ABIM Adolescent case studies

ABIM Adolescent · Put your knowledge to work in context.

Adolescent Medicine is an ABIM subspecialty credential for physicians who already hold certification in a primary specialty and who want formal recognition of their expertise in the care of patients from puberty through young adulthood. Candidates generally come from internal medicine, pediatrics, or family medicine training, and the credential signals that they can manage the biologic, psychologic, and social dimensions of adolescent health rather than only the adult or pediatric version of a problem. The ABIM Adolescent case studies are 5 cases and about 3,580 words.

A 15-Year-Old Who 'Gave Up' on Basketball: Depression, Cannabis, or Both?

Marcus, 15, is brought by his mother, who found him asleep at 4 p.m. on a school day and says he has "given up" on basketball.

771 words, about 4 min 2

A Recent Immigrant's Pre-Camp Physical: Catch-Up Vaccines, Steroids, and a Parent's Hesitation

Amara, 12, comes for a pre-camp physical in July, three months after emigrating. Her only record is a photo of a handwritten card reading "BCG at birth" and "one shot at age 9." She has no documentation of MMR, varicella, hepatitis B, Tdap, HPV, or MenACWY, and no history of varicella disease.

692 words, about 3 min 3

A 16-Year-Old Requesting Birth Control With Migraine With Aura and a Parent's Insurance

Jasmine, 16, comes alone and asks for birth control. She has dated her 17-year-old boyfriend for five months and is not yet sexually active but "probably will be." She has migraine with visual aura two to three times monthly, well controlled with sumatriptan.

719 words, about 4 min 4

A Ranked Runner With Amenorrhea, a Stress Fracture, and a Mother Asking for 'the Pill'

Maya, 16, is a nationally ranked cross-country runner seen with 3 months of amenorrhea and a second metatarsal stress fracture confirmed on MRI. She trains 60 miles a week, is 5'6" and 103 lb (BMI 16.4, down from 118 lb two years ago).

706 words, about 4 min 5

Isotretinoin in a 16-Year-Old Who Will Not Tell Her Parents She Is Sexually Active

Danielle, 16, has severe nodulocystic acne that has failed two years of doxycycline plus topical tretinoin, and you are starting isotretinoin. At intake she discloses four months of sexual activity with her boyfriend, condoms "mostly," and no prescription contraception.

692 words, about 3 min