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Infections in pediatrics: old and new diseases

Klara M Posfay-Barbe1

  • 1Children’s Hospital of Geneva, University Hospitals of Geneva, Switzerland. Klara.PosfayBarbe@hcuge.ch

Swiss Medical Weekly
|August 1, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This review covers current pediatric infectious disease management, including common illnesses and vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis and measles. It also examines emerging viruses and challenges in vulnerable pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Paediatric infectious diseases have a long history, evolving alongside medical advancements.
  • Effective management of common childhood infections remains a key challenge in pediatrics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current insights and recommendations for managing common paediatric infectious diseases.
  • To discuss the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and the impact of new host populations.
  • To explore newly emerging paediatric infectious diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current insights and recommendations.
  • Discussion of epidemiological trends and challenges.
  • Exploration of newly discovered viral pathogens in children.

Main Results:

  • Recommendations for managing acute otitis media, pharyngitis, and viral gastroenteritis are presented.
  • The re-emergence of pertussis and measles highlights challenges in vaccination programs.
  • New viral agents like human metapneumovirus and bocavirus are identified as emerging threats.

Conclusions:

  • Current management strategies for common paediatric infections are outlined.
  • Vaccination remains critical to combatting preventable diseases like pertussis and measles.
  • Emerging infectious diseases and vulnerable patient groups require ongoing vigilance and research.

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