This contagious respiratory disease results in upwards of 80,000 hospitalizations in the United States annually among children aged younger than 5 years, and infants are especially vulnerable.
Both diseases have high rates of morbidity and mortality, so it is essential for pharmacists to be aware of guideline updates and recommended dosing regimens.
Pharmacists can play a major role in fostering public health by improving the lives of their young patients, including addressing gaps in care as determined by this federal initiative.
Awareness of the barriers to implementation of much-needed services can help guide the appropriate steps for creating or increasing care resources to address health disparities.
For this challenging disease that often occurs at an advanced stage, limited treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.