News | Paediatrics and neonatal

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Number of children prescribed melatonin up 170% in seven years

Exclusive: There has been a 'shocking' rise in the number of children prescribed synthetic melatonin for sleep, new data show.…

Published: 24 November 2022

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No difference between length of antibiotic course for treatment of pneumonia in children, meta-analysis finds 

Researchers concluded that shorter courses of antibiotics were not inferior to longer courses in the treatment of non-severe community-acquired pneumonia in children.…

Published: 15 November 2022

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MHRA approves first vaccine in ten years to protect children against pneumococcal diseases

The drugs regulator has approved an extension for Vaxneuvance (PCV15) to cover children as well as adults.…

Published: 10 November 2022

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NICE recommends CBT on tablets and mobile phones for young people with anxiety

Five technologies have been put forward as potential first-line treatment options for mild to moderate anxiety in young people.…

Published: 4 November 2022

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More than 400 pregnant women prescribed topiramate in the past year 

NHS data have revealed 430 women were prescribed topiramate and 42 women were prescribed sodium valproate during their pregnancies between April 2021 and March 2022.…

Published: 7 October 2022

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Migraine and epilepsy drugs promoted to under-18s as weight-loss aids on TikTok

Exclusive: Social media platform removes posts after investigation by The Pharmaceutical Journal reveals that prescription-only drugs are being recommended to teenagers wanting to lose weight.…

Published: 22 September 2022

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Biologic shown to reduce eczema symptoms in young children by three quarters

More than half of the children in the study had at least a 75% reduction in signs of eczema, as well as reductions in itch and improved sleeping patterns.…

Published: 16 September 2022

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Safety requirements for use of valproate ‘still not being fully met’, finds NHS audit

Only 26.5% of patients taking sodium valproate who did not use highly effective contraception were referred to their GP by a pharmacist, the 2019/2020 Pharmacy Quality Scheme Valproate Audit found.…

Published: 12 August 2022

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Some antiseizure duotherapies associated with similar risk of neurodevelopmental disorders as valproate, study finds

A study has found increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children whose mothers took antiseizure medication duotherapies during pregnancy.…

Published: 31 May 2022

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Prescribing of antibiotics in young children at highest levels in five years

Data show that rates of antibiotic prescribing in children aged 0–4 years are the highest they have been since December 2017.…

Published: 16 May 2022