Articles tagged with Pediatrics
A new gene therapy has restored and maintained immune system function in 59 of 62 children born with ADA-SCID, a rare genetic immune disorder. The treatment involves delivering a healthy copy of the ADA gene to patients' blood stem cells, allowing them to produce healthy immune cells capable of fighting infections.
A recent study found that 90% of people in BC's Lower Mainland have detectable antibodies against measles, indicating high vaccine coverage and population protection. However, the study also found lower immunity rates among older adults, with only 75% of those aged 20-39 having measurable antibodies.
The Variant Workbench enables researchers to explore genetic data in a single, integrated workspace, linking genomic information with clinical conditions. By reducing data complexity, the tool facilitates scientific discovery and accelerates pace of research.
Dr. Wendy K. Chung, MD, PhD, receives the 2026 Mary Ellen Avery Neonatal Research Award for her outstanding contributions to neonatal health through basic or translational research. Her discoveries have transformed newborn screening and improved health outcomes for children with congenital anomalies.
A study confirms that people with ADHD can be more creative due to their tendency to let their minds wander. The research found that individuals with ADHD symptoms showed higher scores on creative achievements and were associated with greater mind wandering, particularly deliberate mind wandering.
Researchers found that over 30% of children referred for Alport syndrome testing at age 3 already required therapeutic intervention, highlighting the potential benefits of early detection. The study suggests introducing a urine testing system may enable intervention before kidney dysfunction onset.
St. Jude recognized as one of the top 10 pediatric cancer hospitals in US, consistently earning a place among the nation's best for pediatric oncology. The hospital maintains top survival rates for childhood cancers and drives progress in treatment and survivorship.
A new study led by Northwestern University found that introducing peanut-containing foods to infants can cut peanut allergy risk by more than 80%. Pediatrician training and electronic health record prompts significantly improved adherence to guidelines, with guideline-based care seen in 84% of low-risk infants.
A cross-sectional study found that high nurse workload and shift-level staffing ratios exert direct effects on reliable care delivery in neonatal intensive care units. High staffing ratios above 2 infants per nurse are recommended targets for workload reduction.
A meta-analysis found significantly higher treatment failure and major complication rates within a year with nonoperative management among children and adolescents. Pediatricians can now inform shared decision-making with families using up-to-date data.
Researchers found that students from low-income households, specifically boys, were the most affected by class closures, highlighting growing educational inequality. Smaller class sizes and experienced teachers can reduce adverse effects on disadvantaged students.
A new framework for US vaccine policy aims to rebuild trust by acknowledging shared blame, abandoning absolutist tactics, and promoting community-based education. The medical community must own its share of responsibility in addressing declining vaccination rates and rising outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
A new study found that children who prefer pickled, smoked, and fried foods are more likely to have asthma. In contrast, seafood preference appears to reduce asthma risk among normal-weight children. The findings highlight the importance of early-life dietary habits in shaping respiratory health.
A decision analytical model study estimates COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy will continue to yield meaningful benefits, especially in reducing infant hospitalizations. COVID-19 vaccination has been shown to be safe for pregnant individuals.
A 17-year study found robust population-level effectiveness of the HPV vaccine, even among sexually experienced adolescent girls and young women who may not have completed the vaccination series. The study's results suggest that the vaccine offers sustained herd protection against HPV-related diseases.
Research shows that remote monitoring of children's asthma can prevent hospitalizations by around 57%. The system helps keep symptoms under control, leading to better outcomes and lasting self-management skills. This innovative approach could revolutionize healthcare services for patients with asthma.
Researchers found nearly one in four children with firearm injuries returned to the emergency room within four years with another violent or crash-related injury. The study suggests a significant association between motor vehicle crashes and firearm injury, indicating a need for prevention strategies.
A study analyzing 120 top TikTok videos with #naturalparenting, #antivaccine, and other hashtags found that 61% contained contradictory medical information. The majority of creators were self-identified parents or influencers, promoting vaccine hesitancy, natural remedies, and rejection of conventional pediatric care.
A new study found that 21.4% of non-medical TikTok videos contained inaccurate information about sexual and reproductive health, while 3.4% created by medical professionals were accurate. The research highlights the need for improved sex education and social media literacy to protect young adults from misinformation.
A new program called Period Prepared provides hands-on menstruation curriculum for students in grades 3-12. The curriculum aims to educate adolescents about menstrual hygiene, stigma, and cycle monitoring, promoting confidence and reducing distress associated with lack of knowledge.
Researchers found that universal screening for asthma symptoms and environmental triggers can identify more patients with asthma in specific communities. The study also highlights the importance of addressing environmental triggers in homes, particularly among children with asthma.
Research found that states with stronger gun control legislation experienced lower rates of in-home pediatric firearm homicides, often associated with child abuse and intimate partner violence. The study suggests strengthening laws at the state level may help prevent these incidents.
Research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition found nearly half of pediatric golf cart injuries occurred in children under 12. The most common injuries were superficial lacerations and abrasions, with younger children experiencing head, face, and neck injuries.
Researchers found that integrating a food resource specialist into a pediatric clinic significantly connected families with vital resources, providing over 600 families with assistance. The specialist helped enroll 24 families in FoodShare and secured an estimated $115,512 in annual meals for these families.
Firearm suicides among youth ages 10-24 were more likely to involve a parent-owned gun, with 69% of firearms stored unlocked and loaded. The study emphasizes the importance of secure firearm storage in preventing youth suicide, particularly among those with mental health problems.
Pediatric marijuana ingestions have increased by over 1,000% in the past seven years, primarily due to increased access to cannabis products during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children under 5 years old are most affected, with Black children and those from publicly insured households being disproportionately exposed.
The 'Store it Safe' program, launched in 2015, trains healthcare providers to screen for depression and suicide, discuss lethal means, distribute safe storage lock boxes, and provide resources for families. The program has shown significant improvements in suicidality screening rates and lethal means discussion during youth visits.
Research reveals an increase in emergency calls for pediatric opioid exposure among middle-school aged children, with a national trend of rising calls from 255 in 2019 to 553 in 2023. Teenagers showed a decline after 2022. Demographics varied by age group, with females outnumbering males in the middle school age group.
Researchers found that seventh-grade students showed more negative feelings and beliefs about sexual education after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study's findings highlight the need for increased urgency in restoring emotional and social learning in the classroom, particularly for middle school students.
A 2018 federal mandate required new vehicles to have backup cameras, resulting in a near-50% reduction in severe injuries and 78% fewer deaths in small children. The study analyzed data from January 2011 to November 2024 and found similar trends among both sets of data.
A meta-analysis of over 1.2 million pregnant individuals found COVID-19 vaccination reduced maternal infection rates and stillbirth risk. Vaccination also lowered risk of preterm birth and congenital anomalies.
The American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition will focus on pediatric care, early childhood development, and digital media. Key sessions include discussions on fad diets, social media influence, and mental health in adolescence.
A recent study found that young people are increasingly turning to sodium nitrite and nitrate as a method of suicide after buying the products online. The chemicals, which can cause hypoxia and eventual death when ingested, are often readily available for purchase online.
A significant risk factor for in-home firearm homicide is domestic violence and child abuse, highlighting the need for improved safe storage laws and extreme risk protection orders. Young children are disproportionately affected, emphasizing the importance of preventing these deaths through stricter regulations.
Research suggests that exposure to dog allergens in the home may reduce the risk of developing childhood asthma by five years old. Babies with higher levels of Can f1, a dog skin protein, had around a 48% lower risk of developing asthma and better lung function.
New research reveals that zebrafish models can help guide clinical decision-making in real-time for challenging pediatric cancer cases. The study shows that pre-clinical zebrafish models accurately predicted responses to 11 of 12 treatment regimens, providing robust and actionable treatment response data.
Researchers developed MCA to address technical difficulties in esophageal atresia repairs; the technique involves prior approximation of esophageal ends followed by endoscopic delivery of magnets for anastomosis creation. Optimal compression force, surface coating, and tissue preparation are critical factors for successful implementation.
The data release from the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study offers a detailed look at human brain development in early childhood. The comprehensive data includes information on prenatal health, social and environmental determinants of health, and wearable biosensor data.
A recent study found a small-but-significant link between exposure to radiation from medical imaging and blood cancers in children and adolescents. The study concludes that while ionizing radiation is a carcinogen, the benefit-to-risk ratio favors CT imaging of children when justified and technique minimizes adverse effects.
A study of 1,620 participants aged 6-80 found that motor skills develop rapidly in children up to age 10, with adults reaching peak performance between 20-35 years old. Fine motor skills remain stable into old age, while gross motor and strength decline faster with age.
A review of hundreds of studies found a link between childhood plastic exposure and long-term health concerns like heart disease, obesity, and asthma. Parents can take simple steps to limit their children's plastic exposure, such as replacing plastic containers with glass or stainless steel.
The American Academy of Pediatrics will host its 2025 National Conference & Exhibition in Denver from September 26 to 30, featuring educational sessions, seminars, and a exhibit hall. The conference will address various topics such as AI in pediatric practices, social media's impact on children, and mental health.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia developed a quality improvement initiative to increase dental varnish application rates. The effort resulted in a significant boost in varnish use, with over 50% of children receiving varnish annually, exceeding the target goal of 20%.
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that nearly 4 million children and adolescents were at higher risk of developing blood cancers due to radiation exposure from medical imaging. The researchers estimated that up to 10% of pediatric blood and bone marrow cancers may be attributable to radiation exposure.
A new study published in Autism found that autistic children are more likely to experience ongoing gastrointestinal problems than their typically developing peers. These symptoms can affect sleep, communication, sensory processing and behavior, and often don't have an identified medical cause.
New research suggests that integrating behavioral health services in pediatric primary care can lead to improved mental health outcomes for children and adolescents. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that children who received integrated behavioral health care reported fewer behavioral health symptoms over time.
Researchers found a significant drop in rescue breathing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for children, leading to increased death rates and worse outcomes. The study estimated that the decline may have caused about 10.7 more pediatric deaths each year during the pandemic.
A growing body of research links environmental pollutants to worsened health and shorter life spans in childhood cancer survivors. The study found that only 25% of pediatric oncology providers felt comfortable discussing environmental pollutant impacts with patients.
This cohort study found that receiving encounters with behavioral health clinicians and psychotropic prescriptions was associated with reduced psychosocial symptoms. The results suggest that expanding integrated pediatric behavioral health care could improve outcomes among vulnerable child populations.
A new national poll reveals that parents of children with health conditions are less confident about their child's ability to have a positive school year. The poll found that these parents are more likely to be concerned about their child adjusting to a new school or teacher, dealing with conflict, staying healthy, and fitting in.
A new study highlights why kids' brain tumors need therapies designed for their unique biology, pointing to engineered immune cells and cancer vaccines as promising approaches. The review emphasizes the need for targeted treatments that recognize and fight childhood brain tumor differences.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 trials found GLP-1 RAs significantly improved glycemic and weight outcomes in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes or obesity. However, gastrointestinal adverse effects warrant attention in long-term management.
Children with variable levels of walking impairment experience significant physical activity, social engagement, and family life improvements. Parents also report increased confidence, self-belief, and reduced anxiety in their children.
Researchers from Mass General Brigham developed a bespoke CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing enzyme to correct the genetic error causing multisystemic smooth muscle dysfunction syndrome, a rare condition associated with stroke and death in childhood. The therapy extended survival four-fold in mouse models of MSMDS.
A retrospective cohort study found that children of racial and ethnic minority groups receiving CPR had higher odds of in-hospital mortality. Additionally, the odds of in-hospital mortality among children receiving CPR were higher at hospitals with the highest proportion of Black patients.
A new clinical trial found no significant neurodevelopmental effects on infants and young children after brief inhaled anesthesia and surgery. The study used a balanced strategy with lower doses of sevoflurane and did not show meaningful short-term differences in IQ or child behavior problems.
A recent study provides insights into the true impact of chikungunya on pediatric health, revealing diagnostic challenges and limited public health responses. Infants are especially susceptible to severe complications, emphasizing the need for improved research, diagnostics, surveillance, and policy.
A federally funded study found children with leukemia who were exposed to pesticides during their mother's pregnancy had a higher risk of death. The study, published in Cancers, examined over 800 children and showed pesticide exposure increased child mortality by up to 60%.
A comprehensive registry study in Sweden found that healthy, full-term babies under three months old are at risk of severe illness from RSV. The study highlights several risk factors, including birth weight and sibling age, which increase the risk of needing intensive care or dying.
Children undergoing cancer treatment often lose skeletal muscle at a time when they should be rapidly gaining it, which can increase treatment complications and raise the risk of long-term health problems. Muscle loss makes children more vulnerable to heart and metabolic issues like high blood sugar and insulin resistance.