Infectious Diseases

Pertussis often presents as a prolonged cold, especially in infants. Early recognition, treatment, and vaccination are key to reducing severe disease and spread.

Starting HPV vaccination earlier improves access, builds trust with families, and increases uptake before virus exposure to prevent cancer.

Experts say recent CDC vaccine schedule changes may complicate clinician–family communication without altering the underlying evidence supporting pediatric vaccination.

Maternal influenza and TDaP vaccination during pregnancy was associated with fewer influenza- and pertussis-related hospital and ED visits in infants younger than 6 months.

ACIP recommends use of GSK’s pentavalent MenACWY-CRM/MenB-4C vaccine when MenACWY and MenB are indicated at the same visit.

Reactions from the pediatric health care community poured in following swift changes to the US childhood vaccine schedule by the CDC.

Effective immediately, the updated US childhood vaccine schedule will reduce the number of recommended vaccines for all children to 11 diseases, down from 18.

Those with regular access to care who did not receive, or were late on 2- and 4-month recommended vaccines, were more likely to not have any MMR vaccine by 2 years of age.

In this recap article, take a look back at some of our top stories in the infectious diseases space in 2025.

“We started out 2025 with an environment that was rife with myths and disinformation," said Robert H. Hopkins, Jr., MD, in this year-end recap of 2025 and the pediatric vaccine landscape.

Climate lag time poses urgent health risks for children, necessitating proactive pediatric care and policy changes to address future climate-related challenges.

See the full case of our most recent Puzzler quiz and view the correct diagnosis of this 19-year-old woman with painful, purpuric nodules in the phalanges of her fingers.

Donna Hallas, PhD, PPCNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP, FAAN, shares her thoughts on the recently updated ACIP recommendation on the hepatitis B vaccine.

Get caught up with Contemporary Pediatrics! This list helps you navigate our top stories from the week, all in one place.

The FDA has approved Nuzolvence as a new single-dose oral option for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea in adults and children 12 years and older who weigh at least 77 pounds.

Phase 3 results show oral zoliflodacin was noninferior to ceftriaxone and azithromycin for uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea.

This approval of gepotidacin is the first in a new antibiotic class for the treatment of gonorrhoea approved in over 3 decades.

According to multiple reports, the FDA is investigating the safety of a pair of already-approved protective treatments for respiratory syncytial virus.

“We took a different approach by looking at colonizing bacteria, and we found vaccination reduced antimicrobial resistance through a completely different mechanism," said Brooke Ramay, lead author of the study.

State repeals of nonmedical vaccine exemptions were linked to higher kindergarten vaccination rates, with minimal substitution toward medical exemptions.

The ACIP committee voted to pass both resolutions to update its recommendation on the hepatitis B vaccine for infants.

"For those not receiving the HBV birth dose, it is suggested that the initial dose is administered no earlier than 2 months of age," reads part of vote 1.

New US modeling study results find nirsevimab would avert the most infant RSV-LRTD events and hospitalizations compared with clesrovimab or RSVpreF maternal vaccination.

A national poll shows many parents plan in-person Thanksgiving gatherings despite concerns about COVID-19 transmission and risks to high-risk relatives.

The CDC website now claims "studies supporting a link [between vaccines and autism] have been ignored by health authorities."