Progress in Understanding the Link Between RSV Infection and Recurrent Wheezing
Healthy, late preterm infants treated with anti-RSV monoclonal antibody during an RSV season had 61% fewer days of wheezing during the first year of life than controls.
By Louis M. Bell, MD http://pediatrics.jwatch.org/misc/board_about.dtl#aBell
May 15, 2013
Covering:
Blanken MO et al., N Engl J Med 2013 May 9; 368:1791
Lemanske RF Jr., N Engl J Med 2013 May 9; 368:1839
The Power of Quality Improvement to Improve Antibiotic Prescribing in Hospitalized Children
Quality-improvement methods led to an impressive change in antibiotic prescribing for inpatient care of childhood pneumonia.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
May 15, 2013
Covering:
Ambroggio L et al., Pediatrics 2013 Apr 15
The Burden and Etiology of Childhood Diarrhea in Asia and Africa
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Targeting five pathogens — rotavirus, Cryptosporidium, Escherichia coli (enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenic), and Shigella — could substantially reduce the burden of childhood diarrhea in developing countries.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
May 15, 2013
Covering:
Kotloff KL et al., Lancet 2013 May 14
Natchu UCM and Bhatnagar S., Lancet 2013 May 14
Threading Together Filarial Genomes: The Wolbachia Endosymbiont and New Targets for Therapy
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
A study of parasitism and symbiosis answers some questions while others remain.
Voriconazole plus Caspofungin for Refractory Pediatric Coccidioidomycosis
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
In a retrospective study involving nine children with complicated coccidioidomycosis, eight improved with a change to combination voriconazole/caspofungin therapy.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
May 8, 2013
Covering:
Levy ER et al., Clin Infect Dis 2013 Jun 1; 56:1573
Galgiani JN., Clin Infect Dis 2013 Jun 1; 56:1586
Another Look at the "Ampicillin Rash"
This study found a lower incidence of antibiotic-associated rash in children with Epstein-Barr virus acute infectious mononucleosis than previously reported.
By Deborah Lehman, MD
May 1, 2013
Covering:
Chovel-Sella A et al., Pediatrics 2013 May 1; 131:e1424
The Long-Term Effects of Childhood Bacterial Meningitis
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Free
Adult survivors of childhood bacterial meningitis have lower educational achievement and a lower likelihood of economic self-sufficiency than matched healthy controls.
Varicella Vaccine Is Effective
The vaccine retains its efficacy and reduces risk for shingles in vaccinated children.
Interventions to Reduce Worm Infections and Their Impacts
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
In China, school-based educational activities led to reduced prevalence of worm infection; in India, 6-monthly deworming had little effect on mortality or weight in young children.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
April 24, 2013
Covering:
Bieri FA et al., N Engl J Med 2013 Apr 25; 368:1603
Awasthi S et al., Lancet 2013 Mar 14
Garner P et al., Lancet 2013 Mar 14
Respiratory Viruses and Otitis Media
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Seasonal activity of respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus was strongly correlated with seasonal diagnosis of acute otitis media.
A New Look at the Healthcare Burden of Viral Meningitis
In an era of declining cases of bacterial meningitis, admission rates and antibiotic use for viral meningitis remain high.
Pre-Guideline Testing and Prescribing Patterns for Pediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Emergency Medicine
Summary and Comment
Diagnostic and treatment patterns support the need for the recent consensus guidelines on pediatric CAP.
By Katherine Bakes, MD
April 12, 2013
Covering:
Neuman MI et al., Acad Emerg Med 2013 Mar; 20:240
Tdap Vaccination of Women During Every Pregnancy Recommended
Women's Health
Guideline Watch
Expanded strategy to protect neonates against pertussis
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
April 11, 2013
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013 Feb 22; 62:131
Many Parents Have No Intention of Vaccinating Their Daughters Against HPV
About three quarters of teenage girls were not up-to-date with HPV immunization in 2010 — and >40% of their parents had no intention of completing the vaccine series.
Synergistic Effect of Genetic and Environmental Factors in Childhood Asthma
The genetic risk might be augmented by early childhood rhinovirus infections.
By David J. Amrol, MD
March 27, 2013
Covering:
Çal kan M et al., N Engl J Med 2013 Mar 27
Norovirus Is Now the Most Common Cause of Childhood Gastroenteritis
Norovirus most often affects children aged <18 months and accounts for substantial healthcare costs.
When Can We Avoid Knee Arthrocentesis in Lyme-Endemic Areas?
Absolute neutrophil count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate can identify children at low risk for septic arthritis.
Home Oxygen Therapy for Young Children with Bronchiolitis
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Combining the use of an observation unit and home oxygen therapy resulted in shorter hospital stays and cost savings.
Neonatal Immune Factors Linked to Schizophrenia Risk
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
High levels of three acute phase proteins, measured at birth, are protective against later risk for nonaffective psychosis.
By Barbara Geller, MD
March 18, 2013
Covering:
Gardner RM et al., Transl Psychiatry 2013 Feb 19; 3:e228
Ingrown Toenail in Children: A New Surgical Approach
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
Excision and cauterization of the affected nail fold without damage to the nail matrix produced good results.
By Mary Wu Chang, MD
March 15, 2013
Covering:
Haricharan RN et al., J Pediatr 2013 Feb; 162:398
Pediatric Appendicitis: CT Scans are More Frequent but Less Accurate in Community than in Children's Hospitals
Emergency Medicine
Summary and Comment
In cases of suspected appendicitis, CT scans were ordered more often than ultrasounds in community hospitals than in children's hospitals, with lower accuracy for both procedures in community hospitals.
A New Vaccine Against Meningococcal Serogroup B
A phase 3 study gives hope that a serogroup B vaccine could prevent this potentially fatal disease.
By Louis M. Bell, MD
February 20, 2013
Covering:
Vesikari T et al., Lancet 2013 Jan 14
Snape MD and Pollard AJ., Lancet 2013 Jan 14
New TB Vaccine Not Efficacious in Infants
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Free
MVA85A given to infants previously vaccinated with BCG induced modest immune responses but did not prevent tuberculosis or infection with <$EMPH_O>Mycobacterium tuberculosis<$EMPH_C>.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
February 20, 2013
Covering:
Tameris MD et al., Lancet 2013 Feb 4
Dye C and Fine PEM., Lancet 2013 Feb 4
Poliovirus Immunization with Fractional Doses of Inactivated Vaccine
A new strategy looks promising for infants in limited-resource countries.
No Known Strategies Prevent Vertical HCV Transmission
Gastroenterology
Summary and Comment
A systematic review of perinatal management strategies came up empty.
By Atif Zaman, MD, MPH
February 8, 2013
Covering:
Cottrell EB et al., Ann Intern Med 2013 Jan 15; 158:109