The Latest National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Guidelines: A Review for the Busy Pediatrician.

Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases affecting the pediatric population. The diagnosis and management of asthma is constantly evolving, and recently the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute published an updated guideline regarding various aspects of pediatric asthma. In this report, we review and summarize these guidelines and compare them with the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines.

A Newborn with a Purulent Ocular Discharge.

An 11-day-old girl, who was diagnosed with Neisseria gonorrhoeae ophthalmia neonatorum, presents with a purulent ocular discharge. Although rare in regions with high implementation rates of ocular prophylaxis, ophthalmia neonatorum remains an important diagnostic consideration, especially in developing countries and areas of low socioeconomic status. In this article, we review the evolving epidemiology, diagnostic considerations, prevention, and treatment of ophthalmia neonatorum.

Early antibiotic exposure and development of asthma and allergic rhinitis in childhood.

Background: The prevalence of pediatric allergic diseases has increased rapidly in the United States over the past few decades. Recent studies suggest an association between the increase in allergic disease and early disturbances to the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is a set of intestinal microorganisms that begins to form during birth and is highly susceptible to disturbance during the first year of life.