Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) poses a significant risk to newborns, particularly during the first months of life, and remains a leading cause of pediatric hospitalization in Germany. Despite the approval of innovative immunoprophylaxis methods like nirsevimab, parental hesitancy persists, driven by knowledge gaps and concerns about safety. This study assesses the healthcare burden of RSV during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons and explores parental perspectives on immunization just prior to the widespread availability of nirsevimab in late 2024. Data revealed a significant hospital burden, including rising intensive care admissions requiring respiratory support. A survey conducted in two Bavarian maternity wards found that while 78% of parents were aware of RSV, only 53% supported postnatal immunization. These findings highlight the groundbreaking potential of RSV immunization and underscore the urgent need for targeted communication strategies to address parental concerns to ensure successful implementation of these programs.

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is a common condition in newborns. While mild cases of jaundice are common and typically resolve spontaneously, severe hyperbilirubinemia can lead to serious neurologic complications if left untreated. With the constant adaptation of guidelines, clinical management has significantly improved, and treatment has become routine for pediatricians. However, for parents of affected children, managing the condition is not routine. In today’s digital age, parents often seek additional information by accessing a wide range of medical resources on the internet. While this can be empowering, it also presents challenges, as the quality and accuracy of online medical information can vary widely. Therefore, we analyzed the current quality of information on jaundice found on the internet by parents. Methods: A simulated internet search (using the Google search engine) was conducted from a layperson’s perspective using German (“Neugeborenes Gelbsucht”, “Baby Gelbsucht”) and English (“jaundice newborn”, “jaundice baby”) search terms. Subsequently, the quality of the search results was assessed by two independent neonatologists based on the DISCERN Plus Score, HONcode certification, and the JAMA criteria. Results: Websites targeting non-medical laypersons exhibited significant variability in quality. Notably, the content of English websites was superior to that of websites in the German language. The majority of English sites were predominantly institutional, whereas most German sites were commercially oriented. Conclusions: Although information on jaundice is readily accessible online for non-medical individuals, there were notable differences in quality based on language and significant variability in the quality of information warranting attention from healthcare professionals. Furthermore, German websites providing information on jaundice were often hosted by commercial organizations. We propose that pediatric societies engage in developing and maintaining organization-based medical information to improve online resources for parents.

Background/Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of infant respiratory morbidity, yet real-world data on healthcare utilization following universal immunoprophylaxis remain limited. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed RSV-positive inpatient and emergency department (ED) encounters from two German tertiary pediatric centers across six seasons (2019/20–2024/25). Augsburg contributed inpatient data for 2022/23–2024/25, including immunization status and severity metrics, while Erlangen provided inpatient and ED data across all seasons. Results: In Augsburg, RSV hospitalizations were higher in pre-immunization seasons than in 2024/25, accompanied by a reduced proportion of infants < 1 year. RSV season onset occurred later in 2024/25, while severity metrics remained stable. Among infants < 1 year hospitalized in 2024/25, all severe cases occurred in unimmunized infants; no severe outcomes were observed among the small number of immunized cases. Conclusions: Integrated multicenter data descriptively coincide with reduced RSV hospitalization burden following immunoprophylaxis introduction, without evidence of increased disease severity.