Happy summer

With an increasing portion of the adult population having received a COVID-19 vaccination and with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine available for the 12- to 15-year-old population, hopefully for many children and their families this summer will be more normal with regard to activities such as vacation, summer camp, social gatherings, and sporting events. It is hoped that a COVID-19 vaccine will be available for children aged 6 years and older by the early fall, just in time for back to school.

This month’s issue has several must-read articles that cover important issues we are more frequently encountering:

• The cover article on infectious diseases offers timely information on diagnosing and treating waterborne infections, which are significantly more prevalent during the summer months. It was coauthored by 1 of our Editorial Advisory Board members, Rana Hamdy, MD, MPH, MSCE.
• This issue’s story on talking to and understanding LGBTQ+ patients provides much needed guidance on specific needs these patients may have. It is an excellent resource to help us provide the best and most appropriate care for our LGBTQ+ patients.
• The nutrition report provides practical tips on diagnosing poor nutrition and malnutrition in children. This is a problem that is underdiagnosed and has been greatly exacerbated given the significantly increased number of children who have had problems with access to adequate food during the pandemic.
• The pediatric pharmacology section gives an excellent update on contraceptives available to adolescents and information that is important for them to know. As some of the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic begin to loosen, we may encounter more adolescents inquiring about contraceptives.

Thank you for providing outstanding care to your patients during these challenging times. Please enjoy the summer and make time to take care of yourselves. As Charles Bowden stated, “Summertime is always the best of what might be.”

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

With warmest regards,

Tina

Tina Q. Tan