Practice Management
 A new FDA warning is being added to prescribing information for the anti-seizure drugs levetiracetam and clobazam because the agency found they can cause a rare but serious hypersensitivity: drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Diagnosis of DRESS can be difficult because symptoms vary and may be confused with other reactions. DRESS may start as a rash and can include fever and swollen lymph nodes or injury to the liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, …
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A recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that school-age kids from 10 to 17 experience more emergency department (ED) visits during the school year than during summer break for behavioral health conditions such as depressive disorders, suicidal ideation, or self-harm. For some disorders, the visits double during the school year. In communities, the lack of mental health resources for kids in immediate need is clear. One emergency …
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In a global study of more than 1.4 million outpatient and emergency department prescription claims for children between 2010 and 2019, as presented in Pediatrics, researchers found there is wide variability in prescribing as well as underuse of influenza antivirals for children. Kids were most commonly seen in outpatient office visits and urgent care settings. Oseltamivir was the most frequently prescribed antiviral (99.8%), which makes sense because it’s the only oral influenza antiviral approved by the FDA …
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In a noteworthy session last week at the American Heart Association conference, researchers presented evidence that the obesity drug semaglutide (Wegovy), a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, demonstrated benefits beyond weight loss by reducing the overall rate of major cardiovascular concerns by 20%. In the results of double-blind trial, which appear in the New England Journal of Medicine, they found a reduced incidence of heart attacks, cardiovascular-related deaths, and strokes. Semaglutide notably reduced heart attacks by …
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As clinicians aim to reduce their reliance on opioid painkillers, prescriptions for ketamine have seen a surge. What’s most worrisome is that many of the prescriptions originate from telehealth services, according to an Associated Press news article. This raises alarm among experts about the risks of writing prescriptions for non-approved uses, overprescribing, and the associated abuse potential—not unlike the factors that contributed to the ongoing opioid crisis. Research led by a Duke University pain specialist …
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported a surge in congenital syphilis cases in the United States over the past decade, with a 755% increase from 2012-2021. In 2022, there were 3,761 reported cases, leading to an increase in stillbirths, infant mortality, and severe birth defects. Most of these cases could have been prevented if mothers had received adequate testing and treatment, says the CDC. The issue disproportionately affects certain populations with …
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In a unanimous decision, an FDA advisory committee recently determined that phenylephrine, a key ingredient in popular over-the-counter nasal decongestants, is no more effective than a placebo in treating cold and allergy symptoms. The committee reviewed mounting evidence indicating that oral phenylephrine is an ineffective remedy for nasal congestion, even though many consumers use products that contain it, such as Sudafed PE and NyQuil. In response, CVS retail pharmacies discontinued the sale of products containing …
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended rationing nirsevimab, the new monoclonal antibody immunization product designed to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), due to strained supply nationwide. Because the supply challenges are occurring during the RSV season, CDC suggested on Monday in a health alert that providers should prioritize available nirsevimab 100 mg doses for infants of less than 6 months of age and infants with underlying conditions that place …
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A study in JAMA Network Open compared the effectiveness of enhanced nasal suctioning and minimal suctioning in infants with bronchiolitis discharged home from pediatric emergency departments (EDs). In a clinical trial of 367 infants at 4 tertiary-care pediatric EDs in Canada, participants were randomized to minimal suctioning via bulb or enhanced suctioning via a battery-operated device. The authors found enhanced suctioning did not alter the disease course compared with minimal suctioning. Get some sleep: How …
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Rates of new-onset type 2 diabetes increased by 62% and type 1 diabetes by 17% among US youth after the COVID-19 pandemic began, with a significant rise observed in Black and Hispanic populations, according to a study in JAMA Network Open. The study, conducted by Kaiser Permanente researchers, tracked diabetes rates among individuals 0 to 19 years old with no prior diabetes history from January 2016 to December 2021. The impact was particularly pronounced in: …
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