Link Newsletter - November 2023
Our November issue features the latest news and updates on pediatric care from Children's Mercy clinicians.
Lifting the Fog on Concussions: Identification, Acute Management and Patient Education: Evidence Based Strategies
Fall sports are well underway and winter sports will soon begin. Participating in sports is an excellent way for youth to exercise, learn new skills, and engage with their friends and community. To keep these activities fun and safe, health care professionals must recognize and effectively manage concussions. This effort includes making an evidence-based comprehensive assessment, determining the need for additional diagnostic evaluation, and providing education on post-concussion care and future concussion prevention.
COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations for Fall 2023: Vaccine Update
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus has changed, so have vaccines and vaccine recommendations. Keeping up with current recommendations and vaccine schedules can be confusing. Here are the latest recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for COVID-19 vaccines for the fall of 2023. On Sept. 12, 2023, the ACIP recommended vaccination with updated COVID-19 vaccines for all persons ≥6 months of age.
Pediatric Preparedness for the Winter Viral Surge: Outbreaks, Alerts and Hot Topics
Last year’s “tripledemic” of flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) had much of our health care community and resources stretched thin, leading to uncertainty regarding what to expect during this year’s viral season and how best to prepare. This season’s landscape already looks different, however, with the release of new vaccines and preventive strategies, including nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody that protects children from RSV. Despite these encouraging developments, it is still imperative to adequately prepare for a surge in viral cases during the upcoming winter months.
Evaluating Menstrual Regularity in Adolescence: State of the Art Pediatrics
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,1 a number of medical conditions can cause abnormal menstrual cycles, characterized by unpredictable timing and a variable amount of flow. Although long intervals between cycles are common in adolescence for the first two years after menarche, it is uncommon for girls and adolescents to remain amenorrheic for more than three months or 90 days (the 95th percentile for cycle length). Girls and adolescents with more than three months between periods or those that remain otherwise irregular two years after menarche (see Table 1), should be evaluated for underlying causes.
Stewardship School: Good Food, Good Family, Good Antibiotic Prescribing
Check out the monthly "Stewie Shares" infographic from our Antimicrobial Stewardship team. This one-page, visually rich flyer contains information for both clinical and non-clinical audiences on current issues related to antimicrobial topics. You are welcome to print and post or link to it from your practice's website.
Holidays are right around the corner! For many this means good food, family time, or sometimes more spread of infections. Read below about the important questions to ask for all patients who may need antibiotics.
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