Influenza

According to the data, vaccination coverage in the United States has been lower in this influenza season compared to the previous season and to seasons before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Guidance now aligns with isolation recommendations for influenza and other respiratory illnesses.

Procalcitonin can be useful for point-of-care testing in patients with influenza-like illness and a prolonged fever, guiding the indication for a chest radiograph while helping to avoid radiation exposure.

Discover how recent research unveils the potential of psychological interventions in alleviating asthma attacks and mitigating associated psychological stressors, shedding light on promising avenues for asthma management.

Take this quiz and test your knowledge of the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations for routine use of influenza vaccines, medications for the prevention and treatment of pediatric influenza.

A new predictive model from Taiwan suggests cell-based quadrivalent flu vaccines may better egg-based options in reducing disease burden and improving the societal costs of the flu season among children and adolescents.

Investigators of a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics concluded that maternal vaccination was safe with regard to neurodevelopment of the child at ages 12 months and 18 months.

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary Pediatrics website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

A new study shows that, among the tridemic viruses, RSV was the leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations.

Main factors contributing to the hospitalization of pediatric patients with influenza A were abdominal pain, viral co-infection and some hematological abnormalities.

Steven Selbst, MD, provides an update as to what he is seeing in the emergency department related to influenza, RSV, and COVID-19.

Though more research is needed to determine reasons for the association, a study published in JAMA Network revealed the 2021-2022 influenza season was associated with a significantly higher household transmission risk compared to pre-pandemic seasons.

Todd Wolynn, MD, talks about the spread of influenza among children and their communities.

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary Pediatrics website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

In 43 of 154 school weeks, air samples were positive for influenza A virus (IAV) while SARS-CoV-2 was positive in air samples in 101 of 154 school weeks.

Gary Marshall, MD, discusses the safety and efficacy of cell based influenza vaccines and some of the knowledge gaps that remain about influenza virus in children.

An expert explains the differences between egg-based and cell-based influenza vaccines.

An expert describes the current pediatric recommendations for influenza vaccinations as well as factors that contribute to the effectiveness of the vaccine.

A recently published study on 17 million children found combined flu and COVID-19 vaccines offered superior protection against hospitalization, MIS-C, and death during the pandemic.

The study authors wrote that future work could prioritize data from late summer and early fall seasons to better ascertain lead time values.

Gary Marshall, MD, discusses the critical role that children play in influenza transmission.

Gary Marshall, MD, provides an overview of influenza and the timing and duration of the disease from recent flu seasons.

In the almost 10 years of data collected by the research team, nearly 1.5 million antiviral medications were dispensed to pediatric patients, and oseltamivir accounted for 99.8% of those prescriptions.

The 2022-2023 influenza season was the fourth season to be classified as high severity since the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic. 

Overall, the study authors concluded that the immunogenicity of QIV and TIV was similar for common influenza ingredients for children aged 6 to 35 months.

Influenza vaccination is especially crucial among children and adolescents with chronic medical conditions that put them at high risk for severe outcomes.

Ravi Jhaveri, MD, shares approaches to addressing common concerns among parents and guardians regarding the flu vaccine for children.

Ravi Jhaveri, MD, discusses challenges in patient access to flu vaccines, and comments on the need to increase opportunities for vaccination for all pediatric patients.

Ravi Jhaveri, MD, reviews the different types of influenza vaccines for pediatric populations, highlighting the differences between egg-based and cell-based flu vaccines.

Ravi Jhaveri, MD, comments on the burden of influenza on children, specifically secondary infections and post-flu fatigue.