Highlights of the May 2024 issue of Contemporary Pediatrics

The May 2024 issue of Contemporary Pediatrics is now available in digital form! Below, find a message from our Editor-in-Chief Tina Tan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS, who highlights articles featured in this month's issue.

Click here, or on the cover image to read the May issue of Contemporary Pediatrics.

Tina Tan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA, FPIDS:

Greetings!

Measles outbreaks continue to occur across the United States and around the world, reminding us to continue to ensure that our patients are up to date on their measles vaccines, especially as summer vacations will start soon.

Another issue that has been making the news recently is highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1)—“bird flu.” This is a widespread infection among wild birds in the United States and globally, but these viruses have also caused outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry flocks and sporadic infections in dairy cows. Human infections with avian influenza A viruses are uncommon but occur sporadically worldwide, with a dairy farmer in Texas recently attaining a positive result for the infection. The CDC is closely monitoring the situation.

There are several excellent, must-read articles in this month’s issue. They include the following:

• The Dermatology section cover article was written in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month. It focuses on best practices for sunscreen use in various pediatric age groups and the current UV-A/UV-B filters that are available. This is very timely as summer approaches.
• The Infectious Diseases section article provides an update on the rising measles cases in pediatric patients across the United States and provides practical guidance to practitioners as to what they can do to prevent the transmission and spread of the disease.
• The Pediatric Pharmacology section article provides practitioners with clinical pearls and useful best practice tips on discussing teen pregnancy, emergency contraception, and pregnancy prevention with teenaged patients and their families.
• The Respiratory Disorders section article provides a quick recap of findings from a study that looked at how indoor allergens affect upper respiratory infections in children with asthma. This is important information given that over 8% of children in the United States have asthma.
• The Nutrition section article provides guidance and information on navigating the problem of infant formula shortages and provides useful tips on how practitioners and pharmacists can work together to ensure that their patients’ nutritional needs are being met. It also covers the do’s and don’ts of feeding during a shortage.
• The Behavioral Health section article was written in honor of National Foster Care Month. It is an excellent review of the behavioral problems frequently encountered in foster children and addresses the root of these behavioral issues. It also reviews how pediatric health care providers can help foster parents deal with these issues. This is great information given that there are more than 390,000 children in the US living in foster care.

As always, thank you for providing outstanding care to your patients. As Walt Whitman stated, “Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you.” Please make time to take care of yourselves. Please stay safe and well. And as always, I welcome your suggestions, comments, and questions.

With warm regards,

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

Editor in Chief