Bacterial meningitis is a devastating disease with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in neonates and young infants. The overall incidence of meningitis has decreased with focused screening, public health interventions, and vaccination, but the disease remains a significant concern in high-risk groups. In this review, we provide an update on bacterial meningitis in children younger than

As we better understand how to deliver the most effective medical simulation, the applications and indications are growing. One way to extend the impact of these tools and methods is for community education and empowerment. Developing mobile simulation units with the intent to reach health care and community settings is a way to add value to a costly but worthy endeavor. Here we focus on developing

Health care educators may enhance learning with thoughtful incorporation of game elements. Gamification has shown success across various fields in medical education. It has demonstrated deeper engagement by leveraging both intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors. While beneficial, gamification requires thoughtful implementation to increase active learning and avoid potential negative effects,

Simulation-based education (SBE) has revolutionized health care training by enhancing skills and addressing systemic issues. This article explores how SBE can bridge the gap between recognizing health care disparities and implementing actionable steps to address them. The immersive nature of SBE, combined with structured debriefing, sets the foundation for a "brave space" that fosters critical discussions

Health care education is a cornerstone of clinical excellence, ensuring the highest level of readiness to achieve high-quality and safe care. Integrating simulation into health care systems can provide a modality to address educational, quality, and safety goals. Simulation is a methodology used to immerse individuals, teams, and medical systems into clinical scenarios or environments. Through facilitation

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is an underutilized tool in cancer prevention. HPV vaccine completion rates in adolescents age 13 to 15 years remain low at 59%. The HPV vaccine can prevent more than 90% of cases of cancer caused by HPV, including cervical, oropharyngeal, anal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal. HPV vaccine is very safe and effective, as demonstrated by numerous large-scale studies. Practice-based

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) are important factors to be considered in medical education, academic and community health centers, and health care policy. DEIJ efforts have been shown to have a strong influence in advancing health equity, yet these efforts tend to fall on a small group of providers, usually of historically marginalized or minority backgrounds (eg, race and ethnicity

Primary care pediatric providers play an important role in the education of future medical professionals. However, it may feel challenging to integrate a learner into out-patient practice given both time constraints and varying levels of experience among learners. Here we discuss how learners at various stages of training from different medical professions can be integrated into the outpatient pediatric

Rates of developmental screening have increased, and understanding how to discuss delays with families is imperative. Knowledge of federal and state law regarding special education is needed. Families often need support to understand the complexity of early intervention and school district-based services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is the law that mandates services for children

The 2023 American Academy of Pediatrics' "Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Obesity (Obesity CPG)" is a comprehensive document that addresses the evaluation and treatment of pediatric obesity. Much attention has been focused on the use of medications and surgery to treat severe obesity, but the document also thoroughly reviews the evaluation

This article focuses on the advancements made in diagnostic techniques and drug interventions of acute hematogenous osteomyelitis. A diagnosis necessitates a combination of factors, including inflammatory markers and imaging findings, as well as the collection of specimens for culture when feasible. Subsequently, treatment should be based on epidemiology, mechanisms of resistance, and susceptibility

Factors affecting caregiver health and wellbeing, such as trauma and stress, can have significant negative impact on parenting behaviors and on subsequent child physical and mental health. Trauma-informed positive parenting (TIPP) is an effective tool that acknowledges and addresses a family's unique journey and needs, while promoting both nurturing caregiver-child interactions and appropriate limit

It has long been established that the environment in which a child grows and develops shapes their social and health outcomes. After all, collecting social history is a key component of a health care visit. In recent decades, the importance of social determinants of health (SDOH) has been rediscovered, and the impact of adverse childhood experiences has garnered great attention. Estimates show that

New American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines were published in 2021 for the evaluation and management of well-appearing febrile infants from age 8 to 60 days. This first guideline of its kind from the AAP brings together increasing evidence from the last 20 years and replaces the varied protocols previously used (eg, Rochester, Philadelphia, Boston). The guideline also incorporates lessons from

There has been an overall increase in the number of suspected suicide attempts by self-poisoning among the adolescent population. Incidences of self-poisoning have increased since the coronavirus 2019 pandemic, particularly among patients age 10 to 19 years. Common agents used in self-poisoning include over-the-counter and prescription medications. It is crucial to identify adolescent patients with

There are multiple reasons why pediatric hospitalists become involved in the care of surgical patients. Several are related to postoperative complications or acute medical issues that arise during their hospitalization. Comanagement programs have become increasingly utilized in the care of such patients, providing a different model of collaboration between hospital medicine and surgical providers.

Measles is a viral illness considered eliminated in the United States; however, outbreaks still occur even in this modern era where vaccines are readily available for every child under government-sponsored financing programs. The most recent measles outbreak was reported in March 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. Many of these patients were children younger than age 5 years with unvaccinated or unknown vaccine

Central nervous system histoplasmosis is a serious complication of a common endemic mycosis, but it is rare in immunocompetent hosts. SARS-CoV-2 has introduced significant challenges into the healthcare setting with overlapping clinical presentations that may delay the diagnosis of alternative conditions. Additionally, it may lead to immune dysregulation and increase the risk for secondary infections

Eating disorders affect individuals of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, ethnicities, races, and socioeconomic statuses. They can lead to serious medical complications that require inpatient treatment. The eating disorders that are most likely to lead to medical complications requiring medical inpatient stabilization include anorexia nervosa, atypical anorexia nervosa, avoidant-restrictive food

Body mass index (BMI) is a tool that is commonly used to screen for obesity. There are advantages and limitations of the use of BMI in the pediatric population. It is an inexpensive and easily implemented tool that can provide insight for clinicians, patients, and caregivers. It may help guide the discussion of the potential health impacts of weight, although there are both practical and philosophical

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is deliberate self-inflicted injury to one's own body without suicidal intent. There is a high prevalence of NSSI among adolescents, especially in adolescents with history of adverse childhood events and intense reactive emotions. Pediatricians are commonly the first point of contact for adolescents and preadolescents with mental health concerns, and knowledge of how

Due to the pervasiveness of trauma, it is likely that many children and families seen in pediatric health settings have incurred traumatic experiences. These experiences can lead to a variety of negative medical, psychological, and social health outcomes. Therefore, a provider's focus on supporting resilience is integral. The use of trauma-informed care (TIC) is one way providers can work toward promoting

The mental health crisis in children and adolescents presents a unique challenge for pediatric providers in the inpatient setting. Patients are presenting to the emergency department in acute psychiatric crises, but the increased need for behavioral health services is met with an already limited supply of behavioral health services and facilities. As such, these patients are hospitalized on acute care

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is one of the most common conditions managed by pediatricians. Although many infants are affected, most will experience complete resolution without complication. Acute bilirubin encephalopathy and kernicterus are rare yet debilitating sequelae of severe hyperbilirubinemia that can be avoided through careful monitoring and treatment with phototherapy. Appropriate management

Bronchiolitis is a viral lower respiratory tract infection primarily affecting children younger than 2 years; a common cause of health care encounters, including hospitalization; and a considerable economic burden for health care systems in the United States and worldwide. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) most recently updated its bronchiolitis guideline in 2014 and reaffirmed supportive care

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are serious bacterial infections affecting children of all ages. An understanding of the methods of urine collection is important to prevent the contamination of urine specimens and to interpret results. The diagnosis of a UTI requires appropriate interpretation of both urinalysis and urine culture results because testing must indicate evidence of inflammation and the

The growing evidence detailing the harmful effects of exposure to antibiotics has driven an urgency to evaluate recommendations in common pediatric infections regarding antibiotic course duration and route of administration. The past decade has produced strong evidence in support of many patients with uncomplicated common pediatric infections receiving shortened antibiotic durations and early conversion

For more than 4 decades, pediatricians have sought the best practices for effectively managing well-appearing young febrile infants. In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a clinical practice guideline for the management of well-appearing febrile infants aged 8 to 60 days. The guideline incorporates advancements in testing, such as biomarkers and diagnostic testing in the setting of changing

The purpose of this review is to summarize the current evidence regarding the management of streptococcal pharyngitis in children. This article aims to provide a valid support to discriminate streptococcal pharyngitis from viral cases and treat it appropriately to avoid the development of complications. Differential diagnosis based only on clinical features is not always easy. For this reason, different

Wheezing is a high pitched, whistling sound generated when air flows through narrowed airways and is often equated with asthma. However, wheezing may be a presenting symptom of various other conditions including structural lesions of the airways, foreign body aspiration, pulmonary infections as well as cardiac causes. Underlying etiology of wheezing may also vary with age. Detailed history, physical

The increase in forcibly displaced populations seeking refuge in the United States has been met with fragmented, chaotic, and highly politicized responses to the detriment of migrants and receiving communities alike. Migrants encounter compounding systemic barriers to accessing basic resettlement resources. Expanding on pandemic-era innovations can strengthen social safety net infrastructure as a whole

Children who arrived at the United States border without a parent or legal guardian (ie, unaccompanied children) are present in communities throughout the country in growing numbers. For them to receive the highest-quality medical and mental services available, pediatric practitioners should have a foundational understanding of their unique set of circumstances and experiences. However, formal education

In the United States, there are millions of globally displaced children who travel with family to seek immigration relief, many of whom have experienced family separation or live under the constant threat of separation. Family separation constitutes a significant trauma with lifelong impacts on a child's mental health, physical health, and development. This review provides a summary of the various

This article examines the influx of migrants to the United States and highlights current global and local immigration trends. The authors focus on migrant children-specifically the effect of migration trauma in the context of humanitarian responses to the intentional movement of migrants to Democrat-led cities across the US to humanize the compounded effects of migration trauma, restrictive immigration

Many children in immigrant families may qualify for legal protection-for themselves if unaccompanied, or as a derivative on parents' claims-on humanitarian grounds related to persecution or forced migration. Pediatric providers can offer a spectrum of multidirectional medical-legal supports to increase access to medical-legal services and support children who are undocumented or in mixed-status families

Metatarsus adductus (MA), the most common congenital foot deformity, involves adduction of the forefoot at the tarsometatarsal joint, with normal hindfoot alignment. Early diagnosis is important because treatment is more successful if initiated before age 9 months. Treatment of MA depends on deformity severity, in which mild to moderate deformity can be treated conservatively. Current standard of care

Despite the significant steps made in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV, there is still a notable amount of people living with HIV without being diagnosed, with a fair portion of these infections occurring in adolescents and young adults. For some individuals, by the time they are diagnosed they are living with advanced-staged disease, missing the opportunity for receiving antiretroviral treatment

When evaluating pediatric patients of color, it is essential to consider the unique diagnostic and treatment factors that apply to this population. Certain dermatologic conditions are more common in these patients, including postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, pityriasis alba, progressive macular hypomelanosis, tinea capitis, traction alopecia, keloids, hypertrophic scars, pseudofolliculitis barbae

Dermatologic concerns are common in the general pediatrician's practice. Herein, we review the most commonly encountered cutaneous bacterial, viral, and superficial fungal infections in the pediatric population. We describe clinical presentation, pathogenesis, and current treatments. The goal of this guide is to increase pediatricians' comfort in diagnosing and managing common skin infections, as well

Acne is a common skin condition in adolescent patients but much less common in childhood. Pediatric providers should be familiar with the varying presentations in the pediatric population and recognize when additional physical signs of hyperandrogenism are present. This article details the pathogenesis and presentation of acne in infancy, mid-childhood, and preadolescence. The differential diagnosis

Heavy menstrual bleeding has a high prevalence and is well documented in adult patients with hypermobile-type Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, but there is limited research surrounding work-up and treatment for the adolescent population. Excessive menstrual blood loss can significantly interfere with emotional and physical quality of life. A provider should acquire a comprehensive medical and menstrual history

Pediatricians are faced with a multitude of difficult tasks each day for a variety of age groups. Providing medical care and support to children with medical complexity and their families adds additional challenges, including management of polypharmacy, therapies, complications, and difficult conversations. The relationship a family has with their pediatrician is extremely special and valuable. As

Advances in medical knowledge and treatments have made possible the survival of children with diseases that require lifelong care, and increasing numbers of families with children with medical complexity are presenting for health care. Owing to an increase in home-based care, the responsibility of complicated treatment regimens falls on parents and family caregivers. Based on studies and national survey

Although use of telehealth may have begun centuries ago and has grown considerably through the 20th century, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic skyrocketed telemedicine's reach, including its use in pediatrics. The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses telehealth as a "critical infrastructure to efficiently implement the medical home model of care." Particularly for children with medical complexity

Children with neurologic impairment are a growing population of pediatric patients who require care from a large team of physicians to maintain their health. These children often have similar clinical patterns and symptoms that occur because of their neurologic impairment. Families often seek care first from their primary care home to identify and guide initial steps in management. Identifying the

It is not possible for every physician and patient to originate from the exact same circumstances. Because of this impossibility, the dynamics between the patient, caregivers, and physician are extremely important to prevent mistrust, disputes, de-emphasizing the values of others, or miscommunication. Similar to how many diverse groups exist in society so, too, are there numerous factors for influencing

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a respiratory disorder that has a high prevalence in patients with craniofacial, neurocognitive, and neuromuscular disorders. Currently, the treatments for this population are diverse and depend on the individual conditions of the patient and the severity of the case. However, there are no multidisciplinary dental treatment guidelines. The aim of the present study was