https://medicalxpress.com/pediatrics-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Pediatrics The roots of childhood obesity may begin in the womb. New research led by the George Mason University College of Public Health found that children whose mothers entered pregnancy with obesity were 64% more likely to become overweight or obese by age 3. Excessive weight gain during pregnancy was associated with a 39% increase in that risk. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-maternal-obesity-linked-childhood.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:20:06 EDT news701440055 For children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic, relapsing condition of the gastrointestinal tract, getting the right diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical evaluation, imaging, endoscopy and histopathology. Identifying reliable blood-based diagnostic tools remains an important unmet clinical need. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-blood-protein-signature-invasive-diagnosis.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:20:01 EDT news701450101 Two new studies jointly published in Nature Communications reveal that certain species of fungi in the gut play a key role in the development of immune dysregulation and some pediatric allergic diseases—and may be promising targets for new therapies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gut-fungi-key-asthma-worldwide.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:20:06 EDT news701444342 In the hours following sexual assault, teens may face difficult decisions about seeking medical care and whether to undergo a forensic exam that could support a future investigation or prosecution. Understanding their ability to consent to these services can be complicated, as laws vary widely from state to state. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-state-laws-vary-widely-adolescent.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:10:01 EDT news701448722 A new Columbia University School of Nursing systematic review reveals access to fertility preservation (FP) care remains limited and unequal for girls and young women with cancer. The research article, "Fertility Preservation Access Among Female Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: A Systematic Review," was published in Cancer on June 23, 2026. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-fertility-girls-young-women-cancer.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:20:01 EDT news701438042 Every parent wants to raise healthy kids who then grow up to become healthy adults. But when a third of children in the U.S. are either overweight or obese, that goal seems increasingly elusive. A new University at Buffalo study, covering 40 years of data and more than 1,000 families in different regions in the U.S., reveals that the family-based behavioral treatment developed at UB for children and parents who are overweight or obese can prevent children from developing metabolic disease when they grow up. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-family-based-behavioral-treatment-children.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:40:23 EDT news701439768 The association between parents' body mass index (BMI) and their children's childhood BMI may be primarily due to genetic inheritance rather than any direct biological effect of parental weight during pregnancy, according to a new study published in PLOS Medicine by Tom Bond of the University of Bristol in the U.K. and colleagues from the University of Queensland in Australia and elsewhere. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-link-parents-children-weight-genetic.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 14:00:11 EDT news701343182 Managing a medical supply chain in low- and middle-income countries can mean navigating a landscape prone to extreme and unexpected disruptions. In Sierra Leone, for instance, external forces ranging from an attempted military coup and an infectious disease outbreak to a widespread electricity outage can complicate public health logistics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-ai-health-logistics-middle-income.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:40:05 EDT news701433181 Health experts warn that children's mental health in England has reached crisis levels, as a new report reveals children in the North are more likely to experience mental health difficulties than those in the South, according to a report led by the University of Manchester. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-children-mental-health-crisis-fueling.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:00:02 EDT news701427482 For decades, researchers have been trying to understand the biological roots of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a common neurodevelopmental condition that shapes how people communicate, learn and interact with the world. One of the major hurdles is that the brain's neural networks are extraordinarily complex. Existing models still lack the detail needed to capture both the brain's structure and its dynamic activity in a unified manner. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-anatomically-accurate-digital-twin-year.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:40:01 EDT news701427427 In the ongoing effort to find new therapeutics for infants born infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, an international team of investigators has discovered that babies can tolerate treatment with anti-HIV antibodies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-hiv-bay-approach-explores-broadly.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:40:03 EDT news701346396 "Primary teeth provide a unique timeline of early life," Dr. Synnøve Stokke Jensen at the University of Bergen says. "They preserve information from pregnancy and childhood that cannot be captured retrospectively in other ways. This allows us to investigate environmental exposures during sensitive developmental periods with unprecedented detail." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-naturally-baby-teeth-key-early.html Tue, 23 Jun 2026 09:20:01 EDT news701423941 New research examining almost 4,700 e-scooter-related emergency department presentations in the state of Victoria found injuries among children ages 2 to 14 rose from 64 cases in 2022 to 263 in 2025, even though children younger than 16 are prohibited from riding e-scooters on roads. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-scooter-injuries-toll-hospitals.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 08:00:03 EDT news701328782 Adolescents and young adults (AYA) living with and beyond cancer have unique needs and perspectives that clinicians should be aware of when providing health care. A practice article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal provides easy-reference guidance on how to support this demographic of people ages 15 to 39. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-advice-physicians-teens-young-adults.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:10:01 EDT news701017081 As a child and adolescent development researcher with a social work background, University of Delaware Assistant Professor Jin Yao Kwan understands how true the familiar proverb "it takes a village to raise a child" is for parents. With Father's Day around the corner, Kwan shares findings from his research and practice that show just how valuable that village is for reducing stress. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-parenting-parental-stress.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:00:01 EDT news701074867 Getting enough exercise is one of the most important things we can do for our health. Yet many people around the world are not active enough. Around 1 in 3 adults fail to meet the recommended levels of physical activity, while 4 in 5 children ages 11–17 do not achieve the recommended average of 60 minutes a day. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-45minute-family-session-boost-skills.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:00:02 EDT news701076184 Placing a baby on their stomach in the prone position can help them breathe more comfortably. With the chest facing down and the back facing up, this position takes pressure off the lungs, allowing for better oxygen exchange and helping fluid drain more effectively. In a randomized clinical trial, named PROPOSITIS, researchers investigated whether the prone sleeping position could help very young babies with a lung infection called bronchiolitis, not to be confused with bronchitis. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-babies-hospitalized-bronchiolitis-stomach-benefit.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 10:00:10 EDT news701079404 A study led by UTSW sheds light on why children with certain complex congenital heart defects are at risk for long-term lung complications and points to a potential path for improving outcomes. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-blood-lung-health-children-heart.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 08:00:01 EDT news701066761 A new gene therapy has been used to successfully treat a deadly childhood liver disease in mice that model the disease, according to researchers at UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Arthrogryposis, renal dysfunction and cholestasis (ARC) syndrome is a lethal genetic disorder usually caused by a lack of the VPS33B protein, with children diagnosed with the condition rarely living beyond their first year of life. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-gene-therapy-arc-syndrome-deadly.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 05:00:01 EDT news701013761 Brief videos shown in the hospital newborn nursery may be an effective way to educate first-time fathers on infant care topics, such as safe sleep, infant crying and car safety, according to a pilot study published in the journal Pediatrics Open Science. These topics were selected as common parental knowledge gaps and successful targets of previous educational interventions for mothers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-videos-dads-infant-safety-newborn.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:10:01 EDT news700989422 A new study from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences demonstrates a novel approach in anticancer vaccine development. The results, published in Molecular Therapy Oncology, present the first preclinical evidence showing the efficacy of an mRNA vaccine in targeting neuroblastoma, the deadliest childhood cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-anticancer-vaccine-early-success-neuroblastoma.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:20:01 EDT news701014621 Trans-vaccenic acid (TVA), the most abundant trans fatty acid found in human breast milk, helps boost immune system development and has long-lasting effects on immune system health in mice, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Chicago. The study, published in Science, showed that nursing female mice fed a diet enriched with TVA passed the nutrient to their pups, leading to increased production of immune cells during early development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-diet-derived-nutrient-breast-immune.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:30:01 EDT news701020021 A new study from Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago highlights the critical role paid paternal leave plays in supporting new dads' mental health following the birth of their baby. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-paid-paternal-linked-mental-health.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:00:09 EDT news700989662 UNIGE scientists have discovered that children with autism exhibit different brain patterns depending on their language abilities. This discovery could improve predictions of their language development. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-brain-reveal-language-autistic-children.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:40:06 EDT news701010431 Drug awareness and prevention programs have often relied on shock tactics—graphic stories, fear-based messaging and one-time assemblies meant to scare students into avoiding illicit drugs. But evidence suggests those approaches rarely lead to lasting behavior change. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-opioid-misuse-youth-groups-focus.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 14:40:01 EDT news701010448 Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common, chronic respiratory condition that occurs in premature newborns with underdeveloped lungs. BPD can affect growth and/or neurodevelopment and is sometimes fatal. Early, personalized treatments could help many of these children. However, it's not always clear which babies are at risk for BPD. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-premature-infants-bronchopulmonary-dysplasia.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:08 EDT news701002442 Indiana University School of Medicine cancer researchers have identified a potential way to use existing, accessible drugs to combat juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) by targeting a specific inflammatory pathway. The findings, published in the journal Blood, open the door to more effective treatment options for this rare and aggressive childhood blood cancer, especially for high-risk pediatric patients who currently face limited options. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-proteins-fueling-rare-childhood-leukemia.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 10:40:01 EDT news700994787 Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine found caregivers of children hospitalized for cancer and blood disorders may experience food insecurity during their child's stay, even if they don't face that issue at home, and it could be linked to longer stays. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-caregivers-children-hospitalized-cancer-blood.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:20:01 EDT news700992722 A new study has assessed whether exposure to their own reflection influences the development of facial mimicry, a process associated with empathy and emotion recognition, in 4-month-old infants. The results showed that infants exposed to their own reflection showed greater increases in sensorimotor cortex activity when observing others' facial expressions, but this did not translate into increased facial copying behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-mirror-babies.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 19:20:04 EDT news700922343 Adolescence is a critical stage when many lifelong challenges first emerge, including mental health difficulties. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-06-barriers-mental-health-awareness-young.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 18:00:02 EDT news700921177