‘Not everything is COVID-19’: Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium returns in-person
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After going totally virtual last year, the 34th Annual Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium will be back, both online and in-person, on Nov. 21 and 22.
Program director David W. Kimberlin, MD, the Sergio B. Stagno, MD, endowed chair of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Children’s of Alabama, told Healio that during the planning of the meeting, the Program Committee “reflected back on these past 2 years” of the COVID-19 pandemic, while at the same time looked forward to what the upcoming months may bring.
“Sequelae of COVID infection and disease of course is part of this meeting, but also included are resiliency and mental health issues for both children and health care providers,” Kimberlin said. “Prevention through vaccination and infection control practices was also selected for discussion. But the Program Committee also recognized that even now, not everything is COVID-19.”
New guidelines on non-COVID topics have been published, and sexually transmitted infections, as well as Lyme disease, were chosen for inclusion in the meeting topics. Also to be discussed are “routine” childhood immunizations, updates on vaccines and new publications such as the 2021 Red Book. Interactive Q&A sessions also will be available, as well as the popular “Ask Us Anything” panel.
In anticipation of this year’s meeting, we compiled a sampling of stories and videos from the 2020 symposium.
VIDEO: Testing and treating TB and non-TB mycobacterial infections
In this video, Jeffrey R. Starke, MD, infection control officer at Texas Children’s Hospital, discusses testing and treatment strategies for tuberculosis and non-tuberculosis infections. Watch video.
Steroids ‘one of the more vexing treatment modalities’ in pediatrics
C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the pediatric infectious disease fellowship program at Vanderbilt University, gave examples of when and when not to administer corticosteroids to pediatric patients. Read more.
Molecular, antigen tests have their own pros and cons
Gregory A. Storch, MD, a professor of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, discussed the roles of molecular tests and antigen tests, using COVID-19, influenza and group A Streptococcus as part of his examples. Read more.
Clinicians will play ‘critical role’ in maximizing uptake of COVID-19 vaccine
All clinicians, even those who do not immediately provide COVID-19 vaccines upon their FDA approval, will have a key role in ensuring maximum vaccine uptake, according to Nancy E. Messonnier, MD, who heads the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Read more.
Offit: Three reasons Americans may hesitate to get a COVID-19 vaccine
Paul A. Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia said the language being used to describe the vaccine may come across as worrisome for the public, especially considering how fast vaccines are being developed. Read more.