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Childhood vaccination rates, a rare health bright spot in struggling states, are slipping

Jen Fisher can do only so much to keep her son safe from the types of infections that children can encounter at school. The rest, she said, is up to other students and parents in their hometown of Franklin, Tennessee.

16 Jan 2025

Air pollution before conception may increase child BMI

In a study of more than 5,000 mothers and their children, exposure to air pollution during the three months before pregnancy predicted higher child body mass index (BMI) and related obesity risk factors up to two years of age.

15 Jan 2025

Dexter software platform reveals connection between early life trauma and immune disorders

University of Birmingham venture Dexter has demonstrated the power of its Dexter software platform in a study showing that people whose childhoods featured abuse, neglect or domestic abuse carry a significantly increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis in later life.

15 Jan 2025

Scientists unveil global patterns in early-life gut microbial evolution

Scientists reveal that early-life gut microbiome development follows universal patterns, paving the way for new benchmarks in child health assessments.

15 Jan 2025

Study links epigenetic mechanism to placental blood vessel development

If the development of blood vessels in the placenta is impaired, fetal growth retardation may result. Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Mannheim Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University discovered that the correct development of functioning blood vessels in the mouse placenta is controlled epigenetically: One of the enzymes that modify gene activity using methyl groups is responsible.

15 Jan 2025

IVF and ICSI pregnancies show higher exposure to teratogenic medicines

A new Australian study has revealed a potential reason why some pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive technology (ART) may result in birth defects in comparison to naturally conceived pregnancies.

15 Jan 2025

Researchers uncover new mutation mechanism driving cancer progression

Osteosarcoma is a type of aggressive bone cancer that most commonly affects children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 20, during times of rapid bone growth. Although rare, it has a significant impact on young people and their families as treatment can require surgery or amputation.

15 Jan 2025

No short-term benefit found for PCT-guided antibiotic treatment in children

A groundbreaking UK study in The Lancet has examined whether an additional blood test called procalcitonin (PCT) could safely shorten the time children spend on intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospitals.

15 Jan 2025

Australia sees a decline in type 2 diabetes, but disparities persist

Type 2 diabetes incidence in Australia decreased from 2010 to 2019 overall but rose among younger men and specific ethnic groups, highlighting persistent disparities.

13 Jan 2025

New push for stricter chemical laws to shield kids from harmful exposure

Research highlights the rising impact of synthetic chemicals on children's health, linking them to noncommunicable diseases and advocating for stringent global regulations.

13 Jan 2025

Study highlights the need for clearer diagnosis and treatment of preschool wheeze

A study led by Aston University's Dr Gemma Heath and Dr Prasad Nagakumar from Birmingham Children's Hospital, has shown that treatment and diagnosis for preschool wheeze needs more effective evidence-based guidelines.

13 Jan 2025

Research highlights changing trends in ADHD diagnoses among adolescents and adults

New research identifies differing trends in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses among adolescents and adults, including an increase among adults from 2020 to 2023.

13 Jan 2025

Obesity at cancer diagnosis linked to higher risk of death in children

A recent population-based study indicates that among children with cancer, those with obesity at the time of diagnosis may face an elevated risk of dying.

13 Jan 2025

Teens face body image crisis as social media fuels dissatisfaction globally

Study investigates body dissatisfaction among youth in six countries, revealing strong associations with social media use and sociodemographics, emphasizing a global need for interventions.

12 Jan 2025

Teacher donates liver to save former student's life

When 5-year-old Ezra Toczek from Alden, New York, faced complications of progressive liver disease, his former daycare teacher, Carissa Fisher, became an unexpected hero.

11 Jan 2025

Procalcitonin test fails to shorten antibiotic use in hospitalized children

A groundbreaking UK study led by the University of Liverpool has examined whether an additional blood test called procalcitonin (PCT) could safely shorten the time children spend on intravenous (IV) antibiotics in hospitals.

9 Jan 2025

Parvovirus B19 myocarditis cases reported in preschoolers from Northern Greece

Myocarditis is a rare yet serious condition known for the inflammation of the heart muscle, also known as the myocardium. In severe cases of myocarditis, the heart muscle becomes extremely weak and fails to pump blood effectively.

9 Jan 2025

Maternal medications linked to changes in protein and fat levels in human milk

The impact of maternal antidepressant and anti-inflammatory use on breast milk composition shows reduced protein and fat levels, affecting infant nutrition.

9 Jan 2025

Climate change threatens the mental well-being of youths. Here’s how to help them cope.

We've all read the stories and seen the images: The life-threatening heat waves. The wildfires of unprecedented ferocity.

9 Jan 2025

A new framework for assessing the impact of chemicals on child health

Nations must start testing and regulating chemicals and chemical products as closely as the current systems that safeguard prescription drugs or risk rising rates of chronic illnesses among children, according to a New England Journal of Medicine report by a group of experts writing as the Consortium for Children's Environmental Health.

9 Jan 2025