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Mosquito bite prevention helps protect children from West Nile virus

In warm climates like Southern California, multiple species of mosquitoes can bite year-round. While telltale red, itchy bumps are the most common side effect of mosquito bites, these pests can also pass diseases, like West Nile virus, on to humans.

28 Oct 2026

Narrow surgical margins may safely remove childhood soft tissue sarcomas

It's a question that surgeons often face: How much surrounding healthy tissue should they take out when removing a patient's cancer to be sure it is fully eliminated? Removing more can sacrifice nearby nerves, blood vessels, tendons and even joints, with lasting effects on quality of life.

28 Oct 2026

Most teens who used AI for mental health support wanted more help

Researchers surveyed 24,132 students in England and found that 2.7% had used general-purpose AI for mental health support during the previous year. Among users who answered the relevant questions, 55.9% rated the support helpful, yet 63.2% wanted additional assistance, with greater unmet needs reported among adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties and social adversity.

28 Oct 2026

UCSF scientists develop smart CAR-T cells to fight childhood brain tumors

Scientists at UC San Francisco have engineered CAR-T cells that stay dormant until they reach the brain, where they switch on and destroy tumor cells.

28 Oct 2026

Rutgers study highlights alarming rise in youth gambling rates

More than half (52.5%) of Americans ages 13 to 27 reported gambling in the past year, including 42.7% of teens ages 13 to 17, according to researchers at the Center for Gambling Studies at the Rutgers School of Social Work.

28 Oct 2026

One in four young Australians experienced physical abuse during childhood

New research shows one in four young people have experienced physical abuse in childhood at the hands of their parents - and most commonly before the age of ten.

27 Oct 2026

Pregnancy night shifts associated with higher risk of developmental abnormalities in children

Working night shifts during pregnancy is linked to a heightened risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities detected by screening in the child by the age of 4, finds research published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

27 Oct 2026

Lab-on-a-chip technology helps predict childhood leukemia treatment responses

More than 120,000 people in the U.S. are living with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 6,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Of those, more than 3,500 will be in children.

27 Oct 2026

Curtin study reveals most childhood physical abuse occurs within families

New Curtin University-led research has revealed most childhood physical abuse in Australia occurs within families - and before children turn 10.

27 Oct 2026

Rutgers study links prenatal wildfire smoke exposure to autism risk

A Rutgers-led analysis of health insurance records found that exposure to fine particles from wildfire smoke during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of autism diagnosis in children, with the strongest associations during the second and third trimesters.

27 Oct 2026

New poll shows which childhood vaccines US parents trust

While support for childhood vaccines is high, concerns about COVID-19 vaccine safety during pregnancy reveal significant public health messaging challenges.

26 Oct 2026

SAFE Structure Designs supports nonprofit providing prosthetic legs to amputees

SAFE Structure Designs, a Las Vegas-based defense engineering and manufacturing company led by President and CEO Johnny Buscema, is supporting 50 Legs as a donor and raising awareness of its work helping children and adults with limb loss access quality prosthetic legs.

24 Oct 2026

Queensland study reveals shifting Australian attitudes toward smacking children

A study published this month shows many Queenslanders believe parents should not be convicted of assault for doing things such as smacking their children for misbehavior.

24 Oct 2026

Children's brain reward responses may explain ultra-processed food-related weight gain

Children who eat more ultra-processed foods (UPFs) show stronger responses in the brain's reward network when viewing images of appetizing foods-and these brain responses are linked to increases in body fat one year later.

23 Oct 2026

New playground design aims to protect children from harmful UV rays

A new design methodology for school playgrounds is demonstrating how children can still enjoy their play time whilst being protected from the harmful effects of the sun.

23 Oct 2026

Maternal stress alters placental pathways affecting fetal brain development

About one in five U.S. women experience maternal mental health conditions, and chronic stress during pregnancy can contribute to risk for both maternal and child health challenges.

23 Oct 2026

Babies born small may face lasting differences in school performance

The study highlights that fetal size, not just gestational age, plays a crucial role in long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes for term-born children.

23 Oct 2026

Nearly three in four popular comfort foods have something in common, researchers find

A US study examining 300 distinct comfort foods identified chips, ice cream, pizza, chocolate, and cookies as the most frequently nominated choices among adults. Researchers found that nearly three-quarters of the foods met hyperpalatability criteria, while approximately 43% were entirely ultra-processed under a strict classification, with relatively small nutritional differences across demographic groups.

22 Oct 2026

Are heavy school bags really to blame for children's back pain?

A study of 221 schoolchildren in the Czech Republic found no statistically significant association between relative school bag weight and back pain, although nearly half reported experiencing back discomfort in the previous month. Longer carrying duration was weakly associated with perceived heaviness, suggesting that bag weight and carrying time capture different aspects of children's experiences.

22 Oct 2026

A study of 802 teens raises questions about school breakfast and blood sugar

A study of 802 U.S. adolescents found that school breakfast participation at least once weekly was associated with a 30% higher prevalence of prediabetes-range glucose markers, while school lunch participation showed no significant association. Higher intakes of vitamins E and B6 and fruit consumption among adolescents with obesity were associated with lower prediabetes prevalence, but none of the reported associations remained statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons.

22 Oct 2026