Injectable COVID-19 Treatment Approved for Infants
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced the expanded approval of Veklury® (remdesivir) to include pediatric patients 28 days of age and older weighing at least 3 kilograms with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing.
This FDA action makes Veklury the first approved injectable COVID-19 treatment for children less than 12 years of age.
Under the expanded indication, a three-day Veklury treatment regimen is recommended to help prevent hospitalization in non-hospitalized COVID-19 pediatric patients at high risk for COVID-19 disease progression.
COVID-19 Confirmed More Costly and Fatal than Influenza
According to a recent retrospective cohort study conducted at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, when adults were hospitalized with COVID-19, they were at a greater risk of death than those with influenza.
After accounting for potential confounders, including age, comorbidities, sex, disease severity, pneumonia, and corticosteroid treatment, these researchers found that COVID-19 patients were more than three times as likely to die after being admitted to hospital than influenza patients.
COVID-19 Confirmed More Costly and Fatal than Influenza
According to a recent retrospective cohort study conducted at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, when adults were hospitalized with COVID-19, they were at a greater risk of death than those with influenza.
After accounting for potential confounders, including age, comorbidities, sex, disease severity, pneumonia, and corticosteroid treatment, these researchers found that COVID-19 patients were more than three times as likely to die after being admitted to hospital than influenza patients.
Short-Term Exposure to Air Pollution Tied to SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Risk for positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR results increased with short-term exposure to PM2.5, PM10, and black carbon
Poor Sleep Patterns Tied to Worsening Behavioral Health During Pandemic
Insufficient sleep duration, inconsistent timing of sleep tied to mental health symptoms and substance use
No Increased Risk for Appendicitis Reported With mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
Findings from nationwide study in Denmark show no increased risk in association with vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection
WHO Says Acute Hepatitis Cases in Children Now Reported in 11 Countries
Among 169 reported cases, at least one child has died; 17 children needed liver transplants
Living Guideline Updated for Drug Treatment of COVID-19
Tenth version recommends nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in patients with confirmed COVID-19 who have highest risk for hospitalization
Hepatitis – Adenovirus Outbreak in 169 Children Becomes Severe
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed additional reports of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin among young children in eleven countries.
As of April 21, 2022, at least 169 cases of acute hepatitis in children have been reported in the WHO European Region and the Americas.
Furthermore, the WHO confirmed seventeen children (one month to 16 years old) had required liver transplantation.
And at least one fatality has been reported.