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The article presents guidelines on working group for revision of guidelines for the use of Palivizumab in Japan. Topics include the precautions and indications on the drug's information leaflet, the appropriate use of this agent should be used on a patient by patient basis; and referring to guidelines issued by healthcare societies and other professional academic organizations.

Background Methods Results Conclusions The COVID‐19 pandemic has affected the lives of people of all ages. Most reports on pediatric cases suggest that children experience fewer and milder symptoms than do adults. This is the first nationwide study in Japan focusing on pediatric cases reported by pediatricians, including cases with no or mild symptoms.We analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and transmission patterns of 840 pediatric (<16 years old) COVID‐19 cases reported between February and December 2020 in Japan, using a dedicated database which was maintained voluntarily by members of the Japan Pediatric Society.Almost half of the patients (47.7%) were asymptomatic, while most of the others presented mild symptoms. At the time of admission or first outpatient clinic visit, 84.0% of the cases were afebrile (<37.5°C). In total, 609 cases (72.5%) were exposed to COVID‐19‐positive household members. We analyzed the influence of nationwide school closures that were introduced in March 2020 on COVID‐19 transmission routes among children in Japan. Transmission within households occurred most frequently, with no significant difference between the periods before and after declaring nationwide school closures (70.9% and 74.5%, respectively).COVID‐19 symptoms in children are less severe than those in adults. School closure appeared to have a limited effect on transmission. Controlling household transmission from adult family members is the most important measure for prevention of COVID‐19 among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new version of the Japanese pediatric guideline for the treatment and management of bronchial asthma was published in Japanese at the end of 2011. The guideline sets the pragmatic goal for clinicians treating childhood asthma as maintaining a 'well-controlled level' for an extended period in which the child patient can lead a trouble-free daily life, not forgetting the ultimate goal of obtaining remission and/or cure. Important factors in the attainment of the pragmatic goal are: (i) appropriate use of anti-inflammatory drugs; (ii) elimination of environmental risk factors; and (iii) educational and enlightening activities for the patient and caregivers regarding adequate asthma management in daily life. The well-controlled level refers to a symptom-free state in which no transient coughs, wheezing, dyspnea or other symptoms associated with bronchial asthma are present, even for a short period of time. As was the case in the previous versions of the guideline, asthmatic children younger than 2 years of age are defined as infantile asthma patients. Special attention is paid to these patients in the new guideline: they often have rapid exacerbation and easily present chronic asthmatic conditions after the disease is established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]