Last week, Contemporary Pediatrics covered topics including the rise of vaccine confusion and the lack of association between acetaminophen exposure and autism risk. Take a look at some of our top stories from the week of April 13 to April 17, 2026, and click on each link to read and watch anything you may have missed.

Ayman Chit, PhD, discusses rising vaccine confusion in pediatric care

Rising confusion around childhood immunizations is being driven largely by the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation, particularly through social media, alongside broader technological and sociopolitical shifts. According to Ayman Chit, PhD, head of vaccines medical, North America, at Sanofi, these forces have fundamentally altered how families encounter and interpret vaccine information.

Instead of relying primarily on clinician guidance, many caregivers now arrive at pediatric visits having already engaged with a wide range of often conflicting content online. This has led to increased uncertainty and more complex, time-intensive discussions in clinical settings. Pediatricians, who previously could expect general acceptance of vaccine recommendations, are now facing a significantly greater communication burden, with families asking numerous and sometimes unconventional questions shaped by online narratives.

Jennifer Dantzer, MD, provides seasonal allergy insights

In a recent interview with Contemporary Pediatrics, Jennifer Dantzer, MD, pediatric allergist and immunologist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, addressed key questions surrounding pediatric seasonal allergies, emphasizing the complex interplay of environmental and genetic factors, evolving climate influences, and practical considerations for diagnosis and management.

Climate change is increasingly shaping allergy patterns. Rising global temperatures are contributing to longer, more intense pollen seasons, with earlier onset and longer duration. Higher temperatures also promote increased pollen production, leading to greater allergen exposure. As a result, pediatricians may need to adjust anticipatory guidance, advising families to begin allergy medications earlier in the season and continue them longer than in the past. While avoidance strategies remain important, options for controlling environmental pollen exposure are limited.

Kira Philipsen Prahm, MD, PhD, highlights no link between acetaminophen exposure and autism risk

In this interview, Kira Philipsen Prahm, MD, PhD, a medical doctor at Rigshospitalet, discusses how pediatricians should interpret evolving evidence on prenatal acetaminophen exposure and its potential association with autism, emphasizing the importance of study design and careful risk communication. Her research aimed to clarify previously reported associations by applying both traditional population-level analyses and more rigorous sibling-matched comparisons.

Prahm explains that earlier studies identifying a possible link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism often relied on population-level data, which can be vulnerable to confounding. Differences between women who take acetaminophen and those who do not—such as underlying illnesses, pain, fever, or patterns of health care use—may account for observed associations rather than the medication itself.

In contrast, sibling-matched analyses compare outcomes between pregnancies within the same woman, effectively controlling for shared genetic and environmental factors. Because of this, such analyses are considered a stronger methodological approach. Notably, both Prahm’s study and many prior investigations found that any association observed in population-level analyses disappears when sibling comparisons are used, suggesting that earlier findings were likely because of residual confounding rather than a causal effect.

Mary Beth Howard, MD, MSc, notes rising rates of e-scooter injury

Rising rates of pediatric e-scooter injuries—particularly among boys aged 11 to 14 years—reflect a convergence of developmental, environmental, and behavioral risk factors, according to Mary Beth Howard, MD, MSc, assistant professor at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Early adolescents are at heightened risk because of ongoing cognitive and behavioral maturation. At this stage, youth often exhibit increased risk-taking, limited judgment, and relatively little experience navigating traffic. These developmental traits are compounded by the fact that e-scooters can reach greater speeds than traditional scooters or bicycles, creating a mismatch between rider capability and device performance.

FDA accepts sNDA for delgocitinib in adolescents with chronic hand eczema

The FDA has accepted a supplemental new drug application for delgocitinib (Anzupgo; LEO Pharma Inc) for treating moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) in pediatric patients aged 12 to 17 years, according to LEO Pharma Inc.

Currently, delgocitinib is FDA approved for treating severe CHE in adults when topical corticosteroids lead to an inadequate response or are not advisable. Expanding the label for this topical and nonsteroidal pan–Janus kinase inhibitor would build on existing approvals and help the treatment reach underserved patient populations.

“We are incredibly excited to have taken this step in hopefully providing a new treatment for pediatric patients currently lacking options specifically indicated for CHE,” said Sophie Lamle, executive vice president, development, at LEO Pharma.

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