BMJ Paediatrics Open

Patient portals are designed to enhance patient and caregiver engagement by providing access to health information, communication with care teams, and telehealth services, yet their impact on health care utilization among hospitalized children is not well understood. In this cross-sectional study, we examined associations between patient portal enrollment and use and hospitalization outcomes among 40,377 children admitted to an urban quaternary or suburban tertiary pediatric hospital between 202...

Introduction"Encompass" is a participatory group-based intervention originating from low- and middle-income countries, co-developed with parents and professionals to enhance the wellbeing, health literacy and empowerment of caregivers of young children with complex neurodisability. We aimed to assess feasibility and acceptability of a) intervention delivery in two socially deprived United Kingdom (UK) urban areas and b) evaluation methods including data collection on programme outcomes and costs...

IntroductionThe circadian clock is an internal, [~]24-hour biological timer that synchronizes physiology with the day-night cycle. Social jetlag (SJL) describes the misalignment between this internal clock and social schedules, a condition affecting approximately 70% of the population and linked to a spectrum of metabolic, mental, and cognitive health issues. This study examined how the 2022 FIFA World Cup disrupted normal childrens sleep routines and other associated factors from parents prospe...

BackgroundPediatric eczema is a highly prevalent condition that often causes substantial suffering among affected children and their families. Numerous modifiable lifestyle and environmental risk factors for the condition have been identified, although these risk factors and related interventions have generally been studied in isolation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of an integrative program for parents of children with eczema that simultaneously addressed multiple lifestyl...

BackgroundPre-referral stabilization is a critical yet neglected component of pediatric emergency care in low-resource settings. It involves delivering life-saving interventions-- such as airway management, oxygen therapy, fluids, glucose, and anticonvulsants at the initial point of care before referral. The WHOs ETAT Guidelines emphasize the prompt recognition and management of life-threatening conditions in children to reduce mortality. Despite Tanzanias adoption of ETAT, the extent to which p...

BackgroundEarly relational health (ERH) is thought to buffer the association between early life stress (ELS) and child psychopathology, but limited work has directly tested this hypothesis. ObjectiveWe evaluate mother-infant emotional connection, a facet of ERH, as a buffer of combined and individual impacts of specific ELS exposures (maternal mental health and interpartner conflict) on child psychopathology. MethodsParticipants included mother-infant dyads (n=100) followed longitudinally in t...

BackgroundAsthma is a frequent comorbidity in children with sickle cell disease and has been associated with an increased risk of acute complications, particularly vaso-occlusive crises and acute chest syndrome. However, determinants of clinical severity among children with sickle cell disease and confirmed asthma remain poorly characterized, especially in tropical settings. This study aimed to identify factors associated with clinical severity in this population. MethodsWe conducted an observa...

BackgroundPediatric long COVID is associated with substantial symptom burden, yet evidence-based pharmacologic treatments remain limited. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has been proposed as a potential symptomatic therapy, but data in pediatric populations is lacking. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of pediatric and young adult patients ([≤]25 years) with a clinical diagnosis of long COVID who were prescribed LDN between July 2020 and July 2025 at three multidisciplinary pediatric lo...

ObjectiveTo examine whether screen time predicts interindividual variability regarding pubertal development across adolescence. Study designThis longitudinal cohort study included 10786 participants (47.9% female) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. First, associations were examined between average daily screen time (hours/day, parent-reported Screen Time Survey) at baseline (mean age = 9.91 {+/-} 0.63 years) and pubertal timing, derived from Pubertal Development Scale...

IntroductionPediatric acute appendicitis (PAA) remains challenging to diagnose despite existing diagnostic scores. The BIDIAP index is a three-item diagnostic tool with very high discriminative performance in a derivation cohort. This study aimed to prospectively and externally validate the BIDIAP index in a multicenter pediatric population. Material and MethodsWe conducted a prospective, multicenter observational study across four tertiary pediatric centers, enrolling children presenting with ...

PurposeCaregivers of children with complex neurodisability frequently experience high caregiving demands, social isolation, unmet support needs, and reduced wellbeing. This paper explores caregivers perceptions of the impact of "Encompass", a ten-modular, community-based group support programme for caregivers of children under five with complex neurodisability, co-facilitated by an expert parent. Materials and methodsThis study formed part of a pilot and feasibility study conducted in two socia...

Malnutrition is a deficiency of both macro- and micro-nutrients. Malnutrition is common in children with congenital heart defects due to reduced intake, poor gastrointestinal absorption resulting from gut hypo-perfusion and increased metabolism. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of hypovitaminosis D in children with congenital heart defects aged 1 to 12 years compared with apparently healthy controls. MethodsA comparative cross-sectional study conducted from Jul...

Severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia remains a leading cause of preventable neonatal morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where unreliable electricity supply, limited specialist availability, and high treatment costs constrain access to effective phototherapy. There is limited evidence on scalable, climate-resilient phototherapy solutions suitable for decentralised care delivery. We conducted a multicentre implementation study evaluating a fully solar-powered total...

BackgroundCaregiver skills training programmes are well-researched in the fields of autism and intellectual disability, but children with motor disorders such as cerebral palsy remain underrepresented despite their high prevalence. These caregivers face unique challenges, and group programmes may provide family-centred care through information provision, problem-solving and peer support. MethodsSystematic searches of five databases (CINAHL, Medline, Embase, PsychINFO and ERIC) were conducted fo...

BackgroundCongenital anomalies are among the leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Early detection through newborn screening improves outcomes, yet little is known about the screening practices of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in Ethiopia. In our setting, many children with congenital malformations are not identified at birth and present later, after being discharged from the birth facility. MethodsA cross-sectional study was con...

Fortification of human milk (HM) is essential to meet the nutritional needs of very low birthweight infants (VLBWI). Most available fortifiers are derived from cows milk, raising concerns about tolerability, immunogenicity and access in low-resource settings. LioNeo is a novel multinutrient fortifier produced exclusively from freeze-dried donor HM by a certified Human Milk Bank in Brazil. Preclinical and Phase 1 testing demonstrated safety and tolerability. This Phase 2 trial evaluated the effic...

IntroductionCentral line-associated bloodstream-infection (CLA-BSI) and catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) remain a significant concern in pediatric inpatient units. ObjectiveTo analyze a case series of CLA-BSI and CR-BSI in hospitalized pediatric patients in hospitals with rigorous infection prevention measures. Materials and MethodsThis was an analytical, descriptive, and retrospective study conducted in patients aged 0 to 18 years, admitted between August 2023 and March 2025, ...

BackgroundChildren with tracheostomies experience frequent and recurrent acute respiratory infections (ARIs). While cultured respiratory pathogens can inform ARI diagnosis, it is unknown if their presence in the airway affects future ARI risk. ObjectiveTo identify predictors of frequent (3+) ARIs within 36 months of tracheostomy. MethodsWe conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study of children with tracheostomies placed between 2010-2016. Medical records were reviewed for each encou...

BackgroundPediatric poisonings are a significant cause of emergency admissions, often linked to accessible household toxins. This study investigates the epidemiological patterns, clinical presentations, and management strategies at a tertiary care hospital in Algiers, Algeria. MethodsA retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted on anonymized pediatric poisonings cases. Variables included age, sex, type of ingestion, intent (accidental vs. voluntary), substances involved, endoscopic findin...

BackgroundLow birth weight (LBW) remains a major public health challenge in low and middle-income countries and is associated with increased risks of neonatal mortality, impaired growth, and adverse developmental outcomes. Antenatal care (ANC) provides essential interventions that support maternal health and fetal growth; however, many women do not achieve the recommended number of ANC visits. This study is therefore aimed at providing evidence of the protective effect of adequate ANC against LB...