BIG RISE IN E-SCOOTER INJURIES AMONG U.S. KIDS
In the past decade, the number of patients admitted to hospitals after an e-scooter accident rose from one in 20 to one in eight. Moreover, those injuries have become more severe. Researchers collected data on nearly 1,500 e-scooter injuries reported to a national database of pediatric injuries from 100 hospitals. The investigators found that over 10% of the patients had a head injury, including concussions, skull fractures and internal bleeding. Broken arms were the most common injury (27%), followed by minor abrasions (22%) and lacerations that needed stitches (17%). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under 16 should not operate or ride on e-scooters. Yet, the average age of patients in this study was 11.
Full Access:Â Healthday
OPIOIDS LEADING CAUSE OF POISONING DEATHS IN YOUNG CHILDREN
Opioids are the most common cause of fatal poisonings in young children, and their contribution to children’s deaths has been increasing, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference. Over half the deaths in 1-year-olds (61%) and children aged 2-5 (54%) were due to opioid poisoning, as were a third of deaths in infants (34%). Most of the poisonings involving amphetamines (81%), cocaine (84%), and alcohol (61.5%) occurred in infants under age 1.
Full Access:Â MdEdge
‘SOBERING’ DATA SHOW INCREASE IN PEDIATRIC FIREARM INJURIES DURING PANDEMIC
Data presented at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition showed an increase in firearm-related injuries among children during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a sharp rise in injuries among Black children. Research has shown that firearm acquisition has increased during the pandemic, and the AAP requests guns should be regulated like motor vehicles to mitigate the nation’s leading cause of death for people aged 0 to 24 years.
Full Access:Â Helio
A MACHINE-LEARNING ALGORITHM FOR DIAGNOSIS OF MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN AND KAWASAKI DISEASE IN THE USA
In this retrospective model development and validation study, researchers developed a deep-learning algorithm called KIDMATCH (Kawasaki Disease vs Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children) using patient age, the five classic clinical Kawasaki disease signs, and 17 laboratory measurements. KIDMATCH has the potential to aid front-line clinicians to distinguish between MIS-C, Kawasaki disease, and other similar febrile illnesses to allow prompt treatment and prevent severe complications.
Full Access:Â The Lancet
FOR DECADES, FEAR AND FAILURE IN THE HUNT FOR AN RSV VACCINE. NOW, SUCCESS
Two RSV vaccines, one developed by pharmaceutical giant GSK and another from Pfizer, have protected older adults in large-scale trials in recent months. Separately, a preventive injection of a monoclonal antibody developed by AstraZeneca and Sanofi provided long-lasting protection in a major trial. And a Pfizer trial testing whether a shot late in pregnancy can provide spillover protection to newborns is expected to report results this fall.
Full Access:Â Reuters
