What U.S. Obstetricians Need to Know About Respiratory Syncytial Virus.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in neonates, infants, and children worldwide. The virus is estimated to infect 97% of this population in the United States by the age of 2 years, leading to hospitalization for severe lower respiratory tract disease in 2-3% of infants younger than age 6 months. Two preventive options, prenatal administration of a maternal vaccine and administration of a long-acting monoclonal antibody to the infant, are now available for the prevention of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in infants in the United States. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended a new maternal vaccination, RSVPreF, to be administered between 32 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks of gestation to reduce the risk of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in infants in the first 6 months of life. The monoclonal antibody nirsevimab was approved by the FDA and recommended by the CDC for prevention of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in infants younger than age 8 months who are born during or entering their first RSV season and for infants and children aged 8-19 months who are at high risk for RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection and entering their second RSV season. Either maternal vaccination during pregnancy or monoclonal antibody administration to the infant is recommended to prevent RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection among infants, but both are not needed for most infants. Given that the availability of these products may vary as these recommendations are implemented, it is important that obstetricians and other prenatal practitioners have the information they need to counsel their pregnant patients about both options. We review the safety and efficacy of these products, current recommendations for their use, and relative advantages and disadvantages of both newly approved options for the prevention of RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infection in infants to assist obstetricians and other prenatal practitioners in their counseling of pregnant patients.

Absence of cognitive symptoms in a 6-year-old male with post-traumatic increased intracranial pressure - A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) can range from mild to severe, and may result in increased intracranial pressure (ICP). Increased ICP causes hallmark physical signs, such as diaphoresis, emesis, fixed pupils, and altered mental status. Monitoring the patient's score on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and cranial CT scans are routine measures used in clinical practice to monitor the development of a TBI. PRESENTATION OF THE CASE: A 6-year-old male fell off his father's shoulders and subsequently presented to ED for suspected head trauma. He was transferred to our Level 1 Trauma Center after a head CT scan demonstrated a subdural hematoma. His GCS score remained 15. The next day he began to have episodes of apnea and desaturation. Further imaging indicated expansion of the hematoma with a 5mm midline shift. He remained consistently alert and a neurological exam revealed cranial nerves to be grossly intact. Increased ICP was reduced with several days of hypertonic saline treatment without surgical intervention. DISCUSSION: TBIs can have long-lasting effects in pediatric patients and are typically assessed using both diagnostic imaging and clinical judgment. CT scans are used to assess for hematoma development, while loss of consciousness (LOC) and altered mental status are standard clinical diagnostic indicators of increased ICP. This patient remained alert with a GCS score of 15, although he had clinical signs of increased ICP including apnea and bradycardia with a midline shift confirmed on imaging. CONCLUSION: While GCS is an important prognostic indicator in TBI, patients should still be monitored to assure resolution of all symptoms.