Infectious Diseases

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has endorsed the recommendation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization to retain the use of thimerosal as a preservative in vaccines.

Evaluation of neonates for CNS HSV infection using CSF HSV PCR testing is common, but HSV infection is not, a retrospective study showed.

At the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases annual flu press conference, the CDC stresses the importance of children, child caregivers, and pregnant women receiving flu vaccinations.

The AAP has issued new guidelines for the prevention and control of influenza in children.

Greek researchers conducted a study in 69 children with febrile illness who were admitted to a hospital with a diagnosis of a bacterial or viral infection to assess established iron indices in acute febrile infections and to explore whether serum iron distribution differs depending on whether the infection is bacterial or viral.

A study in Finland found that infants who had contact with dogs in their first year showed fewer respiratory tract symptoms or infections.

Functional foods for post-partum mothers include galactagogues to enhance breast feeding and teas to soothe colic.

The ophthalmologist was not able to rule abuse in or out based on his examination because of the number of retinal hemorrhages seen.

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy is a relatively uncommon form of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Henoch-Schönlein purpura is the primary differential diagnosis.

Even in the pre-Prevnar, pre-conjugated Hib vaccine era, urinary tract infection was the most common bacterial infection found in infants who presented with fever without localizing clinical findings.

AAP recommendations for diagnosing and managing a first urinary tract infection in children aged 2 to 24 months were updated in 2011.

If you think that West Nile virus is the most common cause of neuroinvasive arboviral disease in juveniles, think again. Another arthropod-borne virus has its sights set on children. More >>

Household contacts of children infected with Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are not routinely sampled for S aureus colonization. Failure to do so may facilitate persistent colonization or recurrent infections, according to a new report. More >>

The US FDA has approved a combination vaccine for preventing invasive diseases caused by Hib and Neisseria meningitis serogroups C and Y in children aged 6 weeks to 18 months.

A new study looks at using text messages to remind families to have their children vaccinated for seasonal influenza. Could text messaging make a difference in a vaccination rate that is barely more than half overall and considerably lower in low-income populations?

Although some older children and adults have been found to have cross-reactive antibodies to influenza A (H3N2) variant viruses, which were reported with increased frequency in 2011 compared with previous years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning that children aged 10 years and younger have few or no cross-reactive antibodies. What does this mean for your younger patients in the event of a sustained outbreak?

A study finding that tweens start out ambivalent toward cigarette and alcohol use also suggests that their negative associations with the substances are more easily weakened than their positive associations can be strengthened.

The first influenza vaccine to contain 2 strains of influenza A virus and 2 strains of influenza B has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in healthy children aged 2 years and older and adults to age 49 years.

The first meeting of the Committee on Assessment of Studies of Health Outcomes Related to the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule was held in February in Washington, DC, at the Pew Charitable Trust.

Assessing underlying risk factors for childhood stroke is important to survival and quality of life. New findings suggest that recent minor acute infections of the ear, upper respiratory tract, and urinary tract can pose a high risk of ischemic stroke in children. These are common pediatric occurrences, so how can you identify patients at risk?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its recommended immunization schedules for children and adolescents.

The mother of a 4-year old girl complained that the child had been "pulling at her bottom" for several weeks, presumably imitating her younger brother. Visual inspection of the area revealed the real problem.

A child with normal kidneys is not at significant risk of developing chronic kidney disease because of recurrent urinary tract infections.

The first rapid influenza testing system that provides a digital readout of test results for 7 strains of influenza A and B has been given 501(k) clearance and a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments waiver by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Infants who are immunized in the afternoon sleep better during the first 24 hours after immunization than those immunized earlier in the day, particularly if they have elevated temperatures.