https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. The latest monthly report from ECDC for December 2025 shows that between January and December 2025, 7 655 measles cases were reported by 30 countries. Eight of these individuals died following measles infection: four in France, three in Romania, and one in the Netherlands. While the total number of infections in 2025 represents a significant decrease compared with the more than 35 000 cases in 2024, it is almost double the cases reported in 2023. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-community-ongoing-measles-transmission-europe.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:40:04 EST news689867961 In infants and toddlers who had a stroke before birth or as a newborn (28 days or younger), a treatment that combined restricting the use of the stronger arm with intensive task-oriented physical therapy led to improved function and skill gained on the weak side compared to standard care, according to preliminary late-breaking science presented at the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference 2026, held Feb. 4–6, 2026, in New Orleans. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-high-dose-therapy-benefits-infants.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 20:10:02 EST news689849919 The Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health at IU Indianapolis has released updated findings on childhood obesity trends through 2024. The new report shows that while the sharp pandemic-era increase in obesity rates has stabilized, overall prevalence remains significantly higher than before COVID-19. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-pandemic-era-childhood-obesity-gains.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 17:20:01 EST news689867332 Eating is a social event. Whether it's a night out with friends or an evening at home enjoying family dinner, conversation goes well with food. But what if, in the middle of laughter and big bites, someone suddenly began to choke? Would you know what to do? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-evidence.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 11:43:24 EST news689859781 A new multicenter study led by Zachary Binder, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, provides compelling evidence that an ultrasound-guided nerve block can dramatically improve pain control for children with femur fractures, while reducing their need for opioids by nearly 75%. Published in Academic Emergency Medicine, the study is the first large, prospective evaluation of the technique in pediatric emergency settings and offers a promising new approach to managing one of childhood's most painful injuries. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-nerve-blocks-sharply-pain-opioid.html Sun, 08 Feb 2026 15:20:01 EST news689512376 Where kids are born in a family can be important. But it is not just about who gets more grown-up privileges or parental pressure. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-younger-siblings-screens-big-sisters.html Sat, 07 Feb 2026 08:00:06 EST news689338422 The benefits of physical activity for children are enormous. As researchers of physical education (PE)—and ex-PE teachers—we know evidence shows it can have a positive impact on mental and physical health, social relationships, emotional control and confidence, as well as on academic performance. Why not make movement the framework that the rest of the school day is built upon? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-physical-boost-children-health-central.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 16:50:01 EST news689596055 Measles is now extending beyond families with young children, with outbreaks reported on college campuses and communities across the country. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-measles-college-campuses-cases-states.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:40:01 EST news689520898 A new study examines how COVID-19 restrictions affected children and adolescents' movement skills, analyzing measured changes in motor competence before and after lockdowns, school closures and reduced access to physical activity. The analysis, published in the Journal of Sport Sciences identifies a consistent decline in motor competence following pandemic restrictions. It suggests that there was a trend of reduced ability to balance and move well—that is, to jump, hop, run and skip. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-covid-restrictions-linked-global-decline.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 17:20:02 EST news689512433 Children who experience malevolent wartime living conditions, and wartime violence in particular, are more likely than adolescents or young adults to develop chronic pain later in life, according to a new study by a University at Buffalo researcher. The paper published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior provides new insights into warfare's lifelong health consequences, particularly for noncombatants, with critical policy implications related to postwar recovery efforts. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-childhood-war-exposure-pain.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:38:31 EST news689517481 A newborn baby died from a listeria infection likely linked to the child's mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy, health officials said. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-newborn-death-linked-mom-raw.html Thu, 05 Feb 2026 04:18:21 EST news689487447 A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev suggests that oxytocin measured in hair samples may provide insight into the emotional connection between parents and young children. The study examined whether chronic oxytocin levels—reflecting hormone secretion over several months—are associated with the quality of parent–child interaction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-hair-oxytocin-parentchild-emotional-bond.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:04 EST news689437849 Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine report in Science Advances a breakthrough in human norovirus (HuNoV) research. Norovirus is a leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide with severe outcomes mostly among young children, the elderly, and people with weakened or compromised immune systems. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-major-obstacle-human-norovirus.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 14:00:02 EST news689322062 A team led by UCL researchers with Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and Moorfields Eye Hospital, found B cells—alongside T cells—play a key role in arthritis-related eye disease (JIA uveitis), a condition that can cause long-term vision loss in children. The study challenges how the disease has been previously understood, and could open the door to new treatments that help protect children's sight. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-cells-sight-threatening-arthritis-children.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:25:24 EST news689430301 A Case Western Reserve University professor has developed an innovative card deck designed to help children manage stress and build emotional resilience in today's challenging world. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-card-deck-empowers-kids-tackle.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 09:35:44 EST news689420101 Life-saving antibiotics that could treat severe infections in babies and children aren't accessible due to a lack of data around safety and dosage, new research shows. Two wide sweeping reviews, led by Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the Australasian KIDS DOSE consortium, have discovered the barriers children are experiencing in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands when accessing treatment for the antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections deemed the highest priority by the World Health Organization. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-clinical-gaps-life-antibiotics-children.html Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:28:03 EST news689333221 The flu is hitting kids hard this season. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-kids-died-flu-season-child.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 22:40:01 EST news689257952 With months left of flu season, influenza cases are on the rise in California and transmission is high in the San Francisco Bay Area, data shows. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-flu-cases-california-doctors-urge.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:20:03 EST news689238918 While lead exposure in children has been associated with cognitive and behavioral problems, few studies have examined later psychiatric symptoms. A new analysis led by researchers at Brown University's School of Public Health found that increased concentrations of lead in the blood during childhood were associated with increased depressive symptoms in adolescence. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-childhood-exposure-depressive-symptoms-adolescence.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 14:44:47 EST news689265842 Investigators based at Monash Children's Hospital and Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne report that a once-daily intranasal saline spray resolved obstructive sleep-disordered breathing symptoms in nearly one-third of children over six weeks. No added benefit was observed from adding an intranasal steroid for children whose symptoms persisted. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-saline-nasal-spray-disordered-children.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:30:01 EST news689257618 Autistic children may be nonverbal or not have the words or other typical communication strategies to clearly explain their feelings. Researchers from Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and UNSW Sydney have found that hair cortisol levels may complement behavioral assessments for determining the impact of chronic stress. The research is published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-hair-cortisol-complement-behavior-gauge.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 11:20:01 EST news689253484 A new study addresses the puzzle of why heavy drinking throughout pregnancy leads to widely varying outcomes for children. Even in the context of heavy and consistent prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), children may be severely affected, less affected, or seemingly not affected at all. Some of the variation can be explained by the quantity, frequency, and gestational timing of drinking during pregnancy, and genetic variations affecting mothers' alcohol metabolism. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-inadequate-nutrition-linked-worse-outcomes.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 10:02:02 EST news689248861 The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently released updated guidelines on digital ecosystems for children and adolescents, mostly shifting away from firm screen time limits to a more nuanced approach focused on the quality of content. The new report, published in the journal Pediatrics, continues to warn parents of the dangers of children absorbing content that is more commercialized and algorithmic, as these addictive features can produce negative consequences. However, child-centered designs that encourage critical thinking, are age appropriate and foster social connection can provide benefits. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-qa-psychologist-guidance-screen-children.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 09:42:49 EST news689247722 The Department of Public Health has confirmed the first measles case this year in Los Angeles County. Officials say the person who tested positive for measles had recently traveled outside the country. The department is now working to identify people who may have been in contact with the individual and are checking their vaccination status. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-health-department-measles-case-los.html Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:14:07 EST news689238781 You might say you have a "bad memory" because you don't remember what cake you had at your last birthday party or the plot of a movie you watched last month. On the other hand, you might precisely recall the surface temperature of the sun any time when asked. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-deeply-memory.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 12:40:01 EST news688912649 Americans believe that the family as a whole—especially a spouse or partner—is responsible for caring for an older adult. Biological and stepchildren have the next highest levels of obligation, according to a new University of Michigan study. Even though with lighter responsibilities, many believe that lifelong friends should also pitch in. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-americans-families-shoulder-elder.html Sun, 01 Feb 2026 10:40:01 EST news688916386 Powered intracapsular tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (PITA) is associated with higher rates of fever one week postoperatively compared with cold adenotonsillectomy in children, according to a study published online Dec. 30 in Clinical Otolaryngology. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-fever-elevated-powered-intracapsular-tonsillectomy.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:10:01 EST news688997359 Freezing temperatures and long-term power outages can quickly create dangerous health situations. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-cold-youve-lost-power-emergency.html Sat, 31 Jan 2026 05:00:01 EST news689057588 Three more measles cases have been confirmed in Snohomish County after an outbreak began two weeks ago, public health officials said on Jan. 28. Earlier in January, three children in Snohomish County tested positive for measles after being exposed to a contagious family visiting from South Carolina, where a massive ongoing outbreak has infected nearly 800 people since October. The Snohomish County kids, who are between 23 months and 9 years old, were not vaccinated and are recovering at home. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-washington-state-measles-outbreak.html Fri, 30 Jan 2026 06:20:02 EST news688973618 Each year, 20,000 children and adolescents across the U.S. lose a parent to gun violence, while an estimated two to three times more have a parent who has been injured due to a firearm. To better understand the mental health impact of parental firearm injury, investigators from Mass General Brigham analyzed records from a large health insurance database, finding that in the year following a parent's injury, children had increases in psychiatric diagnoses and mental health visits, especially if the parent had suffered a severe injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-parental-firearm-injury-linked-mental.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 17:00:01 EST news688639621