This Week in Pediatrics
As Texas vaccination rates fall, vulnerable children face growing risk – Houston Public Media
The move garnered immediate backlash from medical and public health groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which publicly split with the CDC and issued its own childhood-vaccine recommendations.
CDC Reduces US Childhood Immunization Schedule From 17 to 11 Diseases | AJMC
“All vaccines currently recommended by CDC will remain covered by insurance without cost sharing,” Mehmet Oz, MD, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said in a statement.
Infectious Insights: Measles resurgence, vaccine hesitancy dominate pediatric infectious disease concerns | Contemporary Pediatrics
“As of May 7, 1,842 confirmed cases have been reported in 2026 and 2,002 88 cases in 2025,” Tan said during the podcast, noting that most reported cases occurred in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccine status.1
Research of the Day
Probiotics for Infantile Colic: Randomized Controlled Trial of L. reuteri
This double-blind RCT enrolled 400 breastfed infants with colic to evaluate Lactobacillus reuteri supplementation. Infants receiving the probiotic showed significantly reduced crying time compared to placebo, with effects observed within 7 days of treatment initiation.
Key findings: (1) Mean crying time reduced by 51 minutes/day at 21 days; (2) 73% of treatment group had crying <3 hours/day vs 36% placebo; (3) No adverse events reported. Effect was specific to breastfed infants.
L. reuteri may be considered for breastfed infants with colic after excluding other causes. This is one of several evidence-based interventions alongside feeding adjustments, carrying techniques, and parental support.
Popular Beliefs
Children outgrow ADHD
What the evidence shows: While symptoms often change with age, approximately 60% of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms into adulthood. Hyperactivity typically decreases, but inattention and impulsivity often persist. Ongoing monitoring and treatment adjustment is important across the lifespan.
Organic food is significantly more nutritious
What the evidence shows: Organic foods have lower pesticide residues, but studies show minimal nutritional differences compared to conventional foods. What matters most for health is eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whether organic or conventional.
Green mucus means bacterial infection requiring antibiotics
What the evidence shows: Mucus color changes naturally during viral infections and does not reliably distinguish viral from bacterial causes. Green/yellow mucus indicates immune cell activity, which occurs in both viral and bacterial infections. Antibiotics should be prescribed based on clinical criteria, not mucus color.
Behaviors
Green Space Exposure and Mental Health in Urban Adolescents
This longitudinal study followed 5,000 urban adolescents over 4 years, using GPS tracking to measure green space exposure. Greater exposure to parks and nature was associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety, independent of socioeconomic factors.
Key findings: (1) 20% lower depression risk with daily green space exposure; (2) Benefits dose-dependent—more exposure meant better outcomes; (3) Active use (sports, walking) showed greater benefits than passive exposure.
Encourage outdoor time as part of mental health promotion. For families in urban areas, identify nearby parks and green spaces. Nature exposure is an accessible, cost-effective mental health intervention.
Genetics
Polygenic Risk Scores and ADHD: Clinical Utility Analysis
Large GWAS analysis demonstrates polygenic risk scores for ADHD have limited current clinical utility for diagnosis but may help identify children at risk for severe or persistent symptoms. Environmental factors remain critically important.
Key findings: (1) Polygenic scores explain ~10% of ADHD variance; (2) Higher scores associated with earlier onset and persistence; (3) Not useful as diagnostic test—clinical evaluation remains gold standard.
Genetics is one piece of the ADHD puzzle but doesn't replace clinical assessment. Avoid overinterpreting direct-to-consumer genetic tests. Family history remains the most useful genetic 'test' for ADHD risk.