Sessions at AAP National Conference to Offer Latest Evidence, Guidance on COVID-19

ITASCA, IL -- This year at the virtual National Conference & Exhibition of the American Academy of Pediatrics, researchers and pediatric health experts will address the myriad ways the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted children, families and medical practice.

Sessions include an examination of the latest information on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), including signs and symptoms, common laboratory findings, current treatment approaches, and recommended follow-up. While MIS-C is rare, pediatricians should be equipped to quickly identify potential cases given the anticipated COVID-19 surge this fall and winter.

Considerations for school re-entry, children with special health care needs, and reducing the risk of infection in practice will also be addressed.

COVID-19-related sessions include:

• Caring for Children with Medical Complexity in the Time of COVID-19. 12 to 12:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 3. Dennis Z. Kuo, M.D., M.H.S., FAAP, Chair of the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities
• COVID-19 and Schools: What You Need to Know. 1-1:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 3. Pediatrician Nathaniel Beers, MD, MPA, FAAP, will discuss how pediatricians can collaborate with schools to create re-entry policies that are based in science and foster the overall health of children, educators and communities.
• Crossroads in Crisis: Your Practice During COVID-19. 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Suzanne Berman, MD, FAAP, Chair of the Section on Administration and Practice Management Executive Committee; and Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Payer Advocacy Advisory Committee
• Does My Patient Have MIS-C? When to Suspect Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. 1-1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. Sandy D. Hong, M.D., FAAP, Chair of the AAP Section on Rheumatology Executive Committee.
• Supporting Families Globally During COVID-19: How Pediatricians Make a Difference. 10-11 a.m. CT Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020.
• Infection Prevention & Control: Your Questions Answered. 12-12:30 p.m. CT Sunday, Oct. 4. Ann-Christine Nyquist, M.D., M.S.P.H., FAAP, Member of the AAP Section on Infectious Diseases
• COVID-19 Pregnancy & Newborn Care. 1-1:30 p.m. CT Saturday Oct. 3. Karen Puopolo, MD, PhD.

In addition, research abstracts will be presented that examine how individual practices and medical systems rapidly implemented telehealth care during the pandemic, as well as how COVID-19 has impacted children’s health in myriad ways. For more information on these and other abstracts, contact AAP Public Affairs.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org.