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Pediatrics news

Healthier homes, fewer inhalers: Large-scale study links home retrofits to better health for children

Better insulation and ventilation in social housing mean thousands of children no longer need medication for asthma or allergies. This is the conclusion of a large-scale study involving 2 million people, monitored for 10 ...

Concerning rise in US teen obesity over a decade

Nearly 1 in 5 teens in the United States is obese, putting their long-term health at serious risk. Obesity in adolescence leads to many deleterious medical conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, ...

Some babies grasp deception by 10 months, rising fast by 17

A new study has mapped by age young children's ability to understand and practice deception for the first time—and results indicate many can sense it even before turning 1 year old. The research, led by the University of ...

Nearly half of U.S. kids lack adequate sleep, survey shows

Nearly half of all U.S. children aren't getting the sleep they need, a new National Sleep Foundation survey reports. About 44% of children do not consistently get the recommended amount of sleep for their age, according to ...

ADHD, social confidence and risk of alcohol problems

Young adults with ADHD who are less confident in social situations may be more likely to use alcohol as a coping mechanism, which puts them at higher risk for problem drinking. This was one of the findings of a study exploring ...

Recent infection doubles the risk of childhood stroke

New Monash University-led research has, for the first time in Australia, found that children with an infection in the past 60 days had roughly twice the risk of stroke. Published in Neurology, the study provides the first ...

Experts propose a tobacco playbook for food policy

Diet‑related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity and hypertension, particularly those affecting children, remain stubbornly high. Can public policies like those that have been successful with tobacco control help ...

Dexamethasone drops found to save eyesight in infants

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is one of the most common causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in children worldwide. Because the blood vessels in the retina are not fully developed, changes in oxygen levels ...

UV air filters cut airborne asthma triggers, study finds

Ultraviolet air filters might help rid a person's home of asthma triggers, a new study suggests. Installing one type of UV air filter in heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems led to a more than twofold decrease ...

No evidence ADHD is being over-diagnosed, say experts

Experts are warning that far from being over-diagnosed, people with ADHD are waiting too long for assessment, support, and treatment. In a paper published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, a group of experts say there ...

Tundra tongue: The science behind a very cold mistake

Touching your tongue to frozen metal must be a rite of passage if you're a five-year-old boy from a cold place. It's possibly more irresistible than hopping in mud puddles or sampling a newly frosted cake. But is it dangerous? ...

Light-sensing genes may connect three childhood tumor types

Research uncovering the origin of pineoblastoma, a rare pediatric brain tumor, has also revealed a dependency across multiple brain tumor types that share a similar molecular program. Scientists at St. Jude Children's Research ...

Rapid RSV tests linked to less antibiotic prescribing in kids

RSV is a significant cause of viral lower respiratory tract infections (VLRTIs) in children, including 50% to 80% of children 5 years old and younger who are hospitalized with bronchiolitis and 40% of those over 12 months ...

Rapid reaction: Could a measles outbreak in London affect me?

Figures regularly published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show that cases of measles in England have been rising since the start of 2026. Since 1 January 2026, there have been a total of 158 laboratory-confirmed ...

Life-changing drug identified for children with rare epilepsy

A new experimental treatment for children with a hard-to-treat form of epilepsy is safe and can reduce seizures dramatically, helping them lead much healthier and happier lives, according to the findings of a UCL (University ...

Early sports specialization linked to increased injury risk

Parents of athletic children can protect them from injury by encouraging them to try out a wide variety of sports, a new study says. Repetitive stress from focusing on one sport at a young age increases an athlete's risk ...

More kids, teens injured in e-bike wrecks, study finds

Electronic bikes, also referred to as e-bikes, are zooming in popularity, but they're also responsible for more kids landing in an ER with injuries, a new study says. E-bike injuries have more than tripled in San Diego in ...