Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260629-01
Obadah Alquadan, Rasha Deebaja, Avanti Gupte, Eman T Al-Antary
{"title":"Hemoglobinopathies and Cellular Therapy: What Pediatricians Need to Know About Indications and Counseling.","authors":"Obadah Alquadan, Rasha Deebaja, Avanti Gupte, Eman T Al-Antary","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260629-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260629-01","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hemoglobinopathies are inherited disorders of hemoglobin structure or production. Sickle cell disease (SCD) results from a beta-globin mutation causing hemoglobin polymerization, red blood cell sickling, vaso-occlusion, and hemolytic anemia. Thalassemia results from reduced or absent alpha- or beta-globin synthesis, ranging from asymptomatic carrier states to transfusion-dependent anemia. This article summarizes the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and curative options for SCD and transfusion-dependent thalassemia, emphasizing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and approved gene therapies. We discuss indications, counseling, barriers to access, toxicity, donor availability, fertility counseling, and comparative features of cellular therapies. Advances in transplantation, gene addition, and gene editing may expand access to curative-intent therapy and improve outcomes for selected patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 9","pages":"e350-e357"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260628-01
Eman M Elsabbagh, Ahmed A Shawky, Christopher C Dvorak
{"title":"Pediatric Nonmalignant Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in the Era of Precision Conditioning and Gene Therapy.","authors":"Eman M Elsabbagh, Ahmed A Shawky, Christopher C Dvorak","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260628-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260628-01","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The landscape of pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation for nonmalignant disorders has evolved through disease-adapted conditioning, pharmacokinetic-guided dosing, expanded donor options, and gene therapy (GT). These advances have transformed curative strategies for children with select inborn errors of immunity, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, hemoglobinopathies, bone marrow failure syndromes, and select metabolic disorders. Early diagnosis, especially newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency, enables timely intervention, with contemporary series reporting more than 90% survival in select early-treated infants. Similarly, modern matched related donor transplantation for pediatric severe aplastic anemia approaches 98% 3-year survival. Fludarabine-based platforms combined with busulfan, melphalan, or treosulfan support durable engraftment with reduced toxicity, while matched unrelated, haploidentical, and cord blood donors expand access. GT now offers a parallel curative platform for select sickle cell disease, transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia, and immunodeficiencies. For pediatricians, early referral before irreversible complications is critical. This review proposes a five-axis framework to guide referral, treatment selection, and survivorship planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 9","pages":"e332-e340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260630-01
Ahmed A Shawky, Ahmed H Ibrahim, Ahmed A Elhadidy, Augusto D Chiang, Eman M Elsabbagh
{"title":"Shared Care After Pediatric Nonmalignant Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.","authors":"Ahmed A Shawky, Ahmed H Ibrahim, Ahmed A Elhadidy, Augusto D Chiang, Eman M Elsabbagh","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260630-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260630-01","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for nonmalignant disorders are increasingly surviving long-term, shifting the focus from procedural success to durable immune recovery, infection prevention, revaccination, organ health, development, and quality of life. General pediatricians play a central role in shared care after HCT, as children transition from transplant-centered monitoring back to community-based care. Post-HCT immune recovery is heterogeneous and depends on diagnosis, donor source, graft source, conditioning, serotherapy exposure, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), immunosuppression, and prior infections. Infection risk persists beyond neutro-phil recovery and may be prolonged in children with delayed T-cell or B-cell recovery, chronic GVHD, or ongoing immunosuppression. Revaccination is essential, as pretrans-plant immunity is often lost. This review provides a practical framework for pediatricians caring for children after nonmalignant HCT, with emphasis on infection prevention, immunization, survivorship monitoring, and the emerging role of data-driven tools to support individualized follow-up.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 9","pages":"e358-e367"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260628-02
Alyssa M Greenwell, Avanti Gupte, Eman T Al-Antary
{"title":"Inborn Errors of Immunity and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Recognition and Pretransplant Management.","authors":"Alyssa M Greenwell, Avanti Gupte, Eman T Al-Antary","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260628-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260628-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Primary immunodeficiencies, now more broadly termed as \"inborn errors of immunity (IEI),\" are rare genetic disorders associated with recurrent infections, immune dysregulation, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and malignancy risk. Early recognition and diagnosis are essential to reduce infection-related morbidity, prevent organ damage, and identify children who may benefit from curative therapy. A comprehensive history, physical examination, targeted immune evaluation, and genetic testing can support diagnosis, while early supportive measures may reduce infection risk before definitive therapy. Treatment may include antimicrobial prophylaxis, immunoglobulin replacement, enzyme replacement, immune-modifying agents, gene-based therapies, and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), which can be curative for select IEI. However, HCT requires careful pretransplant evaluation, as outcomes are influenced by disease biology, infection burden, organ function, donor availability, graft-versus-host disease risk, and conditioning toxicity. This review focuses on recognition of IEI, initial evaluation, supportive care, and pre-HCT management for pediatricians.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 9","pages":"e341-e349"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889407","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260701-01
Elvina Veronica, Qiushuang Cai, Qin Shen, Yijing Jiang, Renfang Mao
{"title":"Recognition and Management of Ulcerative Infantile Hemangioma: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, and Prognosis.","authors":"Elvina Veronica, Qiushuang Cai, Qin Shen, Yijing Jiang, Renfang Mao","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260701-01","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260701-01","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a benign tumor that appears in the first year of life and typically involutes within 3 to 4 years. Ulcerative IH, the most common complication, poses a significant burden to patients. Early referral of high-risk cases reduces morbidity. Current literature on risk factors and prognosis is limited. Segmental and mixed IH in urogenital, head, neck, and lip areas show higher ulceration risk. Diagnosis is typically clinical; histopathology is rarely performed. Atypical cases require positive glucose transporter-1 immunohistochemistry. Larger lesions, delayed intervention, and bacterial infection worsen prognosis, prolong healing, and increase recurrence. Condition-dependent treatments, including oral propranolol (starting at 1 mg/kg or less daily, maintenance at 2 to 3 mg/kg daily), timolol prophylaxis, and wound management care combined with laser therapy, shorten therapy duration and minimize recurrence. Empiric antibiotics are indicated for infected ulcerative IH. Surgery is indicated for life-threatening cases (eg, chest wall hemangiomas requiring transfusion or airway obstruction) and high-morbidity cases (eg, lip lesions affecting speech or periorbital lesions impairing vision). The Infantile Hemangioma Referral Score helps clinicians identify high-risk patients who require prompt referral, thereby preventing delayed treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 9","pages":"e368-e373"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-09-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260701-02
Eman M Elsabbagh
{"title":"Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Nonmalignant Disorders: A Contemporary Guide for General Pediatricians.","authors":"Eman M Elsabbagh","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260701-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260701-02","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 9","pages":"e330-e331"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-08-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260708-02
Tyler K Smith, Erica L Singleton
{"title":"Summer (and Every Season) Water Safety.","authors":"Tyler K Smith, Erica L Singleton","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260708-02","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20260708-02","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 8","pages":"e292-e295"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-08-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260615-02
Katherine Amano, Brooks Keeshin, Shannon Chaplo
{"title":"Suicide Screening, Evaluation, and Management: A Trauma-Informed Approach for Primary Care.","authors":"Katherine Amano, Brooks Keeshin, Shannon Chaplo","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260615-02","DOIUrl":"10.3928/19382359-20260615-02","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Suicidality, defined as suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviors, is unfortunately common. As many as 1 in 5 adolescents report having had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, and suicide is a leading cause of mortality among adolescents. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend universal screening for suicide risk in primary care, and evidence suggests that clinicians can take an active role in assessment and management of youth who are suicidal. Although trauma exposure and traumatic stress are potent risk factors for suicidality in adolescents, a trauma-informed approach is not well integrated into tools used for suicide detection, risk stratification, and safety planning. This article will provide clinical guidance on adopting a trauma-informed approach to suicide prevention in the primary care setting.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 8","pages":"e318-e322"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-08-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260609-04
R J Gillespie
{"title":"The Next Generation of Trauma-Informed Care: Supporting Early Relational Health in Primary Care Pediatrics.","authors":"R J Gillespie","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260609-04","DOIUrl":"10.3928/19382359-20260609-04","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The focus of pediatric trauma-informed care (TIC) has been shifting from simple awareness of trauma to actionable steps that any practicing pediatrician can implement. Recent changes in conceptualizing TIC highlight the role of early relational health (ERH) in trauma prevention, as well as in mitigating the effects of childhood adversity. Pediatricians are ideally positioned to embrace this shift by incorporating strategies for supporting the caregiver-child relationship in wellness care in early childhood. ERH, when assessed and supported throughout the course of a pediatric patient's well-child visits, becomes \"100 little conversations\" between pediatricians and families, and works to build the connection between caregivers and their children over time. This article explains the importance of ERH and outlines 5 key steps toward improving health outcomes and shaping children's life trajectory.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 8","pages":"e302-e307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pediatric AnnalsPub Date : 2026-08-01DOI: 10.3928/19382359-20260609-03
Bako Orionzi
{"title":"Adolescent Menstrual Health Equity.","authors":"Bako Orionzi","doi":"10.3928/19382359-20260609-03","DOIUrl":"10.3928/19382359-20260609-03","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Menstrual poverty (ie, the systemic lack of access to menstrual hygiene products, education, and sanitation) represents a profound barrier to health equity. This article examines the physical, psychological, and socioeconomic toll of period poverty, with a particular focus on adolescent, as well as transgender and gender-diverse, populations who face unique structural vulnerabilities. While state-level legislation expanding product access in public schools has proliferated, critical implementation deficits remain regarding comprehensive education and physical infrastructure. At the local level, evaluations reveal that administrative friction and structural barriers continue to marginalize underserved cohorts. To dismantle these inequities, pediatric primary care and adolescent medicine clinicians must play a transformative role. By operationalizing menstruation as the fifth vital sign through clinical screening, establishing cost-free distribution networks, and engaging in legislative advocacy (eg, lobbying for sales tax elimination, expanding federal assistance frameworks), clinicians can lead the movement toward comprehensive menstrual health equity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54633,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric Annals","volume":"55 8","pages":"e296-e299"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148820291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}