All articles tagged with #pediatrics
A 13-year-old with drug-resistant epilepsy faced a denial for deep brain stimulation because it wasn’t FDA-approved for children; after NBC News coverage, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield approved DBS and later updated its policy to cover pediatric DBS for epilepsy, offering new hope for reducing seizure frequency and improving quality of life.
The FDA reviewed 96 VAERS reports of child deaths through Aug. 14, 2025 and found no cases definitively linked to Covid vaccines; five were labeled possible and two probable, but causality could not be ruled out and VAERS limitations apply. The analysis, prompted by ongoing vaccine safety discussions, notes that most cases involved myocarditis and that infections can also trigger this condition.
A BMJ-published randomized trial tested brief theta-burst magnetic stimulation in 194 children with autism (average age ~6.5), including many with intellectual disability. Over five days, real stimulation improved social communication and language vs. sham, with effects persisting at one month and few side effects. While promising and potentially convenient compared with long-term therapies, the durability of benefits is uncertain, the optimal treatment duration unknown, and access/cost could limit use; it is not a replacement for behavioral supports.
Renown Children’s Hospital pediatricians warn of a rise in gastrointestinal illness among children in several Reno-area schools, mostly viral and typically short-lived. Most kids recover with rest and hydration, but families should contact a pediatrician if dehydration or persistent symptoms occur. The outbreaks affect five WCSD elementary schools—Libby Booth, Rita Cannan, Caughlin Ranch, Natchez, and Jerry Whitehead—with heightened sanitation and Connect Ed communications; there is also a high-infection classroom at Echo Loder Elementary.
In Fort Worth, the Benadryl Challenge has led to at least one death and dozens of hospitalizations at Cook Children’s Medical Center over six months, as teens ingest high doses of diphenhydramine to induce a high. Health officials warn of risks like heart rhythm problems and seizures, echoing a 2020 FDA warning, and doctors urge parents to discuss social media use with kids and tightly store medications at home to limit access.
Duke Health researchers trained an AI model on electronic health records from birth through early childhood (over 140,000 children) and found it can accurately estimate a child’s risk of an ADHD diagnosis by age 5, serving as a 'clinical safety net' to prompt earlier screening and interventions. The tool does not diagnose but helps clinicians identify kids who should be prioritized for evaluation, with consistent accuracy across sex, race, ethnicity, and insurance status, potentially reducing disparities and improving long-term outcomes.
A pharmacist argues that a popular children’s cough syrup is more marketing than medicine: it’s a multi-ingredient product that risks double-dosing and includes an ineffective phenylephrine dose, a sedating antihistamine, and dextromethorphan with weak pediatric evidence, plus dyes and sorbitol. He recommends single-ingredient, age-appropriate options, precise dosing in mL with a syringe, and non-drug measures like humidifiers, saline, fluids, and honey for kids over 1. He also shares practical steps for talking with doctors/pharmacists and reminds caregivers to avoid codeine or tramadol and to seek urgent care for warning signs, emphasizing that the right treatment for kids is safe, targeted care rather than the strongest medicine.
Experts say long COVID may affect nearly 6 million U.S. children, diagnosed by a pattern of symptoms rather than a single test. The article follows 16-year-old Kaylee Joaquim, whose fatigue and pain after a field trip illustrate how long COVID can limit daily activities and stamina for young people.
CDC and state health officials report four pediatric tetanus cases in 2024 among unvaccinated children in Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin. In two cases, parents refused post-exposure tetanus immunoglobulin and vaccination; all children were hospitalized for lengthy stays (average about 25 days) and received TIG and an initial TTCV dose, with only one child later completing the vaccine series. No deaths occurred. The report highlights missed prevention opportunities—no prior TTCV, delays in wound care, and refusal of prophylaxis—underscoring the importance of timely wound care and up-to-date tetanus vaccination to prevent disease.
Rotavirus infections have surged in the U.S. since January, causing severe dehydration and rising hospitalizations among young children even as vaccines like RotaTeq prevent tens of thousands of hospitalizations annually; vaccination rates have fallen to about 73.8%, fueling concerns that lower immunity could worsen illness, and experts emphasize that prevention relies on vaccination and good hygiene while treatment remains supportive (fluids). Wastewater surveillance shows high virus levels in several regions, underscoring community spread.
A Finnish study of nearly 4,000 children with ADHD found that sustained methylphenidate treatment (Ritalin/Concerta) before age 13 for about 3–4 years did not increase—and may reduce—the risk of developing psychotic disorders later; the overall ADHD–psychosis link may reflect shared genetics rather than medication. Experts caution that findings may not apply to older adolescents and that amphetamine-based treatments could carry higher risk, highlighting the need for more research on dosing, timing, and long-term effects.
A growing share of U.S. parents are declining the vitamin K shot for newborns, with refusals rising from about 2.9% in 2017 to 5.2% in 2024. Doctors warn this increases the risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding, including brain bleeds, and note declines in other preventive measures like hepatitis B vaccination and eye ointment. Attitudes are fueled by anti-science sentiment and misinformation on social media, and some cases have prompted fatalities. Experts advocate patient, respectful education to counter misconceptions and protect infant health.
Some new parents are avoiding routine newborn preventive care, including vaccines, in favor of “natural” living, a shift doctors say risks preventable illnesses and delays in essential well-child checks and screenings.
Across the U.S., pediatricians confront rising vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation, choosing patient, nonjudgmental dialogue over pushy preservation of trust as exemptions vary by state and outbreaks loom, hoping to keep children protected and relationships with families intact.
A pediatric journal admitted that 138 published case reports were fictional, created under a confidentiality program to protect patients; at least 61 of these cases have been cited as fact in other journals, prompting corrections, scrutiny of potential retractions, and concern over how misinformation spread, including the controversial 'baby boy blue' opioid-in-breast milk case. Editors say future reports will clearly label cases as fictional, but copies and citations in databases like PubMed Central and Semantic Scholar have already propagated the error.