The edition · Paediatrics
Maternal RSV vaccination kept about four in five young infants out of hospital in Australia's first year
A year-round national programme gave vaccine effectiveness of 78% against RSV hospitalisation up to six months, highest in the first two months. Also: no neurodevelopmental signal after COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in pregnancy, a five-year look at newborn emollients, and supporting parents of babies who cry a lot.
The edition in brief
Today's paediatrics edition closes on Australia's first year of maternal RSVpreF vaccination from 28 weeks' gestation. In a test-negative study across nine hospitals, effectiveness against RSV lower respiratory tract disease hospitalisation was 77.8% (95% CI 66.4% to 85.3%) up to six months of age and 86.3% up to two months, with similar protection against severe disease. A US multicentre cohort of 434 children found neurodevelopmental scores at 18 to 30 months equivalent whether or not their mothers received a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in or just before pregnancy. The five-year follow-up of STOP-AD found atopic dermatitis in 12.3% of high-risk children given emollient for their first eight weeks against 24.0% of controls, a borderline result weakened by attrition. A systematic review of support for parents of excessively crying babies found educational interventions reduced parental stress or anxiety, and infant probiotics improved parents' quality of life but not depression. The pearl covers the crying curve and the conversation that protects a baby from being shaken.
COVID-19 mRNA vaccination in pregnancy: toddler development equivalent at two years
Tell parents that children exposed to COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in pregnancy developed equivalently at two years in this US cohort.
Eight weeks of newborn emollient: less eczema at five years, but the margin is thin
For newborns at high risk of eczema, early emollient is a reasonable option to discuss, but the evidence for lasting prevention remains uncertain.
Parents of excessively crying babies: education helped their stress, probiotics their quality of life
Support parents of crying babies with clear explanation and a coping plan; education reduced parental stress in this review.
The crying curve, and the sentence that protects babies from being shaken
Explain the crying curve and give every parent permission to put the baby down and step away when crying becomes too much.
Maternal RSV vaccination: 78% effectiveness against infant hospitalisation in a national programme
Where maternal RSV vaccine is available, recommend discussing it from 28 weeks of pregnancy; it prevented about four in five RSV admissions in young infants.
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