This week on the Contemporary Pediatrics website, we covered topics ranging from rising diabetes rates to RSV protection in infants. Take a look at some of our top stories from the past week (Monday, March 02, to Friday, March 06, 2026) and click on each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Pediatric diabetes rate climbs 11.4% among Medicaid, CHIP enrollees

An 11.4% overall increase in pediatric diabetes prevalence among Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees from 2016 to 2021 reflects a combination of behavioral, systemic, and potentially biologic factors, according to Hao Zhang, PhD, MPH, and Biaskha “Pia” Sen, PhD, assistant professor and professor, respectively, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The sharpest rise occurred in 2021, prompting researchers to consider the downstream effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lifestyle disruptions during quarantine—including reduced physical activity, dietary changes, and heightened psychological stress—may have contributed to increased risk.

At the same time, pandemic-era policy changes likely influenced detection rates. Continuous enrollment requirements under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services kept more children insured, including many who previously cycled on and off coverage. Expanded insurance access may have increased health care utilization and, in turn, diabetes diagnoses that otherwise might have gone undetected.

Carissa Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, discusses high-yield strategies for pediatric heart health

In this interview, Carissa M. Baker-Smith, MD, MPH, provides a comprehensive overview of practical, high-yield strategies that pediatricians can use to influence long-term cardiovascular health within the constraints of time-limited office visits.

Baker-Smith emphasizes that the foundation of effective counseling is the use of standardized templates and checklists. By having families complete these forms in the waiting room, clinicians can quickly categorize health behaviors—such as physical activity and screen time—into "poor, fair, or ideal" ranges.

This allows the pediatrician to immediately identify which areas require the most urgent intervention. She also advocates for the use of visual aids, such as American Heart Association infographics and posters, to reinforce these health messages and suggests incorporating screening questions about family history—specifically premature heart attacks or strokes—to identify candidates for preventive cardiology referrals.

Anushua Sinha, MD, MPH, highlights antibody for sustained RSV risk protection in infants

In a recent interview for Contemporary Pediatrics, Anushua Sinha, MD, MPH, Lead Clinical Director for the ENFLONSIA program at Merck, discussed the significance of the SMART trial results regarding respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) protection.

RSV remains a leading cause of infant hospitalization globally and the leading cause in the United States. ENFLONSIA (clesrovimab; Merck), a long-acting monoclonal antibody developed by Merck, received FDA approval in June 2025 to prevent RSV in infants entering their first season. Sinha emphasized that while all infants are at risk, the SMART trial specifically addressed those at increased risk for severe disease, including those born preterm or with underlying conditions such as chronic lung disease and congenital heart disease.

HSS studies highlight non-operative success for orthopedic conditions

Two studies presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) at the 2026 American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons annual meeting may influence how surgeons counsel families of children with severe orthopedic conditions.

The first of these studies highlights rest, bracing, and physical therapy as effective treatment for acute spondylolysis in 95% of adolescent athletes. According to investigators, this indicates patients can be treated with a conservative, non-operative method, reserving surgery as a last resort.

“These results are important because when we sit with families to discuss treatment options, we can confidently tell them that the vast majority of patients do have resolution of their pain and are able to return to sports without having to undergo surgery,” said Jessica H. Heyer, MD, senior study author and spine surgeon at HHS.

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Gaps identified in pediatric emergency readiness among US EMS agencies

A recent study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine as part of the National Prehospital Pediatric Readiness Project has highlighted important gaps in training, quality improvement, and care coordination for young patients in many US emergency medical services (EMS) agencies.¹

According to Kathleen Adelgais, MD, MPH, professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz and lead study author, readiness was significantly greater among agencies with a pediatric emergency care coordinator (PECC). This highlights increasing the number of agencies with a PECC as a key target to improve care, as only 38% of agencies reported having one.

“There has never been a survey as comprehensive as this and that’s why we feel it is so impactful,” said Adelgais.

Click here for the full article.