April 2024

 

My last search in the medical literature found four articles that should be of interest for informed parents.

 

1) Long-Term Antibody Response to SARA-COV-2 in Children by Dunay G.A. et al. Journal of Clinical Immunology, 2023; 43 (1): 46-56.

Their study found that children sustained a long-term antibody response to said virus after an infection by this virus. This helps in deciding use of a vaccine after an infection by COVID.

 

2) Association Between Earlier Introduction on Peanut and Prevalence of Peanut Allery in Infants in Australia by Soriano V. Peters R et al, JAMA, 2022: 328 (1): 48-56.

These authors found that earlier introduction of peanut protein in infants was not associated with a statistically significant change in the prevalence of peanut allergy. This topic is not yet settled. It would be reasonable to cautiously wait for more studies before flooding your infant with a plethora of food protein, especially if there is a question of this approach truly being beneficial.

 

3) Child Passenger Deaths in Traffic Crashes Involving Alcohol-Impaired Drivers: 2011-2020 by Kyran Quinlan M.D., MPH et al. PEDIATRICS, Vol 153, #3, March 2024

As you read the title of this study you might say, “No kidding. It should be obvious.” Yes, I agree with you, but it does underscore the obvious. Between 2011 and 2020 there were 7944 child passengers that died in auto crashes. 1755 died in crashes involving alcohol impaired drivers. The majority of these children were unrestrained.

 

Alcohol not only impairs the driver’s auto control skills but also negatively impairs the parental skills, i.e. being sure that your child is properly restrained. It is time that we faced the reality that alcohol and other mind altering drugs significantly impair all aspects of our judgement skills.

 

Our children are worth more than “one for the road”, whether you drink it, smoke it, or eat it. Let us really see that number. 1124 children are dead because of a driver who was unable to properly and safely restrain a child before taking the wheel. There is no excuse. Driving impaired by alcohol will never bring your child back to life. Wake up, parents!

 

COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Amongst Adolescents by Eero Poukka, M D. et al PEDIATRICS Vol. 153, #3, March 2024

This article shows the effectiveness of COVED-19 vaccine for adolescents in four Nordic countries. The study included 526,966 adolescents. Severe COVID-19 cases were a rare event for the vaccinated teens compared with the unvaccinated. Guess what? The vaccine provides excellent protection against severe disease caused by COVID-19. The authors point out that these results were seen in the omicron period.

 

Remember Mom and Dad. Those little guys look to you and hope that you truly stay informed. Their life depends on it. Peer reviewed medical studies trump the undocumented thoughts that the social media drowns you with.