Joshua Fitch is the senior editor for Contemporary Pediatrics. He joined the brand in March of 2023 as an editor before being promoted to senior editor in January 2024. Fitch graduated from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio in 2020 with a degree in telecommunications and journalism. He started his career as a news and sports videographer before becoming an on-air sports anchor at the NBC-affiliated news station in Youngstown. Fitch briefly worked as a national content writer for a Chicago-based national television station before joining the Contemporary Pediatrics team. He can be reached at: jfitch@mjhlifesciences.com.
Steven Selbst, MD, discusses receiving Jim Seidel Distinguished Service Award
October 23rd 2023"I was honored this year, really truly honored, to receive the Jim Seidel Distinguished Service Award for the section of emergency medicine," said Contemporary Pediatrics Editorial Advisory Board member Steven Selbst, MD at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.
How culinary knowledge can impact physical, mental and environmental health
October 22nd 2023In this Contemporary Pediatrics interview, Michelle Loy, MD, FAAP, recaps her session, "Culinary Medicine: Using Food for Physical, Mental, and Environmental Health" presented at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition in Washington DC.
RSV: 1 year post-tripledemic emergency department update
October 22nd 2023Steven Selbst, MD, provides a quick update on what he has noticed in his hospital when it comes to RSV-associated emergency department visits and how they compare to this time last year, during the "tripledemic." This interview was conducted at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Washington DC.
Update on allergy prevention and food introduction
October 22nd 2023In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Scott Sicherer, MD, FAAP, discusses his session, "Feed the Baby! Essential Advice for Food Introduction and Allergy Prevention," presented at the 2023 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.
Evaluating risk of suicide and limiting youth access to firearms
October 22nd 2023At the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, Eric J. Sigel, MD, FAAP, professor of pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, explains his session "Suicide and Gun Violence: What We Know, What We Can Do."
Removing false labels of penicillin allergy from pediatric medical records
October 21st 2023At the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, Paul V. Williams, MD, FAAP, explains his session "Tell Me it Ain't So: Delabeling Penicillin Allergy," and how general pediatricians can make a difference by removing a false penicillin allergy label from a child's medical record.
Breaking down toddler formulas and the confusion associated with naming, labeling
October 21st 2023George J. Fuchs, III, MD, FAAP, explains how certain branding and labeling can lead parents to purchase toddler formula, though products are not nutritionally complete and lack FDA regulations present in infant formulas. This interview was conducted at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition in Washington DC.
Navigating a complex case of pediatric COVID-19 with immunomodulatory therapies
October 21st 2023Eculizumab and anakinra should be considered in critically ill patients with severe infections that require immunomodulating therapies for life-threatening dysregulation, according to a poster session at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.
IDP-126 topical gel approved by FDA to treat acne in patients 12 years and up
October 21st 2023The topical gel is the first and only FDA-approved triple-combination, fixed-dose topical treatment for acne, and is set to be available in the first quarter of 2024, according to Bausch Health Companies Inc.
Teplizumab effectiveness in adolescents with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes
October 18th 2023A significant improvement of stimulated C-peptide levels at week 78 for patients newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was observed for teplizumab-treated patients compared to placebo. Significant differences between groups for insulin dose, percentage of time in target glucose range, and change in glycated hemoglobin were not observed.
Lebrikizumab improves AD symptoms for adolescents inadequately controlled with cyclosporine
October 17th 2023Of the patients that responded to lebrikizumab at week 16 in the phase 3 trials ADvocate 1 and ADvocate 2, 84% achieved a clinically meaningful response in at least 1 domain of the disease (mild signs, symptoms, or quality of life impact) at 52 weeks.
Peanut sublingual immunotherapy effectively induces desensitization in younger children
October 17th 2023Desensitization was observed in children aged 1 to 4 years using peanut sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) compared to placebo, demonstrating a significantly greater median cumulative tolerated dose and higher likelihood of demonstrating remission.
Tapinarof cream 1% reduces itch as early as 24 hours after application for pediatric AD
October 13th 2023A rapid reduction in pruritis as early as 24 hours after first application was announced as new positive data from a pair of identical, phase 3 studies of tapinarof cream 1% in children as young as 2 years and adults with atopic dermatitis (AD).
Short message service reminder led to higher influenza vaccination among SRMC children
October 11th 2023Compared to clinician nudges alone, higher receipt of influenza vaccination among children with special risk medical conditions (SRMCs) was observed when their respective parents received an additional short message service (SMS) reminder.
Evaluating prevalence of psychotropic medication in children with type 1 diabetes
October 10th 2023From 2006 to 2019, psychotropic medication use for those with type 1 diabetes (T1D) increased, leading investigators to call for risk-benefit studies, further evaluating effectiveness and improved diabetes care in this population.
Crinecerfont safe, effective in treating children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
October 10th 2023Crinecerfont, an investigational, oral, selective corticotropin-releasing factory type 1 receptor antagonist, achieved the primary and key secondary endpoints in a phase 3 study to treat congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency in children aged 2 to 17 years.
FDA extends roflumilast cream 0.3% approval to treat plaque psoriasis in children 6 to 11 years
October 9th 2023Once-daily, topical roflumilast cream 0.3% has been approved by the FDA for children aged 6 to 11 years for the treatment of plaque psoriasis based on a data from a 4-week Maximal Usage Systemic Exposure study, and safety and efficacy data from a pair of phase 3 trials in adults.
Nedosiran injection FDA-approved for children with primary hyperoxaluria type 1
October 5th 2023The approval of the prescription injection for children aged 9 years and up is based on data from a phase 2 and an ongoing phase 3 trial extension study, that demonstrated the lowering of urinary oxalate levels for individuals with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1).
FDA issues health care provider letter for probiotics in preterm infants
October 4th 2023The FDA has issued a Dear Healthcare Provider Letter highlighting information about the use of probiotics in preterm infants and the risk for potentially fatal disease caused by bacteria or fungi contained in these products.
Updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine authorized for individuals 12 years and up
October 4th 2023Individuals 12 years and older can now receive the Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine, Adjuvanted (2023-2024 Formula) (NVX-CoV2601) to protect against variants that are currently circulating, after receiving an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA.
Toxicity related to THC dose in pediatric edible cannabis ingestions
October 3rd 2023The degree of toxicity following pediatric ingestion of THC was correlated to the dose of THC, as ingestions of 1.7 mg/kg or more were predictive of severe and prolonged toxicity, according to a study published in Pediatrics.