(Press-News.org) [EMBARGOED FOR AUG. 31, 2011, ARLINGTON, Va.] – Immunizations, including a yearly flu vaccine, are the best way to protect children from life-threatening pneumonia, according to new guidelines from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
The guidelines, which are the first on diagnosing and treating community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in infants and children, place preventing bacterial pneumonia as a top priority.
Every year, pneumonia kills more than 2 million children ages 5 years and younger worldwide. In the United States, 525 children 15 years old or younger died from pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections in 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While pneumonia can be caused by different types of bugs, in infants and preschool children it usually is caused by a virus, which doesn't need to be treated with antibiotics. However, antibiotics are needed for bacterial pneumonia, which is the most serious type.
Although there are guidelines for diagnosing and treating pneumonia in adults, the course of bacterial pneumonia tends to be different for children. Because of this, practices vary from hospital to hospital, and doctor to doctor. The guidelines from PIDS and IDSA provide all physicians who care for children with a roadmap to the most scientifically valid diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
"Diagnostic methods and treatments that work well in adults may be too risky and not have the desired result in children," said John S. Bradley, MD, lead author of the CAP guidelines and professor and chief of the division of infectious diseases at the University of California at San Diego Department of Pediatrics. "With these guidelines, we are hopeful that the standard and quality of care children receive for community-acquired pneumonia will be consistent from doctor to doctor – providing much better treatment outcomes."
Because viral infections such as influenza can develop into bacterial pneumonia, it's important that children 6 months and older receive a yearly influenza vaccine, according to the guidelines. It is also important that infants and children are up to date on their other scheduled vaccines, several of which prevent bacterial pneumonia. The successful U.S. vaccination program has significantly reduced bacterial pneumonia, and therefore has prevented deaths from the infection, notes Dr. Bradley.
While the guidelines stress the importance of diagnosing pneumonia appropriately, they also warn that over-treatment is a critical concern. For instance, most pneumonia in preschool-aged children is viral, meaning it will run its course and will not develop into life-threatening bacterial pneumonia. In these cases, there is no need to perform unnecessary medical interventions such as using x-rays (which expose the child to radiation needlessly) or prescribing antibiotics (which kill bacteria, not viruses, and may foster drug-resistant bacteria).
"A child with chest congestion, a cough, runny nose and low-grade fever likely has viral pneumonia, and Mother Nature treats those herself," said Dr. Bradley. "If the child has a fever of 104, is barely able to keep fluids down, just wants to lie in bed and is breathing fast, it may be bacterial pneumonia and require antibiotics and hospitalization."
The guidelines suggest when doctors can feel comfortable not prescribing a higher level of care and when they need to be cautious, and do so. By design, the guidelines lead off with recommendations regarding hospitalization. "Most of these kids will have their first encounter when they have fever and difficulty breathing and see their primary care physician, or the emergency room doctor," said Dr. Bradley. "The first major decision that needs to be made is, is this child well enough to go home, or does he or she need a higher level of care?"
For instance, the guidelines recommend infants 3 to 6 months old with suspected bacterial pneumonia are likely to benefit from hospitalization, even if the pneumonia isn't confirmed by blood tests. Blood testing in children often isn't accurate, so physicians need to pay close attention to symptoms, and, if unsure, err on the side of treating, said Dr. Bradley.
Following are some other recommendations included in the guidelines:
Because infants 6 months and younger cannot get the flu shot or nasal spray, their parents and caregivers should be sure to get the vaccine.
When antibiotics are necessary, amoxicillin should be first-line therapy for bacterial pneumonia, because it is safe and effective. Many doctors prescribe more powerful antibiotics, which are unnecessary and can kill off good bacteria in the body.
Although pneumonia from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is uncommon, it can cause severe illness, so physicians need to consider it if a child doesn't improve after first-line antibiotic therapy.
For each of the 92 specific recommendations, the guidelines denote the strength of the recommendation as well as the quality of evidence for each. The guidelines note the lack of solid evidence in some areas – often due to the ethical challenges of studying children – and call for research in specific areas.
"We're hopeful that in following these guidelines, physicians and hospitals will collect data and the results can be compared," said Dr. Bradley. "We envision this as the first of many revisions of guidelines to come."
The 13-member guidelines panel was comprised of experts from around the country, including lung, emergency department, hospital medicine and critical care specialists, office-based pediatricians, pediatric surgeons and CDC epidemiologists. They reviewed hundreds of scientific studies, papers and presentations in preparation for writing the guidelines. In addition to Dr. Bradley, the panel included: Carrie L. Byington, Samir S. Shah, Brian Alverson, Edward R. Carter, Christopher Harrison, Sheldon L. Kaplan, Sharon E. Mace, George H. McCracken, Jr., Matthew R. Moore, Shawn D. St. Peter, Jana A. Stockwell and Jack T. Swanson.
###IDSA has published more than 50 treatment guidelines on various conditions and infections, ranging from HIV/AIDS to Clostridium difficile. As with other IDSA guidelines, the CAP in children guidelines will be available in a format designed for iPhones and other mobile devices, and in a pocket-sized quick-reference edition. These are the first guidelines published by PIDS.
Note: For a copy of The Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in Infants and Children Older than 3 months of Age: Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), to be published in the October 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, please contact Ashley Mattys at (312) 558-1770 or amattys@pcipr.com. The guidelines are embargoed until Aug. 31, 2011 at 12:01 a.m. ET, when they will be posted online.
The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) is an organization of more than 1,000 specialists in pediatric infectious diseases, covering areas from basic and clinical research to patient care. PIDS' mission is to enhance the health of infants, children and adolescents by promoting excellence in diagnosis, management and prevention of infectious diseases through clinical care, education, research and advocacy. PIDS represents the leading practitioners, policy-makers and researchers who work with children's infectious diseases. For more information, visit www.pids.org.
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) is an organization of physicians, scientists, and other health care professionals dedicated to promoting health through excellence in infectious diseases research, education, patient care, prevention, and public health. The Society, which has more than 9,000 members, was founded in 1963 and is based in Arlington, Va. For more information, visit www.idsociety.org.
IDSA/PIDS announce guidelines for treating pneumonia in children
Immunization, including flu vaccine, can thwart pneumonia in children, guidelines suggest
2011-08-31
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Worker Injured In New York Trench Cave-in Reminder of Legal Protections
2011-08-31
On August 11, 2011, two New York construction workers were sent to the Hudson Valley Hospital Center after the side of a ten-foot trench caved-in, burying one of the workers alive.
Details of the Recent Construction Accident
The crew had been finishing up a water-piping job when the trench gave way. Two coworkers and a passerby quickly rushed to the aid of the buried man in a rescue effort that a police lieutenant responding to the incident described as "heroic."
When the worker was unearthed, he was missing teeth, bleeding profusely and seemed to have ...
New Bill Seeks to Improve Federal Trucking-Safety Programs
2011-08-31
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), commercial-vehicle accidents cost the U.S. economy more than $60 billion each year. With nearly 500,000 trucking companies and 5 million commercial drivers operating nationally, it is important to establish and maintain comprehensive safety rules to protect the public from dangerous truck accidents.
Federal Trucking Laws
There have been a number of improvements to federal motor-carrier laws in the last 25 years. Beginning with the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, national standards were ...
Keep Yourself Safe Behind the Wheel
2011-08-31
Anyone who has driven on Arizona highways lately knows that they can be an extremely dangerous place. While you may be exercising safe driving habits, it is not uncommon to see other drivers speeding or talking on their cell phone as they drive by. Unfortunately, some of these drivers end up causing serious accidents that could change a life forever.
Before heading out on an end-of-summer road trip, there are some steps you can take to help you make it to your destination safely. Check the condition of your vehicle. Is the vehicle having any mechanical issues that may ...
Man Sues Doctor for Amputating His Penis in What Was Supposed to be a Routine Circumcision, New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer Comments
2011-08-31
For New York medical malpractice lawyers, a medical malpractice lawsuit in Kentucky raises a serious question: Can a doctor decide to remove an organ or limb if he/she feels it will save a patient's life?
According to the New York Daily News, Phillip Seaton, 61, and his wife Deborah are suing his doctor for amputating his penis during what was scheduled as a routine circumcision to relieve inflammation.
In the medical malpractice lawsuit, Seaton claims that Dr. John Patterson of Louisville did not consult him before removing his penis. He also says he never authorized ...
New York Civil Rights Violation Lawyer Applauds Settlement of Disability Discrimination Lawsuit by Starbucks
2011-08-31
In New York, civil rights violation lawyers understand every employee has the right to be free of discrimination in the workplace.
According to the New York Daily News, Starbucks is settling a disability discrimination lawsuit for $75,000 with an employee who was fired due to her dwarfism. In the discrimination lawsuit, the woman claimed that the company wrongfully terminated her because of her short stature.
As New York civil rights violation lawyers also understand, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) also claimed that the employee was discriminated ...
FDNY Captain Who Testified on Racial Harassment in the Workplace, Supported by New York Civil Rights Violation Lawyer David Perecman
2011-08-31
Minority members of the New York Fire Department are routinely subjected to racial harassment, Captain Paul Washington, a black FDNY veteran and former president of the Vulcan Society, testified in Brooklyn federal court.
According to the New York Daily News, Washington detailed several incidents of racism in the workplace as he testified in the third week of a federal discrimination trial against the department.
"The FDNY needs to look at what is truly important; Public safety should be prioritized over race," said New York civil rights violation lawyer ...
Perimeter Hotel Provides Nearby Accommodations to 2011 Sandy Springs Festival Attendees
2011-08-31
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta Perimeter Hotel (North), located near Perimeter Mall, offers convenient accommodations to guests attending the 2011 Sandy Springs Festival at Heritage Green. Taking place on September 17 - 18, the annual festival was named the people's choice for "Best Festival" by AccessAtlanta.com. It will include:
- Over 600 artists, crafters, entertainers and vendors
- 26th Annual Car Show
- Interactive Civil War reenactment of the July 1864 Federal Forces invasion of Sandy Spring at Heritage Sandy Springs Museum
- Kiwanis ...
Statesthatallowgaymarriage.com to Accept Gay Marriage Announcements
2011-08-31
Until today, there were no dedicated websites for same-sex couples to post their gay wedding announcements. Gay couples may also encounter opposition when requesting their announcement be published in their local newspapers, even in states where gay marriage laws have changed.
According to GLADD, nearly 72% of all daily newspapers in the United States now accept wedding and/or commitment ceremony announcements for same-sex couples. Clearly, there is much work to be done in reaching out to the remaining newspapers that oppose gay marriage announcements.
"You would ...
Headhunters Aims to Attack Georgia's Head Lice Epidemic
2011-08-31
All Georgia schools are back in session and that means there will be more cases of head lice found. Head lice normally do not show symptoms until they have already spread throughout the family or classroom. School and day care settings are perfect places for transferring head lice from child to child. Teachers and parents may need to be especially vigilant against these pests since school has started.
Headhunters Lice Removal Service is celebrating their three year anniversary. They are aimed at attacking the rising head lice epidemic by offering free head checks through ...
Relive the Royal Wedding, Watched by 3 Billion People Worldwide, with LondonTown.com
2011-08-31
It was the most highly anticipated and widely watched wedding of recent years and visitors to London can relive the Royal Wedding this Autumn with a deluxe stay at a hotel near Buckingham Palace and a tour of the route taken by Kate and Prince William from Westminster Abbey to The Palace.
Royal Wedding watchers will be keen to visit the London locations that played a prime role in the wedding and the London experts at LondonTown.com have created a guide to help visitors relive the Royal Wedding. Taking them along the procession route the guide tells readers which royal ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Exercise as an anti-ageing intervention to avoid detrimental impact of mental fatigue
UMass Amherst Nursing Professor Emerita honored as ‘Living Legend’
New guidelines aim to improve cystic fibrosis screening
Picky eaters by day, buffet by night: Butterfly, moth diets sync to plant aromas
Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Leanne Redman honored with the E. V. McCollum Award from the American Society for Nutrition
CCNY physicists uncover electronic interactions mediated via spin waves
Researchers’ 3D-printing formula may transform future of foam
Nurture more important than nature for robotic hand
Drug-delivering aptamers target leukemia stem cells for one-two knockout punch
New study finds that over 95% of sponsored influencer posts on Twitter were not disclosed
New sea grant report helps great lakes fish farmers navigate aquaculture regulations
Strain “trick” improves perovskite solar cells’ efficiency
How GPS helps older drivers stay on the roads
Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the body to make opioids
Dancing with the cells – how acoustically levitating a diamond led to a breakthrough in biotech automation
Machine learning helps construct an evolutionary timeline of bacteria
Cellular regulator of mRNA vaccine revealed... offering new therapeutic options
Animal behavioral diversity at risk in the face of declining biodiversity
Finding their way: GPS ignites independence in older adult drivers
Antibiotic resistance among key bacterial species plateaus over time
‘Some insects are declining but what’s happening to the other 99%?’
Powerful new software platform could reshape biomedical research by making data analysis more accessible
Revealing capillaries and cells in living organs with ultrasound
American College of Physicians awards $260,000 in grants to address equity challenges in obesity care
Researchers from MARE ULisboa discover that the European catfish, an invasive species in Portugal, has a prolonged breeding season, enhancing its invasive potential
Rakesh K. Jain, PhD, FAACR, honored with the 2025 AACR Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cancer Research
Solar cells made of moon dust could power future space exploration
Deporting immigrants may further shrink the health care workforce
Border region emergency medical services in migrant emergency care
Resident physician intentions regarding unionization
[Press-News.org] IDSA/PIDS announce guidelines for treating pneumonia in childrenImmunization, including flu vaccine, can thwart pneumonia in children, guidelines suggest