Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new recommendations that set off a storm of virtual outrage all over the blogosphere. Did the AAP hit on a hot topic like breastfeeding an 8-year old or co-sleeping with a newborn? No. The topic at hand involved a pharmaceutical that many take every day.
The AAP recommended giving cholesterol-lowering drugs to kids over the age of 8 who fall into certain risk profiles.
The big question on many folks' minds involves the close relationship between doctors and drug companies. While that it is a pungent rind on which to chew, the greater issue seems to be the lack of proof that these drugs function in the same way in kids that they do in adults and whether or not their ingestion will have the desired effect. Does a kid with lower cholesterol have a decreased risk of developing heart disease? We simply don't know.
For a round-up of all of arguments, look here. And for one pediatrician's take, look here.
Illo: Kim Scafuro
