Palivizumab, which is usually considered for use to decrease the risk for hospitalization in infants at increased risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease during the typical RSV season, should be considered for use during the current atypical inter-seasonal spread, according to guidance published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Following implementation of non-pharmacologic interventions for the prevention of COVID-19 in March 2020, the number of RSV infections decreased rapidly in the United States and remained low through the traditional 2020-2021 fall-to-winter season and began to increase in spring 2021. This interseasonal increase in activity represents a deviation from the typical RSV epidemiology and was thought to result from the relaxation of non pharmacologic interventions. Given the current atypical interseasonal change in RSV epidemiology, the AAP strongly supports consideration of palivizumab for patients who would be candidates according to current eligibility recommendations. This applies to regions with high rates of RSV circulation, which are typically seen in the fall-winter season. “The AAP recognizes the importance of maintaining flexible approaches, including early initiation of palivizumab administration, during this atypical inter-seasonal change in RSV epidemiology in 2021,” the authors wrote. “The need for palivizumab administration to eligible infants during this atypical interseason should be supported where activity approaches fall-winter season and should be reassessed at least monthly.”
Half of Youth E-Cigarette Users Intend to Quit
More than half of youth who are current electronic cigarette users report intention to quit vaping, while more than two thirds report past-year vaping quit attempts, according to a study published in Pediatrics. Investigators used data from the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which included 1,660 adolescents, to assess the prevalence of intention to quit vaping, quitting attempts in the past year, and the frequency of quit attempts. More than half, or 53.4%, of current e-cigarette users reported intention to quit vaping, while 67.4% reported having tried to quit vaping. Girls had a lower intention to quit versus boys (adjusted OR [aOR], 0.7), as did users of a modifiable system (vs disposable e-cigarettes: aOR, 0.4) and dual or poly users (vs sole e-cigarette use: aOR, 0.7). There was a positive association between e-cigarette harm perception and intention to quit (aOR, 2.2), as well as quitting attempts in the past year (aOR, 1.6). Higher odds of past-year quit attempts were seen for adolescents who vaped because of curiosity (aOR, 1.4), whereas those who used e-cigarettes to disguise vaping had a lower likelihood of intention to quit (aOR, 0.4) and quitting attempts in the past year (aOR, 0.7). The average number of past-year quit attempts.
