Children’s Health

A UCLA-led research team has identified dozens of genes, including 16 new genes, that increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder. The findings, published in the journal Cell, were based on a study of families with at least two children with autism. Researchers from UCLA, Stanford University and three other institutions used a technique called

Periumbilical pain is a painful sensation around the belly button. It is a common complaint, and because many conditions can cause it, it may be challenging for doctors to diagnose. In this article, we explore the causes and treatment of periumbilical pain. Also, we will review when a person should seek emergency medical attention. What

Using cutting-edge genomics methods a gene signature predicting type 1 diabetes was discovered. This signature is detectable already before the appearance of type 1 diabetes associated autoantibodies. The finding could help in identifying early on the children who are likely to develop the disease later. The incidence of type 1 diabetes is record high in

Each year, approximately 750 patients are diagnosed with neuroblastoma in North America, the most common form of cancer in infants less than one year old. Neuroblastoma is a disease that originates in immature nerve tissue in the adrenal gland or the sympathetic ganglia located near the spinal cord. The majority of children with neuroblastoma are

Fluoride may lead to a reduction in kidney and liver function among adolescents, according to a study published by Mount Sinai researchers in Environment International in August. The study examined the relationship between fluoride levels in drinking water and blood with kidney and liver health among adolescents participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination

The current methods of diagnosing autism in children use questionnaires and psychologist evaluations. However, these methods can be stressful for those at a young age. New research now suggests an easy, more stress-free test that simply tracks the gaze. Researchers have devised a new, less stressful method of diagnosing autism based on ‘how a child

Dr. Helen Feltovich is a high-risk obstetrician, also known as a maternal-fetal doctor, and she sees women when they are at risk of a preterm birth. Preterm birth recently surpassed infectious diseases as the leading cause of death in children under five years old. It’s a critical global problem, with no easy fix. A preterm

Exposure to C. difficile in infancy produces an immune response that might protect against this gastrointestinal infection later in childhood, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases journal. Researchers found that infants who were naturally exposed to C. difficile in the environment and became colonized with the bacteria had antibodies in their blood.

A new study from researchers at the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children’s looks at the prevalence of abnormal thyroid function in youth with severe mood and anxiety disorder. It is the largest study to date of this population and will help mental health professionals better understand the predictors of abnormal thyroid function, like

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the most common illness that develops in babies born premature with underdeveloped lungs. A chronic disease that may present long-term breathing problems and can be fatal, there is no cure for BPD. However, new data released in 2017 shows a ventilation protocol developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, coupled with the treatment

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling of the joints. It usually begins before the age of 16 years. Symptoms may appear in children or even infants. About 1 in 1,000 children develop some form of arthritis. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is the most common type of arthritis among children. Most doctors now call the condition juvenile

At night Lisa Ostrin’s lab at the University of Houston College of Optometry often looks like the setting of a disco slumber party, a place where a child, aged 7 to 14, accompanied by a guardian, sleeps over and is periodically exposed to blue or red lights. “At night we become a five-star hotel,” said

Pivotal response treatment involving parents works better than other existing therapies at motivating children with autism and significant speech delays to talk, according to the results of a large study by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine. Because children with autism are less socially motivated than typically developing children, parents’ instincts about how

Previous infection with either Zika virus or dengue virus has no apparent effect on the clinical course of subsequent infection with the other virus, according to a study published August 1 in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens by David O’Connor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and colleagues. This work is timely, given recent efforts to

In the midst of an unprecedented Zika crisis in Brazil, there were a few flickers of hope: Some babies appeared to be normal at birth, free of devastating birth defects that affected other Brazilian children exposed to the virus in utero. But according to a study published online July 8, 2019, in Nature Medicine and

Parents and caregivers who notice particular changes or challenges in a 3-year-old may wonder if these could indicate autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately 1 in 59 children. ASD covers a range of conditions that doctors used to believe were different, including autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Behavioral symptoms often develop in early childhood, with

Gathering around the table to eat as a family has all kinds of benefits. Family meals allow parents to be role models who create a supportive environment for the entire family. August is Kids Eat Right Month™ when the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation focus on the importance of healthful eating and

Girls who approach puberty at a more rapid rate than their peers may be at higher risk of migraine, according to new research. New research may have found what triggers migraine in some women. Migraine affects children as well as adults, and statistics show that boys and girls experience the condition at a similar rate

Children can be seen running across parking lots without adult supervision every day, and the consequences can be fatal. In the United States, an estimated 5,000 injuries and 205 fatalities of children age 14 years and younger occur from collisions with vehicles in non-traffic locations, like parking lots, driveways and private property, according to the

There are numerous home remedies that people claim can treat head lice, but there is a lack of scientific evidence to show that these remedies are effective and safe. Research into many of these remedies has produced inconclusive results. Scientists have frequently found that home remedies for lice do not work and may not meet