This Week in Pediatrics
University of Utah Health and Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital Expand Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension and Cardiology Care | University of Utah Health
Sep 25, 2026 · University of Utah Health and Intermountain Health Primary Children’s Hospital are expanding specialized care, research, and clinical expertise for children facing pediatric pulmonary hypertension and complex cardiac conditions across the Mountain West....
Why the First 1000 Days Decide the Fate of Global Health Equity
Malnutrition is directly linked to 45 percent of under-five deaths, and the under-five mortality rate in low- and middle-income countries stands 14 times higher than in high-income nations.
Measles Cases and Outbreaks | Measles (Rubeola) | CDC
However, vaccination coverage among U.S. kindergartners has decreased from 95.2% during the 2019–2020 school year to 92.4% in the 2025–2026 school year, leaving approximately 280,000 kindergartners at risk during the 2025–2026 school year.
Research of the Day
School Start Times and Adolescent Mental Health: A Natural Experiment
This natural experiment followed 50,000 high school students before and after a district-wide shift to later school start times (8:30am vs 7:15am). Students gained an average of 45 minutes of sleep per night and showed significant improvements in mental health markers over the 2-year study period.
Key findings: (1) 27% reduction in depressive symptoms; (2) 34% decrease in suicidal ideation reports; (3) Improved academic performance and attendance. Effects were most pronounced in students getting 8+ hours of sleep.
These data support advocating for developmentally appropriate school start times. Middle and high school students need 8-10 hours of sleep—counsel families on sleep hygiene and the importance of adequate rest for mental health.
Popular Beliefs
ADD/ADHD is caused by poor parenting or too much sugar
What the evidence shows: ADHD has strong genetic and neurobiological components. While environment can influence symptom severity, poor parenting and diet do not cause ADHD. Evidence-based treatments include behavioral therapy and, when appropriate, medication. Blaming parents is harmful and delays effective intervention.
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.
Vaccines cause autism
What the evidence shows: This thoroughly debunked claim originated from a fraudulent 1998 study. Multiple large-scale studies involving millions of children have found no association between vaccines and autism. The original study was retracted and its author lost his medical license. Vaccines are safe and essential.
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
Genetic Testing in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Sports Participation Guidance
Updated guidelines incorporate genetic testing results into sports participation decisions for young athletes with HCM. Some genetically positive but phenotypically negative individuals may safely participate in athletics with appropriate monitoring.
Key findings: (1) Risk stratification improved with genetic markers; (2) Shared decision-making framework more nuanced than previous blanket restrictions; (3) Regular cardiac monitoring essential regardless of sport participation.
Genetic testing can refine, but not eliminate, cardiac risk assessment. Refer to cardiology for any athlete with suspected or confirmed HCM. Shared decision-making with families is appropriate.