All articles tagged with #pediatricians
As the US faces its deadliest pediatric flu season since 2009-10, pediatricians are leading efforts to promote vaccination amid limited CDC campaigns and declining global virus data sharing, with experts emphasizing the importance of vaccines to prevent severe outcomes in children.
A group of pediatricians in Massachusetts are considering policies to drop unvaccinated patients due to increasing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation among parents, emphasizing the importance of vaccination for public health and patient safety.
In a context of rising vaccine skepticism fueled by social media, parents tend to trust pediatricians most for vaccine information, despite encountering false claims like those linking hepatitis B vaccine ingredients to autism.
A study published in Pediatrics suggests that using simple tools like training videos, prompts, and handouts can help pediatricians better counsel parents on early peanut introduction, which can significantly reduce the risk of children developing peanut allergies by up to 80%. The research emphasizes the importance of early exposure, especially between 4-6 months, and highlights the need for improved adherence to guidelines to prevent the rising trend of food allergies in children.
Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s claim that pediatricians recommend vaccines for money reveals that most pediatricians are driven by science and patient safety, with vaccine recommendations supported by extensive research and safety data. While vaccines involve costs for practices, they are generally not profitable, and recommendations are based on medical guidelines, not financial incentives.
RFK Jr. criticizes pediatricians and the AAP for supporting COVID-19 vaccines for children, accusing them of corporate influence, while the AAP emphasizes the safety and importance of vaccinating children against COVID-19, highlighting ongoing scientific consensus and safety data.
Kennedy criticizes pediatricians' group over their continued recommendation for COVID-19 vaccinations in young children, highlighting ongoing disagreements about vaccine guidance amid differing views on children's COVID-19 risks and vaccination policies.
Top pediatricians, including the AAP, reaffirm the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations for children, emphasizing that risks remain significant for certain age groups and health conditions, despite some political opposition. They are also engaging with insurers to ensure coverage of these evidence-based recommendations amid rising cases and upcoming respiratory season.
Congenital CMV, a little-known virus, causes more birth defects in American babies than any other nongenetic disease, with one in every thousand babies affected. Megan Nix shares her experience with her daughter Anna, who was diagnosed with congenital CMV, shedding light on the lack of discussion about the virus during routine prenatal care. The virus, which can be transmitted through toddlers' saliva, presents a significant risk during pregnancy, yet most expecting mothers are not informed about it.
Despite the rising number of opioid overdoses among adolescents, a national study found that only 5 percent of pediatricians have ever prescribed buprenorphine or naltrexone for opioid use disorder, highlighting a significant gap in addiction treatment. The study underscores the need for expanded addiction training in medical schools and better incentives to treat patients with opioid use disorder. Access to addiction medications is particularly scarce for adolescents, and the stakes are high as drug overdoses and accidental opioid poisonings are the third leading cause of death for children in the United States.
Dr. Jack Yanovski, a pediatric endocrinologist, provides five tips for parents on how to talk to their children about weight in a sensitive and effective manner. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding a "parent knows best" attitude, recognizing that there is no one "right" body size, creating a healthy environment, not using food as an incentive, and maintaining consistent and stable attitudes towards a child's body. Pediatricians can help parents assess whether a child's weight is a medically important condition and provide guidance on what's appropriate for their child's growth.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reported the first case of measles in Michigan in five years, urging parents to ensure their children are up to date on vaccinations, especially the measles vaccine. The case in Oakland County is associated with international travel, and the department is working to prevent further exposure. Pediatricians emphasize the seriousness of measles and the importance of vaccination, as the virus is highly contagious and can lead to serious illness. The MMR vaccine is highly effective and provides lifelong immunity with two doses, but vaccination rates have dropped, prompting a call for parents to update their decisions and protect their children from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Five confirmed cases of measles at a South Florida elementary school have raised concerns among pediatricians, who suspect that the affected students were not vaccinated. The rise in parents using religious exemptions to opt out of childhood vaccinations in Florida is contributing to the trend. Dr. Lisa Gwynn, a pediatrician, emphasized the importance of vaccination, stating that the measles outbreak is preventable and the vaccine is safe and effective. The MMR vaccine is about 98% effective in preventing measles, and experts believe the unvaccinated children at the school likely contracted the virus. The impact of the anti-vax movement and vocal opposition to COVID-19 vaccines on MMR vaccine rates is a growing concern for pediatricians.
A region-wide increase in flu cases has led several schools to cancel classes or switch to virtual learning due to a surge in student illnesses. Dr. Maryam Sadiq, a pediatrician, emphasizes the importance of staying home when sick, practicing prevention measures like handwashing, and getting the flu shot, especially for children under five years old. Despite some parents refusing the flu shot, Sadiq stresses its potential to save lives and reduce hospitalizations in pediatric populations, urging people to get vaccinated as it can still make a difference in the current flu season.
Pediatricians like Dr. Safdar Medina are treating adolescents with opioid addiction using medications like buprenorphine, but only 6% of pediatricians offer this treatment despite a rise in overdose deaths among 10-19-year-olds. The lack of training and resources, along with the prevalence of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, complicates efforts to combat overdoses. Experts suggest pediatricians should screen for drug use, prescribe naloxone, and engage in conversations about substance abuse. Despite concerns about side effects, buprenorphine is seen as a critical tool in saving young lives from opioid overdose.