Updated policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended actions to strengthen pediatric trauma systems, including addressing disparities in care, enhancing mental health support and improving pediatric readiness in emergency services. The recommendations, published in the journal Pediatrics, also urged prehospital and hospital clinicians to "make every effort to stay current in the management of injured children."

Prenatal exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos can significantly impair brain development and motor skills in children, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology. Researchers found that children exposed to chlorpyrifos in the womb show altered neuron development, reduced blood flow to the brain, and changes in brain structure.

In very low birth weight infants, probiotics significantly reduced antibiotic-resistance genes and multidrug-resistant pathogens in the gut, according to a study in Nature Communications. Infants who received probiotics showed a higher levels of beneficial bacteria, suggesting probiotics' potential role in antimicrobial stewardship for preterm infants.

A study in JAMA Network Open said that exclusive breastfeeding, for the first 4 to 6 months of an infant's life, was associated with a lower risk of central precocious puberty in boys and girls. The risk of early puberty was higher in children who were formula-fed or mixed-fed, with prepubertal adiposity mediating part of the association.

Over-the-counter allergy medications have made it easier for families to manage mild to moderate allergic rhinitis in children, but clinicians still have an important role in providing guidance and recognizing when specialist care is needed. Referral indicators include coexisting allergic conditions, persistent symptoms despite appropriate medication use, and sleep disruption due to nasal congestion.

Higher intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is linked to a lower risk of myopia in children, according to a study in the British Journal of Ophthalmology. The research, which involved more than 1,000 children in Hong Kong, found that those in the highest quartile of omega-3 intake had shorter axial lengths, compared with those in the lowest quartile, suggesting less myopia.

The Vaccine Integrity Project at the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy has released a comprehensive review affirming the safety and efficacy of influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and COVID-19 vaccines. The review's findings support the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 6 months to 23 months and for those ages 2 to 18 who are in certain risk categories.

Health stations in pharmacies and at an international sporting event helped identify uncontrolled risk factors for heart disease in nearly 70% of young adults, researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study, which involved more than 76,000 participants, highlighted the effectiveness of community-based screenings in detecting high blood pressure and other risk factors.

The CMS will be sending lists to states each month identifying Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program enrollees "whose citizenship or immigration status could not be confirmed through federal databases," according to a CMS news release. The CMS has instructed state program administrators to verify the citizenship or immigration status of people on the list and adjust coverage or disenroll ineligible people.

The New York State Department of Health is increasing awareness of congenital syphilis after reporting 21 cases and three infant deaths this year in upstate New York. Health Commissioner James McDonald emphasizes the importance of prenatal care and testing, but he notes a shortage of the penicillin needed for treatment.