Research on the medical care of infants and children. Covers pediatric emergencies, blood-pressure thresholds, infectious disease, kidney injury, and developmental health.
Researchers found that African American children living in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods are less likely to receive bystander CPR, with lower rates also observed in Hispanic and other ethnic groups. Targeted CPR training in these areas may enhance outcomes.
A study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that pediatric emergency medicine physicians are at risk for developing compassion fatigue, burnout, and low compassion satisfaction. The researchers recommend improving interpersonal relationships, work environment, and self-care to enhance provider well-being and patient care.
A USC study tracked prescription opioid and heroin use in teens over time, finding that those who used painkillers to get high were more likely to start using heroin by high school graduation. The study suggests a link between nonmedical opioid use and later heroin use among youth.
A new study shows that social robots can lead to more positive emotions in sick children. The robotic teddy bear, Huggable, improved various patient outcomes compared to traditional interventions.
Researchers sequenced biopsies from pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and found that they harbored T cells specific to many neoepitopes. The patients' T cells responded to a significant proportion of these neoepitopes, forming hierarchies in their responses.
Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia mount a robust immune response to their cancer. The study suggests that the immune system may be able to effectively target pediatric ALL, potentially leading to new immunotherapy treatments.
Researchers developed an algorithm to identify pediatric oncology patients in EHR data, narrowing down patient cohorts for clinical studies. The tool improved accuracy and efficiency in patient selection, paving the way for more effective research on childhood cancers.
A new study found that children are more likely to suffer injuries due to abuse when cared for by a male caregiver, especially if the male is the boyfriend of the mother or another caregiver. The odds of child physical abuse vs. accidental injury increased substantially in these situations.
A new study found a high incidence of headaches in pediatric stroke survivors, with over a third experiencing severe headache within one year. Children who developed post-stroke headache were more likely to suffer from another stroke, typically within the first six to 12 months after the initial stroke.
A five-year study at Boston Children's Hospital reports success with a program bringing behavioral health services into primary care pediatricians' offices. The program increased children's access to behavioral health care, with only minor increases in cost, and got high marks from participating pediatric practices.
A multicentre study analyzed over 1.9 million pediatric emergency department visits and found no significant association between overcrowding and death within 14 days or hospital admission within 7 days. However, the study saw an increase in admissions among sicker children and return visits from less sick kids with increasing crowding.
A team of experts from the Firearm Safety Among Children and Teens (FACTS) consortium has published a list of 26 urgent questions for rigorous studies to address pediatric firearm injury prevention. The questions cover various aspects, including access, storage, and exposure to firearms, as well as the effectiveness of programs and tec...
A Kaiser Permanente-led study found that routine varicella vaccine significantly lowers the likelihood of painful shingles disease in children. The study, which looked at over 6.3 million children, showed that vaccinated kids had a 78% lower risk of contracting HZ compared to unvaccinated children.
Sadiqa Kendi, a pediatric emergency physician at Children's National Hospital, is tackling the burden of injury in DC communities as a Bloomberg Fellow. She aims to lessen morbidity and mortality among children due to unintentional injuries, with a focus on environmental challenges.
Children who engage in organized physical activity at a young age are less likely to experience emotional difficulties by 12, according to a new study. The research suggests that consistent participation in sports can promote global development and socio-emotional benefits.
A U-M study analyzed 3,870 clothing items and found that one in 11 featured food graphics, with two-thirds being unhealthy. The analysis suggests that food graphics on kids' clothes may influence children's eating habits and reinforce obesity-promoting messaging.
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine uses wearable motion-tracking devices to identify children with subtle motor impairments. The researchers found that typically developing children under age 3 use both arms equally, but in children with motor impairments, the ratio shifts significantly.
A Rutgers-led study concludes that bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for adolescents with obesity, as long as they can maintain a healthy lifestyle afterward. The procedure has been shown to remit type 2 diabetes and other complications of obesity in teens.
A pilot program using smartphones to detect asthma triggers is launching in Washington D.C., aiming to improve child well-being and create healthier homes. The project, led by Children's National Hospital, will use video conferencing to identify potential housing triggers with families.
The International Pediatric MS Study Group has released updated standards for clinical trials involving children and teens with multiple sclerosis. The new recommendations prioritize pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies, phase 3 trials in adults considering teenagers, and open-label extension studies to ensure high-quality evidence ...
The Bili-ruler is a novel, low-cost device for screening neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which affects up to 80% of newborns. It uses six color strips arranged in a stepwise gradient of increasing yellow hue and has high diagnostic accuracy, validating its use in improving early recognition and care seeking in low-resource settings.
A study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that teen drivers with ADHD are at higher risk of crashes and traffic violations due to risky driving behaviors. The study analyzed records of 14,936 adolescents and identified 1,769 with childhood-diagnosed ADHD.
Researchers from Deerfield Institute found a significant increase in DMD prevalence attributed to enhanced treatments and increased longevity. The study suggests that there is a larger patient population that may benefit from novel treatment interventions such as targeted gene therapies.
Researchers found that infants with bacterial pneumonia were more likely to require supplemental oxygen, bronchodilators, or steroids due to lingering breathing issues. The study suggests a potential long-term impact of bacterial pneumonia on lung health in vulnerable populations.
A pre-clinical study investigates the use of nicotine-like medications to reduce limb damage caused by inflammation. The research could potentially modulate the immune response to protect limbs after an injury.
A new study reveals that over 25% of Quebec children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes already have diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication. The number of cases has increased by two percent per year since 2001, highlighting the need for awareness campaigns and earlier diagnosis.
Researchers found that millennial parents, despite being younger, exhibited higher rates of reckless behavior while driving compared to their older counterparts. Despite this, most parents across all age groups reported reading and writing texts while driving in the past month.
Children who receive kidney transplants have impaired quality of life with higher mental health difficulties and disrupted sleep patterns. Parents' reports often differ from children's self-reports, indicating more difficulties in emotional functioning and social domains.
A study found that parents of children with cancer frequently search for health-related information, including ways to support their child and logistical issues. The study suggests that healthcare providers should consider these day-to-day concerns when offering family education and support.
A new standardized measurement tool has been developed to track outcomes in children with pediatric facial palsy, a condition that can impact various aspects of their life. The tool assesses factors such as facial appearance, oral continence, speech, and health-related quality of life.
A study found that children who developed de novo donor-specific antibodies (dnDSA) after kidney transplant had thicker carotid intima-media layers than those without these antibodies. Being African American was also associated with increased CIMT in transplant recipients.
Researchers at Nemours Children's Health System have found the military's Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) to be effective in controlling blood flow in children's arms and legs, with a success rate of 100% for upper extremities and 93% for lower extremities.
The Pennsylvania Pediatric Medical Device Consortium has awarded four companies with $50,000 each to develop innovative medical devices for children. Devices include a rapid platelet monitoring system and tracheostomy tube dislodgement alarm, which aim to improve care for newborns and pediatric patients.
A University of Cincinnati expert supports raising the age limit on tobacco purchases in Ohio to combat nicotine dependence among youth. Research suggests that e-cigarette use has increased among adolescents, and banning certain flavors may have contributed to this trend.
Researchers developed a new screening approach that combines DNA sequencing and metabolomics to identify mutant genes causing rare genetic diseases in children. The technique helped pinpoint the gene responsible for a specific disease, enabling faster diagnosis and potential treatment.
Researchers at Université de Montréal found that MEK inhibitor trametinib can reverse hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and valvular obstruction in patients with RIT1-associated NS. Dramatic improvement was seen in two infants treated with the drug, suggesting a new treatment option for life-threatening heart disease.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open shows that precision medicine can be a reality for pediatric tumours, identifying genomic anomalies to guide treatment and offer targeted therapies. The TRICEPS project has successfully enrolled 84 patients, leading to better patient management and more effective treatment options.
Researchers found that pre-treatment with caffeine prevented PGE1-induced respiratory complications and inflammation in baby rats. Caffeine, commonly used to treat apnea of prematurity, may offer similar benefits for infants with congenital heart disease.
A new study aims to validate the pediatric version of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (pSOFA) score in the emergency department setting as a predictor of mortality. The pSOFA score showed increasing mortality with higher scores, but poor sensitivity for predicting death in non-infectious patients.
Recent studies found a strong association between teen vaping and increased engagement in nine out of ten sexual risk behaviors, as well as several substance-use behaviors. The research suggests that initiatives to reduce youth substance use and risky behavior should focus on reducing teen vaping at all frequency levels.
The 2020 US Census resulted in a significant undercount of young children, impacting healthcare resources and funding. Pediatricians urge communities to take action to ensure all children are counted, as the Census has far-reaching implications for education, nutrition, and special education.
A recent study examines the alarming rise in firearm fatalities among US children, particularly those from marginalized communities. The research found that public health approaches must consider underlying demographic trends to effectively address this issue.
A new systematic review provides a comprehensive update on vaccine safety science, assessing 47 adverse events following immunization (AEFI). The study found that 12 AEFIs have been established to have causal relationships with at least one vaccine currently recommended in the US population.
A new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) study found that U.S. pediatric residents have a significant amount of experience with treating gun injuries, even during early stages of training. The study also revealed strong support for pediatricians' role in counseling families and advocating for public policies to reduce gun injury.
A new study found that pediatric opioid deaths increased nearly 3-fold over 18 years, with the Midwest experiencing a four-fold increase and the West a two-fold increase. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the growing public health problem of fatal pediatric opioid poisonings.
A new study reveals that HPV vaccine coverage is far behind other infant vaccines, with only 13 and three US states reaching above 60% coverage by 2016. The study tracked over 7.5 million children from 2003 to 2016 and found increased uptake among girls and boys, but still fell short of the Healthy People 2020 goal of 80%.
A new study examining opioid fill patterns among Medicaid-enrolled children in the US revealed that prescriptions for these age groups were relatively rare, with an adjusted rate of 0.8% by 2016. The study also found that opioids were most frequently prescribed in combination with other pain relievers.
A new study reveals that vaccination in immunocompromised children is suboptimal due to lack of knowledge and concern for triggering a disease flare. The majority of patients received vaccines from their primary care physician or health department, but there were significant barriers to completing vaccines.
A national survey of pediatricians and family physicians reveals substantial progress in recommending HPV vaccination to adolescents over the past five years. However, significant areas for improvement exist, including physician communication style and practice-based delivery methods.
Researchers analyzed plasmablasts in children with Kawasaki Disease to identify potential causes of the condition. The study found massive expansions of specific antibodies, supporting an infectious disease etiology for KD. This discovery may lead to new therapeutic approaches targeting these clones.
A new study found that text message reminders significantly improved timely HPV vaccine series completion among eligible adolescents. The study showed that even when compared to historical controls, those receiving text message reminders had higher rates of completing the full vaccine series.
A study found that state-run PDMPs, pain clinic legislation, and opioid prescribing guidelines significantly decrease pediatric opioid exposures. The analysis of NPDS data from 2005-2017 showed a notable reduction in opioid exposures among children following the implementation of these policies.
Researchers identify antigens targeted by the antibody response of children with Kawasaki Disease, strongly suggesting a new human virus is etiologically related. The study found that monoclonal antibodies from these patients recognized peptides from a hepacivirus non-structural protein.
A new AAP PROS study assesses influenza vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children who received the first dose. Researchers found that over 90% of caregivers believed their child would be 'protected with only one flu shot,' and 12% had moderate/high vaccine hesitancy.
A new study in Massachusetts aims to improve health and social outcomes for maternal-infant dyads impacted by Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) through sharing best practices, educational materials, and data collection. The initiative resulted in significant increases in skin-to-skin contact and decreases in pharmacologic therapy.
Despite available safety and effectiveness, HPV vaccine coverage rates remain suboptimal. Pediatricians and nurse practitioners report using various strategies, including prompts, communication tools, and performance feedback, to improve HPV vaccination rates.
A new study found that rapid whole genome sequencing can identify etiology and direct therapy in neonates with unexplained seizures. The analysis revealed six molecular diagnoses out of 19 patients, leading to changes in management for four patients, including targeted seizure medications and dietary supplements.
Despite the availability of a safe and effective HPV vaccine since 2006, coverage rates remain suboptimal. Pediatricians and nurse practitioners reported using various strategies to improve HPV vaccination rates, but still face challenges such as parent refusal and lack of training. The study suggests that more work is needed to overco...
A recent study by Children's National Hospital found that firearm injuries disproportionately impact African American youth in Washington D.C.'s Wards 7 and 8. The majority of these injuries (64%) were accidental, and nearly all patients (94%) were African American.
A new study explores the history and resurgence of milk sharing practices, tracing them back to ancient times. The research highlights the importance of understanding the cultural context and advocating for safe sharing practices.