Pub Date : 2025-01-24DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-069926
Claudia Gaviria-Agudelo, Alexandra B Yonts, David W Kimberlin, Sean T O'Leary, Grant C Paulsen
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts that provides advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, normally meets 3 times per year to develop US vaccine recommendations. The ACIP met October 23-24, 2024, to discuss influenza vaccines, chikungunya vaccines, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, RSV immunizations, meningococcal vaccines, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines, and adult and child/adolescent immunization schedule revisions. This update summarizes the proceedings of these meetings, with an emphasis on topics that are most relevant to the pediatric population. Major updates for pediatric clinicians include information regarding COVID-19 and influenza vaccine recommendations, meningococcal vaccination considerations, and updates regarding implementation and effectiveness of RSV immunization in pregnant people and infants.
{"title":"October 2024 ACIP Meeting Update: Influenza, COVID-19, RSV and Other Vaccines.","authors":"Claudia Gaviria-Agudelo, Alexandra B Yonts, David W Kimberlin, Sean T O'Leary, Grant C Paulsen","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-069926","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-069926","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts that provides advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, normally meets 3 times per year to develop US vaccine recommendations. The ACIP met October 23-24, 2024, to discuss influenza vaccines, chikungunya vaccines, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, RSV immunizations, meningococcal vaccines, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, pneumococcal vaccines, and adult and child/adolescent immunization schedule revisions. This update summarizes the proceedings of these meetings, with an emphasis on topics that are most relevant to the pediatric population. Major updates for pediatric clinicians include information regarding COVID-19 and influenza vaccine recommendations, meningococcal vaccination considerations, and updates regarding implementation and effectiveness of RSV immunization in pregnant people and infants.</p>","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-24DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-067016
Yang Hou, Xiaoli Zong, Xian Wu, Dan Liu, Pamela L Wolters, Jennifer Janusz, Karin S Walsh, Stephanie M Morris, Jonathan M Payne, Natalie Pride, Shruti Garg, Louise Robinson, Peter L Stavinoha
Background and objectives: Learning difficulties are frequently reported in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), yet little is known about the extent and predictors of their academic functions across ages. We aimed to examine the developmental patterns of academic achievement in these children from childhood to adolescence and how these patterns differ across demographic and NF1-related disease factors.
Methods: This cross-sectional study integrated data of 1512 children with NF1 (mean age, 11.2 years, SD, 3.62, range, 3-18, 46.5% female patients) from 8 institutions. Academic functioning was assessed with Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement or the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test. Data were analyzed primarily using time-varying effect modeling.
Results: Participants' academic achievement was significantly lower than the normative means across ages, and the gap widened from middle childhood to midadolescence. Academic age trends varied across academic domains and demographic and disease factors. Male patients demonstrated larger deviations in math at midchildhood and in reading and writing between midchildhood and midadolescence. Children with lower parental education demonstrated larger deviations in math, reading, and writing between midchildhood and midadolescence. Children with familial NF1 demonstrated larger deviations in math at midchildhood and mid-to-late-adolescence, and in reading and writing between midchildhood and midadolescence.
Conclusions: Academic difficulties in children with NF1 emerge early and worsen with age. The findings also highlight the variability within this population across demographic and disease factors. The age-specific estimates of academic functions can serve as the first NF1-specific academic norms, providing useful insights for future research and practice.
{"title":"Academic Achievement of Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1.","authors":"Yang Hou, Xiaoli Zong, Xian Wu, Dan Liu, Pamela L Wolters, Jennifer Janusz, Karin S Walsh, Stephanie M Morris, Jonathan M Payne, Natalie Pride, Shruti Garg, Louise Robinson, Peter L Stavinoha","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-067016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-067016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p></p><p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Learning difficulties are frequently reported in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), yet little is known about the extent and predictors of their academic functions across ages. We aimed to examine the developmental patterns of academic achievement in these children from childhood to adolescence and how these patterns differ across demographic and NF1-related disease factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study integrated data of 1512 children with NF1 (mean age, 11.2 years, SD, 3.62, range, 3-18, 46.5% female patients) from 8 institutions. Academic functioning was assessed with Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement or the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test. Data were analyzed primarily using time-varying effect modeling.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants' academic achievement was significantly lower than the normative means across ages, and the gap widened from middle childhood to midadolescence. Academic age trends varied across academic domains and demographic and disease factors. Male patients demonstrated larger deviations in math at midchildhood and in reading and writing between midchildhood and midadolescence. Children with lower parental education demonstrated larger deviations in math, reading, and writing between midchildhood and midadolescence. Children with familial NF1 demonstrated larger deviations in math at midchildhood and mid-to-late-adolescence, and in reading and writing between midchildhood and midadolescence.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Academic difficulties in children with NF1 emerge early and worsen with age. The findings also highlight the variability within this population across demographic and disease factors. The age-specific estimates of academic functions can serve as the first NF1-specific academic norms, providing useful insights for future research and practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143029253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-23DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-067675
Sagori Mukhopadhyay, David A Kaufman, Shampa Saha, Karen M Puopolo, Dustin D Flannery, Kristin E D Weimer, Rachel G Greenberg, Pablo J Sanchez, Eric C Eichenwald, Charles M Cotten, Barbara J Stoll, Abbot Laptook
Objectives: To compare incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) among extremely preterm infants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: Multicenter cohort study of infants with birthweight 401 to 1000 g or gestational age 22 to 28 weeks. LOS was defined as a bacterial or fungal pathogen isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture obtained after 72 hours of age. Primary outcome was LOS incidence calculated as incidence proportion (LOS cases among all admissions) and incidence rate (LOS events/1000 patient days). A multivariable Poisson regression model was used to compare the adjusted risk of LOS incidence proportion before (1/1/18-3/31/20) and during the pandemic (4/1/20-12/31/21). An interrupted time series analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with center as a random effect was used to compare LOS incidence rates during the 2 periods.
Results: Among 6509 eligible infants, LOS incidence proportion was not different before (18.2%) and during the pandemic (16.9%; P = .18). The adjusted relative risk (95% CI) for LOS was 0.93 (0.82-1.05) and for LOS or mortality was 0.98 (0.88-1.08) during the pandemic compared to the period before the pandemic. In the interrupted time series analysis, there was no significant change in LOS incidence rates at the start of the pandemic (0.219, 95% CI, -0.453 to 0.891) or microbiology of LOS, and change in trends of LOS incidence rates before and during the pandemic was not significant (-0.005, 95% CI, -0.025 to 0.015).
Conclusions: In a large multicenter study of extremely preterm infants, rates of LOS remained unchanged during the pandemic.
{"title":"Late-Onset Sepsis Among Extremely Preterm Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic.","authors":"Sagori Mukhopadhyay, David A Kaufman, Shampa Saha, Karen M Puopolo, Dustin D Flannery, Kristin E D Weimer, Rachel G Greenberg, Pablo J Sanchez, Eric C Eichenwald, Charles M Cotten, Barbara J Stoll, Abbot Laptook","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-067675","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-067675","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p></p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To compare incidence of late-onset sepsis (LOS) among extremely preterm infants before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Multicenter cohort study of infants with birthweight 401 to 1000 g or gestational age 22 to 28 weeks. LOS was defined as a bacterial or fungal pathogen isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid culture obtained after 72 hours of age. Primary outcome was LOS incidence calculated as incidence proportion (LOS cases among all admissions) and incidence rate (LOS events/1000 patient days). A multivariable Poisson regression model was used to compare the adjusted risk of LOS incidence proportion before (1/1/18-3/31/20) and during the pandemic (4/1/20-12/31/21). An interrupted time series analysis using a generalized linear mixed model with center as a random effect was used to compare LOS incidence rates during the 2 periods.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 6509 eligible infants, LOS incidence proportion was not different before (18.2%) and during the pandemic (16.9%; P = .18). The adjusted relative risk (95% CI) for LOS was 0.93 (0.82-1.05) and for LOS or mortality was 0.98 (0.88-1.08) during the pandemic compared to the period before the pandemic. In the interrupted time series analysis, there was no significant change in LOS incidence rates at the start of the pandemic (0.219, 95% CI, -0.453 to 0.891) or microbiology of LOS, and change in trends of LOS incidence rates before and during the pandemic was not significant (-0.005, 95% CI, -0.025 to 0.015).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In a large multicenter study of extremely preterm infants, rates of LOS remained unchanged during the pandemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143024543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-22DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-068392
Michelle M Corrado, Edwin Liu, R Brett McQueen, Marisa G Stahl
{"title":"Cost-Minimization Analysis of Celiac Disease Screening Strategies.","authors":"Michelle M Corrado, Edwin Liu, R Brett McQueen, Marisa G Stahl","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-068392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-068392","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143009730","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fractures are common injuries in childhood and can be caused by unintentional injury, medical conditions, and child abuse. Although the consequences of failing to diagnose an abusive injury in a child can be grave, the consequences of incorrectly diagnosing child abuse in a child whose fractures have another etiology are also significant. This report aims to review recent advances in the understanding of fracture specificity, fracture mechanisms, and other medical conditions that predispose infants and children to fracture. This clinical report will aid pediatricians and pediatric care providers in developing an evidence-based differential diagnosis and performing appropriate evaluations when assessing a child with fractures.
{"title":"Evaluating Young Children With Fractures for Child Abuse: Clinical Report.","authors":"Suzanne Haney,Susan Scherl,Linda DiMeglio,Jeannette Perez-Rossello,Sabah Servaes,Nadia Merchant,,,,,","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-070074","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-070074","url":null,"abstract":"Fractures are common injuries in childhood and can be caused by unintentional injury, medical conditions, and child abuse. Although the consequences of failing to diagnose an abusive injury in a child can be grave, the consequences of incorrectly diagnosing child abuse in a child whose fractures have another etiology are also significant. This report aims to review recent advances in the understanding of fracture specificity, fracture mechanisms, and other medical conditions that predispose infants and children to fracture. This clinical report will aid pediatricians and pediatric care providers in developing an evidence-based differential diagnosis and performing appropriate evaluations when assessing a child with fractures.","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-069597
Jennifer A Hoffmann,Shilpa J Patel
{"title":"Quality Improvement for Pediatric Acute Mental Health Care: Opportunities and Challenges.","authors":"Jennifer A Hoffmann,Shilpa J Patel","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-069597","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-069597","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":"205 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991807","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESPsychiatric boarding has implications for youth, their families, and hospital systems. We undertook a quality improvement (QI) project to address boarding at our institution. We aimed to stabilize patients who were boarding in our emergency department (ED) observation unit and to decrease the percentage of patients admitted to psychiatric facilities.METHODSA multidisciplinary team created a stabilization protocol focused on enhancing coping strategies and family communication and providing psychoeducation and safety planning. This program was piloted in a group of patients experiencing boarding beginning in March 2021. Implementing the protocol involved additional staffing, plans for structured daily activities, and enhancements to the electronic health record.RESULTSDuring the baseline period (January 2019-February 2021), 65.7% (n = 498) of encounters in which patients boarded in the ED observation unit resulted in the patient being admitted to a psychiatric facility compared with 49.0% (n = 373) of encounters during the intervention period, reflecting a centerline shift on a statistical process control chart. From March 2021 to May 2022 (intervention period), 159 patients participated in the stabilization protocol across 164 encounters. Compared with similar nonpilot encounters (n = 446) occurring during the same period, pilot encounters (n = 164) were less likely to result in admission to a psychiatric facility (22.6% vs 58.2%) and were more likely to result in the patient being discharged home (75.0% vs 31.4%).CONCLUSIONThis QI project resulted in fewer patients being transferred to inpatient psychiatric care. This program illustrates that medical hospitals can creatively improve care for patients experiencing boarding.
{"title":"Stabilizing Pediatric Patients During Psychiatric Boarding: A Quality Improvement Project.","authors":"Saira Afzal,Claire Gunnison,Adam Rudofker,Jeremy Esposito,Weston Geddings","doi":"10.1542/peds.2023-063262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-063262","url":null,"abstract":"BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESPsychiatric boarding has implications for youth, their families, and hospital systems. We undertook a quality improvement (QI) project to address boarding at our institution. We aimed to stabilize patients who were boarding in our emergency department (ED) observation unit and to decrease the percentage of patients admitted to psychiatric facilities.METHODSA multidisciplinary team created a stabilization protocol focused on enhancing coping strategies and family communication and providing psychoeducation and safety planning. This program was piloted in a group of patients experiencing boarding beginning in March 2021. Implementing the protocol involved additional staffing, plans for structured daily activities, and enhancements to the electronic health record.RESULTSDuring the baseline period (January 2019-February 2021), 65.7% (n = 498) of encounters in which patients boarded in the ED observation unit resulted in the patient being admitted to a psychiatric facility compared with 49.0% (n = 373) of encounters during the intervention period, reflecting a centerline shift on a statistical process control chart. From March 2021 to May 2022 (intervention period), 159 patients participated in the stabilization protocol across 164 encounters. Compared with similar nonpilot encounters (n = 446) occurring during the same period, pilot encounters (n = 164) were less likely to result in admission to a psychiatric facility (22.6% vs 58.2%) and were more likely to result in the patient being discharged home (75.0% vs 31.4%).CONCLUSIONThis QI project resulted in fewer patients being transferred to inpatient psychiatric care. This program illustrates that medical hospitals can creatively improve care for patients experiencing boarding.","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991752","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
OBJECTIVEYouth behavioral health inpatient beds are limited during a time of crisis. Around one-third of youth admitted to a behavioral health unit (BHU) will be readmitted within 1 year of discharge, with 8% to 13% being admitted within 30 days. In one study, they found that more than one-third of patients initially admitted for suicidal ideation or attempt were readmitted within 7 days. Our objective was to decrease 7-day and 30-day readmission rates to our BHU by 20% by May of 2023.METHODSWe collected baseline data through medical record review for our pediatric BHU readmissions from July 2020 until July 2021. Interventions, such as standardized workflows and checklists, were trialed with Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles beginning October 2021 until November 2022. Performance was analyzed using statistical process control charts (U-charts). Sustainment was tracked through December 2023. Length of stay (LOS) was tracked as a balancing measure. Compliance with our readmission checklist was tracked as a process measure.RESULTSBoth 7-day and 30-day readmission rates to the pediatric BHU decreased as interventions were initiated and adopted. The rates of patients readmitted within 7 and 30 days decreased from a baseline mean of 5.54 to 2.83 (49%) and 11.52 to 7.38 (36%) per 100 hospitalizations, respectively. The LOS for the BHU decreased from 5.58 to 5.09 days. The readmission checklist was used for 81 out of 83 patients, or 97.5%.CONCLUSIONAdoption of multiple interventions produced a decrease in readmissions to a pediatric BHU.
{"title":"A Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Behavioral Health Unit Readmission Rates.","authors":"Katherine Winner,Kelly Sandberg,Brandon Saia,Megan Calabro,Kelly Blankenship","doi":"10.1542/peds.2023-064917","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-064917","url":null,"abstract":"OBJECTIVEYouth behavioral health inpatient beds are limited during a time of crisis. Around one-third of youth admitted to a behavioral health unit (BHU) will be readmitted within 1 year of discharge, with 8% to 13% being admitted within 30 days. In one study, they found that more than one-third of patients initially admitted for suicidal ideation or attempt were readmitted within 7 days. Our objective was to decrease 7-day and 30-day readmission rates to our BHU by 20% by May of 2023.METHODSWe collected baseline data through medical record review for our pediatric BHU readmissions from July 2020 until July 2021. Interventions, such as standardized workflows and checklists, were trialed with Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles beginning October 2021 until November 2022. Performance was analyzed using statistical process control charts (U-charts). Sustainment was tracked through December 2023. Length of stay (LOS) was tracked as a balancing measure. Compliance with our readmission checklist was tracked as a process measure.RESULTSBoth 7-day and 30-day readmission rates to the pediatric BHU decreased as interventions were initiated and adopted. The rates of patients readmitted within 7 and 30 days decreased from a baseline mean of 5.54 to 2.83 (49%) and 11.52 to 7.38 (36%) per 100 hospitalizations, respectively. The LOS for the BHU decreased from 5.58 to 5.09 days. The readmission checklist was used for 81 out of 83 patients, or 97.5%.CONCLUSIONAdoption of multiple interventions produced a decrease in readmissions to a pediatric BHU.","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":"14 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991809","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-070075
Lauren Zajac,Philip J Landrigan,
Pediatricians and pediatric trainees in North America are increasingly involved in caring for children and adolescents in or from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In many LMICs, hazardous environmental exposures-notably outdoor and household air pollution, water pollution, lead, pesticides, and other manufactured chemicals-are highly prevalent and account for twice the proportion of disease and deaths among young children as in North America. Climate change will likely worsen these exposures. It is important that pediatricians and other pediatric health professionals from high-income countries who work in LMICs be aware of the disproportionately severe impacts of toxic environmental hazards, become knowledgeable about the major local/regional environmental threats, and consider environmental factors in their differential diagnoses. Likewise, pediatricians in high-income countries who care for patients who have emigrated from LMICs need to be aware that these children may be at elevated risk of toxic environmental diseases from past exposures to toxic environmental hazards in their countries of origin as well as ongoing exposures in products imported from their home countries, including traditional foods, medications, and cosmetics. Because diseases of toxic environmental origin seldom have unique physical signatures, pediatricians can utilize the environmental screening history, supplemented by laboratory testing, as a diagnostic tool. To prepare pediatricians to care for children in and from LMICs, pediatric organizations could increase the amount of environmental health and climate change content offered in continuing medical education (CME) credits, maintenance of certification (MOC) credits, and certification and recertification examinations. Broadly, it is important that governments and international agencies increase resources directed to pollution prevention, strengthen the environmental health workforce, and expand public health infrastructure in all countries.
{"title":"Environmental Issues in Global Pediatric Health: Policy Statement.","authors":"Lauren Zajac,Philip J Landrigan,","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-070075","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-070075","url":null,"abstract":"Pediatricians and pediatric trainees in North America are increasingly involved in caring for children and adolescents in or from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In many LMICs, hazardous environmental exposures-notably outdoor and household air pollution, water pollution, lead, pesticides, and other manufactured chemicals-are highly prevalent and account for twice the proportion of disease and deaths among young children as in North America. Climate change will likely worsen these exposures. It is important that pediatricians and other pediatric health professionals from high-income countries who work in LMICs be aware of the disproportionately severe impacts of toxic environmental hazards, become knowledgeable about the major local/regional environmental threats, and consider environmental factors in their differential diagnoses. Likewise, pediatricians in high-income countries who care for patients who have emigrated from LMICs need to be aware that these children may be at elevated risk of toxic environmental diseases from past exposures to toxic environmental hazards in their countries of origin as well as ongoing exposures in products imported from their home countries, including traditional foods, medications, and cosmetics. Because diseases of toxic environmental origin seldom have unique physical signatures, pediatricians can utilize the environmental screening history, supplemented by laboratory testing, as a diagnostic tool. To prepare pediatricians to care for children in and from LMICs, pediatric organizations could increase the amount of environmental health and climate change content offered in continuing medical education (CME) credits, maintenance of certification (MOC) credits, and certification and recertification examinations. Broadly, it is important that governments and international agencies increase resources directed to pollution prevention, strengthen the environmental health workforce, and expand public health infrastructure in all countries.","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1542/peds.2024-070076
Lauren Zajac,Philip J Landrigan,
Pediatricians and pediatric trainees in North America are increasingly involved in caring for children and adolescents in or from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In many LMICs, toxic environmental exposures-notably outdoor and household air pollution, water pollution, lead, hazardous waste disposal, pesticides, and other manufactured chemicals-are highly prevalent and account for twice as great a proportion of disease and deaths among young children as in North America. Climate change will likely worsen these exposures. It is important that pediatricians and other pediatric health professionals from high-income countries who plan to work in LMICs be aware of the disproportionately severe impacts of environmental hazards, become knowledgeable about the major toxic threats to children's health in the countries and communities where they will be working, and consider environmental factors in their differential diagnoses. Likewise, pediatricians in high-income countries who care for children and adolescents who have emigrated from LMICs need to be aware that these children may be at elevated risk of diseases caused by past exposures to toxic environmental hazards in their countries of origin as well as ongoing exposures in products such as traditional foods, medications, and cosmetics imported from their original home countries. Because diseases of toxic environmental origin seldom have unique physical signatures, the environmental screening history, supplemented by laboratory testing, is the principal diagnostic tool. The goal of this technical report is to enhance pediatricians' ability to recognize, diagnose, and manage disease caused by hazardous environmental exposures, especially toxic chemical exposures, in all countries and especially in LMICs.
{"title":"Environmental Issues in Global Pediatric Health: Technical Report.","authors":"Lauren Zajac,Philip J Landrigan,","doi":"10.1542/peds.2024-070076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2024-070076","url":null,"abstract":"Pediatricians and pediatric trainees in North America are increasingly involved in caring for children and adolescents in or from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In many LMICs, toxic environmental exposures-notably outdoor and household air pollution, water pollution, lead, hazardous waste disposal, pesticides, and other manufactured chemicals-are highly prevalent and account for twice as great a proportion of disease and deaths among young children as in North America. Climate change will likely worsen these exposures. It is important that pediatricians and other pediatric health professionals from high-income countries who plan to work in LMICs be aware of the disproportionately severe impacts of environmental hazards, become knowledgeable about the major toxic threats to children's health in the countries and communities where they will be working, and consider environmental factors in their differential diagnoses. Likewise, pediatricians in high-income countries who care for children and adolescents who have emigrated from LMICs need to be aware that these children may be at elevated risk of diseases caused by past exposures to toxic environmental hazards in their countries of origin as well as ongoing exposures in products such as traditional foods, medications, and cosmetics imported from their original home countries. Because diseases of toxic environmental origin seldom have unique physical signatures, the environmental screening history, supplemented by laboratory testing, is the principal diagnostic tool. The goal of this technical report is to enhance pediatricians' ability to recognize, diagnose, and manage disease caused by hazardous environmental exposures, especially toxic chemical exposures, in all countries and especially in LMICs.","PeriodicalId":20028,"journal":{"name":"Pediatrics","volume":"121 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991754","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}