Miranda Hester

Ms. Hester is Content Specialist with Contemporary OB/GYN and Contemporary Pediatrics.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued its immunization and treatment recommendations for the 2020-2021 influenza season.

Although COVID-19 may be the disease at the forefront of most people’s mind, the annual influenza season is due to start in the near future. How it will look when running concurrently with a pandemic is unknown at this point, but the disease could further tax the health care system with the hospitalizations and deaths caused by the illness annually.

The AAP continues its recommendation of routine influenza immunizations for every child who has no medical contraindications, starting at age 6 months. A child should be given any licensed, recommended, age-appropriate vaccine that is available without regard to product or formulation. For children who either have a suspected or confirmed case of influenza and is hospitalized, has severe disease, or an underlying condition that could increase the risk of complications, antiviral treatment should be administered. For children who are not at high risk of complications from influenza, antiviral medication may be used if it can be started within 48 hours of the disease’s onset or if the child has someone in the household who is either aged younger than 6 months or who has a condition that predisposes them to complications from influenza.

Articles

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued its recommendations for the 2020-2021 influenza season. 

American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Annual Influenza Season Recommendations

Supplementation during pregnancy can have potential positive health outcomes for offspring. A new 

 looked at whether a 7-fold increased intake of vitamin D during pregnancy is linked to improved bone health in offspring when compared with the regular dose.

Researchers did a prespecified analysis of a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial using the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 cohort that included 623 pregnant women and their 584 children. The women were given either a 2800 IU/d of vitamin D (high dose) or 400 IU/d (standard dose) from the 24th week in the pregnancy until a week following birth.

At age 6 years, 517 children underwent clinical follow-up. An analysis of dual-energy radiography absorptiometry scan outcomes from ages 3 years and 6 years found that the children born to mothers who had been given a high dose of vitamin D had higher whole-body bone mineral content than the children born to mothers who were given a standard dose. 

Supplementation during pregnancy can have potential positive health outcomes for offspring.

Effect of Vitamin D Intake During Pregnancy on Offspring

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been an important tool in preventing the further spread of HIV. Although adolescents and young adults are particularly affected by HIV, the uptake of PrEP has remained low among teenagers. A new 

looks at the current status of PrEP uptake among adolescents aged 13 to 19 years who are at risk.

Among the 37,377 diagnoses of HIV made in 2018, 7734 cases were diagnosed in adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 24 years and 1707 diagnoses occurred in adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. Two-thirds of all HIV infections in adolescents and young adults occurred in young African American men who have sex with men. Investigators found that PrEP awareness and engagement was lowest among teenagers who were at the greatest risk of HIV.

Despite recommendations from the CDC, many clinicians who treat adolescents do not routinely offer HIV testing or do a sexual history taking to assess sexual risk exposures.

A new review in JAMA Pediatrics looks at the current status of PrEP uptake among adolescents aged 13 to 19 years who are at risk for HIV. 

Author | Miranda Hester

Articles

American Academy of Pediatrics Issues Annual Influenza Season Recommendations

Effect of Vitamin D Intake During Pregnancy on Offspring

HIV PrEP Uptake Remains Low Among Teens