Michigan News

Michigan first responders get safe sleep training for infants

Six West Michigan emergency response agencies are now certified in safe sleep practices.

In 2022, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) launched a program to train emergency responders on safe sleep practices. Those agencies often interact with families and remove hazards from the environment for the sleeping child.

The Grand Rapids Fire Department was the first department to receive the certification back in July 2022. Four more agencies have since become certified in Kent County, working with the Kent County Health Department's Infant Safe Sleep Program.

Caledonia Fire Department, Plainfield Fire Department, Wyoming Fire Department, Alpine Township Fire Department and Coopersville/Polkton Fire Department have also been certified.

Detroit child with measles exposed others at Children's Hospital, urgent care, pharmacy

4-year-old from Detroit has a confirmed case of the measles, and potentially exposed others while seeking treatment for the highly infectious virus at DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan, an urgent care center and a pharmacy in the city, the Detroit Health Department announced Wednesday.

It is Michigan's fifth documented measles case this year.

The child was unvaccinated, said Dr. Claudia Richardson, the city health department's medical director, and had no history of international travel. Measles is so contagious, 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to the virus will become infected.

City health officials said they are working with the state health department to investigate where the child might have been exposed to the virus. So far, however, the case appears to be isolated, Richardson said.

AAP News

Poison centers see increase in calls for psilocybin exposure

The number of calls to poison control centers for exposure to psilocybin among adolescents more than tripled from 2018 to 2022, a recent study found.

Psilocybin can be found in certain types of mushrooms as well as in edibles such as chocolate, gummies and tea. Exposure to the psychoactive alkaloid can cause physical and psychological effects, including vomiting, muscle weakness, drowsiness, acute psychosis, hallucinations and euphoria.

Since 2019, several cities and states have decriminalized possession and use of psilocybin mushroom.

The authors of this study looked at trends in psilocybin exposures among youths ages 13-25 years reported to U.S. poison centers from 2013 through 2022.

WIC changes backed by AAP include boost to fruit, vegetable allowances

Changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) were announced Tuesday, including many supported by the AAP such as increases in monthly cash allowances for fruits and vegetables, reductions in juice and milk allowances, and an expansion of whole grain options.

The changes to WIC food packages made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food and Nutrition Service are expected to take effect about 24 months after publication of a final rule in the Federal Register. AAP recommendations are cited throughout the rule.

Pediatricians In The News

Andrew Hashikawa, M.D

Ask the Pediatrician: What parents need to know about measles

After the first measles infection is reported in a community, it is considered an outbreak because of how quickly measles spreads. Local health experts must work quickly to identify others who were exposed so they can stop measles from spreading.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world. In fact, 9 out of 10 people exposed to measles will catch it, too, if they are unvaccinated, have not had the disease before or have a problem with their immune system. Even very brief exposure to an infected person in a shared space poses a high risk for unimmunized people.

People with measles are contagious before they know they are sick. An infected person can spread measles easily to others 4 days before the rash appears, and they are still contagious 4 days after the rash appears.

Measles spreads from person to person and through the air from respiratory droplets from a child's cough or sneeze. The virus can live for two hours on surfaces or suspended in the air. Someone who enters a room where someone with measles had been earlier can catch the disease. The virus can also travel along air currents and infect people in another room.

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