Autism therapy spending quintuples, prompting federal push for state oversight
Medicaid spending on autism therapy quintupled in four years, climbing to $10 billion in 2025 from about $2 billion in 2021, The New York Times reports.
Aug 5, 2026
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Children's health news
School backpack overload: Heavy bags can strain kids' bodies
Backpacks can be fashionable and functional, but they can also be too heavy—weighed down by digital devices, musical instruments, sports equipment and more. Some kids carry home a laptop or tablet and textbooks, too.
Aug 5, 2026
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Social media algorithms expose many adolescents to self-harm content, study finds
Digital technologies have profoundly transformed how adolescents acquire information and interact with each other outside school. Numerous preteens and teenagers worldwide access social media platforms daily to read posts, ...
Like Zika, Oropouche virus can also affect the brains of unborn babies
Discovered in 1955, the Oropouche virus has circulated mainly in the Amazon, causing a febrile illness virtually indistinguishable from those caused by dengue, Zika and chikungunya, viruses also transmitted by biting mosquitoes.
Aug 4, 2026
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Overweight and obesity in childhood associated with increased risk of childlessness in adulthood
A study of nearly 61,000 women in Denmark finds that women who had a body mass index (BMI) trajectory in the overweight or obesity range during childhood were less likely to have children than women with a normal (average) ...
Aug 4, 2026
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A good night's sleep may help adolescents thrive in school and with friends
A new UC Davis Health study published in Psychological Medicine suggests that when it comes to helping adolescents succeed in school and maintain healthy friendships, sleep may matter more than screen time, exercise or diet. ...
Aug 4, 2026
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Social bonds, recognition linked to reduced suicidal thoughts in teens
Nearly one in five teenagers has suicidal thoughts, and suicide is the second most common cause of death for that age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Social bonds and social recognition, ...
Aug 4, 2026
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Almost half of child mental health patients need adult specialist care
Four in 10 children who attend Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Scotland go on to attend specialist psychiatric services as adults, according to new research. This figure increases for teenagers, with ...
Aug 4, 2026
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Q&A: AI use surging for mental health help among young people
The question is no longer whether young people are using AI for mental health care, but the soundness of the advice they receive, health officials say.
Aug 4, 2026
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Nurses call for a prevention-focused approach to child health
Currently, the U.S. health care system is very reactive, mainly treating people, including children, after they become sick rather than preventing illness. School nurse expert Erin Maughan and colleagues in the American Academy ...
Aug 4, 2026
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