Early childhood caries is a virulent form of dental caries that can destroy the primary dentition of toddlers and preschool children. It occurs worldwide, afflicting predominantly disadvantaged children. Although Streptococcus mutans is the most likely causative agent, diet also plays a critical role in the acquisition and clinical expression of this infection. Early acquisition of S. mutans via vertical or horizontal transmission is a key event resulting in accumulation of these organisms to levels exceeding 30% of the total cultivable plaque flora, which in turn leads to rapid demineralization of the tooth structure. Affected children may also have other associated health problems, ranging from local infections to oral pain that manifest as difficulty in eating and sleeping, and reduced growth. Oral rehabilitation usually consists of restoration or surgical removal of carious teeth. Although treatment can be instituted in the dental clinic, it becomes costly when general anesthesia is required for sedation.

This study tested a psychological intervention designed to improve students’ scores on high-stakes exams and to increase our understanding of why pressure-filled exam situations undermine some students’ performance. It was expected that sitting for an important exam leads to worries about the situation and its consequences that undermine test performance. It was tested whether having students write down their thoughts about an upcoming test could improve test performance. The intervention, a brief expressive writing assignment that occurred immediately before taking an important test, significantly improved students’ exam scores, especially for students habitually anxious about test taking.

Recommendations vary regarding immediate antimicrobial treatment versus watchful waiting for children younger than 2 years of age with acute otitis media. In this study, 291 children 6-23 months of age with acute otitis media, were randomized to receive amoxicillin-clavulanate or placebo for 10 days. Among the children who received amoxicillin-clavulanate, 35% had initial resolution of symptoms by day 2 and 80% by day 7; among children who received placebo, 28% had initial resolution of symptoms by day 2, and 74% by day 7. Mean symptom scores over the first 7 days were lower for the children treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate than for those who received placebo .The rate of clinical failure was also lower among the children treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate. Mastoiditis developed in one child who received placebo. Diarrhea and diaper-area dermatitis were more common among children who received amoxicillin-clavulanate. There were no significant changes in either group in the rates of nasopharyngeal colonization with nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae.