Unit 1579: Pediatric Infectious Diseases

1. Introduction to Pediatric Infectious Diseases

• Overview of pediatric infectious diseases
• Common pathogens affecting children (bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi)
• Transmission routes (contact, droplet, airborne, vector-borne)
• Unique immunological and physiological aspects of infections in children

2. Immunizations and Vaccines in Pediatrics

• Importance of immunizations in disease prevention
• Pediatric vaccination schedule and guidelines
• Types of vaccines (live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, conjugate, mRNA)
• Vaccine efficacy and safety
• Impact of vaccination on public health and herd immunity

3. Common Bacterial Infections in Children

• Strep throat (Etiology, presentation, diagnosis, treatment)
• Otitis media (ear infections): causes, symptoms, management
• Urinary tract infections in pediatric patients
• Bacterial meningitis: pathogens, clinical signs, emergency management

4. Viral Infections in Pediatrics

• Influenza: epidemiology, symptoms, complications, treatment
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV): clinical features, at-risk populations, management
• Measles, mumps, and chickenpox: presentation, complications, vaccination

5. Parasitic Infections in Pediatric Population

• Giardiasis: transmission, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment
• Pinworms: lifecycle, symptoms, diagnosis, management
• Malaria: epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, treatment options

6. Fungal Infections in Pediatrics

• Candidiasis: types (oral thrush, diaper rash), risk factors, treatment
• Ringworm (dermatophytosis): identification, clinical features, therapy
• Histoplasmosis: epidemiology, manifestations, management

7. Pediatric HIV/AIDS

• Transmission routes in children
• Clinical manifestations and disease progression
• Antiretroviral therapy in pediatric patients
• Impact on growth, development, and psychosocial aspects

8. Antibiotic Use and Resistance in Pediatric Infections

• Principles of appropriate antibiotic prescribing
• Common causes and consequences of antibiotic resistance
• Strategies to combat resistance: antimicrobial stewardship programs
• Education of caregivers and healthcare providers

9. Prevention and Control of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

• Hand hygiene protocols
• Isolation precautions and infection control measures
• Environmental cleaning and disinfection
• Public health interventions and outbreak management

10. Emerging Infectious Diseases in Pediatrics

• COVID-19: clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination in children
• Zika virus: transmission, effects on children, prevention
• Multidrug-resistant infections: challenges in diagnosis and treatment
• Future directions and preparedness for emerging infectious threats