Content about Pediatrics

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a treatment for managing a type of bacterial infection in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Swiss drug maker Novartis announced the approval of Tobi Podhaler (tobramycin inhalation powder) for managing cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or Pa bacteria, in the lungs.

ATLANTA — Norovirus has emerged as the leading cause of gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines — in children younger than 5 years, according to a new study.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new drug for reducing the severity of chickenpox symptoms, the agency said Friday.

The FDA announced the approval of Cangene Corp.'s Varizig (varicella zoster immune globulin [human]) for varicella zoster, the virus that causes chickenpox. The FDA said Varizig was the only FDA-approved immune globulin for the virus after exposure.

ATLANTA — A panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women get vaccinated for whooping cough, the CDC said.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Sagent Pharmaceuticals has launched a drug used to treat apnea of prematurity in infants, the drug maker said Wednesday.

Sagent announced the launch of caffeine citrate injection and caffeine citrate oral solution, used to treat apnea of prematurity in infants between 28 and less than 33 weeks gestational age.

The market for the drug was worth about $28.5 million during the 12-month period ended in July, according to IMS Health. The drug features Sagent's PreventIV Measures packaging and labeling, which are designed to reduce medication errors.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — The dramatic expansion in the number of pharmacists who can give vaccinations and the range of vaccinations they can deliver has occurred just as an epidemic of whooping cough has spread across the country.

(THE NEWS: NACDS: Pharmacists as vaccinators are key in battle against whooping cough. For the full story, click here.)

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — MinuteClinic, the walk-in medical clinics inside CVS/pharmacy stores in 25 states and the District of Columbia, is gearing up for the back-to-school season by reminding parents that it is a one-stop location where students can get their required vaccinations and sports and college physicals as four states issue new immunization mandates.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — With pertussis rising at alarming rates across the country, now is a better time than ever for pharmacists to step in and do their part to quash the epidemic.

(THE NEWS: "CDC: National pertussis rates are on the rise." For the full story, click here.)

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens is offering immunizations against whooping cough in Kansas as an epidemic of the disease spreads around the state, the retail pharmacy chain said.

Walgreens said it would offer the Tdap vaccine at all of its 67 stores in Kansas and its 195 stores in Missouri in pharmacies and Take Care Clinics.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has reported 56 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, as of June 11, compared with the 52 cases reported for the entire year of 2011.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has announced the launch of a new in-store fundraising campaign, named Advancing Medical Research, to support medical research and help improve the quality of life for those living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cystic fibrosis.
 
Funds raised through the campaign will benefit the ALS Therapy Alliance, an organization dedicated to advancing ALS research, and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Supporters for the 2012 campaign can donate $1 or $3 at the register in CVS/pharmacy locations and online through June 30.

NEW YORK — Budget cuts have added an extra challenge to the response of health authorities in Washington state to an epidemic of whooping cough, according to published reports.

According to a report by the Washington State Department of Health, there were 1,284 cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, reported so far for 2012, compared with 128 during the same period last year. No deaths have been reported so far.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — It seems that many U.S. adults are unaware of what inoculations are government-recommended vaccinations, while more than half are not diligent about regular checkups with their primary care physician, according to a Walgreens survey.