This Week in Pediatrics
In Talking to Parents About Vaccines, Pediatricians Navigate a Sea of Misinformation - The New York Times
Practitioners nationwide are striving to do what’s best for children’s health, while staying supportive in the face of mistrust and confusion. ... Alissa Parker, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Primary Plus, a community clinic in Ashland, Ky., with Bethany Browning and her todd...
MannKind to Present New Data From Pediatric and Adult Studies of Afrezza® at ATTD 2026 - BioSpace
Refining Care of Type 1 Diabetes: Inhaled Insulin Use in Pediatrics – INHALE-1 Study Saturday, March 14, 2026 - 10:30am CET in Hall 114 Presenter: Roy Beck, MD, PhD · Inhaled Technosphere Insulin Dosing in Youth with T1D ePoster available via gallery on UNLOK, the mobile app, or ...
Journal of Medical Internet Research - Is Going Analog Good for Children and Teens’ Mental Health and Well-Being?
Smartphone ownership, age of smartphone acquisition, and health outcomes in early adolescence. Pediatrics. Jan 1, 2026;157(1):e2025072941. [CrossRef] [Medline] Sun X, Haydel KF, Matheson D, Desai M, Robinson TN. Are mobile phone ownership and age of acquisition associated with ch...
Research of the Day
Early Antibiotic Exposure and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes: A Population-Based Cohort Study
This large population-based cohort study examined over 1.2 million children to investigate the association between antibiotic exposure in the first year of life and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes. The researchers found a modest but statistically significant association between early broad-spectrum antibiotic use and increased risk of ADHD and autism spectrum disorder diagnoses, though the absolute risk increase remained small.
Key findings include: (1) Children exposed to antibiotics in the first year had a 12% increased relative risk of ADHD diagnosis; (2) The association was stronger with repeated courses of broad-spectrum antibiotics; (3) The effect persisted after adjusting for maternal infections and other confounders.
While the study shows an association, causation is not established. The findings support judicious antibiotic use in infants—prescribing when clinically indicated, but avoiding unnecessary courses. This can be part of anticipatory guidance discussions with parents about antibiotics.
Popular Beliefs
Sugar makes children hyperactive
What the evidence shows: Multiple double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have found no significant effect of sugar on behavior or cognitive performance in children, even in those reportedly "sensitive" to sugar. The perceived hyperactivity is often due to the context (parties, holidays) or parental expectations. However, limiting added sugars remains important for dental health and nutrition.
Teething causes high fevers and diarrhea
What the evidence shows: While teething may cause mild symptoms (gum irritation, drooling, slight temperature elevation), it does not cause high fever (>102°F/38.9°C) or diarrhea. These symptoms should prompt evaluation for other causes. Attributing significant illness to teething may delay diagnosis of serious conditions.
Reading to babies is pointless—they don't understand
What the evidence shows: Research consistently demonstrates that reading to infants from birth supports language development, vocabulary acquisition, and later literacy skills. Even before understanding words, babies benefit from hearing language patterns, rhythm, and the bonding experience. The AAP recommends reading aloud beginning in infancy.
Behaviors
Screen Time and Executive Function in Preschoolers: A Longitudinal Analysis
This prospective cohort study followed 850 children from ages 2 to 5 years, examining the relationship between screen time exposure and executive function development. Researchers used validated parent-report measures and direct assessments of working memory, inhibitory control, and cognitive flexibility.
Children with more than 2 hours of daily screen time at age 2 showed lower scores on executive function measures at age 5. Notably, the type of screen content mattered—educational programming showed smaller associations than passive entertainment viewing. Joint parent-child viewing partially mitigated negative effects.
These findings support counseling families on the AAP recommendation of less than 1 hour per day of high-quality programming for children 2-5 years. Emphasize co-viewing and educational content when screens are used. Executive function is crucial for school readiness and later academic success.
Genetics
Gene Therapy Shows Promise for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1
Long-term follow-up data from the Phase 3 clinical trial of onasemnogene abeparvovec gene therapy reveals sustained motor milestone achievements in children with SMA Type 1 treated before 6 months of age. At 5-year follow-up, 94% of early-treated patients maintained the ability to sit independently, and 68% achieved independent walking—outcomes historically unprecedented in untreated SMA Type 1.
The study also reports on safety outcomes, with no new treatment-related serious adverse events emerging after year 2. These results strengthen the case for newborn screening and early intervention in SMA.
This data reinforces the critical importance of early diagnosis and treatment in SMA. Support newborn screening initiatives in your state. For families with SMA history, discuss carrier testing and ensure rapid referral to neuromuscular specialists if symptoms arise.