Tina Q Tan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS

It is hard to believe that 2021 has arrived. I am sure we all are happy to bid 2020 farewell and are looking forward to a much more “normal” year in 2021.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge across the country and stay at home orders, travel bans, and other restrictions remain in place, the Emergency Use Authorization of 2 COVID-19 vaccines brings a most welcomed glimmer of hope to obtaining some control over this pandemic. The start of large COVID-19 vaccine trials in children are planned for these next several months, with the hope of vaccine availability for children by the 4th quarter of 2021. This month’s issue has several “must read” articles:

, which provides a comprehensive review of different aspects of COVID-19 in the pediatric population.

The pandemic has fostered the exponential growth of social media outlets and the creation of many social media challenges, some of which present significant danger to a person’s health and well-being. The pediatric pharmacology article in this issue addresses the 

 that is trending on TikTok and discusses the dangers of and treatment for this challenge.

The pandemic has created nutritional challenges for persons of all ages. The nutrition article looks at the nutritional needs of children during the winter months and the importance of 

Best wishes for a peaceful, healthy, and happy New Year. As Oprah Winfrey states “Cheers to a New Year and another chance to get it right”. Please stay safe and well. And as always, I welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions.

Articles

Dr. Tina Q. Tan wonders how the event of 2020 will affect 2021.

New Year’s greetings!

I first want to extend an official welcome to the latest additions to the Editorial Advisory Board: Dr Candice Jones—a general pediatrician practicing in Orlando, Florida and Dr Amin Barakat—a professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Pediatric Nephrology at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC. Both these individuals bring incredible passion and diverse talent to the editorial board.

As the COVID­-19 pandemic surges again across the country and new restrictions, travel bans, and stay­-at­-home orders are implemented‑ the specter of “COVID­-19 fatigue” becomes increasingly apparent. As we all continue to work to provide the most comprehensive and compassionate care to our patients, it is important to remember to care for ourselves. As cliché as it sounds, self-­care and wellness are now more important than ever. I was recently reminded of this while attending a very busy inpatient infectious diseases service with a number of severely ill patients, including those with COVID­-19 associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Working long hours with very sick patients day in and day out‑ getting little sleep, not taking time to eat, putting everyone else’s needs before your own personal needs, in addition to juggling other responsibilities is not sustainable or healthy. In the midst of the chaos, a friend reminded me that I cannot provide the level of care to my patients that I am accustomed to if I don’t take care of myself. Incorporating moments during the day to recharge helps to build resilience and allows one to work through challenges. As Mary Holloway said, “Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up.”

As we move deep into the winter season‑ please stay safe and well. And as always‑ I welcome your suggestions‑ comments‑ and questions.

Dr. Tina Q. Tan mulls over the need for self-care and the very real specter of COVID-19 fatigue.

Reflecting on the pandemic

 is devoted to coverage of various sessions presented at the virtual American Academy of Pediatrics 2020 National Conference & Exhibition. The following are several articles that provide guidance on common issues that are encountered in clinical practice and are perfect for the upcoming winter season, truly must reads. These include:

Community-acquired pneumonia, how to diagnose and treat

, by Dr Mark Sawyer. This becomes more important this year as we move into cold and influenza season, especially with the co-circulation of COVID-19. All these viruses can cause respiratory symptoms, so being able to have ways to distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia will be very helpful.

, which covers the latest news on the rapidly changing antimicrobial susceptibility of commonly seen pathogens, by Dr Rana El Feghaly and Dr Jennifer L Goldman.

Psychopharmacology for primary care providers

 – what pediatricians need to know about diagnosing and screening for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression and anxiety, by Dr Rebecca Baum. All these conditions have been made worse by the isolation protocols and virtual learning setting that children have experienced due to COVID-19. Children are also experiencing a significant amount of stress, anxiety, and depression as it relates to COVID-19 and an increasing number of parents are turning to their pediatrician with questions regarding these conditions.

As we move into the winter season­ please stay safe and well. And as always­ I welcome your suggestions­ comments­ and questions‑

Dr. Tan shares her 3 must read articles in the November 2020 issue of Contemporary Pediatrics.

Greetings from Dr. Tan!

 when I came on board last April was to expand the Editorial Advisory Board (EAB) to make it more diverse. I am thrilled to be able to introduce 3 new outstanding pediatricians to our EAB. To give you a little background on each:

Dr Jane Carnazzo is a general pediatrician in private practice in Omaha, Nebraska. She has been active in the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), both nationally and in her state: she served on the executive committee since 1996 and was state chapter president for several terms. I worked with Jane when we were members of the AAP Executive Committee of the Section of Infectious Diseases (SOID). She is well versed in issues that pediatric health care providers face.

Dr Rana Hamdy is an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and a Pediatric Infectious Diseases Attending at Children’s National Health System in Washington, DC. I worked with Rana when she was the Fellow Trainee Liaison to the Executive committee of the AAP SOID. She has impressed me with her enthusiasm and practical approach to an issue.

Dr Nina Alfieri is an instructor of Pediatrics at Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University and an attending physician in the Division of Academic General Pediatrics and Primary Care at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Illinois. She has a special interest in promoting 

 as an information resource to the younger generation of pediatric trainees and practitioners and wants to explore various digital media platforms for disseminating the information to this younger generation.

As always, I welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions­

Dr. Tina Q. Tan welcomes the 3 newest members of the editorial advisory board.

Tina Q Tan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS

Articles

New Year’s greetings!

Reflecting on the pandemic

Greetings from Dr. Tan!

A welcome to new board members!