Early screening for autism can speed up diagnosis and treatment, and now new research shows that pediatricians are more likely to act when parents express concerns. According to pediatricians surveyed in the study, only 39% of toddlers who had failed a screening looking for autism signs were then referred to additional expert evaluation. “The lack…  read on >  read on >

There’s good news and bad on rates of head injuries among America’s bike-riding public: Rates for these injuries have sharply declined among kids but barely budged among the growing number of adult bike riders. Between 2009 and 2018, increasing helmet use, construction of dedicated bike lanes in cities and other safety interventions have greatly reduced…  read on >  read on >

Though some think that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes, Canadian research suggests it could raise the risk of developing asthma or having asthma attacks for teens and adults. “Emerging research really suggests that vaping may actually worsen preexisting health conditions such as asthma,” said study author Teresa To, senior scientist in…  read on >  read on >

When the COVID-19 pandemic kept young kids indoors, their time spent watching TV and other screens rose dramatically. That’s the finding of a new study that investigated the screen time of kindergarteners from low-income families in Ohio. The researchers found that their use of television, video, movies, short clips, and apps or games on any…  read on >  read on >

Frequent middle-ear infections are the nemesis of many parents and young children. Now a new study suggests that a common treatment — “ear tubes” — may not prevent future bouts. Middle-ear infections (or acute otitis media) are second only to the common cold in creating childhood misery. They occur when the air-filled space behind the…  read on >  read on >

In a decision that clears the way for schools to reopen safely next fall, U.S. health officials on Wednesday gave their final stamp of approval for Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine to be offered to children aged 12 to 15. The decision, which makes millions more young Americans eligible for immunization, came as COVID-19 cases and deaths…  read on >  read on >

Like certain health conditions including cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure, new research shows that having HIV or AIDS increases a person’s risk of catching and dying from COVID-19. For the study, researchers from Penn State College of Medicine assessed data from 22 previous studies of 21 million participants in North America, Africa, Europe and…  read on >  read on >

Bacteria don’t set up house in the human gut until after birth, a new study finds. Gut bacteria are vital for digestion and overall health, but when researchers examined the stool (meconium) from 20 infants collected during breech cesarean deliveries, they found these critical germs show up in the gut after birth, not before. “The…  read on >  read on >