A retrospective study found that 96.8% of infants and toddlers with suspected penicillin allergies safely tolerated direct amoxicillin challenges. The study, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, noted that 3.2% of children developed symptoms, such as mild skin reactions, which were treated with oral antihistamines.

Goat milk-based infant formula is gaining attention as a feeding option due to its digestibility and lower allergen content, compared with cow milk, but researchers are studying whether dairy-based milk may have some advantages, such as with the risk of atopic dermatitis. Goat milk also may not be an option for children with a cow milk protein allergy due to potential cross-reactivity.

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Congenital cytomegalovirus is the leading nongenetic cause of childhood hearing loss, yet many parents remain unaware of it until diagnosis, said Dr. David Kimberlin, who is co-director of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kimberlin said pediatricians can help raise awareness of CMV, which affects 1 in 200 babies, with about 20% resulting in birth defects or long-term health issues.

Children ages 5 to 8 had a higher risk of complications after limb lengthening procedures, compared with other pediatric age groups, according to a study presented at a meeting of the Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Society. The study found a 38% rate of pin site infections in the 5- to 8-year-old group, compared with 20% for other age groups, and only children in the 5-8 group had surgical site infections.

A study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global suggested that using crushed sesame seeds or tahini may provide more accurate results in oral food challenges for sesame allergies, compared with whole seeds. "Using intact sesame seeds for oral food challenges in children may lead to falsely elevated threshold results or indeed false negative challenges, and it would be recommended to use either tahini or crushed sesame instead," researchers said.

A study in the journal Sleep Health found that exposure to mouse allergens was associated with sleep-related daytime impairment in children. Data on 256 children showed a dose-response relationship, with higher levels of mouse allergen increasing the likelihood of impairment by 2.6 times. The researchers did not find significant associations between sleep outcomes and dog or cat allergens.

A study presented at the 18th European Public Health Conference found that there are multiple pathways leading to loneliness for adolescents in disadvantaged households, noting factors such as bullying, family conflict and social connections. "We found that family connections remain important in late adolescence… family relationships are still important in loneliness and social connection," said researcher Kathryn Bates.

College athletes slept less and had poorer quality sleep when sports practices started at or before 8 a.m., according to a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. Male athletes slept about 30 minutes less, and female athletes slept about 20 minutes less before early practices. Researchers analyzed more than 27,500 nights of sleep from 359 athletes.

A Pew Research Center survey indicates a growing political divide in the US over vaccines, with 83% of Republicans and 44% of Democrats saying they do not intend to get the latest coronavirus vaccine. The survey also shows that 78% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats believe the benefits of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine outweigh the risks.

The current administration is considering reinstating the food pyramid as a central visual in the upcoming US Dietary Guidelines. While details are still being finalized, sources suggest the new pyramid would emphasize protein and whole foods. The food pyramid, once a staple of American dietary guidance, was replaced by MyPlate in 2011 due to its lack of specificity.