Children’s Health

Children whose mothers are highly stressed, anxious or depressed during pregnancy may be at higher risk for mental health and behavior issues during their childhood and teen years, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. Our research suggests that psychological distress during the pregnancy period has a small but persistent effect on children’s

A recent study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior discusses the benefits and risks associated with screen time for children. Study: Weighing the risks and benefits of screen time for children. Image Credit: Dusan Petkovic / Shutterstock.com How does screen time affect children? A 2018 survey found that nearly all teenagers in the United States had

In a recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health-Europe, researchers investigated whether smoking during pregnancy or adulthood reduces the likelihood of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) later in life. Prenatal smoking is related to a lower T1D incidence in offspring, possibly due to variables such as low birth weight. It may also lower the

In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers examined the capacity of ensemble learning to anticipate and identify characteristics that impact or contribute to autism spectrum disorder therapy (ASDT) for intervention purposes. Study: On effectively predicting autism spectrum disorder therapy using an ensemble of classifiers. Image Credit: Chinnapong/Shutterstock.com Background ASD is a developmental condition that interferes

For infants, especially those born prematurely, nutrient absorption and proper development go hand in hand. However, no precise measures or clinical tools exist to measure nutrient absorption or to reliably differentiate between benign and life-threatening symptoms in the preterm infant. Robert Chapkin, Ph.D., is leading research to study feeding intolerance in preterm infants. The Chapkin

The gene SYNGAP1, the variants of which are top risk factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), has previously unappreciated effects on the developing brain, according to a new study published in Nature Neuroscience. The study shows how disease-causing variants of SYNGAP1, thought primarily to affect synapses between mature neurons, could disrupt early development in a

Sensitivity to common food allergens such as cow’s milk and peanuts could be an important and previously unappreciated cause of heart disease, new research suggests – and the increased risk for cardiovascular death includes people without obvious food allergies. In a paper published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology that describes analyses led

Emily Bendt was in her third trimester of pregnancy when she first heard the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had approved a new shot for infants to protect them from the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. By Oct. 5, Bendt was cuddling with her new baby, Willow, on the couch at home in Vancouver,

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability worldwide. Each year more than 15 million people worldwide have strokes, and three-quarters of stroke survivors will experience impairment, weakness and paralysis in their arms and hands. Many stroke survivors rely on their stronger arm to complete daily tasks, from carrying groceries to combing their hair, even

IU School of Medicine researchers are taking steps to improve the accessibility and quality of care for adolescents experiencing opioid use disorder (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUDs), thanks to a new $5 million grant from the National Institute of Health’s Helping to End Addiction Long-Term (HEAL) Initiative. The grant will fund the new

Despite national medical guidelines supporting the use of antiviral medications in young children diagnosed with influenza, a new study reports an underuse of the treatment. “Trends in Outpatient Influenza Antiviral Use Among Children and Adolescents in the United States” was published in Pediatrics, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Antiviral treatment, when

In a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, a team of researchers in the United States (U.S.) conducted a cross-sectional study to understand the trends in antiviral usage among adolescents and children suffering from influenza in the U.S. based on dispensing rates and costs. Study: Trends in Outpatient Influenza Antiviral Use Among Children and

Money talks. The United States faces a serious shortage of primary care physicians for many reasons, but one, in particular, is inescapable: compensation. Substantial disparities between what primary care physicians earn relative to specialists like orthopedists and cardiologists can weigh into medical students’ decisions about which field to choose. Plus, the system that Medicare and

In a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers from California evaluated the burden of residual cardiovascular pathology after about six months of treatment for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). The tests performed during the follow-up included cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and ambulatory rhythm monitoring. The researchers found

Prematurity affects about 10% of pregnancies worldwide each year. In about 20% of very low birth weight (VLBW) premature infants, punctate white matter lesions (PWML) can be diagnosed at MRI at term equivalent age. PWML is accompanied by mild impairment in the development of white matter tracts, that can affect both long-term motor and cognitive

The global outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and has claimed more than 6.26 million lives. Households represent a high-risk exposure setting for SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and the role of children in spreading the virus is not known. A new study published in the

A wireless, bioelectronic pacifier could eliminate the need for invasive, twice-daily blood draws to monitor babies’ electrolytes in Newborn Intensive Care Units or NICUs. This smart pacifier can also provide more continuous monitoring of sodium and potassium ion levels. These electrolytes help alert caregivers if babies are dehydrated, a danger for infants, especially those born

Hospitalized children covered by Medicaid who reside in the poorest neighborhoods are at increased risk of being admitted to the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and of dying while there, according to research published at the ATS 2022 international conference. The researchers also found higher mortality rates among Black children treated in PICUs. “We

In a study published in Addiction that analyzed 2015–2018 information from 47 countries, approximately 1 in 12, or 8.6%, of adolescents reported vaping in the past 30 days. Countries with higher tobacco taxes tended to have higher adolescent vaping. The prevalence of frequent vaping was much lower: only 1 in 60, or 1.7%, had vaped

Breastfeeding infants continuously for six months during the rainy season, without including any other foods, may help prevent a disease linked to micronutrient deficiencies, a study suggests. The disease, called environmental enteric dysfunction (EED), is common among children in low-income settings and is linked to poor sanitation, micronutrient deficiencies and low height in children, the