

Management of impetigo

Impetigo is a highly contagious, bacterial infection of the...

Is a vegetarian diet healthy for a child?

Vegetarian diets are becoming increasingly popular, but is this...

Infant formula

Although breastfeeding is the best option for an infant, cows’...

The investigation and management of nocturnal enuresis

Nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is a common condition which...

Treating head lice

Head lice are non-discriminatory in who they affect, however...

Upfront: Reducing inequalities in asthma care for children

Reducing inequalities in asthma care for children.

Asthma and chronic cough in Māori children

Māori children with asthma have greater hospital admission...

Should antidepressants be used to treat depression in children and adolescents?

Depressive disorder is a major health issue for young people,...

Coeliac Disease

Coeliac disease is a common but often unrecognised disorder,...

Constipation

Most cases of constipation in adults are mild and intermittent...

10 minute audit: Identifying your patients on colchicine

Acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis

In her UPFRONT article on infectious disease patterns (BPJ Issue...

Over-the-counter medication in children: friend or foe?

The information in this article is now out of date. An updated...

Safe use of paracetamol in children

The evidence-base for the information contained in this article...

Upfront: Infectious disease patterns a major concern

An Interview with Professor Diana Lennon on infectious disease...

Winter Ills

Bronchiolitis | Cough in children | Fever in children | Acute...

ADHD: The Primary Care role

The role of primary care clinicians in improving outcomes for...

Improving the care of children with asthma

Studies suggest that the majority of children with asthma do...

Ten minute audit

Identifies people under the age of 18 years on paroxetine to...

Pharmacological management of asthma in children aged 5–11 years

A brief overview of the recently released Asthma and Respiratory...

Non-evidential laboratory testing for drug use in adolescents

On occasion, an adolescent may present at their general practice...

Substance misuse in adolescents: alcohol, cannabis & other drugs

The risk of injury or death during adolescence is two to three...