Latest Conference Articles

Julie Parsonnet, MD, argued that infectious disease plays a major role in causing chronic disease, but that links between them must be rigorously established.

HPV vaccination is routinely recommended for females but not males, though that may soon change-and cost-effectiveness may be an important argument in favor.

At the end of his lecture on the successes and challenges of vaccination, Larry Pickering, MD, showed a video illustrating its benefits. Check it out here.

Larry Pickering, MD, described some of the challenges that the US vaccination program faces going forward.

Larry Pickering, MD, described immunization as a great public health triumph and talked of how the US maintains high vaccination rates.

Four of five infectious disease specialists report having had to prescribe an alternative microbial agent due to drug shortages-with sometimes dire consequences.

A third study on the human microbiome found an antagonistic relationship between two fungi in HIV patients.

Kevin Ault, MD, of Emory University discusses arguments for and against HPV vaccination in males, with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness.

During "Improving HIV Care: Access, Reform, and the National AIDS Strategy" session, the three speakers discussed the importance of developing a national strategy, the impact of the Affordable Care Act, and the financial sense and burden of caring for people with HIV.

A second study on the human microbiome found significant changes in the oral microbiome of patients susceptible to health care acquired pneumonia.

A press conference highlighted exciting new studies on the human microbiome-including one suggesting that antibiotic use may be behind the obesity epidemic.

In this video, Joel Gallant, MD, lead author, board member at HIVMA, associate director at Johns Hopkins AIDS Service, discusses issues related to a policy paper recently released by the HIV Medicine Association.

Tom Tryon, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, evaluates pediatricians' approaches in dealing with parents who are hesitant to have their children immunized.

Dr. Omer briefly outlines the results from "Are younger doctors more skeptical of vaccines?"

Pioneering researcher Michael Saag, MD, finished his whirlwind tour of the history of HIV and AIDS and looked toward the future-and the end of AIDS.

Pioneering researcher Michael Saag, MD, gave a whirlwind tour of the history of HIV and AIDS at the conference's opening plenary session.

Initial results of a Phase 3 trial of the experimental malaria vaccine RTS,S found that it cut the risk of contracting malaria approximately in half.

Known as the "essential reference for infectious disease treatment," the Sanford Guide was awarded a contract with the US Department of Veteran Affairs to make its web edition available to all VA Medical Centers.

Loucq discusses initial results of a trial of the experimental malaria vaccine RTS,S in which risk of infection was cut in half.

A press conference highlighted a study on doctors' beliefs on vaccine safety and efficacy and one on pediatricians' experience of parental vaccine resistance.

Dr. Clarke-Pearson comments about the dangers of violent video games, specifically citing what happened at Columbine High School.

Tobacco disease is considered by many to be a non-communicable disease epidemic with approximately six million needless deaths due to tobacco use worldwide each year.

Dr. Kathleen Clarke-Pearson comments on how media violence can increase the risk of aggressive behavior in children and adolescents.

"The biggest issue is that alcohol and drug use are the leading causes of death in 15-24-year-olds in the US," said Dr. Patricia Kokotailo who talked about "Prescription Drugs and New Drugs of Abuse: Continuing Issues for Adolescents."

One of the great thing about covering a medical conference is being able to interact with physicians and thought leaders about the hot topics in their specialty. In this video, Natasha Bergert, MD, a pediatrician from Kansas City, MO, discusses her experience at this year's AAP conference.

Stop me if you've heard this before: vaccines are controversial. However, there is one place where there is no controversy at all-that place is in downtown Boston at a Convention Center where the American Academy of Pediatrics is gathering.

Technology in the form of just about every medium has infiltrated our daily lives--there's no question about that. But where (and at what age) should the line be drawn?

Perhaps intentionally, the Monday morning AAP session "ADHD Diagnosis and Management in Young Children" was a blitzkrieg of ADHD facts and studies that seemed to jump all over the place (in a good way).

One of the hotter topics at the AAP conference this year has been bullying. So when attendees saw that Joseph L. Wright, MD, MPH, FAAP, was giving a presentation on this topic on Sunday afternoon, they flocked to the session.

One of the great things about attending the AAP 2011 conference is the interaction with pediatricians from across the globe to get their insights on new diagnostic guidelines and hot topics in the industry.