Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) was first recognized as a novel illness in 2020 with manifestations similar to other hyperinflammatory syndromes, such as Kawasaki disease or macrophage activation syndrome. Severity varies from a self-limited febrile illness to shock requiring inotropes and mechanical ventilation. Gastrointestinal symptoms and persistent fevers are the most common clinical symptoms, with the addition of cardiac manifestations inclusive of ventricular dysfunction and coronary artery aneurysms. With no controlled trials or comparative effectiveness studies evaluating treatment of MIS-C to date, current treatment with immunomodulatory agents has mainly been derived from previous experience treating Kawasaki disease. This article provides a comprehensive review summarizing published data for the evaluation and management of MIS-C, with a focus on pharmacotherapy treatment considerations.

With significant increases noted in adolescent marijuana use across the United States, perhaps as a result of legislative changes over the past half-decade, clinicians must be increasingly aware of the potential negative health effects. One such effect that warrants concern is cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (CHS) in the pediatric population. A systematic review of the literature was performed to determine the safety and efficacy of management strategies for CHS using PubMed, Scopus, the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Search terms used in each database were “pediatric OR child OR children OR adolescent” AND “cannabinoid OR marijuana” AND “hyperemesis OR cyclic vomiting OR vomiting” NOT “seizure OR chemotherapy OR pregnancy OR cancer OR AIDS OR HIV.” Fourteen pieces of literature that described either effective, ineffective, or supportive management strategies for pediatric CHS were included in this review. Benzodiazepines were the most reported efficacious agents, followed by topical capsaicin cream and haloperidol. A total of 9 of the 14 studies described intravenous fluid resuscitation and hot bathing rituals as supportive measures, and 7 cases reported traditional antiemetics were ineffective for CHS. The heterogenicity of reported data, combined with the limited number of encounters, make it difficult to ascertain whether a definitive treatment strategy exists. Clinicians should be cognizant of pharmacotherapy agents that are efficacious, and perhaps more importantly, avoid using traditional antiemetic therapies that do not provide benefit.

This case report evaluates the potential benefit of pitolisant in a 15-year-old female with Prader-Willi syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and mild intellectual disability. Due to its action on the H3 receptor, it enhances central activity of histaminergic neurons resulting in increased alertness, irrespective of the loss of orexin neurons seen in narcolepsy. Additionally, it is thought to modulate various other neurotransmitter systems including acetylcholine, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Pitolisant has the potential to improve many symptoms in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome and it appears to be well tolerated with minimal side effects observed. Therefore, the use of pitolisant should be considered in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome who fail a psychostimulant trial.

Renal toxicity has been described with tramadol overdoses; however, it is typically associated with rhabdomyolysis, multiorgan failure and/or mortality. Our patient was a 16-year-old female who was evaluated following an intentional tramadol ingestion, estimated 27.8 to 37 mg/kg, and had a seizure prior to arriving at our health care facility. Her symptoms were consistent with a tramadol ingestion; however, she developed transient acute renal impairment (peak serum creatinine, 4.04 mg/dL), which improved over 6 days with minimal intervention. No other causes were identified to explain her acute renal impairment thus it was attributed to the tramadol overdose. Providers should be aware that transient acute renal impairment could occur with an intentional tramadol ingestion and may not require aggressive intervention.

Congenital junctional ectopic tachycardia is a rare and special type of supraventricular arrhythmia. Junctional ectopic tachycardia is characterized by persistently elevated heart rates that may cause an impairment in cardiac function. Junctional ectopic tachycardia is considered one of the most difficult-to-treat conditions even with a combination of antiarrhythmic medications. Ivabradine is a novel antiarrhythmic medication used to decrease the heart rate in adults with angina pectoris. We report a first case of a premature neonate with a normal heart structure who developed junctional ectopic tachycardia and was subsequently treated successfully with ivabradine.

Vaccination efforts against COVID-19 must include the pediatric population, not only to protect children and their families from the virus, but also to support a safe return to in-person schooling. Given the novel methodologies and targets used in the COVID-19 vaccines and the potential for multisystem inflammatory syndrome-children, it is insufficient to extrapolate safety and efficacy data between different vaccine candidates or from adult studies. Adequate enrollment in pediatric studies for COVID-19 vaccines is crucial. The Pediatric Pharmacy Association supports continued research, surveillance, and transparency for COVID-19 vaccines in the pediatric population, including those younger than 12 years of age.