Joshua Fitch, Senior Editor

For the first time since 2001 to 2002, a year-to-year increase of the infant mortality rate was observed in the United States from 2021 to 2022. The provisional 20,538 infant deaths reported in 2022 were a 3% increase compared to 2021.

Longer-term data was recently released for dupilumab as a treatment for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in children aged 1 to 11 years, demonstrating a similar safety and efficacy profile for up to 1 year of treatment. A supplemental Biologic License Application was accepted by the FDA in September 2023 with a Priority Review designation.

A usability study demonstrated that individuals older than 18 years could self-administer the intranasal treatment or administer it to eligible patients aged 2 to 49 years, when given instructions and no additional guidance.

A child with profound genetic hearing loss was dosed with an investigational otoferlin gene therapy (DB-OTO), the first patient dosed in a phase 1/2 trial evaluating the treatment. The child experienced improved auditory response at week 6 with no concerning safety signals.

Vamorolone, oral suspension 40 mg / ml, has been approved by the FDA to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients aged 2 years and up, according to Santhera Pharmaceuticals.

In this interview with Contemporary Pediatrics®, Lauren Lanzon, MSW, MA, BCBA, clinical trainer, Carolina Behavioral Innovations, explains how technology and software is helping families following an autism diagnosis in their child.

The combination vaccine candidates demonstrated a safety profile consistent with Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. A phase 3 trial is anticipated to commence in the coming months, according to a press release from Pfizer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising providers to prioritize 100 mg doses of nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody FDA-approved to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), for infants at the highest risk of severe RSV disease.

Meghan Harrison, DO; and Brittany Perry, DO, discuss including early autism screening in the primary health care setting, following their session presented at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, held in Washington DC.

While at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, Steven Selbst, MD, spoke with Contemporary Pediatrics® about current trends in pediatric emergency medicine, and highlighted the ongoing mental health crisis.

Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, shares tips and aspects of her session, "How to Ensure You Will Be Paid What You’re Worth," presented at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition, in this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview.

In this Contemporary Pediatrics® interview, Marian F. Earls, MD, MTS, FAAP, and Kori Flower, MD MS MPH, FAAP, discuss their session "How to Include Screening for Social Emotional Health in Your Practice," presented at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.

Cassidy Foley Davelaar, DO, FAAP, CAQSM, shares some of the findings from her research on how social media affects young athletes and their body image at the 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition.

"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.

In 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.

Steven 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.

In 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.

At 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."

At 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.

George 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.

Eculizumab 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.

The 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.

In a phase 2 clinical trial, the safety and efficacy of vosoritide was similar in children aged younger than 5 years to those older than 5 years. 

The FDA approval could simplify meningococcal vaccine schedules while providing broad serogroup coverage.

A 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.

Of 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.

Desensitization 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.

Patients aged 12 years and up with completely resected Stage IIB/C melanoma can now be treated (adjuvant) with FDA-approved nivolumab (Opdivo; Bristol Meyers Squibb Company).

Review some of the top stories from the Contemporary Pediatrics website over the last week, and catch up on anything you may have missed.

A 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).