Research
Uncertainty surrounds ACL treatment decisions in young athletes. It shouldn’t.
It’s an injury once seen mainly in adults, yet it’s become increasingly common in younger patients. From 2000 to 2020, the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in children and adolescents increased between three- and five-fold. For young athletes, an ACL tear spells six to nine months of downtime, heightened risk for secondary ACL ... Read More about Uncertainty surrounds ACL treatment decisions in young athletes. It shouldn’t.
Research
EEG markers in early life could help predict and diagnose anxiety
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem among children and adolescents and are a risk factor for adult disorders. Stress is a big factor — at home, at school, and from external factors like COVID-19 and climate change. But some children may be innately more susceptible to anxiety. New research at Boston Children’s ... Read More about EEG markers in early life could help predict and diagnose anxiety
Patient Stories
‘Another level of care’: Second opinion solves Joey’s rare urologic condition
When Max and Shana arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital last year with their young son, Joey, their care team “made us feel a lot less special,” says Max. “And that was a great thing.” Joey was born with megacystic-megaureter syndrome, a urinary tract anomaly that is caused by high-grade vesicoureteral reflux, or the backward flow ... Read More about ‘Another level of care’: Second opinion solves Joey’s rare urologic condition
Research
Pioneering trial offers hope for late treatment of ‘lazy eye’
In children with amblyopia or “lazy eye,” one eye is weaker than the other for any of a number of reasons. It may not focus as well, it may be misaligned due to strabismus, or its vision may be obstructed by a cataract or a droopy eyelid. As a result, the brain starts to favor ... Read More about Pioneering trial offers hope for late treatment of ‘lazy eye’
Research
Hurdles in health care: Navigating insurance approvals
If you’ve ever struggled with your patient’s insurance company when it came to getting their prescription filled, you’re not alone. For patients with chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), newer drugs like biologics can be very effective — but also very expensive. As a result, many insurance companies have limited access to these medications ... Read More about Hurdles in health care: Navigating insurance approvals
Patient Stories
Family first: Nolan and Uncle Jon’s living donor kidney transplant
Nolan and his uncle Jon are both tall and blonde, but they now have something more in common: The two have an unbreakable bond, thanks to a selfless —and lucky — gift that changed Nolan’s life forever. The first year after Nolan was born, his primary care physician ran some blood work to try to ... Read More about Family first: Nolan and Uncle Jon’s living donor kidney transplant
Research
Rapid DNA sequencing yields timely answers for infant epilepsy
Treating children with epilepsy has traditionally been a matter of trial and error, trying different drugs one after the other. In the one-third of patients for whom the drugs do not work and seizures continue, doctors consider brain surgery — if it can be done safely. Early in her career, Ann Poduri, MD, MPH, who ... Read More about Rapid DNA sequencing yields timely answers for infant epilepsy
Research
The clot thickens: Kellie Machlus, PhD
Part of an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. Platelets are the bandages of our blood, forming clots when we sustain an injury. Yet little is known about how they’re made, and there are no drugs that can immediately and directly trigger their production. Boston Children’s Hospital researcher Kellie Machlus, PhD, (@theclotthickens) couldn’t ... Read More about The clot thickens: Kellie Machlus, PhD
Research
MIS-C’s long-term effects on mental and neurologic health
Children and adolescents who have had multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after exposure to COVID-19 are recommended to have follow-up heart function testing. A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital suggests they should also be monitored for long-term neurologic and psychosocial complications. “If parents are noticing changes in their child’s behavior or functioning, it ... Read More about MIS-C’s long-term effects on mental and neurologic health
Patient Stories
All eyes on retinoblastoma: How Lyla and her mom are helping change lives
Meghan Landry firmly believes that art saved her daughter Lyla’s life. Now, she hopes to leverage the power of creativity to help support other kids like Lyla, who was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at 18 months old. Meghan, who lived in Florida at the time, was waiting with Lyla for a routine pediatrician appointment when she ... Read More about All eyes on retinoblastoma: How Lyla and her mom are helping change lives