Current Opinion in Pediatrics

Purpose of review Artificial intelligence applied to electrocardiography (AI-ECG) has rapidly been investigated in adult cardiovascular medicine, yet translation into pediatric and congenital heart disease populations has lagged. This review summarizes contemporary AI-ECG methodologies and emerging applications in pediatric and congenital heart disease (PCHD), with emphasis on current clinical ut…

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To synthesize current practice patterns, expert consensus, and evidence-informed recommendations for the evaluation and management of patients with anorectal malformations (ARMs). RECENT FINDINGS: Adoption of standardized, anatomy-based classification systems has improved consistency in reporting and enabled more robust multiinstitutional research. Increasing centralization of …

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Neurogenic bowel and bladder are common comorbidities found in children with spinal dysraphism. Although historically managed reactively, treatment focus has shifted toward proactive surgical and medical management aimed to preserve renal function and achieve social continence. This review evaluates recent evidence in the evaluation and surgical management of these conditions, …

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to summarize recent advances in the diagnosis, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and management of pediatric abdominal pain-related disorders of gut-brain interaction (AP-DGBI), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain - not otherwise specified (FAP-NOS). Emphasis is placed on emerging diagnostic tools, updated international guideline…

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To outline the current advances in food allergy. RECENT FINDINGS: Food allergies have been increasing in prevalence and significantly affect the quality of life of both patients and their families. Over the past decades, there have been major changes to the recommendations for prevention and management of food allergies. These include timely introduction, various forms of immun…

Current Opinion in Pediatrics was launched in 1989. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The fields of pediatrics are divided into 18 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the…

The use of artificial intelligence in POCUS in the fields of emergency medicine and critical care is promising but should be viewed with a lens of caution. It holds promise for improving accessibility, reducing variability in care and transforming care in resource-limited settings, but integration of this evolving technology should be thoughtful to address its potential limitations.

Routine delirium screening represents an important advance in pediatric critical care, positioning delirium as a modifiable adverse outcome. Future research should focus on optimizing implementation strategies, addressing special populations, and integrating screening into effective prevention and management pathways to improve patient-centered outcomes.

The use of single-cell technologies has rapidly advanced our understanding of baseline immune development and pathologies of early-life, however, there is a pressing need for development and benchmarking of multi-modal platforms that measure parameters beyond mRNA transcripts, and the analytical tools required to integrate these complex datasets.

Current evidence suggests that NIRS should serve as an adjunct rather than a primary driver of clinical decision-making in pediatric cardiac intensive care. Established modalities such as venous oxygen saturation, lactate trends, echocardiography, and functional hemodynamic assessments provide more actionable information. Further trials are required to define whether NIRS improves outcomes.

This developmental condition is common with spontaneous resolution being frequent. Proper diagnosis includes findings on examination of the volar nodule and flexion at the interphalangeal joint of the thumb. Minimizing misdiagnosis and appropriate observation in mild cases for a certain time frame is acceptable. Awareness of the potential need for surgical intervention, which is highly effective …

Artificial intelligence enhances the diagnosis and treatment prediction of PdTB in resource-constrained settings. The integration of artificial intelligence with existing diagnostic tools like GeneXpert and telemedicine strategies can significantly improve the efficiency of screening processes. Future research efforts should prioritize the expansion of pediatric datasets and the evaluation of mul…

Due to recent popularity among policymakers and on social media, many pediatricians have reported increased requests by families for leucovorin prescriptions to treat ASD in pediatric patients. This review provides clinicians with an overview of the biological rationale, clinical evidence, and potential benefits and limitations of leucovorin use in children with ASD.

The challenges inherent to conducting research in neonatology have not received the attention it deserves, especially when it comes to interventional trials, raising questions about equity of research in this patient cohort. Parents view research positively and are supportive provided that the timing is appropriate and language is clear.

Current evidence supports the use of medium dose systemic dexamethasone - preferably between days 8 and 14 in ventilator-dependent infants at >50-70% risk of developing BPD. While more NDI follow-up data are needed, this regimen is proven to reduce BPD risk and may also reduce NDI risk, considering PNC effects on BPD reduction appear stronger than any direct NDI toxicity. Practical suggestions ar…

AI will undoubtedly continue to evolve and improve over the coming years. Continued advances and new applications can help mitigate unwarranted vaccine hesitancy in a variety of ways, such as educating people with messaging tailored to end users or using AI to identify the specific concerns of vaccine-hesitant individuals and groups. It will require an integrative approach to a complex issue - va…

We now have ample evidence for all clinicians to finally acknowledge that conservative PDA management is the correct path forward. Clinical experimentation is no longer acceptable, and expectant PDA management must be adopted as the current standard if we are to adhere to our foundational principle, 'first, do no harm'.

AI can be a valuable tool in recognizing and controlling infections in both the community and healthcare settings. However, more studies in pediatric populations are needed, including prospective studies that validate tools created and trained on retrospective cohorts.