A study in JAMA Pediatrics found that confirmed cases of child maltreatment decreased from 2012 to 2023, but disparities persisted, particularly among Black children and girls. Data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System showed that Black children had the highest rates of maltreatment across all subtypes, while girls experienced more maltreatment than boys, with the disparity for sexual abuse increasing over time.

Measles cases in the US have reached a 33-year high, with 1,723 cases reported in 42 states, according to the CDC. Most cases involve unvaccinated individuals, and there have been three deaths and numerous hospitalizations. Dr. Adam Ratner, director of pediatric infectious diseases at Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at New York University Langone, emphasizes the importance of vaccination and shares insights on diagnosing and treating measles, highlighting the disease's high contagiousness and potential complications such as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

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A pilot program on sleep health was associated with clinically meaningful improvements in sleep disruption and impairment for more than one-third of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The program, reported in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, included a 15- to 30-minute discussion with an oncology nurse navigator, a psychoeducational website and a sleep action plan.

Dr. Valeria Cohran, medical director of Intestinal Rehabilitation and Transplantation at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said there needs to be collaboration between pediatricians who care for children with intestinal failure, whether it's on vaccines, preventative care, sleep training or other health issues, and intestinal rehabilitation programs. Cohran also outlined how intestinal rehabilitation programs are multidisciplinary, including a pediatrician, surgeon, nurses and dietitians.

A subanalysis of Phase 3 trials found 1% tapinarof cream was effective and safe for children with atopic dermatitis, including those with comorbid allergic conditions. The data, presented at a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, showed significant improvements in skin clearance, eczema severity and patient-reported outcomes by the first week of treatment.

Pediatric Healthcare Associates and LifeBridge Community Services have partnered to integrate talk therapists into pediatric offices in Connecticut, working to improve access to mental health care amid rising demand and provider shortages. "Taking care of their mental health is really important. Just as important as their physical health," says Pediatric Healthcare Associates CEO Andrea Hagani. The initiative has already seen significant engagement, with 70 referrals and over 20 children receiving care in the first month.

A review in the journal Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology highlights the need for earlier recognition and targeted management of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. The authors emphasized the importance of large-scale antenatal screening programs to identify at-risk pregnancies as well as high-quality trial data to support dosing of antenatal intravenous immunoglobulin.

A research letter published in JAMA Network Open found an 11.5-fold increase in early measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations in Texas during this year's measles outbreak, with 20% of first doses given to children ages 6 to 11 months. The CDC recommended early MMR vaccination for infants in affected areas. "Routine well-child visits likely provided valuable opportunities to implement early vaccination recommendations, demonstrating how established care patterns can be used to rapidly increase community protection," said study co-author Brianna Goodwin Cartwright.

Greater access to pediatric hospice and respite services could improve outcomes, as families face challenges supporting a growing population of medically fragile children, experts say. "Many providers simply don't know that pediatric respite programs exist," says Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children's House. "Increasing awareness among referring physicians, insurers and hospital systems is essential if we want families to know that help -- and hope -- are available."