News | Paediatrics and neonatal

Adherence to low-dose aspirin improves pregnancy outcomes

Researchers have found that close adherence to taking low-dose aspirin daily led to more pregnancies and live births, and fewer pregnancy losses.…

Government will ‘prioritise’ extending valproate registry to cover all antiepileptic drugs

The Department of Health and Social Care said that it will prioritise extending the valproate registry to include all women prescribed an antiepileptic drug.…

Using opioids during early pregnancy not linked to increased risk of congenital malformations, study finds

However, researchers estimated that there were 4–5 additional cases of cleft palate per 10,000 pregnancies exposed to opioids in the first trimester.…

Children and their families require more help with medicines

With data showing that the majority of errors in children and young people are in the administration of medicines, it is time that the pharmaceutical care of vulnerable children is prioritised.…

Steve Tomlin: ‘If two-year-olds can swallow a piece of Lego, they can swallow tablets’

Great Ormond Street Hospital's chief pharmacist talks about the management of paediatric patients, using 3D printing and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected his team.…

Macrolide antibiotics during pregnancy not associated with increased risk of major birth defects, study suggests

A cohort study found no significant association between use of macrolides during pregnancy and an increased risk of birth defects.…

Valproic acid use during pregnancy associated with elevated risk of autism and ADHD, study suggests

Women who take valproic acid for epilepsy while pregnant are twice as likely to have children with autism spectrum disorder, a study has suggested.…

Prescribing ward round with pharmacist involvement cuts errors on paediatric ICU

A daily prescribing round in a paediatric intensive care unit led to a reduction in prescribing errors and overall time spent on medicines queries and prescribing.…

Trial confirms antiepileptic effects of fenfluramine in children with Dravet syndrome

Children with Dravet syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy that is resistant to treatment, experience fewer seizures when treated with fenfluramine, a phase III trial published in The Lancet has confirmed.…

Little evidence to inform pharmacological paediatric migraine prevention, review finds

There is limited evidence available to support the efficacy of prophylactic pharmacological treatments in the prevention of paediatric migraines, a systematic review has concluded.…