The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has voted to end its recommendation for universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth, though groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and many local and state health departments still support the birth dose. Under ACIP’s new shared decision-making approach, families who opt to delay can begin the first dose at 2 months for infants whose mothers test negative for the virus’s surface antigen.

The transition from pediatric to adult primary care can be challenging for adolescents, with only 15% receiving appropriate transition planning, according to a 2020 CDC study. Research indicates significant loss to follow-up for adolescents with chronic conditions, such as congenital heart disease and type 1 diabetes, as they move to adult care.

Benign acute childhood myositis is a rare and temporary complication of influenza that primarily affects school-age children, causing muscle inflammation and intense pain, which can lead to an inability to walk. It is most commonly seen in boys and can be triggered by a flu virus that provokes an immune response, leading to muscle cell destruction.

A study of nearly 20,000 children found that higher temperature exposure was linked to lower rates of achieving developmental milestones. Research published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry also showed that children in urban areas and lower-income households were especially at risk.

Human botulism immune globulin, or BabyBIG, has been essential in treating infants affected by a botulism outbreak linked to ByHeart infant formula, which has made at least 39 infants in 18 states ill. Made from the blood plasma of scientists and other volunteers, BabyBIG has treated more than 3,700 children worldwide since 2003.

The pneumococcal vaccine PCV13 may reduce the risk of children carrying extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales, which includes E. coli, according to research published in the journal Vaccine. The study, conducted in Guatemala, found inconclusive results for the rotavirus vaccine. Researchers noted that the results were driven by a negative effect on clinic visits, which had been associated with higher antimicrobial-resistant colonization.

South Carolina has reported 27 new cases of measles since Friday, with 111 of those cases connected to an outbreak in the Upstate region. The South Carolina Department of Public Health said 254 people are in quarantine and 16 are in isolation. Most of those infected are children under 18, and only one person was fully vaccinated.

A study in Pediatrics found that from 2003 to 2022, US hospitals offering the broadest range of pediatric services declined by 38%, while those with the lowest pediatric capability rose by 137%, based on data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database. Researchers attributed the decline to lower reimbursement rates, more complex pediatric cases, and staffing challenges, including shortages of specialized nurses and physicians, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pediatrics is an underserved market in medtech, largely due to the perception that return on investment is limited. But there are important regulatory and strategic reasons to include younger patients in device development. Read more.

The Phase 3 BASIS trial found that marstacimab led to a 93% reduction in annualized bleeding rates, compared with on-demand bypassing agents, for patients ages 12 and older with hemophilia A or B. The study, presented at the American Society of Hematology's annual meeting, found marstacimab was effective across age groups and types of hemophilia, with safety data consistent with previous research.