Infectious Diseases

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Recent data has revealed the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), also known as the “nasal spray” vaccine, to be grossly ineffective, leading to the ACIP’s decision not to recommend its usage. As such, healthcare providers must be judicious in their choice of influenza vaccine with their patients.

With the introduction of point-of-care (POC) molecular assays, pediatricians can diagnosis influenza A and B during the office visit with sensitivity and specificity comparable to reference assays.

Both mode of delivery and feeding method are significantly associated with intestinal microbial community composition, according to a study in 102 full-term infants, whose gut microbiota investigators analyzed using stool samples taken at the age of 6 weeks.

The currently recommended childhood immunization schedule put forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is designed to protect infants and young children from 14 harmful and potentially deadly diseases before a child’s second birthday.

Many pediatricians believe that if they pay $30 for an immunization, as long as a payer reimburses them more than $30, they’re OK, said Chip Hart. The fact is, that’s not the case, he explained during his presentation “The Business of Immunization: Protecting Kids without Destroying Your Practice.”

Staphylococcus aureus plays an important role in the pathogenesis and course of atopic dermatitis. Compared to the normal pediatric population, atopic patients are especially susceptible to colonization and recurrent infections of S aureus.

After a poor matchup to circulating viruses in the 2014-2015 season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new vaccine for this year, along with updated administration guidelines.

Vaccine refusal

If there is no link between vaccines and conditions such as autism, why do pediatricians spend so much time talking about this topic with parents?

Vaccine wars

The ongoing US measles outbreak underscores the importance of childhood vaccines-opponents of vaccination notwithstanding, say experts.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has announced the release of the 2015 recommended vaccination schedule for children and adolescents in a recent policy statement from the Academy’s Committee on Infectious Diseases.

An estimated average of 6514 infants aged younger than 12 months were hospitalized for influenza infection each year between 2003 and 2012, according to an analysis of population-based influenza hospitalization surveillance data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has updated its influenza vaccination recommendations for the 2014-15 influenza season.

Watch to learn about the flu season and it's impact on younger adults with the H1N1 strain of the flu virus and how important the flu vaccine is for this part of the population.

A study conducted in 264 3- to 4-year-old children who were attending daycare in China found that those who drank an experimental follow-up formula (FUF) had fewer and shorter episodes of acute respiratory infection (ARI) than children who consumed an unfortified cow’s milk-based beverage.

The high cost of purchasing and administering vaccines has been a topic of discussion by pediatricians for some time. New vaccines cost much more than the older ones, and even the old vaccines have consistently increased in cost over the years. This has caused some pediatricians to consider dropping vaccines from their practices altogether.

A growing number of adolescents are smoking hookahs instead of cigarettes, and users are more likely to be of higher socioeconomic status, a new study reports.