Expert Interviews

Infant-type bifidobacteria are considered keystone gut commensals — but newer data suggest they're becoming less common. Jarvinen-Seppo unpacks why, and what's driving the shift.

A content analysis of 159 picture books found food often symbolized family connection and culture more than nutrition alone, according to Carol Duh-Leong, MD, MPP.

New evidence supports influenza, COVID-19, and RSV immunizations for reducing severe respiratory illness and hospitalization.

Semaglutide cut testosterone by half in early trial data — but one patient's rapid weight loss revealed a real risk. Our experts weigh the promise of GLP-1 therapy against how fast is too fast for teens.

Which labs actually change management? Our experts debate fasting insulin versus A1c, explain why total testosterone can mislead, and share the LH-to-FSH trick that helps settle ambiguous cases.

Most patients meet PMOS in a primary care office first. Our experts map the referral threshold and argue insulin resistance — not just androgens — should drive how aggressively PCPs treat.

Ovarian ultrasound doesn't apply to teens. Our experts walk through the 2-criteria threshold for adolescents, the "at risk" category, and why untreated menstrual irregularity carries real long-term consequences.

A global Lancet consensus just renamed PCOS to PMOS. Our experts explain why the shift moves care beyond the ovaries — and what it means for how clinicians talk to patients today.

The first few months of life set the trajectory for the infant gut microbiome — and the immune system along with it. See which early exposures matter most.

Bradley Peterson, MD, discusses when pediatricians should consider adding a second treatment for pediatric anxiety and why improvement may continue well beyond the first 3 months of therapy.

Bradley Peterson, MD, discusses how treatment preferences, access, tolerability, and patient characteristics can guide pediatric anxiety care when CBT and medication provide similar overall benefits.

Lori Handy, MD, says vaccine conversations with hesitant families should prioritize trust, follow-up, and the benefits for the individual child.

CBT and fluoxetine both reduced pediatric anxiety, while starting with CBT before adding medication showed advantages on several outcomes.

Pediatric psychiatric diagnoses and treatment rose above prepandemic levels, with notable increases in medication initiation and care among girls.

Pediatric mental health treatment exceeded prepandemic levels, with antidepressant initiation rising sharply among girls after COVID-19.

John Walkup, MD, says collaborative care, education, and psychiatric consultation can help pediatricians manage children's mental health needs.

John Walkup, MD, says pediatricians can address growing mental health needs by identifying risk factors and providing guidance early in childhood.

Lisa Swanson, MD, describes AD as fundamentally unpredictable — a roller coaster of flares and quiet stretches that can wear down patients and families alike.

Lisa Swanson, MD, returns to diagnostic pitfalls, describing a presentation she sees often: AD in the crease of an infant's neck, which is frequently misdiagnosed as a yeast infection.

Permanent daylight saving time could affect pediatric sleep, with later evening light posing particular concerns for children and adolescents.

Permanent daylight saving time could disrupt children's circadian rhythms, affecting sleep, school performance, mood, and morning safety.

Ravi Jhaveri, MD, says proposed changes to the childhood vaccine schedule lack evidence and could leave vulnerable children unprotected.

Lori Handy, MD, says vaccine conversations with hesitant families should prioritize trust, follow-up, and the benefits for the individual child.

Lori Handy, MD, says back-to-school visits give pediatricians an opportunity to revisit vaccines and address questions families encounter online.

Lisa Swanson, MD, addresses the practical barriers pediatricians face when trying to refer a patient with AD.

Lisa Swanson, MD, lays out the current JAK inhibitor landscape for pediatric AD.

Phase 3 SMART data support the safety of clesrovimab in infants and children at increased risk for severe RSV disease across 2 seasons.

A pediatric pain specialist says a dedicated procedure suite helps deliver faster, more individualized chronic pain care while restoring function.

Phase 3 SMART trial found clesrovimab was well tolerated in high-risk infants through 2 RSV seasons, with safety comparable to palivizumab.

A pediatric pain specialist says multidisciplinary care and family engagement are key to restoring function in children with chronic pain.