Corticosteroids in Acute Asthma Care in Children: What, Why, And When
The editorial reviews evidence supporting early use of corticosteroids in acute asthma exacerbations in children, emphasizing that prompt systemic corticosteroids (usually oral) within the first hour of care—often alongside inhaled corticosteroids—significantly reduce hospital admissions, symptom duration, and relapse risk. It discusses choice of agents and timing, noting that both oral and selected inhaled corticosteroids play roles depending on severity and age. Clinical implications: Timely administration of corticosteroids in children with acute asthma can improve outcomes and decrease healthcare utilization; clinicians should prioritize early corticosteroid therapy and tailor delivery (oral vs inhaled) to patient age and exacerbation severity. Full Access: Expert Opinion on Pharmacology
Gabapentin Utilization and Nontherapeutic Use Relative to Select Comparator Drugs, United States 2013–2022
From 2013–2023 in the United States, gabapentin prescriptions increased substantially, outpacing some non-controlled comparators while prescriptions for diazepam and oxycodone declined. Most gabapentin nontherapeutic use (NTU) exposures involved multiple substances, especially opioids, and were associated with more severe outcomes than single-substance cases. Clinical implications: Clinicians should be aware that increasing gabapentin utilization carries potential for misuse, particularly in polysubstance scenarios with opioids, highlighting the importance of careful prescribing and monitoring to mitigate risk of adverse outcomes. Full Access: ISAJE
Measles Cases and Outbreaks
The CDC’s surveillance data showing a marked resurgence of measles in the United States, with 733 confirmed cases so far in 2026 and 2,276 in 2025 across many states, largely tied to multiple outbreaks and declining vaccination coverage. Measles elimination in the U.S. (achieved in 2000) is threatened by sub-95% MMR vaccine uptake among children and rising global measles activity. Clinical implications: Clinicians should be vigilant for measles in patients with febrile rash illness, especially in under-immunized individuals or outbreak areas, ensure timely MMR vaccination per guidelines, and promptly isolate and report suspected cases to public health authorities to curb transmission and severe complications. Full Access: CDC
Risk of Cardiorespiratory Events Following Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Related Hospitalization
Adults hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have a significantly higher risk of major cardiorespiratory events including myocardial infarction, stroke, COPD exacerbation, congestive heart failure exacerbation, and arrhythmia, especially within the first 2 weeks after hospitalization, with elevated risk for some events persisting up to 180 days. Clinical Implications: These findings highlight RSV’s extended burden beyond acute infection and support prioritizing adult RSV immunization and vigilant post-discharge monitoring for cardiorespiratory complications. Full Access: JAMA