Happy Spring!

I first want to extend an official welcome to Russell Libby, MD, the latest addition to our Editorial Advisory Board. Dr. Libby is the chief of general pediatrics at Inova Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, and founder and president of the Virginia Pediatric Group. He brings incredible passion and talent to the Editorial Board.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been ongoing for over a year and one of its major negative impacts has been on the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. The stressors of the pandemic have caused a significant increase in anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance, and an exacerbation of underlying mental health conditions, especially among adolescents. These may present in a variety of ways, and pediatric care providers should be on the lookout for signs of a potentially serious issue so they can refer their patients to the appropriate mental health services.

This month, Contemporary Pediatrics has several must-read articles:

Our cover story on atopic dermatitis is an excellent review of this very common childhood condition. The authors discuss presenting symptoms, new drugs, and new protocols for treatment.

April’s Puzzler, the Developmental Health column on energy deficiency in young athletes, and our special section on advising teenagers on drugs all cover very real issues relating to the adolescent population, many of which have worsened during the pandemic.

In our Nutrition section, we cover the very practical and timely topic of plant-based protein vs animal protein diets in children.

Thank you for continuing to provide outstanding care to your patients during these challenging times. As Susan J. Bissonette said, “An optimist is the human personification of spring.”

Please stay safe and well. And, as always, I welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions.

With warmest regards,

Tina

Tina Q. Tan., MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS

Editor-in-Chief