The fifth wave of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused more than a million people being infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Omicron BA.2, predominant) and over 9,000 COVID-19-associated deaths in Hong Kong.¹ Children, a subgroup of the population who had experienced more favorable outcomes vs. the older adults during the first 4 waves of the pandemic, were reported to have disproportionately higher hospitalization rates under the Omicron era.² Some studies revealed that seizure and laryngotracheobronchitis, or croup, were common severe complications which led to pediatric hospitalization.² The findings highlighted the importance of COVID-19 vaccination among children, but those aged <5 years were still not eligible for this mitigation measure. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Leung, Sze-Yin Agnes presented the latest safety and efficacy data of BNT162b2 among children aged ≥6 months and encouraged parents to arrange COVID-19 vaccination for their children to reduce the negative impact of this pandemic in young children.    

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis (AD), is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense itch, recurrent eczematous lesions, and a fluctuating course.^1,2 Statistics showed that up to 20% of children are affected by AD worldwide, while 15% of secondary school children in Hong Kong are reported to have the problem.^3,4 In addition, evidence has suggested the prevalence of AD in Asia is on the rise.² Although AD can be controlled through various proven strategies, optimizing AD management is still a challenge since certain situations, such as steroid phobia and poor patient compliance, could lead to treatment failure.⁴ In these regards, an algorithm for the topical AD treatment was developed and published in 2020 for use by the primary care physicians, pediatricians, and dermatologists in South and East Asia.² In the interviews with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Luk, Chi-Kong David and Professor Hon, Kam-Lun Ellis, authors of the practical recommendations, discussed the difficulties in managing mild-to-moderate AD, and shared their views on improving treatment outcomes in these AD patients.