Neonatal Medicine News

Researchers found genetic differences in twins discordant for congenital Zika syndrome that they said may increase susceptibility to complications of Zika virus infection during pregnancy.

Although significant improvements were made regarding infant deaths attributable to sudden unexpected infant death between 1990 and 1998, rates decreased by only 7% in the U.S. since 1999, according to research published in Pediatrics.

It is estimated that the prevalence of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders — which include fetal alcohol syndrome, partial fetal alcohol syndrome and alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder — in first graders falls between 1.1% and 5% in four regions within the United States.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued a draft recommendation affirming its 2009 decision that all women who are pregnant should be screened for syphilis.

Updated child and adolescent immunization schedules for 2018 have been approved, with changes made to catch-up schedules for vaccination and removal of unavailable vaccines, according to a policy statement issued by the AAP.

A decreased need for pharmacologic treatment and shorter length of stay for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome were associated with treatment using rooming-in with mothers compared with neonatal ICUs, according to a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis.

Children who are HIV-positive or have been exposed to HIV are at increased risk of having poorer outcomes regarding cognitive and motor development when compared with children who are HIV-negative and have not been exposed, according to findings published in Pediatrics.

Nutrition plays a crucial role in the neurodevelopment of children between conception and age 2; however, more assistance is needed for families regarding breast-feeding and dietary support, according to a policy statement issued by the AAP Committee on Nutrition.

The NIH announced that it has launched a large international trial to compare the safety and efficacy of current WHO-recommended first-line ART and two other HIV regimens containing dolutegravir in pregnant women.

Introducing gluten into an infant’s diet later than age 9 months was associated with an increased risk for islet autoimmunity and the presence of insulin autoantibodies compared with introducing gluten earlier, according to findings published in Diabetes Care.