Heart murmurs are one of the most common findings in pediatric practice, but determining which ones warrant further evaluation can be challenging. While many murmurs are innocent, others may signal underlying structural heart disease and require timely referral and management.

In this episode, we discuss how pediatricians can approach the evaluation of heart murmurs, including key features of the child's history and physical exam that help distinguish benign murmurs from those that may be pathologic. We also explore how factors can influence what you hear through your stethoscope.

Joining us is Christopher Rausch, MD, pediatric cardiologist and Director of the Cardiac Developmental Outcomes Program at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is also a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Rausch shares practical insights to help pediatricians feel more confident in evaluating murmurs, identifying red flags, and knowing when referral is appropriate.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• How to differentiate the sound of a murmur
• The biggest differences between a murmur during the first few days of life and as a teenager
• How common it is for children to experience a murmur during their developmental years
• Counseling families and deciphering fact versus fear

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

Ebola has a way of cutting through the noise of the news cycle. Its name alone can shift conversations in exam rooms and on living room couches. But what's circulating in headlines is not always what's circulating in reality. For pediatricians, that gap matters. In this episode, we break down what's actually happening right now with Ebola, what is known about current risk and how clinicians can respond when families arrive with urgent questions shaped more by media than by medicine.

To guide us through the science, we are joined by Sam Dominguez, MD, PhD. He is the Medical Director of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, as well as the Associate Medical Director of Infection Control and Prevention at Children's Hospital Colorado. He is a professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• The current status of Ebola in Africa
• How difficult it is to contract Ebola
• The role of the pediatrician in screening patients who are traveling from other countries
• How pediatricians can ease minds while also promoting the facts

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.

There's a moment in a pediatrician's day that doesn't show up on the schedule. It's the bruise that doesn't quite match the story, or the awkward pause after a parent answers a question just a little too quickly or the child who won't make eye contact or let go of your sleeve. In these moments, pediatricians become more than clinicians. They become interpreters, advocates and sometimes the only line of protection.

To help us understand the latest on child abuse, we are joined by Denise Abdoo, PhD, CPNP. Dr. Abdoo is a pediatric nurse practitioner who specializes in child abuse and neglect. She is also an associate professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Some highlights from this episode include:

• What's changed in treating child abuse over the last decade
• The impact of social media on child abuse
• The most easily missed signs in a pediatric visit
• Recent changes in laws, reporting and expectations

For more information on Children's Colorado, visit: childrenscolorado.org.