Health — Children & Kids — December 16th, 2024

Autologous cord-blood-derived cell administration in extremely preterm infants
Australian researchers have discovered a potential new lifeline for the tiniest and most vulnerable newborns. Scientists at Monash Children's Hospital have successfully collected and reinfused umbilical cord blood cells in extremely premature babies, offering a glimmer of hope for preventing brain injuries.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Parents rely on threats to address young children's misbehavior
When young children's behavior becomes challenging, many parents resort to threats – from taking away toys to threatening that Santa will skip their house, a national poll suggests.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician offers advice on school attendance, truancy and chronic absenteeism
Missing a day here or there may not seem like a problem. But school absences add up quickly. Missing two days a month—excused or unexcused—can add up to a child being considered chronically absent.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Problems developed faster among gamers who started early
People who started playing video games at an early school age developed problematic gaming more quickly compared to those who started playing a few years later.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Pakistan begins last anti-polio vaccination campaign of the year after a surge in cases
Pakistan on Monday began its last nationwide vaccination campaign for the year to protect 45 million children from polio after a surge in new cases hampered efforts to stop the disease, officials said.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Study finds parents more open to racially diverse media for children than previously thought
New research from the University of Kansas has found that most parents recall watching media with diverse racial and ethnic portrayals of characters with their children and that their own racial-ethnic identity predicted their attitudes toward such content, but not necessarily their beliefs.
December 16th, 2024 — SourceWintertime is prime time for head lice: What parents need to know
Head lice can be a wintertime headache for families and schools, but simple precautions can stop the spread of these pesky parasites.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Young gamers face faster path to problematic gaming, study finds
People who started playing video games at an early school age developed problematic gaming more quickly compared to those who started playing a few years later. This has been shown by a study by the University of Gothenburg.
December 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — December 10th, 2024

CDC study shows nirsevimab effective in reducing RSV hospitalizations among young children
Research led by the CDC and conducted at seven academic pediatric medical centers in the United States finds nirsevimab (sold as Beyfortus) highly effective in reducing respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) related hospitalization in children under 5 years old.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Could US-style summer holiday programs boost Aussie kids' health?
As the school year winds up, thousands of Aussie kids are looking forward to the summer holidays. But hand-in hand with this freedom comes an abundance of screentime, unhealthy snacks, and a lack of routine, and it has the potential to affect children's physical and mental health.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Death toll from contaminated infant IV feeding bags in Mexico rises to 17
Authorities in Mexico said Tuesday that a total of 17 children have died in central Mexico from suspected contamination of IV feeding bags after four more deaths were confirmed.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

New study reveals social factors in pediatric cardiac arrest survival
The odds on whether a child survives a cardiac arrest may depend on where they live, according to a new study from the University of Missouri School of Medicine.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Study finds key brain markers for gaming addiction in adolescents
Playing video games is a rite of passage for many adolescents, but for some, it could also be the first step to a gaming addiction.
December 10th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — December 6th, 2024

Drug offers cost-effective protection for newborns with genetic bleeding disorder
Severe hemophilia A is a genetic disorder that prevents blood from clotting properly, posing a constant risk of dangerous bleeding episodes. Infants with severe hemophilia A (HA) are at risk of brain bleeds, which can lead to serious long-term brain damage. Emicizumab (Hemlibra) was approved by the FDA in 2018 to prevent and reduce bleeding for patients who suffer from hemophilia A.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Newborn screening by genome sequencing shown to be safe and effective in two clinical studies
wo studies published in the American Journal of Human Genetics show the potential for genomic screening in newborns to address high rates of infant hospitalization and mortality in the United States. Presently, hundreds of genetic diseases are either preventable or treatable but currently are detected only after a child falls ill and endures a years-long "diagnostic odyssey," often receiving diagnoses too late to achieve the best outcomes.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Quality of parent-child relationships predicts adulthood well-being, 21-country finds
The link between early life experiences and mental health has been widely explored by psychology researchers. One key aspect of human early life experiences is the relationship that people develop with their parental figures, which is at the center of attachment theory and various other psychological models.
December 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — December 1st, 2024

How our public spaces can be safer and more welcoming for children
A Georgia mother was recently arrested for reckless endangerment after her 10-year-old son was seen walking outside alone. The warrant for her arrest claimed she "willingly and knowingly" endangered her son's safety.
December 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 29th, 2024

Australia bans under-16s from using social media -- platforms criticize decision
Other countries have expressed interest in following suit
November 29th, 2024 — Source

New insights into risk assessment of rare, aggressive tumors in children
An international research team including researchers from Augsburg University Medicine has made significant progress in the risk assessment and treatment of extracranial malign rhabdoid tumors. Recently published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the study, "Clinical and Molecular Risk Factors in Extracranial Malignant Rhabdoid Tumors: Toward an Integrated Model of High-Risk Tumors," shows how clinical and molecular factors can influence disease progression and contribute to improvements in individual treatment.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Ransom gang claims attack on NHS Alder Hey Children's Hospital
Second alleged intrusion on English NHS org systems this week
November 29th, 2024 — Source

STAG₂ loss linked to increased aggression in Ewing sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma is a tumor of the bones and soft tissues that occurs in children and young people. Like all childhood cancers, it is rare -- 9 to 10 cases per million inhabitants per year -- but it is very aggressive. 25% of patients do not respond well to regular therapy and they often experience relapses.
November 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 27th, 2024

Health care disparities are tied to worse outcomes for kids with multiple sclerosis, study suggests
People who develop multiple sclerosis (MS) as children and grow up in less advantaged neighborhoods may have a larger volume of inflammation and brain tissue loss on imaging than those who grow up in more advantaged neighborhoods, according to a study published in the November 27, 2024, online issue of Neurology.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Newer epilepsy medications used during pregnancy do not affect neurological development in children
NIH-funded study provides clarity on safety of two common antiseizure drugs lamotrigine and levetiracetam.
November 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 25th, 2024

Adolescents with self-harming behavior found to react more strongly to images of self-harm on social media
A recent study by the Medical University of Vienna shows that adolescents with a history of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI) show increased attention to images of self-harm on social media. This attention bias—the increased and faster fixation on such content—increases the urge to self-harm.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Alcohol use identified as most common predictor of escalated cannabis vaping among youths in Texas
Alcohol use was the most common predictor of escalating cannabis vaping among youth and young adults, independent of demographic factors, according to research by UTHealth Houston published in the journal Social Science & Medicine.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Beyond screen time: Complex factors shaping child development
New Curtin University research challenges views on screen time, revealing factors such as parental mental health and the type of screen being used may have some impact on child development.
November 25th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

FDA approves Nerivio for migraine treatment in children aged 8 years and older
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded the age indication for Theranica's Nerivio, making it the first and only remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) wearable for migraine treatment for children aged 8 years and older.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Is video tech effective for children with speech-related disabilities?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices are tools that help people with speech or language impairments communicate. Visual scene displays (VSDs) enhance these tools with interactive pictures and videos and appear to improve the effectiveness of communication support for children with speech-related disabilities, but the use of VSDs was not designated as an "evidence-based practice."
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Making pediatric health equity research truly equitable: An EDI review process
A burgeoning number of studies are examining pediatric health equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). But if not done right, health equity research can do a disservice, perpetuating biases and wrong assumptions that actually exacerbate inequities.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Severe pregnancy complications reduce likelihood of having more children
Women who suffer severe complications during their first pregnancy or delivery are less inclined to have more babies, a study published in JAMA by researchers at Karolinska Institutet reports. Given the recent steady decline in birth rate in Sweden, the researchers propose monitoring in antenatal care to address the problem.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

The future looks bright: Study shows optimistic youth lead healthier lives
If you've ever told your child to look on the bright side, or taught them to see the glass as half full, you might wonder if there are real benefits to positive thinking.
November 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 24th, 2024

Clinical microbiologist explains why you should never kiss a baby
There is a cognitive bias called "the curse of knowledge" (sometimes also called "the curse of expertise"). It happens when you incorrectly assume that everyone knows as much as you do on a given topic. As a clinical microbiologist, I assumed everyone knew that it was a terrible idea to kiss a newborn baby anywhere on its head.
November 24th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 21st, 2024

Australia banning social media use by kids; 9to5Mac readers want the same in the US
The impact of social media use by kids is perhaps one of the hottest topics in tech. There's significant evidence that social media apps like Instagram can be harmful to the mental health of children, while others argue that it can also enable social connection.
November 21st, 2024 — Source or Source or Source

Australia Introduces Bill to Ban Social Media Use for Under 16s
Michelle Rowland, Australia's Minister for Communications, proposed a groundbreaking law on November 21 to ban social media access for users under 16.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Child safety org flags new CSAM with AI trained on real child sex abuse images
AI will make it harder to spread CSAM online, child safety org says.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Children with coordination challenges may avoid physical activity. Here's how to help them become active
Children are born to play! And yet, despite our best efforts, many parents and professionals find that some children are not motivated to get moving and prefer watching television instead. Among the potential causes of this, several studies (PDF) have revealed that clumsy children, i.e., those with poor motor skills, have a tendency to withdraw from physical, sports and leisure activities.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Experiments reveal a grasp of grammar helps young children figure out when they must acquire new words
As young children, how do we build our vocabulary? Even by age 1, many infants seem to think that if they hear a new word, it means something different from the words they already know. But why they think so has remained subject to inquiry among scholars for the last 40 years.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Experts reach consensus on the most important physical fitness tests for children and adolescents
Researchers from the University of Granada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have identified the most important physical fitness tests and the corresponding protocols to be used with children and adolescents. The degree of scientific agreement (consensus) around such evidence was more than 85% in different regions of the world.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Experts recommend cascade screening over universal lipid screening for familial hypercholesterolemia
The German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) was commissioned by the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) to assess the benefit of universal blood lipid screening for the early detection of familial hypercholesterolemia in children and adolescents. Based on the available studies, no benefit can be derived from universal screening of all children and adolescents.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Kids' injuries in sports and at home: When is it right to seek medical attention?
A sprain on the soccer field. A tumble to the floor at home. Kids get injured, but as a parent, when's the right time to take them to a doctor or ER?
November 21st, 2024 — Source

More physical education in schools could reduce future health care costs
Children have become increasingly inactive over the past two decades, as shown by a long-term study involving 3,500 schoolchildren in Austria. Professor Dr. Jan Wilke, a sports scientist at the University of Bayreuth, was involved in the project. He and his colleagues are calling for an expansion of sports activities, particularly in schools, as a way to reduce future strain on the health care system.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Promethazine for children under 6 is now banned in Australia due to hallucination fears. Here's what to use instead
Australia's drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Social media has complex effects on adolescent well-being, and policymakers must take note
In late 2024, more than 20 years after the birth of Facebook, the impact of social media on our lives cannot be overstated. Initially underestimated by many in business, social media eventually came to be recognized for its power to enable workers to share solutions, ideas and perspectives. While companies took time to see its potential, younger generations have been living part of their lives through social platforms for years.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Tantrums in children could be linked to ADHD
Preschool children who struggle to control their emotions and behavior have more symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder—known as ADHD—at age seven, a study suggests.
November 21st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 18th, 2024

After Congress ended extra cash aid for families, communities tackle child poverty alone
If you bring a baby into the Hurley Children's Center clinic in downtown Flint, Michigan, Mona Hanna will find you. The pediatrician, who gained national prominence for helping uncover the city's water crisis in 2015, strode across the waiting room in her white lab coat, eyes laser-focused on the chubby baby in the lap of an unsuspecting parent.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Clinical trial finds daily tablet increases growth in children with achondroplasia
A promising daily tablet is effective at increasing height and improving proportional limb growth in children with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, according to a new study. And the findings could spare these children from needing to have a daily injection to boost growth.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Daily tablet shows promise in treating achondroplasia in children
A promising daily tablet is effective at increasing height and improving proportional limb growth in children with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, according to a new study. And the findings could spare these children from needing to have a daily injection to boost growth.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Hormone therapy reshapes the skeleton in transgender individuals who previously blocked puberty, study finds
Skeletal size may be altered by gender-affirming hormone therapy only if puberty has also been suppressed during adolescence, according to research presented at the 62nd Annual European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology Meeting in Liverpool.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

National poll suggests some parents need support managing children's anger
Many parents are all too familiar with angry outbursts from their children, from sibling squabbles to protests over screen time limits.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Oropouche virus transmission to unborn child confirmed
The first confirmed case of vertical transmission of Oropouche virus (OROV) has been reported by 23 researchers from eight distinct institutions in Brazil.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Some parents may struggle with managing children's anger, poll suggests
Many parents are all too familiar with angry outbursts from their children, from sibling squabbles to protests over screen time limits.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Study explores the pandemic's impact on breastfeeding practices in historically marginalized communities
COVID-19 provided the elements for an organic experiment, researchers say
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Swedish study discovers link between delayed puberty in boys and increased hospital visits
Swedish young men who went through late puberty during adolescence are more likely to use health care services later in life, according to research presented at the 62nd Annual European Society for Pediatric Endocrinology Meeting in Liverpool. The findings of this long-term study suggest that delayed puberty in boys may have harmful effects on their health in adulthood and could potentially lead to new follow-up health care routines in the future.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Understanding neonatal infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries: New insights from a 30-year study
Researchers from Peking University have conducted an in-depth study on the epidemic status, secular trends, and risk factors of 15 common neonatal infectious diseases across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 1990 to 2019.
November 18th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 17th, 2024

11 Pieces Of Tech Every New Parent Should Know About
New parents everywhere are in a visceral struggle to provide their little ones with the best life has to offer (from concerns over screen time to entertainment technology in the bleakest of venues). Culturally, we've all been raised to yearn for a better life for our children, even if our own upbringing was marked by nothing but happiness.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Best Vitamins and Supplements for Joint Health in 2024
To support your joint health as you age, talk to your doctor about these vitamins and supplements.
November 17th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 16th, 2024

Excessive social media use tied to substance experimentation in US pre-teens
As teens continue to spend more time on screens and social media, a new study finds that among 11-12-year-olds, excessive time online is associated with early experimentation with substances like alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Traditional Mayan practices have long promoted unique levels of family harmony. But what effect is globalization having?
A new paper in the journal Child Development shows how some aspects of family interaction among Indigenous people in Guatemala have fundamentally shifted with rapid globalization, yet families have still maintained a unique level of harmony in their interactions.
November 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 15th, 2024

Children exposed to antiseizure meds during pregnancy face neurodevelopmental risks, study finds
Children born to mothers who take antiseizure medications to manage seizures and psychiatric conditions during pregnancy may face increased risks of neurodevelopmental conditions, according to new data from researchers at Drexel's Dornsife School of Public Health.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Exploring the Impact of Motorcycle Sports on Students' Personal Development and Writing Skills
Despite some risks, particularly the possibility of injury, motorcycle sports have several advantages for healthy student body development. In this article, we will identify the positive effects that motorcycle sports have on students.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Study finds cannabis-users would reduce use the most for job interviews, caring for children
People who use cannabis at least once a month may consume the drug before low-stakes activities, but what if they had other responsibilities, such as taking care of their children?
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Study uncovers first evidence of resistance to standard malaria treatment in African children with severe malaria
An international team of researchers has uncovered evidence of partial resistance to artemisinin derivatives -- the primary treatment for malaria -- in young children with severe malaria.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Time in nature benefits children with mental health difficulties, researchers find
A team of researchers from McGill and Universite de Montreal's Observatoire pour l'education et la sante des enfants (OPES, or observatory on children's health and education), led by Sylvana Côte, found that spending two hours a week of class time in a natural environment can reduce emotional distress among 10 to 12 year olds who had the most significant mental health problems before the program began.
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Using AI to advance child development and learning
Can artificial intelligence-powered tools help enrich child development and learning?
November 15th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 12th, 2024

AI can detect serious neurologic changes in babies in the NICU using video data alone
A team of clinicians, scientists, and engineers at Mount Sinai trained a deep learning pose-recognition algorithm on video feeds of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to accurately track their movements and identify key neurologic metrics.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Animated movie characters with strabismus are more likely to be villains, study finds
Strabismus, a misalignment of the eyes that occurs especially in children, has no bearing on intelligence or personality, but animated movies tend to use the condition to signify a villainous, dopey, or clumsy character, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Boredom, relaxation and experimentation are among top reasons teens vape
Nicotine vapes are sometimes marketed as aids for cigarette smoking cessation. However, teens do not typically turn to electronic nicotine vapes to curb smoking habits, according to University of Michigan research.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Fetal monitoring can be essential during labor—but many women don't realize they have choices
So, you're about to have a baby. You've been to the birth classes—you learned how being upright and moving around can help you be as comfortable as possible. Perhaps you've even learned some acupressure or hypnotherapy to help with pain management.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Grandparents help grandkids in many ways—but the reverse may be true too, poll suggests
As many Americans prepare to gather with their families for the holidays, a new poll shows the importance of grandchildren in grandparents' lives.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Mixed reality gaming may help kids be more active
Mixed reality gaming may be the motivation kids need to stay active, according to a new study from the University of Georgia. Children participating in the study saw a significant increase in physical activity.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Our new study shows teen vaping is linked to childhood trauma—here's why it might be harder to quit
If you experience trauma during childhood, there's a greater chance you'll use substances such as alcohol, tobacco and other drugs later. But what does the evidence say about vapes?
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Study challenges popular belief that children are quicker at picking up new motor skills than adults
Contrary to popular belief, children aren't better at learning new skills than adults. Indeed, young adults seem to learn faster than kids—but also tend to forget more quickly. Here, better sleep seems to advantage children. This is the conclusion of a new study from the University of Copenhagen.
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Treatment to preserve sight in children with rare genetic disorder shows promise in clinical trial
A new treatment that could prevent blindness in children with the CLN2 type Batten disease has been trialed by clinicians and researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
November 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 9th, 2024

New data map highlights disparities in children's mental health across the UK
A new data map produced by Centre for Mental Health in collaboration with Kooth has revealed stark disparities in children and young people's mental health across the four UK nations and between local areas.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Research reveals how children develop understanding of words
A unique study has thrown fascinating new light on how young children begin to understand the meaning of words.
November 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 8th, 2024

Study finds child immunization program helped combat meningitis and blood poisoning
The number of cases of meningitis and blood poisoning is decreasing, and this is clearly due to the inclusion, since 2006, of pneumococcal disease into the child immunization program.
November 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 7th, 2024

A quick return to school and light exercise may help kids recover from concussions
During cheerleading practice in April, Jana Duey's sixth-grade daughter, Karter, sustained a concussion when she fell several feet headfirst onto a gym floor mat. Days after, Karter still had a headache, dizziness, and sensitivity to light and noise.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Children with intellectual disabilities at greater risk of sexual abuse, finds study
Children with intellectual disabilities are not only more likely to be victims of sexual abuse but are also more susceptible to its harmful effects.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Many moms fall asleep while feeding, endangering their babies, study finds
More than a quarter of new mothers have fallen asleep recently while feeding their babies, putting the infants at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), research from the University of Virginia School of Medicine reveals.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Potty training: How to get the job done
Potty training is a major milestone. Get the facts on timing, technique and handling accidents.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Research fills the gap in evidence-based infant feeding guidelines
Imagine you are a parent of a 6-month-old and are looking to introduce solid foods to your baby. You are not sure what and how much to introduce first, so you look to dietary guidelines for help. You discover that the guidelines provide evidence-based dietary recommendations for all age groups except one—children under 2.
November 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — November 1st, 2024

Exposure to certain pollution sources harms children's learning and memory, study shows
A new USC study involving 8,500 children from across the country has revealed that a form of air pollution, largely the product of agricultural emissions, is linked to poor learning and memory performance in 9 and 10 year-olds.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Infant brains are like sponges—predictable caregivers can make them even spongier, research finds
It's a scientific truth many in the field of early childhood development like to parrot: children's brains are like sponges. But getting to see a child's sponge-like learning in action, from the perspective of a scientist, requires state-of-the-art imaging and some human subjects—young and old.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Investment in pediatric emergency care could save more than 2,100 young lives each year
In emergencies, children have distinct needs because of their unique physiological, emotional and developmental characteristics. But 83% of emergency departments nationwide are not fully prepared to meet those needs—which can be life-threatening for a child in cases of severe illness or injury.
November 1st, 2024 — Source or Source

New study links childhood BMI trajectories to adult lung health
Early childhood BMI patterns play a crucial role in shaping adult lung health, with both high and low BMI linked to distinct respiratory outcomes, according to a long-term Swedish study.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Study reinforces the benefits of beginning with behavioral therapy for kids with ADHD
Research by ADHD pioneer William E. Pelham, Jr., who passed away last year, found that behavioral therapy—when used first—was less expensive and more effective than medication in treating children with ADHD.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Study reveals disparities in cleft lip surgery for non-White children
Children of non-White racial/ethnic backgrounds experience significant disparities in access to and outcomes of surgery to repair cleft lip, reports a study in the November issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer.
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Unifying systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Still's disease
The European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, in partnership with the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society (PReS), has developed new recommendations for the diagnosis and management of Still's disease, comprising the two diseases formerly known as systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD).
November 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 30th, 2024

1 in 3 U.S. teens say they've been bullied
Bullying among American teens remains a big threat, with more than a third (34%) saying they've been bullied over the past year, new government data shows.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

For kids and teens, extra weight could mean a higher chance of long COVID
Study of 172,136 children and young adults finds elevated BMI linked to increased PASC risk: 25.4% higher for obesity and 42.1% for severe obesity.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Long-term air pollution exposure increases asthma risk in children and adults
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution significantly raises asthma risk for children and adults, contributing to around 30% of global asthma cases.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Study finds female pediatricians earn less than male pediatricians
Mary Pat Frintner, M.S.P.H., from the American Academy of Pediatrics in Itasca, Illinois, and colleagues used data from the Pediatrician Life and Career Experience Study (PLACES), a national longitudinal study, to examine pediatrician-reported income from 2017 to 2022. The adjusted differences in male and female pediatricians' annual income were estimated for each survey year.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Survey reveals half of U.S. teens stare at screens more than four hours per day
Half of young Americans between the ages of 12 and 17 spend at least four hours each day on their smartphones, computers or televisions, a new survey shows.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Why does kids sometimes use a baby voice, and what can be done to manage it?
If you've ever found yourself cringing when your child suddenly starts talking in a high-pitched, baby-like voice, you're not alone.
October 30th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 28th, 2024

Abnormal BMI in children linked to impaired lung function

An abnormal BMI in children - be it high or low - can now be associated with impaired lung function, but if their BMI is normalized before they reach adulthood, the impairment can be offset, researchers from Karolinska Institutet report. Their results, which are based on data collected under the BAMSE project in Sweden, are presented in The European Respiratory Journal.
October 28th, 2024 — Source or Source

Evidence review makes the case for further research into Tethered Spinal Cord

An evidence review on the diagnosis and treatment of tethered spinal cord, a rare condition affecting the nervous system, found that, while surgery could be a good option for symptomatic patients, data showing the benefit of surgical intervention for asymptomatic patients was lacking.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

New research highlights economic and employment challenges for parents of medically complex babies

Parents with babies born preterm or with low birth weight face significant economic and employment challenges, according to research published in JAMA Pediatrics.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Research finds cannabis use in pregnancy affects children's impulse control and aggression

As cannabis is legalized and is more accessible in various forms across the country, there is increasing concern among health care providers about potential impact on children. Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital have new findings to add to the existing evidence that cannabis exposure before birth can negatively impact children.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Study reports legalization of recreational cannabis increases likelihood of cannabis use among youth

A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that the legalization of recreational cannabis in various states in the US has resulted in an increased likelihood of cannabis use in the past month among adolescents and young adults.
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Vaccines for children program offers free immunizations when cost is a barrier

Vaccines are a safe and highly effective way to prevent common diseases that used to seriously harm or even kill infants, children and adults. When children have all their recommended vaccines on schedule, that helps ensure that everyone stays healthy. But what if your family can't afford them?
October 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 25th, 2024

Different forms of childhood adversity tied to different psychiatric problems
Distinct forms of traumatic and adverse childhood experiences (TRACEs) differentially moderate developmental changes in psychiatric risk and cognitive ability in different ways, according to a study published online Oct. 23 in JAMA Psychiatry.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Experiments investigate early cognitive and communicative development in infants
A study led by researchers from Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria; and the University of St Andrews in Scotland, contributes to the understanding of early cognitive and communicative development in humans, highlighting the sophisticated mental processes infants use to navigate social interactions.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Limiting fast-food outlets can reduce childhood overweight and obesity
Restricting new fast-food sellers in areas where there are already a large number could reduce obesity and overweight in children.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Newborn brains can recognize complex sound patterns, researchers discover
A team of researchers, including psycholinguist Jutta Mueller from the University of Vienna, has discovered that newborns are capable of learning complex sound sequences that follow language-like rules. This study provides long-sought evidence that the ability to perceive dependencies between non-adjacent acoustic signals is innate.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Vaccinating children for mpox would significantly reduce deaths in the DRC, say researchers
Vaccinating children under five-years-old in endemic mpox regions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) would significantly reduce the number of deaths in the country, according to an analysis by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health, published in The Lancet Global Health.
October 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 22nd, 2024

Early active learning boosts skills for children born into extreme poverty, but gains fade for Black boys, study shows
More than 50 years ago, Craig Ramey, professor and Distinguished Research Scholar at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, began a landmark study to investigate the long-term impacts of early childhood education on children from deeply impoverished, predominantly Black families.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Mothering Over Meds: Docs Say Common Treatment for Opioid-Exposed Babies Isn't Necessary
On learning last year she was pregnant with her second child, Cailyn Morreale was overcome with fear and trepidation.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Remote tool developed to helped detect autism and developmental delay in children with limited access to specialists
A Ukrainian researcher has developed a new digital tool for detecting autism and developmental delay in children. Her research has been published in Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study characterizes pediatric patients self-presenting with major trauma
Pediatric patients self-presenting with injuries consistent with major trauma typically have external signs of injury, notably boggy swelling to the head, abdominal bruising, and thigh swelling, according to a study presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress, held from Oct. 13 to 16 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study finds connection between air pollution and childhood peanut allergies
Exposure to higher levels of air pollution as a baby is linked to having a peanut allergy throughout childhood, according to a new study. And policies aimed at tackling poor air quality could potentially reduce the prevalence and persistence of peanut allergies, it stated.
October 23rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 20th, 2024

Easy-to-use tool helps screen for anxiety, depression in children having surgery
A new, computerized, mental health assessment tool may allow doctors to quickly identify children experiencing anxiety or depression before surgery, suggests new research presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2024 annual meeting. In the small, single-center study, researchers found more than half of the children screened had anxiety before having surgery and more than one-third had depression.
October 20th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 16th, 2024

Tactile massage shown to aid sleep in adolescents with ADHD
A small-scale study conducted at the University of Gothenburg shows that tactile massage can relieve hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit in ADHD. Young people also found that the massage made it easier to fall asleep.
October 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 13th, 2024

Study links children's bedtimes to gut health, finds early sleepers have greater microbial diversity in gut flora
Researchers from the Department of Child Rehabilitation, China, have found significant differences in the gut microbiota of children who go to bed early compared to those who stay up late. The study revealed that children with earlier bedtimes had greater microbial diversity in their gut flora.
October 13th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 11th, 2024

2 million Fisher-Price infant swings recalled after 5 deaths
The Fisher-Price company is recalling more than 2 million of its Snuga infant swings, after the suffocation and deaths of five infants who went to sleep while in the swings.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

CDC confirms link between teen social media use and mental health struggles
Log off.
October 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 10th, 2024

Early aldosterone levels linked to heart risk in youth
Unprecedented access to a unique group of Australians is allowing researchers to study links between raised aldosterone levels and elevated cardiovascular risk in various age groups—with important findings for heart health. This research is shedding new light on aldosterone heart risk, a critical factor in cardiovascular health.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

How can you help your child learn to self-regulate?
Throughout our lives, we need to be able to manage our thoughts and behavior. We need to do this to reach various goals and to get along with others—even if other distractions and impulses get in the way.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Maternal exercise during pregnancy may protect child against asthma
A child's risk of asthma can be reduced by nearly half if the mother engages in active physical exercise at least three times a week during pregnancy, compared to a child of a mother who is less active, a new study by the University of Eastern Finland (UEF), Kuopio University Hospital (KUH) and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) shows.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

New research looks at treatment feedback to fill gaps in youth mental health treatment
A study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that the effectiveness of youth mental health services can be improved by providing clinicians with frequent youth and family feedback and coaching leaders to support clinicians' effective use of the feedback. Improving the use of treatment feedback is a top priority for policymakers, funders, researchers, clinicians and family advocates, because use of feedback can significantly reduce the high rates of treatment failure (50%) observed in youth mental health services.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Research highlights key predictors of PTSD and anxiety in youth after trauma
A new study has shed light on why some children and adolescents develop mental health disorders like PTSD, anxiety, or depression after experiencing a traumatic event.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Researcher discusses companion animals' impact on child development
Professor Carri Westgarth, Chair in Human and Animal Interaction, University of Liverpool is an author of a recently published article in BMC Pediatrics on companion animals and child development outcomes.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Researchers find high school IQ predicts drinking habits
A person's IQ during high school is predictive of alcohol consumption later in life, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers published in Alcohol and Alcoholism. Participants with higher IQ levels were significantly more likely to be moderate or heavy drinkers, as opposed to abstaining.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Students who feel more university connection may be more likely to binge-drink
Students who feel a sense of belonging at their university are more likely to binge-drink than those who do not feel the same connection, according to a new study by researchers at Penn State, the University of California, Santa Cruz and University of Oregon.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Teens feel burnt out. Social media can make it worse.
The cult of constant improvement is wreaking havoc on some teens' well-being.
October 10th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 8th, 2024

Crucial topics are missing from teens' education on sex and reproductive health in England
Comprehensive sex and reproductive health education aims to promote positive attitudes toward sex and reproductive health, and empower young people to make informed decisions.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Adolescence identified as a critical point in the lives of children with obesity
Psychologists and public health researchers from the University of Liverpool and Maynooth University, analyzed data of more than 8,000 records of children with overweight and obesity in the U.K., roughly half at age 11 years and the other at age 14. Better psychological well-being at age 11 was associated with an increased likelihood of the reversal of overweight and obesity.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Kids should play outside more to reduce the risk of short-sightedness and potential adult blindness, say researchers
For most people with myopia, being short-sighted is an inconvenience. However, for some, myopia can lead to blindness. Ahead of World Sight Day (10 October), researchers at the Lions Eye Institute have some eye-opening advice.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Study finds breastfeeding support groups provide connection and social support
A recent study from the School of Nursing & Midwifery at Trinity College has explored the role of Breastfeeding Peer Support Groups in fostering connection between breastfeeding mothers. The study found that these groups help to normalize breastfeeding through social support, with breastfeeding supporters providing other breastfeeding women with knowledge, empathy, and understanding.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Younger age poses risk of further knee injury in children after surgery for misshapen cartilage, study finds
Growing pains are common in maturing children, but sometimes this growth can be irregular and cause injury. Discoid lateral meniscus (DLM), a misshapen knee cartilage, is one such occurrence that can degenerate into osteochondritis dissecans, a joint disorder where the bone and joint begin to separate from the rest of the bones.
October 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — October 7th, 2024

Childhood sleep disturbance linked to suicidal thoughts and behaviors two years later
Kids who have a lot of difficulty sleeping are at heightened risk for developing suicidal thoughts and behaviors as they enter adolescence, a new Stanford Medicine-led study found.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Fear of childbirth may affect duration of breastfeeding
The duration of breastfeeding is shorter than average among mothers with a fear of childbirth - regardless of the mode of delivery, a new study from Finland shows. According to the researchers, the fear of childbirth can also be an indication of a greater need for breastfeeding support. Using data from the Kuopio Birth Cohort study, KuBiCo, the study examined factors related to childbirth that may affect the success and duration of breastfeeding in the child's first year of life.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Food deserts, limited access to transportation linked to more complications among preschoolers with sickle cell disease
A new study finds that preschool-aged children with sickle cell disease (SCD) who live in food deserts and have limited access to transportation are at greater risk for acute complications and hospitalizations, despite receiving free evidence-based therapy and social support, according to results published in Blood Advances.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

New school starters in England not ready for learning, says report
Across England, 33% of all children starting reception in the 2022/23 academic year were considered not school ready, meaning they lack the skills and knowledge they need to be successful at school. This number rose to 45% of children receiving free school meals.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Protecting confidentiality in adolescent patient portals
Researchers found that the possibility of parental disclosure through online patient portals led older adolescents to hesitate in sharing complete health information with doctors, putting them at risk of missed diagnoses and treatments.
October 7th, 2024 — Source or Source

Screen time tied to depression, anxiety in 9- and 10-year-olds
Spending more time on screens increases the likelihood that 9- and 10-year-olds will develop symptoms of mental illness, according to a study by UC San Francisco that is one of the first long-term looks at the problem.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Study links teen marijuana use to poor academic performance
Generations of parental warnings may not be wrong: A massive study of available data finds that teens who use marijuana have significantly worse outcomes at school.
October 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 28th, 2024

Why teens are telling strangers their secrets online
Teens are looking for confidants. They can become victims of predators instead.
September 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 25th, 2024

Extracellular vesicles play key role in brain development
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny bubbles released by cells, acting as cargo vessels through which cells exchange signals and thus communicate. A paper recently published in the journal Cell Reports has demonstrated that this form of cellular exchange also plays a key role in the development of the brain.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Meal boxes and healthy recipes effective in reducing child obesity
Healthy recipes and subsidized meal boxes can go a long way in helping child obesity. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg. The boxes were approved by the families investigated and the children's BMI decreased more than with lifestyle treatment alone.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Success of meal boxes in treating childhood obesity
Healthy recipes and subsidized meal boxes can go a long way in helping child obesity. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg. The boxes were approved by the families investigated, and as long as the families had access to them, the children's BMI decreased more than with lifestyle treatment alone.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

WHO sees rise in 'problematic' social media use for European teens
The World Health Organization warned Wednesday of a "sharp rise in problematic social media use" among Europe's teens that it said is harming their mental health.
September 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 23rd, 2024

A new study led by King's College London, Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh, has characterized the similarities and differences between immune cell profiles in children with different infections and inflammatory diseases.

September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Pandemic-era babies do not have higher autism risk, finds study
Children born during the first year of the pandemic, including those exposed to COVID in utero, were no more likely to screen positive for autism than unexposed or pre-pandemic children, found researchers from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician suggests five great reasons to cook with your kids
When it comes to raising an adventurous eater, it is not just about coaxing kids to eat their veggies. Bringing up a child who can enjoy a cantaloupe as much as a cupcake takes patience and persistence, but it does not have to feel like a chore.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study finds family members are most common perpetrators of infant and child homicides in the US
Homicide is a leading cause of death among people 19 and younger in the United States, and firearms are used in a large proportion of these crimes. Although the homicide rate for this population declined in the 1990s and 2000s, it has increased every year since 2013, with a large spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Study sheds new light on immune dysfunction in children with severe infections and inflammatory diseases
A new study led by King's College London, Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh, has characterized the similarities and differences between immune cell profiles in children with different infections and inflammatory diseases.
September 23rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 19th, 2024

Alarming increase in suicidality among Black youth revealed
Traditionally, Black Americans have faced a significantly lower risk of suicide compared to their white counterparts.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Breastfeeding is crucial to shaping infant's microbes and promoting lung health, study shows
Human breast milk regulates a baby's mix of microbes, or microbiome, during the infant's first year of life. This in turn lowers the child's risk of developing asthma, a new study published in the journal Cell shows.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals impact of homework on student achievement in math and science
Researchers at Maynooth University's Hamilton Institute and Department of Mathematics and Statistics in Ireland have unveiled significant findings on the role of homework in student achievement. The research, led by Prof Andrew Parnell, Nathan McJames and Prof Ann O'Shea, used a new AI model to analyze data from the "Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study" (TIMSS 2019).
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Teen brains are wired to take risks, but that can be a good thing, says expert
From movies to TV and parental anecdotes, teenagers are often characterized as risk-taking and impulsive with poor decision-making skills.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

What can be done for children who may be having a panic attack?
In the movie "Inside Out 2," 13-year-old Riley, who has recently started puberty, has a panic attack during a hockey game (Youtube) timeout.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

What parents, caregivers can do if their child is struggling with mental health
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, suicide is the second leading cause of death for 10- to 24-year-olds. Deaths are only a portion of the problem; every year, millions of Americans seriously think about suicide, plan or attempt suicide, contributing to lasting impacts on individuals, families and communities.
September 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 16th, 2024

Food insecurity associated with increased pediatric hospital stays and odds of readmission
Food insecurity, which is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, is associated with poor health outcomes and the increased need to use health care services. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, food insecurity impacts 10.2% of U.S. households. In families with children in the home, food insecurity is even higher, at 12.5%.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

New study links neighborhood food access to child obesity risk
Limited access to healthy foods, resulting from residence in under-resourced neighborhoods, is a critical public health concern. A new study suggests that residing in these areas during pregnancy or early childhood significantly raises the risk of obesity and severe obesity from childhood to adolescence.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician offers advice: Are trampolines safe for kids?
Generations of kids have grown up bouncing on backyard trampolines. And with the new popularity of trampoline parks, even more are getting into the game.
September 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 13th, 2024

2017 to 2022 saw increase in naloxone prescribing among adolescents, research shows
From 2017 to 2022, there was an increase in naloxone prescribing among adolescents, with pediatricians accounting for an increasing proportion of prescriptions dispensed, according to a study Sourcepublished online Sept. 12 in Pediatrics.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Reports finds 2022 fetal mortality reached historic low of 5.48 per 1,000
The fetal mortality rate in the United States in 2022 was 5.48 fetal deaths at 20 weeks of gestation or more per 1,000 live births and fetal deaths, which marked a historic low, according to the Sept. 12 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the National Center for Health Statistics.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

UK to restrict junk food ads in childhood obesity fight
The UK will ban junk food advertising on the internet and daytime TV in a bid to tackle childhood obesity, sparking criticism on the political right over "nanny state" meddling.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

WHO grants first mpox vaccine approval to ramp up response to disease in Africa
The World Health Organization said Friday it has granted its first authorization for use of a vaccine against mpox in adults, calling it an important step toward fighting the disease in Africa.
September 13th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 10th, 2024

Natural probiotic present in gut shortly after birth
Newborn babies harbor pioneer bacteria in the gut shortly after birth with the potential to develop new personalized therapeutic probiotics
September 10th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 9th, 2024

Boys with higher levels of environmental pollutants enter puberty later, study finds
New findings, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, analyze a group of pollutants called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which consist of chemicals used in everyday products such as clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Eating fruit, oats and rye in childhood may increase type 1 diabetes risk
New research being presented at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Madrid, Spain (9-13 September), shows that eating fruit, oats and rye in childhood is associated with a higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Eating berries, however, is linked to lower odds of developing the condition.
September 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 6th, 2024

Natural probiotic discovered in microbiomes of UK newborns
Newborn babies have one of three pioneer bacteria in their gut shortly after birth, one of which could be used to develop new personalized infant therapeutic probiotics, researchers show.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Phone use at night worsens sleep and mental health in kids, especially cyberbullying victims
In a recent study published in the journal Adolescents, researchers examined whether phone use during nighttime and cyberbullying were independently associated with quality of sleep and childhood psychological distress and whether nighttime phone use moderated the association between cyberbullying and psychological distress and poor sleep during childhood.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Study reveals key bacteria for developing personalized probiotics for newborns
Newborn babies have one of three pioneer bacteria in their gut shortly after birth, one of which could be used to develop new personalized infant therapeutic probiotics, researchers show.
September 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 3rd, 2024

Children's behavioral problems linked to higher hair cortisol levels
In a study within the INMA project and involving 11-year-olds, Ane Arregi, a member of the Basque Environmental Health Research Group of the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), has concluded that greater behavioral problems are linked to higher hair cortisol levels.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source or Source

'Nudges' plus a little extra staff support help pediatricians deliver secure gun storage program
If it takes a pediatrician less than one minute per visit to talk to parents about how to securely store their firearms and offer a free cable lock, why do only 2% of doctors report routinely doing so?
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Study finds racial and ethnic designation inaccuracies in children's medical records may impede equity efforts
Leaders at three Michigan hospitals aiming to address equity issues for pediatric patients wanted to start with inspecting data key to identifying potential inequities.
September 3rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — September 2nd, 2024

Study finds depressed adolescents twice as likely to vape
A study on vaping behavior among Australian high school students has found those who reported severe depressive symptoms were over twice as likely to have tried e-cigarettes, compared to those reporting no depressive symptoms.
September 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 31st, 2024

Drinking alcohol before conceiving a child could accelerate their aging—according to new research in mice
The conditions within a person's home, family and community affect their ability to stay healthy. Scientists studying these social determinants of health are trying to understand whether nature or nurture has a stronger effect on a person's ability to fight disease.
August 31st, 2024 — Source

The conditions within a person's home, family and community affect their ability to stay healthy. Scientists studying these social determinants of health are trying to understand whether nature or nurture has a stronger effect on a person's ability to fight disease.

August 31st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 22nd, 2024

A teen’s murder, mold in the walls: Unfulfilled promises haunt public housing
Blocks from where tourists stroll along the cobblestoned riverfront in this racially divided city, Detraya Gilliard made her way down the dark, ruptured sidewalks of Yamacraw Village, looking for her missing 15-year-old daughter.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Government report links excessive fluoride in water to lowered IQs in kids
High levels of fluoride in drinking water may dim the intelligence of children, a new U.S. government report shows.
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Identifying the true danger of antimicrobial resistance in Australian kids
One out of every 10 children with a bloodstream infection are infected with a multi-drug resistant organism in the nation's first-ever surveillance study investigating the prevalence of pediatric antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
August 22nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 21st, 2024

Most baby foods in US grocery stores are unhealthy, study shows
A staggering 60% of infant and toddler foods fail to meet nutritional recommendations, and none meet promotional requirements set by World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, according to new research published today in the journal Nutrients.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Study confirms the utility of screening to identify autism in toddlers born preterm
New research published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology reveals that children born preterm are more likely to screen positive for autism than full-term children.
August 21st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 16th, 2024

Parents' excessive smartphone use could harm children's mental health
A child at the dinner table talks about trouble at school or an argument with a friend, but parents aren't listening: They're checking their smartphones instead.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Vaping linked to higher risk of cigarette smoking and drug use in teens, young adults
U.S. teens and young adults who vape are much more likely to start smoking cigarettes or to begin using cannabis or other drugs, a new University of Michigan study found.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Tips to help your child adjust to a new school year
Back-to-school can feel like a rushed jumble, as kids leave behind summer fun for the next step in their education.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Transitional kindergarten programs expand early education access and boost academic gain, study finds
Children enrolled in transitional kindergarten programs in Michigan did better in math and English by the time they reached 3rd grade, with higher test scores than other kids who didn't go through the program, according to a University of Michigan study published in the journal AEA Papers and Proceedings.
August 16th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 14th, 2024

Back-to-school vaccination checkup
As schools are getting ready for students to return, it's important for parents to think about their children's back-to-school vaccination checklist.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

How to wean your toddler off a tablet
New research suggests tablet use can interfere with toddlers' ability to calm down.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Kids who survived Super Bowl shooting are scared, suffering panic attacks and sleep problems
Six months after Gabriella Magers-Darger's legs were burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February, the 14-year-old is ready to leave the past behind.
August 14th, 2024 — Source or Source

Outdoor exposure patterns associated with less myopic shift in children
Continuous outdoor exposure of at least 15 minutes accompanied with no less than 2,000 lux sunlight intensity is associated with less myopic shift among children, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Network Open.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Promising new screening tool may help manage neurobehavioral difficulties in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
A pilot study using a new screening tool shows promise for assessing neurobehavioral difficulties in children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and improving quality of life for patients and their families.Results appear in the Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: How memories of pandemic lockdowns predict declines in young people's psychological well-being
A new study in Child Development from the Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark; University of California, Riverside; and University of California, Davis in the United States has investigated personal memories (i.e., memories of episodes experienced in one's own life) about the first lockdown in Denmark in spring 2020 among children and adolescents, and how this may have impacted their psychological well-being over the following year.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: How opioid treatment can keep newborns out of foster care
Opioid-exposed newborns were 41% more likely to be discharged home from the hospital with their biological mother when the mothers receive medication for opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy, according to a study published by JAMA Health Forum on July 12.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Researchers find possible inaccuracies in crash-reported child passenger injuries
Researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Prevention (CIRP) at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found discrepancies between crash reports and hospital data that might paint an incomplete or inaccurate picture of how crashes impact the safety of child passengers.
August 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 8th, 2024

Children can inherit early aging symptoms from parents who abuse alcohol, researchers find
Researchers at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have discovered that parents who struggle with alcohol use disorders can pass along symptoms of early aging to their children, affecting them well into adulthood.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Ice rink fumes have sent kids to the hospital: Few states require tests
Last December, dozens of young hockey players were rushed to hospitals in the Buffalo, New York, area—some vomiting, lethargic and suffering from headaches.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Saliva indicates severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children
A saliva test can more accurately indicate the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children than the standard blood test. If saliva contains too few broadly protective antibodies, a child is more likely to suffer from pneumonia episodes.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Saliva test outperforms blood test in indicating the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children
A saliva test can more accurately indicate the severity of recurrent respiratory infections in children than the standard blood test. If saliva contains too few broadly protective antibodies, a child is more likely to suffer from pneumonia episodes. This is reported by researchers from Radboudumc Amalia Children's Hospital and UMC Utrecht Wilhelmina Children's Hospital in the European Respiratory Journal.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Text messaging can help teens kick the vaping habit
An interactive text-message support program can help teenagers quit vaping, a groundbreaking new clinical trial finds.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

We're told to limit kids' screen time. But how does it actually affect their health?
If you're a parent, you'll be well-acquainted with one of the more hotly debated parenting topics: screen time and kids.
August 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 6th, 2024

Babies in Nigeria are being born with antibiotic resistant bacteria
Sepsis occurs when one's immune system has an extreme response to an infection. It's a life-threatening condition: globally, it accounts for about 11 million deaths—20% of all deaths per year.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

'Baby talk:' Decoding how children's vocal and cognitive cues sway adults
Compared to other mammals, human children are dependent on their caregivers for a remarkably long time. Throughout the ages, they have developed "psychological tactics" to endear themselves to adults and thus enhance their chances of survival.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Pre-K providers on the front line of dealing with growing mental health needs
Damaris Alvarado-Rodriguez, owner of three Children's Playhouse early childhood education centers, thought it best to do away with statistics in her presentation to tell the story of a growing problem.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Social Media Bans Could Deny Teenagers Mental Health Help
Social media's effects on the mental health of young people are not well understood. That hasn't stopped Congress, state legislatures, and the U.S. surgeon general from moving ahead with age bans and warning labels for YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
August 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — August 2nd, 2024

Doctor advises teens on how to get back in the game safely after shoulder injury
injury that takes them out of the game can be devastating. Shoulder injuries are among the most common for athletes who play volleyball, tennis, swimming, football and a variety of others.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Research team investigates difference between baby formula and human milk's effect on intestinal growth
An article published in Gastro Hep Advances by a team of Yale researchers and led by Lauren Smith, MD, hospital resident, finds parental milk and donor human milk support intestinal health and epithelial growth and differentiation, while formula specifically inhibits certain growth factors and prevents differentiation.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

US women who use a pump found to breastfeed 21 weeks longer on average
Among a large group of U.S. mothers who breast fed between 2016 and 2021, breast pump use was associated with 21 additional weeks of breastfeeding on average, according to a new study from researchers at Yale School of Medicine.
August 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 31st, 2024

Early antibiotic use linked to 'microbial scar' in preterm infants
According to a new publication in Nature Communications, early antibiotics and prolonged hospitalization leave a "nasopharyngeal microbial scar" in preterm infants. Results underscore the critical role of antibiotic stewardship and infection control within neonatal intensive care units, highlighting the need to balance life-saving antibiotic use with the potential impact on the developing nasopharyngeal microbiome.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

How adaptable to psychosocial stress is the teenage brain?
first time during puberty and in young adulthood. This is because during adolescent brain development, a pronounced remodeling of cognitive networks takes place.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Link found between obesity during pregnancy and increased risk of sudden unexpected infant death
A multi-institutional team of statistical researchers has found a slightly heightened risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) in babies born to obese mothers. In their study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, the group analyzed data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) regarding infant death records.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Positive parenting strategies can reduce child maltreatment
University of Queensland research shows child maltreatment cases decreased in socially disadvantaged communities that participate in positive parenting programs.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Postoperative mortality trends higher for Black and Hispanic children
Racial and ethnic disparities persist in postoperative mortality among children, according to a study published online July 29 in Pediatrics.
July 31st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 29th, 2024

Confirmed link between maternal asthma and child allergies
For the first time, researchers from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Research Institute, University of South Australia and University of Queensland have confirmed maternal asthma increases risks of child allergies.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Firearm suicides in children and youth: A state-by-state look
At a time when mental health problems are skyrocketing, a new study provides one of the most comprehensive state-by-state accountings to date of firearm suicides in children and youth.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Fetal brain impacted when mom fights severe flu: New mouse study explains how
A bad case of the flu during pregnancy can increase the risk for fetal neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. But it's not the virus itself doing the damage; it's the mother's immune response.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

How to start the school year strong and prevent illness in children
The excitement of a new school year unfolds each year when families flood the superstore aisles to buy classroom supplies, tape after-school schedules on the fridge and organize carpools with friends.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Infants' tongue-tie may be overdiagnosed and needlessly treated, American Academy of Pediatrics says
Tongue-tie—a condition in infants that can affect breastfeeding—may be overdiagnosed in the U.S. and too often treated with unnecessary surgery, a prominent doctors' group said Monday.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

New research suggests deaf children interact with parents like their hearing peers
A new study led by a Keele University research team has found that deaf toddlers fitted with cochlear implants interact with their parents just as well as their hearing peers.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Social media can hamper teenagers figuring out who they want to be. Banning it until 16 is a good idea
Over recent months, a number of politicians have supported calls to ban social media for children under 16 in Australia. Currently, kids under 13 are not allowed to use social media.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

The sooner the better: Teaching healthy habits in elementary school can reduce abdominal fat
A study led by the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) and Fundación SHE, supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, demonstrates that teaching healthy habits through classroom activities helps to prevent the accumulation of abdominal fat during the first school years.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

What protects infants from sudden infant death syndrome?
The sudden, unexpected and medically unexplained death of an infant during sleep, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), is not yet fully understood. A European research group has now presented a new explanatory model in an article published in the current issue of the scientific journal Human Nature.
July 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 26th, 2024

South African teens are struggling: Western Cape study shows 33% have symptoms of depression
In South Africa, little research has been done on depression and anxiety among younger adolescents, those between the ages of 10 and 14. Existing studies have primarily targeted older adolescents and those living with HIV.
July 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 24th, 2024

Big drop in US kids, teens misusing prescription meds
Misuse of illicit prescription drugs is falling dramatically among U.S. high school students, a new study says.
July 24th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 22nd, 2024

New study reveals how screen time affects preteen sleep
The US Surgeon General recently recommended a warning label for social media platforms due to concerns about their impact on youth mental health. The Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health highlighted potential links between social media use and poor sleep quality in youth.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician offers tips on how to help a child cope with grief and loss
Death creates a deep, lifelong impact for kids in every part of the world. In the United States, around one in 20 children will lose a parent by age 16—and countless others will grieve for a grandparent, sibling or someone else they love.
July 22nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 19th, 2024

Study examines impact of incarceration on youth health
Researcher Samantha Boch has studied the impact of incarceration on child and family health for more than a decade. Her latest research examines the health records and health use of youth with probable personal or familial justice involvement.
July 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 18th, 2024

Keeping kids safe outside during summer play
Summer vacation for kids is well underway. Finding activities to keep the kids busy and destinations to visit can be on many parents' list. There is one place Mayo Clinic's Dr. Steven Maher hopes they don't have to visit—and that's the emergency medicine department.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Late bedtimes and not enough sleep can harm developing brains—and poorer kids are more at risk, say neuroscientists
Shorter sleep and later bedtimes are linked to potentially harmful functional changes to parts of the brain important for coping with stress and controlling negative emotions, our recently published research found. And children in families with low economic resources are particularly at risk.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Research shows young infants use their mother's scent to perceive faces
Humans see the world through the five senses, but how and when the ability to integrate across the senses arises is debated. Research shows that humans combine sensory information together, particularly when one sense is not able to produce a sufficient response alone. Studies also show that infants may use multisensory cues to perceive their environments more efficiently.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Research highlights importance of dietary education to combat rising childhood obesity rates
In a recent study published in Nutrients, researchers aimed to investigate the artificial sweetener content of children's commonly consumed food products (syrups, juices, and soft drinks) and to ascertain their parents' knowledge about the declarations of these products.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Study finds reducing children's screen time to just three hours per week improves mental health
A team of psychologists and mental health specialists affiliated with several institutions in Denmark, working with a colleague from the U.K., has found that reducing screen time for children to just three hours per week can result in significant improvements in their mental health.
July 18th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 9th, 2024

Best Baby Monitors for 2024
As a first-time mom, I tested baby monitors of all types to help you decide the best fit for your family.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Diet and exercise for obese mothers could lower cardiovascular risk in children
Researchers from King's have identified evidence to suggest that lifestyle changes could offset the risk of some adult heart disorders that result from maternal obesity and changes in fetal heart development.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Researchers identify cause of serious brain bleeding condition in premature newborns
A recent study by investigators from Massachusetts General Hospital reveals insights that could lead to new treatments for a serious brain bleeding condition that's common in newborns with very low birth weight.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Unlocking the secrets of adaptive parental speech
A study by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the University of Edinburgh has revealed how parents naturally adapt their speech patterns to match the language proficiency of their children.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Whispers in the wind: New method for diagnosing tuberculosis in children shows promise but faces challenges
In 2022, about 10.6 million people worldwide contracted tuberculosis, including 1.3 million children. The diagnosis of tuberculosis in adults is usually made from sputum (sputum) in the microbiology laboratory. In children, however, the diagnosis is usually made clinically, as the disease often cannot be detected using standard laboratory tests.
July 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 5th, 2024

Baby boys more likely to achieve HIV cure or remission after in-utero infection
Baby girls are more likely to acquire HIV from their mothers during pregnancy or childbirth than infant boys, who are conversely more likely to achieve cure or remission, researchers say in a new study that sheds light on the gender differences in immune systems.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Pandemic period sees spike in low birth weight among newborns in India
In a recent study published in Communications Medicine, researchers examined the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) in India.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

PCOS linked to higher risk of adverse birth outcomes
A recent Nature Communications study explored the association between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and birth outcomes in women with PCOS overall and assessed the role of potential confounders.
July 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — July 2nd, 2024

First an autism diagnosis then a clinician's office—how the evidence supports a different approach for families
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Bill Shorten, has proposed a number of policy changes to the scheme. It is hoped these will ensure its sustainability for future generations.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Housing insecurity linked to poorer teen health outcomes
There is an association for housing insecurity starting in infancy and poorer adolescent outcomes, according to a study published online July 1 in Pediatrics.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Kids spend a lot of time outside in the summer. Here's how to deal with their common injuries
For kids, summer can revolve around playgrounds, pools, bikes and just being outside. For parents, it can mean a litany of ouchies to take care of—including scrapes, sunburns and dehydration, pediatricians say.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

The science of baby babbling—and why it can take on accents
A video of 19-month-old Orla from Liverpool has gone viral, reaching more than 19 million views on TikTok. In the clip, babysitter Olayka is trying to coax Orla into having a nap. Orla, however, wants to stay up and protests in babbling sounds—with a distinct Liverpool English ("scouse") accent.
July 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 29th, 2024

AI can identify guardian authorship of messages in teen patient portal
Large language model (LLM)-based classifiers can accurately detect guardian authorship of messages sent from an adolescent patient portal, according to a research letter published online June 25 in JAMA Network Open.
June 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 28th, 2024

Investigators propose modified criteria for identifying anaphylaxis in infants and young children
A Mass General team has developed modified criteria that may help health care professionals more accurately identify anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, in infants and young children.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

New research may help explain recurrent Crohn's disease in children
Remarkable new research by a University of Virginia undergraduate may help explain recurrent Crohn's disease in children and open the door to new ways to treat or even cure the devastating condition.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Recommendations issued for advanced imaging for pediatric patients in ED
In a policy statement issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and published online June 27 in Pediatrics, recommendations are presented for optimizing advanced imaging use for pediatric patients in the emergency department.
June 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 26th, 2024

Children who spend more time in natural environments have significantly better mental health
Children who spend more time in natural environments have significantly better mental health, according to new research led by the University of Glasgow.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Promising pathway discovered to treat rare childhood brain disease
Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome is a rare disease that can trigger dementia in children. Associate Professor Markus Hofer and colleagues in the U.K. are focusing on treatments in the blood vessels in the brain to combat AGS.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Study provides insights into the use of decodable texts in early reading instruction
For young children, taking the first step towards reading can feel like an uphill task. This is because a child might find it easy to recognize individual letters but combining them into sentences can be overwhelming in the beginning. Moreover, the process of reading requires the brain to juggle many tasks at once, such as recognizing letters, connecting them to sounds, and understanding the meaning of those sounds.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Which adolescents are at risk of depression following early social media use?
A new study that looked for relationships between early social media use and depression across adolescence and into young adulthood found that certain factors may make social media more risky or protective regarding depression. The findings, which are published in the Journal of Adolescence, suggest that social media use does not impact all adolescents in the same way, and an individualized approach is needed to determine the benefits and harms of social media on young people's mental health.
June 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 24th, 2024

First UK trial of deep brain stimulation for children with epilepsy begins
A teenager who is the first patient to take part in a UCL-sponsored clinical trial to use deep brain stimulation (DBS) to treat epilepsy has seen his daytime seizures reduce by 80%.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

New evidence shows that higher oxygen concentrations may help prevent deaths of preterm babies
Giving very premature babies high concentrations of oxygen soon after birth may reduce the risk of death by 50% compared to lower levels of oxygen, says new research led by University of Sydney researchers.
June 24th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 23rd, 2024

Chiropractors have been banned again from manipulating babies' spines. Here's what the evidence actually says
Chiropractors in Australia will not be able to perform spinal manipulation on children under the age of two once more, following health concerns from doctors and politicians.
June 23rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 21st, 2024

Expert consensus and guidance for integrating discussions of racism in pediatric care
Extensive research shows the link between exposure to racism during childhood and adolescence and increased risks of depression and metabolic health issues, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Conversely, racial socialization, described as behaviors and practices that teach children about race and ethnic identity, has shown potential in mitigating these negative effects, and discussions like these could be effective in pediatric clinics, according to the first expert consensus guidance on this topic published in Pediatrics.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

How, and why, to reset your kids' screen use for summer
The long, warm days of summer unlock countless opportunities for fun and make the school break a great time to re-calibrate family rules around screen use. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital pediatrician and screen time researcher Jason Nagata, M.D., shares why regulating screen time is important for your kids' short- and long-term health and offers tips on building a routine that balances screens with sleep, exercise and socialization.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Screen time significantly associated with myopia in children, research shows
In a recent study published in the BMC Public Health, researchers systematically reviewed and quantitatively evaluated the epidemiological evidence on the association between screen time exposure and myopia in children and adolescents.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

The USPSTF recommend clinicians refer children and adolescents 6 years or older with a high BMI to intensive behavioral interventions
In a recent statement published in JAMA, researchers at the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) discussed the high prevalence of obesity among adolescents and children in the US, particularly among certain ethnic groups and those from lower-income families.
June 21st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 20th, 2024

A tale of two states: Arizona and Florida diverge on how to expand kids' health insurance
Arizona and Florida — whose rates of uninsured children are among the highest in the nation — set goals last year to widen the safety net that provides health insurance to people 18 and younger.
June 20th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 17th, 2024

International travel: Don't forget your child's vaccinations, says pediatrician
Exploring Europe, taking an African safari, going on a trip to the tropics: In many cases, vaccines are needed for travel, and that's doubly true for children.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Is your child experiencing winter burnout? Here's what to look out for
We know children often miss more school days in the winter months, as sickness sets in.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician shares the benefits of family meals
Does it seem like the busier your family gets, the slimmer the chances are that you'll see each other at dinner—or any other meal, for that matter?
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Sandpits or mudpies: Childcare centers can give children a healthy dose of dirt
Exposure to a diverse range of soil bacteria in playgrounds could be a key way for children to boost their immune systems and gut health, according to Flinders University researchers, who put the concept to the test by investigating play areas at 22 childcare centers in Adelaide.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Social media poses considerable risks of psychological harm: How to protect children and adolescents
Excessive use of social media can impair well-being and even cause disease. To help safeguard children and adolescents, an international research team coordinated by Ulm psychologist Professor Christian Montag has put together recommendations on social media use and published them in a consensus paper in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
June 17th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 14th, 2024

Advances in medulloblastoma treatment for children
Though rare, medulloblastoma is the most common cancerous brain tumor in children. These tumors begin in the lower back part of the brain called the cerebellum, which is important for balance, coordination and movement. Medulloblastomas are embryonal tumors that grow from embryonal cells left over from fetal development.
June 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 12th, 2024

Children's sensitivity to their parents' praise could affect their future mental health
A new study published in Developmental Science has found that children who were more positively sensitive to their parents' praise when they were 3 years old had fewer behavioral and emotional problems when they were 5--7 years old. Children whose behavior did not depend on their mood also had fewer behavioral and emotional problems later.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Exposure to heat and cold in early life may affect development of white matter in the brain
Brain scans of more than 2,000 preadolescents suggest that early life exposure to heat and cold may have lasting effects on the microstructure of white matter in the brain, especially when living in poorer neighborhoods. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, highlights the vulnerability of fetuses and children to extreme temperatures. This research was led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal).
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Lead found in children's food illustrates need for 'continued advocacy' for testing standards
Lunchables and popular brands of children's veggie puffs were found to have high levels of lead, something Northeastern expert Neil Maniar said families "shouldn't gloss over."
June 12th, 2024 — Source

One in five children globally has excess weight
Xinyue Zhang, Ph.D., from Sichuan University in Chengdu, China, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to estimate worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents from 2000 to 2023 and to assess potential risk factors for and comorbidities of obesity.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Study shows role of fathers in seeding microbiota of newborns, confirms benefits of maternal fecal microbiota transfer
A mother's contribution to the makeup of a newborn baby's microbiota has been well documented. Now a paper published June 12 in Cell Host & Microbe shows the important contributions that fathers make to the composition of microorganisms colonizing a baby's gut as well.
June 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — June 7th, 2024

Gene therapy trial: restored hearing in children with hereditary deafness
In a recent study published in Nature Medicine, researchers evaluated the safety and effectiveness of binaural adeno-associated virus 1 (AAV1)-human otoferlin (hOTOF) therapy in five children with autosomal recessive deafness 9 (DFNB9).
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Heat Rules for California Workers Would Also Help Keep Schoolchildren Cool
Proposed rules to protect California workers from extreme heat would extend to schoolchildren, requiring school districts to find ways to keep classrooms cool.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Pertussis outbreak in neonates and young infants across Italy: Implications for vaccination strategies
Data for this analysis was collected through an EU-funded National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) project. Clinicians from seven Italian reference centers, along with four additional pediatric and neonatal wards across Italy, provided information on pertussis cases, including vaccination status, treatment, and outcomes.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Robotic device restores wavelike muscular function involved in processes like digestion
A team of Vanderbilt researchers has developed a wirelessly activated device that mimics the wavelike muscular function in the esophagus and small intestine responsible for transporting food and viscous fluids for digestion.
June 7th, 2024 — Source or Watch Video

Scar formation after spinal cord injury is more complex than previously thought, scientists find
New research reveals that scar formation after spinal cord injuries is more complex than previously thought. Scientists have identified two types of perivascular cells as key contributors to scar tissue, which hinders nerve regeneration and functional recovery. These findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, are also relevant for other brain and spinal cord injuries and could lead to targeted therapies for reducing scarring and improving outcomes.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Secure access to food and water is decreasing for US children, research finds
Between 2005 and 2020, the number of children facing simultaneous water and food insecurity in the United States more than doubled. Additionally, Black and Hispanic children were several times more likely than white children to experience food and water insecurity at the same time.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Study shows link between photo filter use and muscle dysmorphia among teens, young adults
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto has unveiled a significant association between the use of photo filters on social media and increased symptoms of muscle dysmorphia among adolescents and young adults in Canada. This study, which analyzed data from 912 participants from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors, emphasizes the growing concern over the impact of digital image manipulation on body image and mental health.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Thousands of children got tested for lead with faulty devices: What parents should know
A company that makes tests for lead poisoning has agreed to resolve criminal charges that it concealed for years a malfunction that resulted in inaccurately low results.
June 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 31st, 2024

Researchers don't know why food allergies are so common in Australian children
An estimated 1 in 10 Australian children develop a food allergy in their first 12 months of life. Research has previously suggested food allergies are more common in infants in Australia than infants living in Europe, the United States or Asia.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

Solid foods: How to get your baby started
Solid foods are a big step for a baby. Find out when and how to make the transition from breast milk or formula to solid foods.
May 31st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 30th, 2024

Parents are increasingly saying their child is 'dysregulated.' What does that actually mean?
Welcome aboard the roller coaster of parenthood, where emotions run wild, tantrums reign supreme and love flows deep.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover that a type of childhood leukemia originates during fetal development
A team of researchers has demonstrated that some childhood leukemias originate during embryonic development, although they do not manifest after a few months after birth.
May 30th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 28th, 2024

Mental health begins in infancy, child development experts tell parents
Did you know babies can get depressed? Andria Goss, associate vice president of clinical and community services at the Erikson Institute, a graduate school for social work, early childhood education and child development programs, said people are astonished when they learn and appreciate that fact.
May 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 27th, 2024

Study finds feeding infants peanut products protects against allergy into adolescence
Feeding children peanuts regularly from infancy to age five reduced the rate of peanut allergy in adolescence by 71%, even after many years when the children ate or avoided peanut as desired.
May 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 24th, 2024

Digital infant features in world-first psychology research
BabyX is a hyper-realistic computer-generated simulation of a human infant. In a world first, developmental psychology researchers at the University of Auckland will use the digital child to research adults' interactions with babies.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Parental legal system involvement linked to adverse child mental health
Of the 10,532 children included in the study, 6.5 percent reported parent incarceration and 12.0 percent reported parent arrest. The researchers found that the most frequent risk outcome was suicidal ideation (4.7 percent). The relative risk for suicidal ideation was 1.74 for children whose parents had been incarcerated.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician explains how AI may affect children
Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the way we work, play and communicate. While artificial intelligence has potential to help solve complex problems, you've likely also heard serious concerns about it—and especially, the ways AI might change the lives of children and teens.
May 24th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 17th, 2024

Is your child ready for summer sleepaway camp?
Sleepaway camp can be a lot of fun for kids, but only if they're ready for the experience.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Study links high social media use to increased smoking and vaping among youth
In a recent study published in Thorax, researchers investigated associations between the use of social media platforms and cigarette smoking and vaping risk among young individuals.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

US teen died after doing spicy chip challenge: Autopsy
A US teenager died of cardiac arrest after taking part in a social media challenge daring people to eat a single extremely hot tortilla chip, an autopsy revealed Thursday.
May 17th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 14th, 2024

Congenital anomalies found to be ten times more frequent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders report congenital abnormalities, such as defects of the heart and/or urinary tract, at least ten times more frequently compared to other children.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Kids living near Colorado airports have slightly elevated levels of lead in their blood, new study finds
Children living near small airports in Colorado had slightly higher levels of lead in their blood than the statewide average, according to a new study—though experts had diverging opinions on how significant that difference was.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

'Micropreemie' baby who weighed just over 1 pound at birth goes home from Illinois hospital
A baby girl who weighed just over one pound when she was born prematurely in November has beaten the odds and gone home with her parents after spending her first six months at a suburban Chicago hospital.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Severe obesity in childhood can halve life expectancy, global modeling study finds
New research being presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Venice, Italy (12-15 May) has for the first time quantified the impact of different aspects of childhood obesity on long-term health and life expectancy.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Study explores what motivates preschoolers to prepare for the future
Adults find it particularly easy to prepare for the future when they imagine how they will feel. Researchers at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, have investigated whether this is also the case with preschoolers.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Study links higher-potency cannabis use in youth to increased risk of psychotic experiences
Young individuals consuming higher-potency cannabis, such as skunk, between ages 16 and 18, are twice as likely to have psychotic experiences from age 19 to 24 compared to those using lower-potency cannabis. That's according to a new University of Bath study published today in the scientific journal.
May 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 13th, 2024

How reading helps young children learn about the concept of pain
A tumble from a bike, a graze on the knee, or a common flu vaccination—how children experience pain can significantly influence how they react and respond to pain into adolescence and adulthood.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

New device could identify which babies will struggle with breastfeeding
Doctors traditionally use a finger to gauge how well a baby suckles, but researchers at UC San Diego have come up with a new way to more precisely measure just how well each child gets the job done.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Team studies factors related to a sense of economic insecurity in older adults
The people of Japan have the highest life expectancy in the world. Yet older adults who struggle economically may refrain from seeking medical help or using long-term care insurance. These choices may increase the occurrence of frailty and its progression in people's lives. A team of scientists undertook a study of older adults to examine the connection between a sense of economic insecurity and a person's participation in social activities.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Uncovering the psychological toll of entrenched school practices on children
Many programs 'deeply entrenched in school culture' are harmful to children and can cause potentially lasting damage, psychologists have warned.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Wearable biosensors with skin interfaces for newborn and neonatal health monitoring
In a recent review published in Communications Materials, researchers reviewed recent improvements in newborn wearable systems, concentrating on skin-interfaced wearables for physiological monitoring across many branches.
May 13th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 11th, 2024

Understanding infant vision: Daily-life input and developmental nourishment
What do infants see? What do they look at? The answers to these questions are very different for the youngest babies than they are for older infants, children and adults. Characterized by a few high-contrast edges in simple patterns, these early scenes also contain the very materials needed to build a strong foundation for human vision.
May 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 8th, 2024

Childhood maltreatment responsible for up to 40% of mental health conditions among Australians, finds research
A study examining childhood maltreatment in Australia has revealed the shocking burden for Australians, estimating it causes up to 40% of common, life-long mental health conditions.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Factors ID'd for clean intermittent catheterization compliance in youth with neurogenic bladder
For children with neurogenic bladder, self-catheterization is associated with lower adherence to clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), according to a study recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Urology.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

More than 321,000 U.S. children lost a parent to drug overdose from 2011 to 2021
Federal study shows lives lost from overdose crisis are felt across generations, emphasizing need to include children and families in support.
May 8th, 2024 — Source or Source

Revised clinical guidelines on mandatory reporting of substance-exposed newborns show promise
Researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) have published findings in JAMA Pediatrics that show the hospital's revised clinical guidelines for reporting substance-exposed newborns support family health.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Tailored vaccine could one day treat eczema in children
New research from a multi-disciplinary team at Trinity College Dublin suggests a "tailored vaccine" might hold the key to treating bacteria-driven flares of eczema in children.
May 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 7th, 2024

AI products for kids promising friendship and learning: Three things to consider
Smart toys with internet connections and AI-enabled robots, with capacities for sophisticated social interactions with children, are widely available today.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Study highlights overuse of antibiotics in newborns with suspected sepsis
Newborns in Sweden are given antibiotics for suspected sepsis to an unjustified extent. This is according to a study by the University of Gothenburg in more than 1 million newborns. Despite a significant reduction in sepsis rate in the group, the use of antibiotics has not decreased.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Who rules the roost? Research reveals tots play key role in shaping the home environment
In a study carried out by experts in child development at the University of York, researchers have found that pre-school children actively select, shape and create their own experiences to match their genetic tendencies.
May 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — May 3rd, 2024

Childcare is unaffordable for US medical residents, national study finds
Resident physicians at more than 98% of U.S. training programs aren't paid enough to afford childcare, according to a new national study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2--6 in Toronto.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Longer use of breathing device supports lung growth in preterm infants, research finds
Extending the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment in premature infants by two weeks significantly increases lung volume and lung diffusion capacity, according to a new study. The research will be presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting, held May 2--6 in Toronto.
May 3rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 30th, 2024

What goal-directed learning is and why it's important for adolescents to learn from their actions
Imagine you're at a carnival and want to win a big stuffed toy. You play different games and, if successful, collect tickets. But it's not the tickets you care about, it's the big toy they'll buy.
April 30th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 29th, 2024

Talking to teens about sex: Advice for parents on when, how, what to say and why it's so important
The "birds and the bees." The "facts of life." Whatever you call it, many parents dread discussing sex and sexuality with their teenagers. They may be embarrassed, or worried that they don't understand some concepts. In some countries, cultural norms may mean it's considered inappropriate for adults and adolescents to talk about sex.
April 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 27th, 2024

Positive childhood experiences can boost mental health and reduce depression and anxiety in teens
There is an urgent need to "bring back the village" post-pandemic to support teens and foster a sense of community belonging for young people, says a Simon Fraser University researcher.
April 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 26th, 2024

Are parental psychiatric disorders related to the risk of autism spectrum disorder in the offspring?
In a recent cohort study published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, researchers from Sweden and Finland conducted a population-based study to investigate the potential association between psychiatric disorders in parents and the risk of the offspring developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Canada-wide child care: It's now less expensive, but finding it is more difficult
Three years after the federal government launched the Canada-wide early learning and child-care plan (CWELCC), our study conducted through the Atkinson Center for Society and Child Development at the University of Toronto finds mixed results in terms of the plan's ambitions to improve families' access to affordable child care. Across the country care is less expensive, but finding it is more difficult.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Clinical trial evaluates azithromycin for preventing chronic lung disease in premature babies
The early use of azithromycin does not prevent the development of chronic lung disease in premature babies, finds new research by Cardiff University.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Fruit and menthol e-cigarette flavors drive use among teens, Indonesian study finds NewsGuard 100/100 Score
In a recent study published in or BMC Public Health, researchers examined the associations between sensation-seeking behavior and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among Indonesian adolescents.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

International study fills data gap on adolescent mental health
Surveys involving thousands of adolescents and their primary caregiver have shown the prevalence of mental disorders within the age group is very different across Kenya, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Most sudden infant deaths involve unsafe sleep, report finds
Safe sleep practices are a matter of life and death for infants. In Cook County, on average, there is one sudden unexpected infant death a week.
April 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 24th, 2024

Exploring how the effects of racism impact sleep in adolescents
Sleep and sleep disturbances have consequences for the development of adolescents and young adults. In a new article, researchers examine sleep during these periods, focusing on the effects of ethnic and racial discrimination. They conclude that improving sleep may boost health for all youth, but especially for those affected by racism.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Large study finds children with skin diseases suffer stigma, bullying and depression
The majority of children and teens with chronic skin diseases such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, alopecia areata (hair loss) and vitiligo (pigment loss) feel stigmatized by peers for their condition and are sometimes bullied, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. As a result, these children have a poor quality of life that includes suffering from depression, anxiety and impaired relationships with their peers.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Study uses wearable devices to examine 3- to 6-year-olds' impulsivity, inattentiveness
Why do some young children struggle to sit through a story one day but not the next? Why do they rush impulsively into one activity but not another? Parents and teachers often focus on individual differences as they prepare children for formal schooling, but traditional measurement approaches make it difficult to study fluctuations in children's behavior.
April 24th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 22nd, 2024

Q&A: New research unveils three distinct language comprehension phenotypes in autistic children
According to The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, can affect children's language development and communication in a variety of ways.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

RSV burden in children under 5 increased in 2021 and 2022 versus 2015--2019
For children younger than 5 years, the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) hospitalization increased in 2021 and 2022 compared with 2015 to 2019, according to a study published online April 18 in JAMA Network Open.
April 22th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 19th, 2024

Getting a good night's rest is vital for neurodiverse children—pediatric sleep experts explain why
Most of us are all too familiar with the consequences of a poor night's sleep—be it interrupted sleep or simply too little of it. If you're a parent with kids at home, it often leaves you and your children on edge.
April 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 17th, 2024

Arkansas led the nation in measuring obesity in kids: Did it help?
Sixth-grade boys were lining up to be measured in the Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School library. As they took off their shoes and emptied their pockets, they joked about being the tallest.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Conformity to masculine gender norms linked to muscle dysmorphia among young people
A new research study out of the University of Toronto sheds light on the intricate relationship between conformity to masculine gender norms and muscle dysmorphia symptomatology among a diverse sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Excessive internet use plus lack of sleep, exercise linked to teen truancy and school absence
Spending too much time online to the point of compulsion and the neglect of other necessary activities, plus not sleeping or exercising enough, are linked to a heightened risk of both truancy and school absence due to illness among teens, finds research published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

FDA adds Fasenra indication for severe asthma in children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved an additional indication for AstraZeneca's Fasenra (benralizumab) as an add-on maintenance treatment for patients aged 6 to 11 years with severe asthma and an eosinophilic phenotype.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Hoarding can start in childhood—here's why early intervention is so crucial for all age groups
A lot of people think of hoarding as something extreme—a home crammed to the ceiling with possessions. But it tends to start gradually, and research has found it can begin in adolescence or even childhood.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

New data identifies trends in accidental opioid overdoses in children
The US saw a 22% decline in rates of prescription-opioid overdose related emergency department (ED) visits in children 17 and younger between 2008 and 2019, but an uptick in the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study published this week in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Henry Xiang of Nationwide Children's Hospital, US, and colleagues.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Wearable headcams provide insight into complex teen emotions
As part of a joint study between King's College London and Manchester Met, wearable headcams worn in real interactions and face decoding technology were used to read teens' facial expressions, potentially uncovering hidden feelings and insights into relationships.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Which treatments for malnutrition's long-term effects could help reduce mortality and health outcomes for children
A comparison of treatments for malnutrition enteropathy, caused by severe acute malnutrition (SAM), has found evidence supporting the use of treatments to enhance the healing of mucosal membranes and reduce inflammation in the gut to improve the outcomes of children affected by long-term health consequences of a period of malnutrition.
April 17th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 15th, 2024

'Feeling like a burden' can be motivator for suicide in preteens
Quiet preteens who feel they're a burden on others are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors, a new study reports.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Lecturer develops digital mental health program for children of divorce
As a child of divorce, Jesse L. Boring knew firsthand what it was like to go through, and the importance of providing accessible resources for children experiencing this life change. To that end, Boring created a program named Children of Divorce—Coping with Divorce (CoD-CoD) to help youth develop better coping skills through their parents' separation.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician offers advice on what to do if a child's ADHD medication is out of stock during the shortage
If you are scrambling to get your child's attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescription refilled, you are definitely not alone. Families across the U.S. have been dealing with an ADHD medication shortage first reported in October 2022 that is now well into its second year.
April 15th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 12th, 2024

AI program can help identify signs of childbirth-related PTSD NewsGuard 100/100 Score
Researchers have adapted an artificial intelligence (AI) program to identify signs of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder (CB-PTSD) by evaluating short narrative statements of patients who have given birth. The program successfully identified a large proportion of participants likely to have the disorder, and with further refinements-;such as details from medical records and birth experience data from diverse populations-;the model could potentially identify a large percentage of those at risk. The study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, appears in Scientific Reports.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Choosing sugary drinks over fruit juice for toddlers linked to risk of adult obesity
Consuming sugar-sweetened drinks in the first few years of childhood can be linked to poor diet patterns that increase the risk of obesity in later life, according to a new study by the School of Psychology at Swansea University.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

First clinical trial of vosoritide for children with hypochondroplasia shows increased growth
Vosoritide's first global Phase II study showed an average increased growth rate of 1.8 cm per year in children with hypochondroplasia, a genetic cause of short stature in children, according to researchers from Children's National Hospital.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Parents can ease their teens' stress around standardized tests
Standardized tests put a lot of pressure on teenagers who want to secure their future and make their parents and teachers proud.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Researchers find no link between COVID-19 virus and development of asthma in children
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many families worried about the long-term effects posed by the SARS-COV-2 virus. Now, researchers from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found that a SARS-COV-2 infection likely does not increase the risk of asthma development in pediatric patients. The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics.
April 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 11th, 2024

A small robot car can reduce children's stress before surgery
Undergoing medical treatment, having surgery or simply being admitted to hospital are situations that make children fearful and anxious, especially during early childhood. And in addition to having a short-term impact, their subsequent psychological, social and educational development may also be affected.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

AI model has potential to detect risk of childbirth-related post-traumatic stress disorder
NIH-funded study suggests model could identify large percentage of those at risk.
April 11th, 2024 — Source or Source

Arkansas Led the Nation in Measuring Obesity in Kids. Did It Help?
Sixth-grade boys were lining up to be measured in the Mann Arts and Science Magnet Middle School library. As they took off their shoes and emptied their pockets, they joked about being the tallest.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Depression in young people being driven by internet addiction, say researchers
Spending excessive time online is causing daytime sleepiness and symptoms of depression in adolescents, a major international study led by researchers at the University of Derby has found.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Engineering students' device could make intubation safer for young babies
TinyTrach, a team of interdisciplinary engineering students from Rice University, has created an innovative pediatric endotracheal tube (ETT) integrated with a camera and anchoring system that could make intubation procedures safer for babies 1 month and older by ensuring precise placement, stable anchoring and visibility access for up to 14 days.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

New study validates prediction rules for pediatric intra-abdominal and traumatic brain injuries
Delivering high-quality emergency care for kids may mean fewer CT scans, according to a new study from UC Davis Health's Department of Emergency Medicine.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Study supports use of cystic fibrosis drug in infants from four weeks of age
A cystic fibrosis drug targeting the basic defect that causes the condition has been shown to be safe and effective in newborns aged four weeks and above, new research involving RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Children's Health Ireland has found.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Study unpicks why childhood maltreatment continues to impact on mental and physical health into adulthood
Individuals who experienced maltreatment in childhood—such as emotional, physical, and sexual abuse or emotional and physical neglect—are more likely to develop mental illness throughout their entire lives, but it is not yet well understood why this risk persists. Many decades after maltreatment first took place.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Young people are getting unhappier: Lack of childhood freedom and independence may be partly to blame
Experts often highlight social media and harsh economic times as key reasons why young people are getting unhappier. And while those factors are important, I would like to emphasize another.
April 11th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 10th, 2024

Baby Bottles With No Detected BPA, Lead, or Phthalates
We didn't find the dangerous chemicals in any of the nine bottles we tested. Still, some concerns remain. Here's how to keep your baby safe.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

New AI tool creates virtual model of the infant microbiome and predicts neurodevelopmental deficits
The gut microbiome has a profound impact on the health and development of infants. Research shows that dysbiosis—or imbalances in the microbial community—is associated with gastrointestinal diseases and neurodevelopmental deficits. Understanding how gut bacteria interact, and how these interactions may lead to some of these problems, however, is difficult and time consuming through traditional laboratory experiments.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

On teens, nutrition, and exercise: How to encourage healthy habits
Ask a teenager whether they're eating healthy or getting enough exercise, and you might get a blank look.
April 10th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 6th, 2024

Waist-to-height ratio bests BMI for predicting fat mass in children
Waist circumference-to-height ratio (WHtR) is an inexpensive alternative to body mass index (BMI) for predicting fat mass (FM) in pediatric patients, according to a study published online March 5 in Pediatric Research.
April 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 5th, 2024

Exploring pandemic effects on mental health of parents juggling unemployment and having children in remote school
Family dynamics are critical to mental well-being, and this role became more prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic as families were bound to stay together longer than usual. A recent study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that parents who had work disruptions, unemployment or children in remote school saw an increase in depressive symptoms.
April 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 4th, 2024

One in five school-aged children in England experience cyberbullying
New research carried out by Kent's Center for Health Services Studies as part of the Health Behavior of School Age Children Survey (HBSC) for England has found that cyberbullying among school-aged children has risen, with 1 in 5 adolescents reporting being victims. The HBSC is part of an international program led by the World Health Organization (WHO).
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Online child safety laws could help or hurt—two pediatricians explain what's likely to work and what isn't
Society has a complicated relationship with adolescents. We want to protect them as children and yet launch them into adulthood. Adolescents face risks from testing out independence, navigating peer relationships, developing an identity and making mistakes in these processes.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Pediatric study sheds light on new tool for identifying infants with tongue tie requiring frenotomy
The World Health Organization and several national health organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants, at least for the first six months of their life to protect the health of infants and mothers. Among breastfeeding infants, however, variations in the thickness of the membrane underlying their tongues (also known as lingual frenulum), are known to result in a condition known as tongue tie (or TT).
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Study discovers how chronic lung conditions affect children's immune system
Researchers have made a breakthrough into how two chronic respiratory diseases in childhood affect the immune system, paving the way for better treatments.
April 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — April 2nd, 2024

Early detection of language disorders helps children obtain right interventions, researchers find
New screening tools in child health care are effective in identifying early language and communication difficulties in children. This is shown by two studies based on more than 6,000 children carried out by researchers at Uppsala University in cooperation with Region Gotland.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Infant gut microbes have their own circadian rhythm: Study finds diet has little impact on how the microbiome assembles
Infant gut microbiomes oscillate with a circadian rhythm, even when they are cultivated outside of the body. Researchers report in the journal Cell Host & Microbe that the rhythm is detectable as early as two weeks after birth but becomes more pronounced with age.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Irregular sleep and late bedtimes associated with worse grades for high school students
NIH-funded study also links later bed and wake times with school conduct problems.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source or Source

New study finds mental health emergencies in kids were more severe during the pandemic
A new study has found that during the pandemic pediatric emergency departments (EDs) saw more children and adolescents who needed a psychiatric admission, as well as an increase in severe conditions, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and substance use disorders.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Teen behavior, as explained by a neuroscientist
Teenagers are known for their sometimes-unpredictable behavior. One moment they're mature and clear-thinking, and the next they're irrational or engaging in risky behavior. Neurologically speaking, they can't help it, though that's probably of little comfort to parents' frayed nerves. Still, it might help to understand that scientists theorize that three interconnected processes of adolescent brain development are the culprit.
April 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 29th, 2024

How to Choose a Bike Helmet for a Child
The best helmet is one they'll actually wear. Here's how to pick one and make sure it fits correctly.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Researchers discover skin biomarkers in infants that predict early development of food allergies
Food allergies occur often in childhood and can be severe or even fatal. Researchers at National Jewish Health are working to develop a program to prevent food allergies and have now identified early predictors of the condition.
March 29th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 28th, 2024

Study shows obesity in childhood associated with more than double the risk of developing multiple sclerosis
New research to be presented at this year's European Congress on Obesity held in Venice, Italy (12–15 May), shows that having obesity in childhood is associated with more than double the risk of later developing multiple sclerosis. The study is by Professor Claude Marcus and Associate Professor Emilia Hagman, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and colleagues.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Study: The language spoken by others conditions our ability to predict their actions from a very early age
A recent neuroscientific study carried out at UPF examining this cognitive ability in 6-month-old babies has shown that humans predict the behavior of people with the same mother tongue and do not do so if they have heard them speaking a foreign language.
March 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 27th, 2024

Almost one child in six is cyberbullied: WHO Europe
Some 16 percent of children aged 11 to 15 were cyberbullied in 2022, up from 13 percent four years ago, a WHO Europe report covering 44 countries said on Wednesday.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Colistin resistant bacteria found in mothers and newborn babies in Nigeria
Researchers from the Ineos Oxford Institute for Antimicrobial Research (IOI) and Cardiff University have found evidence that bacteria resistant to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic, were present in mothers and babies under a week old in Nigeria in 2016, despite limited clinical use of colistin at that time in the country.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Could sudden infant death syndrome be caused by unrecognized brain infections?
Some infants who pass away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are known to have had acute minor infections. Could these have played a role in their death? Using next-generation molecular tools, a new study provides evidence that undiagnosed inflammation and occult infection can contribute to SIDS and the brainstem pathology seen in some infants.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Dog-training program helps increase physical activity among kids with disabilities
By engaging regularly with their family dog and teaching it a series of tricks and commands, children with developmental disabilities experienced a significant increase in their daily physical activity, a new study from Oregon State University researchers has found.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Independent guardians impact young survivors of child trafficking
Independent guardians who support young survivors of child trafficking are crucial to their protection, safety and recovery in an increasingly difficult environment, analysis shows.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Study uncovers the hidden dangers of secondhand vape exposure to children
In homes across America, an invisible threat may be lurking—one that could affect the health of our youngest and most vulnerable. Recent findings presented this month at the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners conference in Denver shed light on the often-overlooked danger of secondhand e-cigarette vapor, particularly its impact on children.
March 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 25th, 2024

Online dashboard to help fight to save children from deadly diarrheal diseases
University of Virginia researchers are developing a flexible online tool for navigating information used in the fight to save children from deadly diarrheal diseases by identifying transmission hotspots and accelerating the deployment of treatments and new vaccines.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Overweight and obesity in 3- and 4-year-olds has decreased after the pandemic NewsGuard 100/100 Score
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the group of 3- and 4-year-olds in Sweden has decreased after the pandemic. The increase during the pandemic thus appears to have been temporary. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Parental dilemmas: Deciding when to keep a child home from school
Many parents struggle deciding whether their middle or high school-aged child should stay home from school if they don't feel well, a new national poll suggests.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Parents who believe their children can have a better future are more likely to read and play with them
Every day, a small group of women make their way through the community of Sweetwaters, near the South African city of Pietermaritzburg, with bags of toys and books. They work as home mentors supporting families who signed up for an early childhood development intervention. They swap puzzles and stories and provide resourceful activities for children and caregivers. Even the older siblings often sit and join the stories and games.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Study finds boys' mental health more impacted by COVID-19 pandemic than girls'
The COVID-19 pandemic had a greater impact on boys' mental health than girls, contrary to the findings of other studies, according to new research led by scientists at University of Liverpool, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Reading, and King's College London.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Study finds less obesity in 3- and 4-year-olds after the pandemic
The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the group of three- and four-year-olds in Sweden has decreased after the pandemic. The increase during the pandemic thus appears to have been temporary. These are the findings of a study conducted at the University of Gothenburg and Uppsala University.
March 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 22nd, 2024

Empathy travels across generations and empathetic teens become good parents
In the first finding of its kind, University of Virginia researchers have discovered that empathy is passed from one generation to the next. And it all starts with moms.
March 22nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 20th, 2024

AI technology helps identify cerebral palsy in babies
Cutting-edge technology that analyzes clips of babies' movements can help speed up detection of cerebral palsy, according to a new study.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

One in 10 U.S. school-age kids have ADHD report finds
About 1 in every 10 U.S. children ages 5 to 17 has been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the latest government statistics.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Report: Canada should ban all unhealthy food marketing that may be seen by children
Canada should ban the marketing of unhealthy foods wherever children may be exposed, whether on TV, social media, or billboards. This is one of the main conclusions of a Canada-wide study involving more than fifty food and nutrition experts made public today by a team from Universite Laval's Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Studies presented at dermatology meeting highlight recent advances in diagnosis and management
The annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology was held from March 8 to 12 in San Diego and attracted participants from around the world, including clinicians, academicians, allied health professionals, and others interested in dermatology. The conference highlighted recent advances in the diagnosis and management of dermatological conditions.
March 20th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 18th, 2024

Antipsychotic use during pregnancy not linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties
The use of antipsychotics during pregnancy isn't linked to childhood neurodevelopmental disorders or learning difficulties, UNSW Sydney-led study shows -- giving assurance to those concerned about continuing their medications during pregnancy.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Difficult teens can benefit from sport
A new study has found that high levels of physical activity in early adolescence can reduce depressive symptoms in young people who have difficult temperaments, come from low-income families or are exposed to family dysfunction.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Everything You Don't Know About Breast Pumping
Quick tips: Find a pump with 60-plus settings; try a different flange size (it could make all the difference); and breast pumping in the middle of the night—even if baby is sleeping—is crucial.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Household foods get less healthy as babies age into toddlers
Over the first few years of a child's life, foods found in a family's fridge and cupboards tends to get less healthy, new research shows.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Overweight primary school girls more likely to seek doctor's help for musculoskeletal problems
Primary school girls between the ages of 4 and 11 with a body mass index (BMI) considered overweight or obese are more likely to see a family doctor (GP) at least once about musculoskeletal problems than their healthy weight peers, suggests research, focused on one area of London and published online in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician explains why co-viewing is important
Most parents I meet these days worry about what their kids do online. After all, it can be hard to know what they're absorbing from their media interactions.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study examines prevalence of birth defects following direct potable reuse water system implementation
Direct potable reuse (DPR) water systems add purified wastewater directly to a water distribution system, instead of first passing water through an environmental buffer such as a lake or reservoir. These systems are being considered in some water-stressed regions across the U.S. to address water shortages.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study finds coping behaviors improved mental well-being in adversity-exposed teens during pandemic
In-person schooling and coping behaviors were associated with higher positive affect (PA) during the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents with high adverse childhood experiences (ACEs; at least four), according to a study published online March 13 in JAMA Network Open.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Study shows that 'transcendent' thinking may grow teens' brains over time
Scientists at the USC Rossier School of Education's Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning, and Education (CANDLE) have shown for the first time that a type of thinking that has been described for over a century as a developmental milestone of adolescence may grow teenagers' brains over time.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Why is toddler milk so popular? Follow the money
Toddler milk is popular and becoming more so. Just over a third of Australian toddlers drink it. Parents spend hundreds of millions of dollars on it globally. Around the world, toddler milk makes up nearly half of total formula milk sales, with a 200% growth since 2005. Growth is expected to continue.
March 18th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 15th, 2024

117 cases of multisystem inflammation syndrome in children identified during 2023
In 2023, 117 cases of multisystem inflammation syndrome in children (MIS-C) were reported, with 26 percent of patients having onset during August to October, according to research published in the March 14 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Abnormal brain structure identified in children with developmental language problems
A rigorous analysis of numerous studies concludes that a part of the brain traditionally associated with movement is abnormal in children with developmental language impairments, according to Georgetown University Medical Center neuroscientists. The discovery has the potential to improve both the diagnosis and treatment of the language difficulties.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Common viruses trigger most cases of intussusception in children
Viral infections trigger more cases of intussusception, the common cause of bowel blockages in young children, than previously thought, according to a new study.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Exploring why some newborns develop severe infections
Compared to adults, newborns are highly susceptible to infections and these infections can cause serious health complications and even death.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Eating cruciferous vegetables while breastfeeding may give infants a healthy start
Researchers from Texas A&M Health have found that breastfeeding mothers who eat vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage could pass along health benefits to their nursing infants.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

How to help your child get enough healthy, brain-boosting sleep
Anyone who has raised kids knows that managing their sleep can be one of the most challenging aspects of parenting. But not everyone understands just how vital that sleep is.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Newborns with improper kidney development face lifelong challenges: New study offers potential solution
Some infants are born with too few nephrons, the filtering units in kidneys that help the body remove waste and excess fluid. Whether due to low birth weight, maternal diabetes, inadequate nutrition or genetic mutations, babies born with improper kidney development are more likely to face a lifetime of challenges such as high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 14th, 2024

How home food availability affects young children's nutrient intake
Early childhood is an important time for learning about nutrition and establishing healthy eating behaviors. Young children rely on parents to provide food options, and the availability of food in the home affects their dietary choices. A new study looks at changes in home food availability and nutrient intake for children from 2 to 4 years old.
March 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 11th, 2024

Early childhood health interventions have 'big, multigeneration impacts,' research finds
It was the late '90s, and Tania Barham, future associate professor of economics at the University of Colorado Boulder, was in Yemen, working as an economist for the World Bank, which had teamed up with UNICEF to improve that country's health, education and water.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Medical costs for kids' mental health jumped 31% in five years, study finds
The cost to American families of caring for a child with a mental health condition rose by almost a third between 2017 and 2021, a new report finds, to an average of $4,361 per year.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Most teens report feeling happy or peaceful when they go without smartphones, Pew survey finds
Nearly three-quarters of U.S. teens say they feel happy or peaceful when they don't have their phones with them, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Teen use of disposable e-cigarettes linked to persistent use patterns
Among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), the use of disposable electronic cigarette devices is associated with increased risks for persistent e-cigarette use patterns, according to a study published online on March 11 in Pediatrics.
March 11th, 2024 — Source

Trauma screening may improve mental health service recommendations for children
Each year between 200,000 and 270,000 children and youth enter foster care placements with child welfare services, and many more children receive child welfare services while remaining in their parent's care, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
March 11th, 2024 — Source or Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 8th, 2024

A number of teens meet criteria for metabolic, bariatric surgery: Study
A large percentage of adolescents meet eligibility criteria for metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS), according to a study published online Feb. 27 in Pediatrics.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Children with 'lazy eye' are at increased risk of serious disease in adulthood
Adults who had amblyopia ('lazy eye') in childhood are more likely to experience hypertension, obesity, and metabolic syndrome in adulthood, as well as an increased risk of heart attack, finds a new study.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Finding ways to reduce the financial and social costs of children's pacemakers
As the number of complex heart operations has increased over the years, so have cases of postoperative heart block, a form of arrhythmia that often requires a pacemaker and more surgery. Heart block occurs when unseen conduction tissue—the cells and electrical signals that control the beating of a heart—is injured.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Socially prescribed creative play found to boost parents' and children's well-being
Socially prescribed creative play helps children and their parents develop new skills and promotes well-being, a new study has found.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Teenagers often experience mental health challenges if they know parents are having money problems, finds study
When parents try to shield their kids from financial hardship, they may be doing them a favor: Teens' views about their families' economic challenges are connected to their mental health and behavior.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Topical solution halts tooth decay in children
NIH-funded study finds non-invasive application of silver diamine fluoride superior to placebo.
March 8th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 6th, 2024

AI Tool Boosts Diagnosis Accuracy of Ear Infections in Children, Study Finds
In a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics, researchers developed and validated an automated classifier for diagnosing acute otitis media (AOM) in children.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Augmentation cystoplasty safe for children with neurogenic bladder
For children with neurogenic bladder, augmentation cystoplasty (AC) is safe and effective, with low surgical and metabolic complication rates, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Scientific Reports.Living near leafy trees doesn't always protect kids from asthma
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Children surpass a year of HIV remission after treatment pause
NIH-funded trial shows promising outcomes with treatment started promptly after birth.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Living near leafy trees doesn't always protect kids from asthma
Trees play a big role in how children in cities develop asthma. But it's not as simple as "more trees equals less asthma." It depends on the season: trees decrease the risk of developing asthma during the leafy season but increase the risk during the pollen season.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Microvillus inclusion disease: From organoids to new treatments
Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a rare type of congenital enteropathy in infants that causes devastating diarrhea and an inability to absorb food. Infants can lose liters of fluid a day, become severely dehydrated, and stop growing. There is no specific treatment.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

New study may broaden the picture of the consequences of childhood adversity
A research team has examined the link between adverse childhood experiences and the risk of mental health problems later in life, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry. The researchers from Karolinska Institutet and University of Iceland have found that the risk of suffering from mental illness later in life among those experiencing significant adversity in childhood can be partly explained by factors shared by family members, such as genetics and environment.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Study quantifies dramatic rise in school shootings and related fatalities since 1970
The incidence of school shootings more than quadrupled over the past 53 years, according to a new study analyzing data from the Center for Homeland Defense and Security (CHDS). To curtail the trend and help prevent future school shootings, researchers offered five key steps to address the problem through a public health approach.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Study takes wider view at household size, children's development
Researchers from The University of Texas at Dallas' School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (BBS) are taking a more detailed look at how children's language development is influenced by the number of people in their households.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Trends and outcomes of anterior cruciate ligament injury treatments in children
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries have increased in recent decades among children. Because re-injuries after ACL reconstruction are higher in children compared with adults, anterolateral augmentation procedures may reduce re-injury rates after ACL reconstruction in youth.
March 6th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 4th, 2024

Breastfeeding 101: Tips for new moms
There's a host of studies supporting the numerous ways breastfeeding helps baby's development—and the health of mothers, too.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician suggests household chores that are appropriate for children and teens
Age-appropriate chores and responsibilities are an important part of a child's development.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Study shows differences in how patients with impulse control disorder process consequences
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement and muscle control. One characteristic of the disease is the deficiency of dopamine, a neurotransmitter or brain chemical that plays a role in movement and can impact how people think and feel.
March 4th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — March 1st, 2024

BPA exposure linked to gut microbiota, childhood obesity in new study
A synthetic chemical called Bisphenol A, or BPA, is widely used in the production of durable plastic products including eyewear, water bottles and epoxy resins. But it's also an endocrine disruptor, which means that it can interfere with normal hormone functions in the body. Studies suggest that high levels of exposure may be detrimental to human health in a variety of ways; it may also alter the gut microbiome.
March 1st, 2024 — Source or Source

Could messages from social media influencers stop young people vaping? A look at the government's new campaign
Vaping is on the rise among young Australians. Recent figures from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey show current use of e‑cigarettes among teenagers aged 14--17 increased five-fold from 1.8% in 2019 to 9.7% in 2022--2023. For young adults aged 18--24, use quadrupled from 5.3% to 21% over the same time period.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Pediatricians feel less prepared to care for teens' opioid use disorder
Primary care pediatricians feel less prepared to manage adolescents' opioid use disorder (OUD) compared with other substances, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Pediatrics.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Young people at the center of the toxic drug crisis
Vancouver may be considered by many as the "best place" to live, but many young people living in the city are facing unprecedented challenges that are making their futures more precarious than ever. Hundreds of youth who call Vancouver home are standing at the intersection of a housing affordability crisis and a toxic drug poisoning public health emergency.
March 1st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 28th, 2024

A simple eye reflex test may be able to assess autism in children
Scientists at UC San Francisco may have discovered a new way to test for autism by measuring how children's eyes move when they turn their heads. They found that kids who carry a variant of a gene that is associated with severe autism are hypersensitive to this motion.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Are slushies really bad for young children's health?
Recently there have been concerning reports in the news of a three-year-old boy who collapsed and was admitted to hospital after drinking a slushy drink. Fortunately, after a few days, the child recovered completely.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Breaking detrimental oral habits in young kids
It's very common for babies and young children to have what dentists call "non-nutritive sucking" behaviors in which they regularly suck on a pacifier, thumb, finger(s) or other objects.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Children get arthritis too, with life-changing effects—but exercise can help
Arthritis is usually associated with older people, but kids can suffer too. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common type of arthritis in children. It affects about 1 in 1,000 kids under 16 in the UK (roughly 15,000 children), and causes joint pain and inflammation in the hands, knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists—although it can affect other body parts, too.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Exposure to neighborhood violence linked to unmet health needs and increased care utilization in children
A new collaborative study between Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia finds exposure to neighborhood violence among children was associated with unmet health needs and increased acute care utilization.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Social media and adolescent mental health: Consensus report
In an editorial, Sandro Galea and Gillian Buckley summarize the findings of a National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consensus study report on social media and adolescent mental health.
February 28th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 27th, 2024

How to calm your child after a nightmare
Most parents have experienced it: Your young child wakes up distraught, sure that the nightmare they've just suffered through is real.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Lawsuits claim South Carolina kids underwent unnecessary genital exams during abuse investigations
Warning: Some readers may find graphic details in this article to be offensive or disturbing.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Neighborhood poverty in childhood increases risk of death by unnatural causes, study finds
The degree of neighborhood poverty in early childhood is significantly associated with death by unnatural causes in early adulthood, according to a study published online Feb. 23 in JAMA Network Open.
February 27th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 26th, 2024

Australian study reveals associations between excess heat exposure and preterm births
In the face of increasing temperatures globally, a new Monash-led study of 1.2 million births in Sydney over two decades has shown a strong association between the risk of pre-term birth and exposure to extreme hot temperatures in the third trimester of pregnancy. The data suggested that this association with extreme temperature might be reduced by the level of greenery in a pregnant person's residential surroundings.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Birth outcomes improve in states that extend driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, research finds
In 2023, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Minnesota joined a growing list of states that allow undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses if an applicant can provide certain documentation, such as a foreign birth certificate or passport and evidence of current residency in the state.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Feds eye Texas as cases of syphilis surge in newborns
Syphilis is on the rise in Texas and nationally, causing serious medical complications, especially for newborn babies who contract the disease during pregnancy.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

How parents can set safe and healthy media limits
As a parent, you can talk with your child about media use, setting healthy limits and being responsible citizens online. But how can you reinforce healthy digital habits when they're not with you? Parental media controls can be a great option to help keep children's media time happy and safe.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Making the moral of the story stick: A media psychologist explains the research behind children's TV
To adult viewers, educational media content for children, such as "Sesame Street" or "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood," may seem rather simplistic. The pacing is slow, key themes are often repeated and the visual aspects tend to be plain.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

New baby sleep planner tool could help save babies lives at risk of sudden infant death
A new web-based baby sleep planner, developed by researchers at the University of Bristol, could help save babies lives from sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS, a study suggests. The sleep planner tool is a new way to find out about babies risks and help keep them safe while sleeping. Although SIDS is rare, with one death in 3,000 to 4,000 births in England, this new tool could help reduce unexplained infant deaths.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Vanishing forests and suffering children: The hidden toll of deforestation in Cambodia
Deforestation, a critical consequence of human activity, has garnered significant attention due to its impact on environmental sustainability, biodiversity and climate change. However, an equally pressing yet less explored aspect is the relationship between deforestation and human health, especially in impoverished regions.
February 26th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 25th, 2024

Drug limits dangerous reactions to allergy-triggering foods, pediatric study finds
A drug can make life safer for children with food allergies by preventing dangerous allergic responses to small quantities of allergy-triggering foods, according to a new study led by scientists at the Stanford School of Medicine.
February 25th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 24th, 2024

House of Lords committee opens call for evidence on prevention and consequences of preterm birth
The House of Lords Preterm Birth Committee has published its call for evidence as part of its inquiry looking into the prevention, and consequences, of preterm birth.
February 24th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 23rd, 2024

Bushfire smoke affects children differently. Here's how to protect them
Bushfires are currently burning in Australian states including Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia. In some areas, fire authorities have warned residents about the presence of smoke.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Children's drawings contain valuable information about how they think
Children's ability to draw recognizable objects and to recognize each other's drawings improves concurrently throughout childhood, according to a new study from Stanford University.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Early-life airborne lead exposure associated with lower IQ and self-control: Study
Children who lived in areas with higher levels of airborne lead in their first five years of life appeared to have slightly lower IQs and less self-control, with boys showing more sensitivity to lead exposure, according to a new study from the NIH Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Genes affect your blood pressure from early childhood, data show
Certain genes associated with hypertension affect blood pressure from early in life, and they increase the risk of cardiovascular disease as you get older. But you can do something about it.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

New research shows babies use immune system differently, but efficiently
Scientists have long believed that a newborn's immune system was an immature version of an adult's, but new research from Cornell University shows that newborns' T cells—white blood cells that protect from disease—outperform those of adults at fighting off numerous infections.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Mothers' dieting habits and self-talk have profound impact on daughters, say psychologists
Weight loss is one of the most common health and appearance-related goals.
February 23rd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 21st, 2024

Screen time doesn't have to be sedentary: Three ways it can get kids moving
There have been concerns about screens making kids more sedentary and less active since TV was introduced more than half a century ago.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Study finds most sudden unexplained infant deaths occur on shared surfaces
Almost 60 percent of sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) occur on shared sleep surfaces, according to a study published online Feb. 20 in Pediatrics.
February 21st, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 19th, 2024

How having conversations with children builds their language—and strengthens family connections
Parents and caregivers of school-aged children are all too familiar with the after-school conversation that sounds a little something like:
February 19th, 2024 — Source

How the brain develops in unborn babies
Published last week in Nature Communications, the study shows that genetic variants associated with higher birth weight are also associated with greater growth of the cerebral cortex.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician offers advice on how to safely help a baby with a stuffy nose sleep
Every year in the U.S., some 3,400 babies die while sleeping. Many lose their lives to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which has no clear cause. Others manage to twist or turn themselves into a position that narrows their airways. Some babies suffocate when pillows or blankets block their mouths or noses.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Study finds more kids, teens may be taking multiple psychiatric meds
A study of mental health care in Maryland finds an increasing number of children and teens covered by Medicaid are taking multiple psychiatric meds.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

To boost a preschooler's language skills, consider reminiscing
Language skills are strong predictors of academic, socioemotional and behavioral outcomes when children enter school. They learn language in preschool years by interacting with others, especially their parents. Book sharing is a popular way parents engage young children in conversation.
February 19th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 14th, 2024

Associations between childhood trauma and emotion recognition
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers evaluated the associations of childhood trauma with emotion recognition accuracy (ERA).
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Colostrum provides long-lasting immunity boost for babies, finds study
The first form of mother's milk a baby receives after birth, known as colostrum, can dramatically alter its susceptibility to worm infections months to years later, according to an international study published in Allergy.
February 14th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 12th, 2024

Children failing to get adequate nutrition in early education centers, finds Australian study
Researchers at The University of Queensland have found meals provided in early education and childcare centers in some low socio-economic communities are not meeting national dietary recommendations.
February 12th, 2024 — Source or Source

Medicinal plants help keep children healthy in South Africa: 61 species recorded
In 2021, almost 33 of every 1,000 South African children under five years old died.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Monkey see, monkey do: How sideline sports behaviors affect kids
For children's sports, there's no doubt that parents are essential—they're the free ferry service, the half-time orange supplier, and the local cheer squad. But when it comes to sideline behavior, some parents can behave badly, and when this happens it's often a case of "monkey see, monkey do."
February 12th, 2024 — Source

New study finds that pregnancy complications can also affect child's health later in life
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and gestational diabetes (GDM) are two of the most common pregnancy complications and put pregnant people at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Risk of death found to be higher for non-white children in England
Twelve percent of infant deaths in England could be avoided if all infants in England had the same risk of death as white infants, a new University of Bristol-led study shows. Such a change, which equates to more than 200 deaths per year, would bring England—which currently has one of the highest infant mortality rates in Europe—in line with other EU nations.
February 12th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 9th, 2024

Baby's first tooth? Time for a visit to the dentist
About 1 in 5 children in the U.S. between the ages of 2 and 5 will develop at least one cavity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—and the rate of tooth decay only becomes higher as children get older. The results are far more than cosmetic: Poor oral health affects children's nutrition, speech, and ability to learn, among other things.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Motivations for substance use in teens mainly linked to reducing stress, study finds
The motivations underlying substance use among adolescents are mainly related to reducing stress, according to research published in the Feb. 8 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

New research shows students' knowledge and perceptions of active learning declined during pandemic-era teaching
Students' knowledge and perceptions of active learning declined significantly during COVID-induced remote teaching and have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels, according to new research from Chapman University Assistant Professor Jeremy Hsu.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Study finds digital CBT for children with anxiety delivers on par with traditional methods, lowers costs
In a recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry, a group of researchers evaluated if digitally augmented, therapist-supported, parent-led cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a cost-effective and clinically effective alternative to standard care for treating childhood anxiety.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Vaccine shows promise against cytomegalovirus, a virus that causes birth defects
An experimental mRNA vaccine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common virus that can infect babies during pregnancy, elicited some of the most promising immune responses to date of any CMV vaccine candidate, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
February 9th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 7th, 2024

Cough? Sore throat? More schools suggest mildly sick kids attend anyway
Trenace Dorsey-Hollins' 5-year-old daughter was sick a lot last year. Dorsey-Hollins followed school guidelines and kept her home when she had a cough or a sore throat—or worse—until she was completely better.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Early drawing and building skills linked to enhanced education and behavior in children
Fine motor skills in young children are linked to better GCSE scores and fewer behavioral problems in childhood and adolescence, according to a study from the University of Surrey and Birkbeck, University of London.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

From stories to science: How listening together unveils parent-child brain signatures
A recent Scientific Reports study determined the presence of shared neural fingerprints between parents and their children while listening to stories.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Number of child passenger deaths in crashes with alcohol-impaired driver from 2011--2020 remains stable
The proportion of child passengers who died in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver has remained unchanged in the last decade, according to research published online Feb. 6 in Pediatrics.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Parents warned of killer fake pills laced with fentanyl
The DEA has posted a chilling two-page warning to parents on fake pills—pills that can kill. The "One Pill/Can Kill" campaign kicks off with a warning that fentanyl "is a deadly synthetic opioid" pressed into bogus pills that are made to look like Adderall, Xanax, OxyContin and "other pharmaceuticals."
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Study shows infants' understanding of social norms
Our everyday lives are full of rules, such as how we should dress, how we greet each other, which side of the road we drive on, and when we cross at traffic lights. These and many other social norms are the basis for human coexistence in societies. In a recent study by scientists from the University of Regensburg and Oxford University, which is now published in Scientific Reports, it was shown that even babies understand what is right and wrong.
February 7th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 5th, 2024

After discharge from pediatric emergency, 20% of parents feel uncertain caring for their child: Study
A cross-Canada study of the emotional needs of parents who bring their children to pediatric emergency departments shows a significant number leave feeling dissatisfied and uncertain about how to care for their child after discharge.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

'Appalling decline' in UK children's health—report
Rising infant mortality, a surge in obesity and neglected tooth decay have left UK children aged under five facing a "bleak" future, a report published on Monday warned.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Bullied teens' brains show chemical change associated with psychosis
Researchers have found that adolescents being bullied by their peers are at greater risk of the early stages of psychotic episodes and in turn experience lower levels of a key neurotransmitter in a part of the brain involved in regulating emotions.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

First gene therapy trial aims to restore hearing in children
The aim of this clinical trial, which has just received approval in France, is to assess the safety and efficacy of a new gene therapy drug in children aged between 6 and 31 months with profound hearing loss. Audiogene was developed by a French consortium composed of teams from the Hearing Institute, an Institut Pasteur research center; the ENT Department and Pediatric Audiology Research Center at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital (AP-HP); Sensorion and Fondation Pour l'Audition.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Pediatrician suggests 14 ways to show your child love
On Valentine's Day, there are many ways we can show children how much we love them that go beyond candy and cards.
February 5th, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — February 2nd, 2024

Blood test could reveal cause of brain injury in newborn babies
Researchers from Imperial College London have shown that a blood test can pinpoint the underlying cause of brain injury in newborns.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Caffeine restriction can improve, reduce severity of bed-wetting
Caffeine restriction can help improve and reduce the severity of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE), according to a study recently published in BMJ Paediatrics Open.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

High efficacy and good safety profile for the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine in African children
Phase III trial results of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine developed by Oxford University and Serum Institute of India Pvt Ltd, leveraging Novavax's Matrix-M adjuvant, has confirmed high efficacy and supported regulatory approvals and licensure in several African countries.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

How to Keep Babies Warm in the Winter
Dressing them in layers and having the right cold-weather accessories are key
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Schoolboy rugby players have more injuries the older they get
The number of injuries sustained while playing rugby, and match and training days lost as a result, is higher among players under age 18 than it is among those under 13 and under 15, reveals a study of 66 schoolboy teams from 35 secondary schools in England, published in the open access journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Study estimates prevalence of adolescents identifying as being 'in recovery'
The prevalence of adolescents identifying as being in recovery and resolving problems with substances is estimated in a study published online Dec. 19 in PLOS ONE.
February 2nd, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 31st, 2024

Another Baby Has Died in a Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker
The CPSC warned parents about this rocker a year and a half earlier, but it has never been recalled
January 31, 2024 — Source

Gaps seen in childhood vision screening and vision care
Gaps in access to childhood vision screening and vision care are prevalent among historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups and socioeconomically vulnerable families, according to a research letter published online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Pacific nations tax unhealthy foods to tackle non-communicable disease crisis
Pacific Island governments are increasingly imposing taxes on unhealthy foods as they battle a non-communicable disease crisis, a New Zealand study shows.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Parental warmth during young adulthood found to decrease rates of depression in children
Parents with young adult children can still make an impact on their children's mental health, whether those children have left the nest or not. Researchers from the Penn State College of Health and Human Development found that experiences of parental warmth during young adulthood—from 19 to 26 years of age—led to decreased rates of depression.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Research finds link between family dog ownership and children's physical activity
Researchers have found a clear link between the acquisition or loss of a family dog and the level of physical activity undertaken by children in the family, with the impact most noticeable in girls.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Study finds links between prenatal substance exposure and childhood mental health
An observational study has found links between prenatal substance exposure and mental health in children aged 10--12 years, but also found that controlling for environment and genetics eliminated many associations. The paper is published in the journal PNAS Nexus.
January 31, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 29th, 2024

Hydroxyurea significantly reduces infections in children with sickle cell anemia
Clinical research led by Indiana University School of Medicine investigators and their collaborators in Uganda has revealed that hydroxyurea significantly reduces infections in children with sickle cell anemia. Their latest findings enhance strong evidence of hydroxyurea's effectiveness and could ultimately reduce death in children in Africa, the continent most burdened by the disease.
January 29, 2024 — Source or Source

Motivational interviewing approach does not reduce BMI in children
A motivational interviewing (MI) strategy seems not to be effective for reducing childhood obesity, with youth in the intervention arm gaining more weight, according to a study published online Jan. 29 in Pediatrics.
January 29, 2024 — Source

New pediatric immunization guidelines take a jab at vaccine hesitancy
It happens every year around this time: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases the new year's immunization schedules, which describe when and how vaccines should be given.
January 29, 2024 — Source

New research finds volume alone does not predict quality outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery
A study of pediatric heart surgery centers across the United States has demonstrated that, when it comes to successful surgery, it's not just the size of the program that matters in determining quality outcomes. The study is published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery journal.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Simple 20-meter shuttle run test predicts brain health in overweight kids
Aerobic fitness is often considered one of the best indicators of childhood health. It is also linked to better academic performance, executive function, and larger brain volume. However, aerobic fitness has been studied quite narrowly, often using methods that do not optimally represent it. According to a recent study by the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Granada, aerobic fitness performance measured by the 20-meter shuttle run test was associated with several different brain health outcomes.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Students who report using alcohol, cannabis or nicotine at higher risk for mental health disorders, survey shows
High school students who reported using cannabis, alcohol, or nicotine were more likely to have thoughts about suicide, feel depressed or anxious, have unusual experiences, and exhibit inattention or hyperactivity, according to recent survey-based study conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Minnesota.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Study explores spirituality's role in children's mental health
A Brock University-led international team's recent research suggests that spirituality be added to factors that determine children's mental health. "Establishing spirituality as an intermediary determinant of health among 42,843 children from eight countries" appears in the February issue of Preventive Medicine.
January 29, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 26th, 2024

A supervised toothbrushing toolkit to tackle tooth decay in children
A new toolkit to increase supervised toothbrushing for younger children aims to address health equalities caused by tooth decay.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Large study confirms locked-in syndrome as the predominant outcome of non-fatal pediatric drowning
It is a far cry from the traditionally thought-of "vegetative state" in which the mind is absent while the body lives on. Indeed, it is the opposite. Children with "locked-in syndrome," unable to move or speak, are awake and fully aware of their surroundings.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Locked-in syndrome is predominant outcome when children survive drowning, large study confirms
It is a far cry from the traditionally thought-of "vegetative state" in which the mind is absent while the body lives on. Indeed, it is the opposite. Children with "locked-in syndrome," unable to move or speak, are awake and fully aware of their surroundings.
January 26, 2024 — Source

New study on how parents experience their children's sports injuries
A new review paper focuses on how parents experience and are affected by their children's sports injuries. The research is published in the journal Sport in Society.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Single dose typhoid conjugate vaccine found to provide lasting efficacy in children
A single dose of the typhoid conjugate vaccine, Typbar TCV, provides lasting efficacy in preventing typhoid fever in children ages nine months to 12 years old, according to a new study conducted by researchers at University of Maryland School of Medicine's (UMSOM) Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD) and led by in-country partners at the Malawi-Liverpool Wellcome Trust (MLW) Clinical Research Program.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Social withdrawal in kids, teens may signal higher suicide risk later: Study
If your preteen or teen skips school activities and social events, it may be more than the typically moody behavior of adolescence, new research warns.
January 26, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 24th, 2024

Cognitive behavioral therapy alters brain activity in children with anxiety
NIH researchers found widespread differences in the brains of children with anxiety disorders that improved after treatment.
January 24, 2024 — Source or Source

Exposure to flame retardants linked to premature birth, higher birth weight
In the largest study of its kind, researchers at UC Davis Health found that exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants during pregnancy was associated with preterm birth, especially among females. The chemicals were also linked to higher birth weight, a concern for increased obesity risk. The major new research study was published in Environmental Health Perspectives.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Healing from child sexual abuse is often difficult but not impossible
A mayor, a karate instructor, a former cop, an award-winning journalist and a pastor. All five of these individuals in positions of authority or trust made headlines within the past year in connection with childhood sexual abuse.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Insurance doesn't always cover hearing aids for kids
Joyce Shen was devastated when doctors said her firstborn, Emory, hadn't passed her newborn hearing screening. Emory was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears as an infant, meaning sounds are extremely muffled.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Is serum vitamin D status linked to dental caries or molar incisor hypomineralisation in children?
In a recent cross-sectional study published in BMC Public Health, researchers examined the potential association between serum vitamin D status and the prevalence and number of teeth affected by dental caries and molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) among Norwegian children of age 7--9 years.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Researchers find that a standard biomarker can measure the impact of early development disparities in infants
While multiple studies have shown a relationship between adversity in early childhood and negative lifelong health effects on groups of people, no reliable measures exist to measure the impact of early adversity on the risk of individual children.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Study finds three times the risk of respiratory distress in infants born to COVID-infected mothers
New UCLA-led research finds that infants born full term to mothers who were infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had three times the risk of having respiratory distress compared with unexposed infants, even though they themselves were not infected with the virus. The risk was significantly lower when the mothers infected during pregnancy were previously vaccinated.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Study shows how CBT rewires the anxious child's brain
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found overactivation in many brain regions, including the frontal and parietal lobes and the amygdala, in unmedicated children with anxiety disorders. They also showed that treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) led to improvements in clinical symptoms and brain functioning.
January 24, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 22nd, 2024

Evidence shows risks associated with energy drinks in children
Energy drinks are associated with an increased risk of mental health issues among children and young people, including anxiety, stress, depression, and suicidal thoughts, a new study has found.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Injuries, burnout keep too many kids from sticking with sports: Report
Sports provides many physical and mental health benefits to children and teens, but many quit due to injury, overtraining and burnout.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Healthy eating and activity reverse aging marker in kids with obesity, study finds
A genetic marker linked to premature aging was reversed in children with obesity during a six-month diet and exercise program, according to a recent study led by the Stanford School of Medicine.
January 22, 2024 — Source

New study examines trends in liquid laundry detergent packet exposures among young children
A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center investigated trends in calls to poison centers across the country for exposures to liquid laundry detergent packets. The study investigators identified declines in the number, rate and severity of liquid laundry detergent packet exposures among children younger than 6 years.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Researchers call for renewed safety efforts to protect children from liquid laundry detergent poisoning
A new study conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital and the Central Ohio Poison Center investigated trends in calls to poison centers across the country for exposures to liquid laundry detergent packets.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Updated pediatric sepsis definition could save countless children's lives
An international research team led by Tell Bennett, MD, MS, professor of biomedical informatics and pediatric critical care at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, released new diagnostic criteria for sepsis in children this week, marking the first update to the pediatric sepsis definition in nearly two decades.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Wondering how to talk to your teen about drugs? Start the conversation early, be honest and avoid judgment
With several drug overdoses already this season, and recent news of three new recreational drugs identified by the drug checking service in Canberra, many parents of teenagers will be wondering how they can keep their kids safe from harmful drugs.
January 22, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 19th, 2024

Associations between mercury exposure and allergic diseases in children
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers assessed associations between mercury levels in urine and allergic diseases in children.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Best Baby Tracking Apps
We evaluated six popular baby tracking apps to find out which have robust features, are easy to use and set up, and aren't privacy and security nightmares
January 19, 2024 — Source

Emotional problems in young people were rising rapidly even before the pandemic, says researchers
It wasn't just the virus that spread during the pandemic—anxiety, depression and other mental health concerns saw a worrying rise as well. But new research from my colleagues and I confirms there had already been a substantial increase in emotional problems among young people even before COVID-19.
January 19, 2024 — Source

How social media affects your teen's mental health: A parent's guide
Mental health issues among teens have been rising for more than a decade, and some experts wonder how much social media use is to blame. If you're a parent questioning if—and how—you should monitor the way your teenager uses social media, you're not alone.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Infantile spasms: Speeding referrals for all infants
Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS), often called infantile spasms, is the most common form of epilepsy seen during infancy. Prompt diagnosis and referral to a neurologist are essential.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Insurance doesn't always cover hearing aids for kids
Joyce Shen was devastated when doctors said her firstborn, Emory, hadn't passed her newborn hearing screening. Emory was diagnosed with profound sensorineural hearing loss in both ears as an infant, meaning sounds are extremely muffled.
January 19, 2024 — Source

One in three children who contract bacterial meningitis live with permanent disability: Study
One in three children who suffer from bacterial meningitis live with permanent neurological disabilities due to the infection. This is according to a new epidemiological study led by Karolinska Institutet and published in JAMA Network Open.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Racial disparity identified in referral for infantile epileptic spasms syndrome
Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS), often called infantile spasms, is the most common form of epilepsy seen during infancy. Prompt diagnosis and referral to a neurologist are essential. But research suggests infants are likely to experience delays in referral to a neurologist if their families are from historically marginalized racial/ethnic backgrounds. A new open-access training module for front-line providers from OPENPediatrics, an online learning community launched by Boston Children's Hospital, aims to change that.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Research highlights the importance of involving both parents in breastfeeding
The most important support person for women to succeed in their ambition to breastfeed is the new mother's partner. The partner also needs to be included through more support from health care professionals.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Stigma a barrier to women accessing drug and alcohol treatment, says study
Women using drugs and alcohol can feel stigmatized and shamed when seeking support from professional services, a new study has found.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 16th, 2024

How does owning a mobile phone impact infant birth weight?
Every year an estimated 20 million babies worldwide are born with low birth weight, according to the World Health Organization, leading to a wide range of significant short- and long-term consequences. Though you may think the obvious answer is greater emphasis on food and nutrition for pregnant women, leading McGill University researchers are proposing an unexpected solution: the cellphone.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Machine learning predicts response to drug for arthritis in children
Doctors might one day be able to target children and young people with arthritis most likely to be helped by its first-line treatment, thanks to the application of machine learning by University of Manchester scientists.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Study highlights importance of healthy eating for children's heart health
A healthier diet is associated with serum metabolite concentrations indicative of better cardiovascular health already in school-aged children, a recent study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. Published in European Journal of Nutrition, the findings are from the ongoing Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children study, PANIC.
January 16, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 15th, 2024

Identifying the barriers to communication in children with autism
Approximately 30% of individuals with autism do not develop speech that is sufficient for meeting the communication demands of everyday life. People with autism and little to no functional speech rely on augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to engage in social, vocational and educational opportunities.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Is it safe for kids to use adult skincare products?
Over the holidays, Drunk Elephant skincare was a wish list mainstay, sending confused parents to beauty stores to puzzle over why their middle schoolers needed so many expensive products.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Safely keeping children warm when the power goes out at home during the winter
When the power goes out, it can throw off all of your family's normal routines. If the power failure is in winter, the danger of extreme cold can add to the problem. Younger children—especially infants—are at risk for hypothermia. But alternative sources of heat can be hazardous. So how do parents keep their kids warm—and safe?
January 15, 2024 — Source

Study reveals impact of early life adversity on a child's brain development
Researchers have found evidence suggesting that children exposed to elevated levels of early life adversity (ELA) exhibit an accelerated pattern of brain development during the preschool years. When exposed to ELA, such as a mother's mental and physical health challenges during pregnancy, the child's brain undergoes accelerated development in order to adapt to the adverse circumstances.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Survey finds link between drug/cannabis use during pregnancy and certain childhood cancers
While the risks of drug use, smoking and drinking during pregnancy are widely accepted, a new survey of parents has identified clear associations between certain types of childhood cancers and gestational substance use, notably cannabis.
January 15, 2024 — Source

There's a new pill for postpartum depression, but many at-risk women face hurdles
The first pill for postpartum depression approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is now available, but experts worry that minority and low-income women, who are disproportionately affected by the condition, won't have easy access to the new medication.
January 15, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 12th, 2024

Child abusers are covering their tracks with better use of crypto
"Mixers" and "privacy coins" like Monero enable them to launder profits, stay online.
January 12, 2024 — Source

New treatment to reduce seizures among infants with Sturge-Weber syndrome
Researchers at Kennedy Krieger Institute and Boston Children's Hospital have discovered a new way to decrease early seizure likelihood and improve neurologic outcomes among infants with Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS). This collaboration is the first multi-center study of its kind focused on this rare condition.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Rate of twin births increased in pregnancies with higher BMI
The rate of twin deliveries increased with increasing body mass index (BMI), and part of this association was explained by higher use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), according to a study published online Jan. 9 in JAMA Network Open.
January 12, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 13th, 2024

UVA researchers join international consortium to study climate-related childhood diarrhea
UVA Health researchers have joined a new international consortium that will work to understand how climate change could affect dangerous diarrheal diseases, a leading cause of death for children under 5 years old.
January 13, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 11th, 2024

Breaking the curve: A call for comprehensive scoliosis awareness and care
Cael was a typical 15-year-old—until the discovery of an already advanced abnormal curvature of his spine.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Early breastfeeding linked to lower risk of childhood obesity, regardless of mother's weight, study finds
Consistently breastfeeding infants in any amount during their first three months was associated with a lower risk of childhood obesity, regardless of the mother's body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy, according to a new study.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Rising malpractice premiums price small clinics out of gender-affirming care for minors
After Iowa lawmakers passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors in March, managers of an LGBTQ+ health clinic located just across the state line in Moline, Illinois, decided to start offering that care.
January 11, 2024 — Source

The link between nutrient status and bone health in young males
In a recent study published in the Journal Nutrients, researchers investigated the effects of vitamin D/iron statuses and calcium intake on lumbar cortical and trabecular bone in male adults aged 15-19.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Too much TV screen time for kids: 5 things to know about the risks
Research suggests that too much TV can lead to difficulty processing sensory information.
January 11, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 10th, 2024

Childhood dietary patterns influence arterial stiffness in adolescence
Diets high in calories, fat and sugar in childhood can cause damage to blood vessel function, known to heighten the risk of early heart attacks and strokes, as early as adolescence according to research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). The team behind the University of Bristol-led study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition today [10 January], say their findings highlight the importance of healthy eating habits throughout life to protect heart health.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Exposure to high humidity and temperature in pregnancy could influence blood pressure changes in childhood
Outdoor humidity and temperature levels during pregnancy could affect the future blood pressure of the unborn child, according to new research by the University of Bristol, published in JACC: Advances.
January 10, 2024 — Source

More siblings mean poorer mental health for teens, says study
Teens from larger families have poorer mental health than those with fewer siblings, according to a large analysis of children in the United States and China.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Researchers report dramatic decline in cigarette use among US teens over three decades
Cigarette smoking remains the leading avoidable cause of premature death in the United States, accounting for approximately 500,000 deaths or 1 in 5 deaths annually. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, most adults who smoke cigarettes started before age 18, so preventing cigarette smoking in adolescents is important to reducing smoking in adults.
January 10, 2024 — Source

Review finds almost 1 in 10 adolescents have used non-prescription weight loss products globally
Almost 1 in 10 adolescents globally have used ineffective and potentially harmful non prescribed weight loss products in their lifetime, with 2% using them in the previous week.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Three ways to help your child transition off screens and avoid the dreaded 'tech tantrums'
Many Australian parents worry about how much time their children spend watching screens.
January 19, 2024 — Source

US teen smoking rates have plummeted, with fewer than 1% now daily smokers
The number of American teens who smoke or have even tried smoking has dropped dramatically compared to a generation ago, with less than 1% now saying they light up cigarettes daily.
January 19, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 9th, 2024

Concerned about student mental health? How wellness is related to academic achievement
Supporting student mental health and well-being has become a priority for schools. This was the case even prior to the increased signs of child and youth mental health adversity in and after the pandemic.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Exposure to green space boosts young children's bone mineral density
Hanne Sleurs, from Hasselt University in Belgium, and colleagues investigated whether early-life exposure to residential surrounding green space is associated with a change in bone mineral density in young children. The analysis included mother-child pairs who were recruited at birth and followed for four to six years (327 children).
January 9, 2024 — Source

In utero exposure to PFAS affects the unborn child, study suggests
PFAS are chemicals that may cause cancer, diabetes, and other diseases. Research from örebro University now suggests that these chemicals affect people as early as the fetal stage of development.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Meta will hide suicide and eating disorder content from teens as government pressure mounts
Teens on Facebook and Instagram will no longer be able to see content about self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders, even if their friends share it.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Meta will hide topics like self-harm and eating disorders from teens
It's part of the company's latest 'youth and wellbeing' privacy update.
January 9, 2024 — Source

PFAS may increase risk of disease in unborn children, new study suggests
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of thousands of synthetically produced chemicals used in a wide range of everyday products worldwide. They are often called "forever chemicals" since it takes a very long time for these substances to break down naturally and can remain in the bodies of humans and animals for many years.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Q&A: Poison control expert discusses water beads' hidden dangers
Water beads are tiny, colorful, expanding gel balls often sold as crafts, toys or sensory tools for children with developmental disabilities. However, if ingested, they can cause vomiting, intestinal blockages and may be fatal if left undetected.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Study links early screen time to atypical sensory processing in toddlers
Babies and toddlers exposed to television or video viewing may be more likely to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors, such as being disengaged and disinterested in activities, seeking more intense stimulation in an environment, or being overwhelmed by sensations like loud sounds or bright lights, according to data from researchers at Drexel's College of Medicine published today in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Teen Instagram and Facebook accounts will have harmful content blocked
Meta has announced that teen Instagram and Facebook accounts will in future block a wide range of harmful content, including posts about self-harm, graphic violence, and eating disorders. The move is being made in response to lawsuits by the majority of US states ...
January 9, 2024 — Source

Universal consensus definition unlocks research advancements for critically ill children worldwide
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators collaborated with a global group of acute pediatric critical illness experts to reach a consensus definition of the condition. Research on how to improve care in low- and middle-income countries has been stymied because conventional pediatric critical illness definitions are not applicable in these settings.
January 9, 2024 — Source

Health — Children & Kids — January 8th, 2024

About 22 adolescents died weekly from overdoses in 2022, driven by fentanyl-laced prescription pills
An average of 22 adolescents 14 to 18 years of age died in the U.S. each week in 2022 from drug overdoses, raising the death rate for this group to 5.2 per 100,000—driven by fentanyl in counterfeit pills, new research finds.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Adolescent sports participation associated with higher bone mineral density in old age
Loss of bone mineral density (BMD) with age is an important cause of osteoporosis (deterioration of bone tissue), which has been reported as one of the leading causes of falls among older adults in Japan. This leads to fractures that require long-term nursing. Prevention of osteoporosis in the aging population can thus help decrease the burden of disease and healthcare costs substantially.
January 8, 2024 — Source or Source

Exposure to TV may affect babies' and toddlers' ability to process the world around them, new study suggests
Babies and toddlers exposed to television or video viewing may be more likely to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors, such as being disengaged and disinterested in activities, seeking more intense stimulation in an environment, or being overwhelmed by sensations like loud sounds or bright lights, according to data from researchers at Drexel's College of Medicine published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Researchers find possible neuromarker for 'juvenile-onset' Batten disease
Early symptoms can be subtle. A child's personality and behavior may change, and clumsiness or stumbling develops between the ages of 5 and 10. Over time, cognitive impairment sets in, seizures emerge or worsen, vision loss begins, and motor skills decline. This is the course of Batten disease, a progressive inherited nervous system disorder resulting from mutations to the CLN3 gene.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Researchers reach consensus on definition of acute pediatric critical illness
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital investigators have collaborated with a global group of acute pediatric critical illness experts to reach a consensus definition of the condition. Research on how to improve care in low- and middle-income countries has been stymied because conventional pediatric critical illness definitions are not applicable in these settings.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Researchers: Neighborhood amenities may have helped youth mental health and stress early in the pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, youth as a population group reported some of the largest declines in their mental health compared to other age groups in Canada.
January 8, 2024 — Source

School connectedness predicts reduced depression and aggressive behavior in Black adolescents
School connectedness -- the degree to which students feel part of their school community -- influences more than grades. For Black students, it's a protective factor against depression and aggressive behavior later in life, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick study.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Study examines patient choice and hospital selection for breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy
Including patients as partners for making decisions about their medical treatments is an important aspect of patient-centered care. A new study from England examined choices that patients with breast cancer make when considering where to have surgery for their condition and assessed how policies that offer such choices might affect inequalities in the health care system.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Psychologists face challenges of increased demand, patient severity
The ongoing mental health crisis is causing significant challenges for many psychologists as they grapple with both heightened demand and patients presenting with increasingly severe symptoms, according to the results of a survey released Dec. 5 by the American Psychological Association.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Putting your toddler in front of the TV? You might hurt their ability to process the world around them, new data suggests
Babies and toddlers exposed to television or video viewing may be more likely to exhibit atypical sensory behaviors, such as being disengaged and disinterested in activities, seeking more intense stimulation in an environment, or being overwhelmed by sensations like loud sounds or bright lights, according to recent data.
January 8, 2024 — Source

Ways to prevent suicide in teens
As children grow and become more independent, it can be more challenging for parents to know what they are thinking and feeling. When do the normal ups and downs of adolescence become something to worry about?
January 8, 2024 — Source

Health — Children and Kids — Resources

Adlerian Counselling & Consulting Group
for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.
Provides a Service — Source

Breastfeeding rooms hidden in health care law
With her 5-week-old daughter crying in a bathroom at Nordstrom, and not knowing how to get the baby to latch on to her breast, Garima Nahar found herself surrounded by other women. some offered tips, but one woman told the new mother to cover up or turn the other way.
April 9, 2010 — Source

Chickenpoxinfo.com
Consumer information site from Merck.
Provides Information — Source

Child Safety in the Home
In a world made by the point-of-view of grown-ups, there are inadvertent hazards to small children all over the place. Home is no exception. According to Safe Kids USA (an organization that educates parents, policy makers, and the general public in creating safe environments for children) a child dies every 101 minutes as a result of an unintentional injury, making iuse of accidental death and permanent disability for America's kids.
April 1, 2010 — Source

First baby given xenon gas to prevent brain injury
A newborn baby has become the first in the world to receive xenon gas treatment, pioneered in Bristol in a bid to prevent brain injury.
April 9, 2010 — Source