Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in Infants Born at 35 Weeks or More Gestation.

Given the prevalence of jaundice in newborns, and the consequences of untreated hyperbilirubinemia, the long-awaited revised clinical practice guidelines for hyperbilirubinemia were finally released in August 2022 by the American Academy of Pediatrics as an update to the 2004 guidelines on the same topic. As new evidence and data become available, it is important for pediatricians and neonatologists to re-assess their clinical decision-making over time to ensure that patients are receiving the best care possible. With improvements in medical equipment and medical technology, and growing concerns about the overtreatment of hyperbilirubinemia, the newest clinical practice guidelines attempt to tackle the prevention, risk assessment, monitoring, and treatment of hyperbilirubinemia with these things in mind. [Pediatr Ann. 2023;52(12):e436-e439.].

Race-Based Medicine Is Racist.

Race is a social construct and cannot be used as a biological proxy, inherently making race-based medicine racist. Given the history of slavery in the United States, there are deep-rooted racist laws and policies that have impacted the health of families and children of color for centuries. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has come to acknowledge its racist past and promised a more equitable future for children and its organization. White physicians from the days of slavery created false myths regarding biological differences between races to strengthen their argument for keeping the institution of slavery - some of which are still in use today. It is vital to the health of future generations of this country that there be a shift to practicing race-conscious medicine and addressing the social determinants of health that are responsible for inequitable care. Pediatricians can play a significant role in ensuring health care equity for children now and in the future. [Pediatr Ann. 2023;52(10):e365-e367.].

Gender-Affirming Care in Children.

Cast into the spotlight because of recent legislative actions, gender-affirming care is a hot topic of discussion across the country when it comes to pediatric health care. And yet there is a great deal of misinformation being perpetuated about gender-affirming care that may be harmful to youth who identify as transgender and gender diverse (TGD). In addition, TGD youth continue to be an underserved and marginalized group that receive disparate health care at baseline. It is our role as pediatricians to understand the current landscape of evidence and guidance available to promote the health of TGD youth while reducing discrimination through education, nonjudgmental holistic treatment, and advocacy at local and national levels. [Pediatr Ann. 2023;52(5):e160-e163.].

COVID-19 Vaccines in Children.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has transformed the world. It has highlighted health inequities, the lack of social safety nets, and the limitations of health care systems. But it has also paved the way for medical ingenuity and technological advances in the face of these extreme challenges. One such medical marvel is the COVID-19 vaccine. The ability to rapidly create and mass produce a safe and effective vaccine for both adults and children has been essential to minimizing the harm of COVID-19, reducing the burden on hospitals and ushering in some semblance of return to pre-COVID times. Although vaccine hesitancy and long-standing health inequities have limited the number of children who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, the recommended vaccines remain a vital tool in ensuring healthy growth and development of children. [Pediatr Ann. 2023;52(1):e4-e7.].

The Kawasaki Disease Comparative Effectiveness (KIDCARE) trial: A phase III, randomized trial of second intravenous immunoglobulin versus infliximab for resistant Kawasaki disease.

BACKGROUND: Although intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is effective therapy for Kawasaki disease (KD), the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children, 10-20% of patients are IVIG-resistant and require additional therapy. This group has an increased risk of coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) and there has been no adequately powered, randomized clinical trial in a multi-ethnic population to determine the optimal therapy for IVIG-resistant patients. OBJECTIVES: The primary outcome is duration of fever in IVIG-resistant patients randomized to treatment with either infliximab or a second IVIG infusion. Secondary outcomes include comparison of inflammatory markers, duration of hospitalization, and coronary artery outcome. An exploratory aim records parent-reported outcomes including signs, symptoms and treatment experience. METHODS: The KIDCARE trial is a 30-site randomized Phase III comparative effectiveness trial in KD patients with fever ≥36 h after the completion of their first IVIG treatment. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive either a second dose of IVIG (2 g/kg) or infliximab (10 mg/kg). Subjects with persistent or recrudescent fever at 24 h following completion of the first study treatment will cross-over to the other treatment arm. Subjects will exit the study after their first outpatient visit (5-18 days following last study treatment). The parent-reported outcomes, collected daily during hospitalization and at home, will be compared by study arm. CONCLUSION: This trial will contribute to the management of IVIG-resistant patients by establishing the relative efficacy of a second dose of IVIG compared to infliximab and will provide data regarding the patient/parent experience of these treatments.

A 15-year-old girl with fever and abdominal pain.

We present a case of a previously healthy 15-year-old girl with fever, right lower quadrant pain, and hip pain. Her history was notable for a recent laparoscopic appendectomy that was complicated by the development of intraabdominal abscesses. She reported normal bowel movements and good appetite on a regular diet, although she did endorse a recent 5-kg weight loss. Further investigation and examination revealed a diagnosis of Crohn's disease with recurrent psoas muscle abscess as the etiology of her pain and fevers. Psoas abscess is a rare complication of Crohn's disease, and vague presenting symptoms may complicate its diagnosis. This case demonstrates the importance of maintaining a broad differential diagnosis when treating a child presenting with abdominal pain and fever.