As a broad-based speciality, paediatrics allows doctors to become generalists in managing medical conditions affecting babies, children and young people. As we live in an era where the advancement of medicine is a daily occurrence, paediatricians need to be aware of all the latest research as new evidence becomes available in their speciality.

Here is a round up some of the latest published findings and studies in this ever-changing field of medicine.

E-cigarette use and use of combustible tobacco products

Studies have associated e-cigarette use with an increased risk of conventional cigarette smoking among youth. A recent study compared ninth-grade students who had never used a combustible tobacco product with students who had ever used e-cigarettes with never users. Compared with never users, ever users of e-cigarettes were more likely to report use of any combustible tobacco product at both 6-month (31 versus 8 percent) and 12-month (25 versus 9 percent) follow-up.

Antibiotic use and development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

A study has found that any use of antibiotics was associated with a twofold-increased risk of found a link between antibiotic use and the development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The risk was dose dependent and was greatest for antibiotic exposures that occurred within one year of diagnosis.

Effectiveness of pertussis vaccine in infants

Infants younger than 12 months have the highest incidence of pertussis and pertussis-related complications, including death. In one study, having received ≥1 dose of pertussis vaccine was associated with a 72 percent reduction in the risk of death and a 31 percent reduction in the risk of hospitalization in infants ≥6 weeks of age (the minimum age for the first dose of pertussis vaccine).

Ivacaftor for children two years and older with cystic fibrosis

Ivacaftor is a drug that restores the functioning of the mutant protein in patients with G551D or nine similar cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) mutations. It has been recommended for children six years and older with one of these specific mutations. Now, ivacaftor has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in children two years and older.

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