All articles tagged with #pediatric
The New Jersey Department of Health has confirmed the first pediatric flu death of the 2025-2026 season, involving a child under five with no known health issues, amid a surge in flu cases and increased respiratory illnesses across the region. Health officials emphasize vaccination as the best prevention method.
Greene County, Ohio, reports its first pediatric flu death of the 2025-26 season, involving a healthy 16-year-old girl from Beavercreek. Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination and early treatment, noting that while most flu cases are mild, severe symptoms require urgent medical attention. Vaccination is still recommended despite the circulating strain, with ample supply available.
A teenager in Greene County has died from the flu, marking Ohio's first pediatric flu death of the season, which typically peaks between December and February. Health officials emphasize the importance of flu vaccination and good hygiene practices to prevent illness.
An 11-year-old boy in Alabama, Jace Watkins, died from complications of the flu, suffering seizures and brain swelling, just days after falling ill and before he could open his Christmas gifts. His death highlights the ongoing rise in flu cases and pediatric fatalities in the U.S.
A pediatric nurse shares advice on handling emotional comments from friends, illustrated by a story about a woman who struggles with accepting payment from a friend for babysitting, highlighting issues of boundaries and friendship dynamics.
During the 2024–25 influenza season, 109 U.S. children with influenza-associated encephalopathy were reported, including 37 with severe acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). Most affected children were previously healthy, with high rates of ICU admission and mortality, especially among ANE cases. Only 16% of vaccine-eligible children had received the influenza vaccine, underscoring the importance of vaccination to prevent severe neurologic complications. Healthcare providers should consider IAE in children with recent febrile illness and neurologic symptoms, and vaccination remains a key preventive measure.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons finds that treating children with uncomplicated acute appendicitis using antibiotics alone is both cost-effective and safe compared to surgery. The research, which analyzed data from over 1,000 patients aged 7 to 17, showed that antibiotics resulted in lower costs and slightly better quality-adjusted life year scores than surgery. The study highlights antibiotics as a viable nonoperative management strategy, though it notes limitations such as a short follow-up period and regional data focus.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has reported the first pediatric flu-related death of the season in the Upstate region. With widespread flu activity and an increase in cases and hospitalizations, DHEC urges South Carolinians to get their flu shots and updated vaccines for respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19 and RSV. The flu season officially began on October 1st, and DHEC recommends everyone 6 months and older to get vaccinated. The active flu season coincides with ongoing COVID-19 cases, and DHEC emphasizes the importance of preventive measures such as vaccination, masks, handwashing, and staying home when sick.
The CDC is investigating a cluster of brain abscesses in children that occurred in Nevada last year. The Southern Nevada Health District recorded 18 cases of brain abscesses in young Clark County residents in 2022, mostly boys around 12 years of age. The cases shared "striking" similarities, and most of the children had been sick with cold symptoms before they were diagnosed with a brain abscess. The CDC is still investigating the underlying cause of these cases, and doctors in other parts of the country are also seeing an unusual number of pediatric cases.