A new Harris Interactive-Health Day poll found that 52% of Americans believe that vaccines do not cause autism. Read full article.

Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine may be associated with febrile seizures in infants and children aged 6 to 23 months who received the vaccine this current flu season, according to a vaccine safety update released by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read full article.

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A controversial new analysis suggests that introduction of solid foods before 6 months of age may reduce the risk of allergies and iron deficiency anemia compared with exclusive breastfeeding. The researchers suggest that weaning should occur as early 4 months. Read full article.

A Southern California nonprofit group is seeking 2 pediatricians for its upcoming medical mission to Nicaragua. Rancho Mirage-based International Medical Alliance (IMA) has already assembled a team of more than 60 doctors, nurses, dentists, and support personnel who have agreed to volunteer their time and talents on a 10-day medical mission to Esteli, Nicaragua, from August 4 to 14. In addition to volunteering their time and talents, volunteers will be expected to pay for their own airfare. Room and board will be provided by the Nicaraguan government. IMA is a nonprofit organization that recruits doctors from every medical discipline to volunteer their time and talents to make a positive difference in the lives of children and adults with limited economic means, both in the United States and overseas.For more information about this volunteer effort in Nicaragua, contact Ines Allen at 760-485-8963 or visit www.internationalmedicalalliance.org/events.

Two new studies provide solid evidence that antibiotic treatment produces faster resolution of otitis media (OM) symptoms than watchful waiting in children up to 35 months old. Read full article.

Half of all children who survive bacterial meningitis may experience long-term complications from the infection in their lifetimes, including seizure disorders, other neurologic deficits, hearing and vision loss, behavior problems, motor delay, and impaired cognitive functioning, according to a study published in Pediatrics. These new findings may bolster the recommendation for vaccination of children against the disease. Read full article.

Although inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has proved effective in improving oxygenation in late preterm infants, studies of its efficacy in infants born at or before 34 weeks have produced variable and contradictory findings. Now a systematic review of findings from 22 trials of iNO use in 3,461 early preterm infants concludes that the evidence does not support routine use of iNO to treat these infants. The review, which appears in Pediatrics, examined 14 randomized, controlled trials (RCTs), 7 follow-up studies, and 1 observation study. Read full article.