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What Parents Need to Know About Peanut Allergy

Author/s: 
Alexander W Fender, Jennifer L Thompson, Lindsay A Thompson

Peanut allergy can range from mild to severe, even causing life-threatening reactions.

Peanut allergy affects 1% to 3% of people in the US. It typically develops in young children and usually lasts their whole life. While there is no definitive cure once someone has a peanut allergy at this time, we now know that giving peanut protein to infants starting at an early age can help to prevent development of peanut allergy. The Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial demonstrated how early introduction of peanut can help prevent children from becoming allergic to peanut.

Keywords 
peanut allergy Food Allergies Skin Tests children

Pediatric sialorrhea (drooling)

Author/s: 
Karan Gandhi, Julie E Strychowsky, Breanna A Chen

Sialorrhea is common in children with neurologic impairment

Sialorrhea can be normal in children with typical development until age 4 years. It occurs in as many as 44% of children with cerebral palsy.1 It typically results from poor oral motor control and fluctuates alongside the child’s developmental trajectory. Reversible contributors such as nasal obstruction, dental issues, and medication effects (e.g., benzodiazepines and clozapine) should be considered.

Keywords 
drooling children Otolaryngology oral health pediatrics

Recommended Immunizations for Children 7–18 Years Old, United States, 2024

This parent-friendly schedule is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Keywords 
Immunization Immunization Schedule vaccination vaccination recommendations

Recommended Immunizations for Birth Through 6 Years Old, United States, 2024

This parent-friendly schedule is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).

Keywords 
Immunization Schedule Immunization vaccination vaccination recommendations

Omalizumab for the Treatment of Multiple Food Allergies

Author/s: 
Wood RA, Togias A, Sicherer SH, Shreffler WG, Kim EH, Jones SM

BACKGROUND
Food allergies are common and are associated with substantial morbidity; the only approved treatment is oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy.
METHODS
In this trial, we assessed whether omalizumab, a monoclonal anti-IgE antibody, would be effective and safe as monotherapy in patients with multiple food allergies. Persons 1 to 55 years of age who were allergic to peanuts and at least two other trial-specified foods (cashew, milk, egg, walnut, wheat, and hazelnut) were screened. Inclusion required a reaction to a food challenge of 100 mg or less of peanut protein and 300 mg or less of the two other foods. Participants were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive omalizumab or placebo administered subcutaneously (with the dose based on weight and IgE levels) every 2 to 4 weeks for 16 to 20 weeks, after which the challenges were repeated. The primary end point was ingestion of peanut protein in a single dose of 600 mg or more without dose-limiting symptoms. The three key secondary end points were the consumption of cashew, of milk, and of egg in single doses of at least 1000 mg each without dose-limiting symptoms. The first 60 participants (59 of whom were children or adolescents) who completed this first stage were enrolled in a 24-week open-label extension.

RESULTS
Of the 462 persons who were screened, 180 underwent randomization. The analysis population consisted of the 177 children and adolescents (1 to 17 years of age). A total of 79 of the 118 participants (67%) receiving omalizumab met the primary end-point criteria, as compared with 4 of the 59 participants (7%) receiving placebo (P<0.001). Results for the key secondary end points were consistent with those of the primary end point (cashew, 41% vs. 3%; milk, 66% vs. 10%; egg, 67% vs. 0%; P<0.001 for all comparisons). Safety end points did not differ between the groups, aside from more injection-site reactions in the omalizumab group.
CONCLUSIONS
In persons as young as 1 year of age with multiple food allergies, omalizumab treatment for 16 weeks was superior to placebo in increasing the reaction threshold for peanut and other common food allergens. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03881696.)

ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment in Children and Adolescents

Author/s: 
Peterson, BS, Trampush, J, Maglione, M, Bolshakova, M, Brown, M., Rozelle, M

Objective. The systematic review assessed evidence on the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents to inform a planned update of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines.

Data sources. We searched PubMed®, Embase®, PsycINFO®, ERIC, clinicaltrials.gov, and prior reviews for primary studies published since 1980. The report includes studies published to June 15, 2023.

Review methods. The review followed a detailed protocol and was supported by a Technical Expert Panel. Citation screening was facilitated by machine learning; two independent reviewers screened full text citations for eligibility. We abstracted data using software designed for systematic reviews. Risk of bias assessments focused on key sources of bias for diagnostic and intervention studies. We conducted strength of evidence (SoE) and applicability assessments for key outcomes. The protocol for the review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022312656).

Results. Searches identified 23,139 citations, and 7,534 were obtained as full text. We included 550 studies reported in 1,097 publications (231 studies addressed diagnosis, 312 studies addressed treatment, and 10 studies addressed monitoring). Diagnostic studies reported on the diagnostic performance of numerous parental ratings, teacher rating scales, teen/child self-reports, clinician tools, neuropsychological tests, EEG approaches, imaging, and biomarkers. Multiple approaches showed promising diagnostic performance (e.g., using parental rating scales), although estimates of performance varied considerably across studies and the SoE was generally low. Few studies reported estimates for children under the age of 7. Treatment studies evaluated combined pharmacological and behavior approaches, medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration, other pharmacologic treatment, psychological/behavioral approaches, cognitive training, neurofeedback, neurostimulation, physical exercise, nutrition and supplements, integrative medicine, parent support, school interventions, and provider or model-of-care interventions. Medication treatment was associated with improved broadband scale scores and ADHD symptoms (high SoE) as well as function (moderate SoE), but also appetite suppression and adverse events (high SoE). Psychosocial interventions also showed improvement in ADHD symptoms based on moderate SoE. Few studies have evaluated combinations of pharmacological and youth-directed psychosocial interventions, and we did not find combinations that were systematically superior to monotherapy (low SoE). Published monitoring approaches for ADHD were limited and the SoE is insufficient.

Conclusion. Many diagnostic tools are available to aid the diagnosis of ADHD, but few monitoring strategies have been studied. Medication therapies remain important treatment options, although with a risk of side effects, as the evidence base for psychosocial therapies strengthens and other nondrug treatment approaches emerge.

Eating Family Meals Together at Home

Author/s: 
Callie L Brown, Melissa C Kay, Lindsay A Thompson

Eating meals at home together as a family is important for both parents and children.

Eating dinner together at least 3 or 4 times per week has positive effects on child development and has been linked to children’s lower rates of overweight and obesity, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, depression, and eating disorders; higher self-esteem; and better academic performance. Eating family meals also has nutritional benefits. Families who eat dinner together eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer fried foods and sugary drinks. Family meals also help adults and children learn to like a variety of foods.

Keywords 
Media and Youth pediatrics Patient Information nutrition obesity family

Age and Probability of Spontaneous Umbilical Hernia Closure

Author/s: 
Katherine He, Dionne A Graham, Louis Vernacchio, Jonathan Hatoun, Laura Patane, Shannon L Cramm, Shawn J Rangel

This cohort study of children younger than 6 years uses electronic health records to investigate whether a child’s age is associated with the probability of spontaneous umbilical hernia closure and to refine guidelines for surgical repair.

Keywords 
Neonatology pediatrics infants children's health newborns umbilical hernia
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