Young people are increasingly turning to sodium nitrite and nitrate as a method of suicide after buying the products online, according to research presented during the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center Sept. 26-30. The chemicals, which when ingested may cause hypoxia and eventual death, are often readily available for purchase online, according to the author. He said his findings indicate the need for a robust system with collaboration between public health officials, emergency responders and healthcare workers to address this growing concern.

Adolescents and young adults are misusing common over-the-counter antihistamines, putting them at risk of severe health outcomes including heart arrythmias, seizures or death, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30. Trends such as the “Benadryl Challenge” circulating on social media are fueling the rise in these dangerous activities, according to the author of an abstract, "Toxic Trends: The Hallucinatory Appeal of the TikTok Benadryl Challenge.” 

A decline in smoking in the general population, including pregnant people, over the last few decades corresponded with a decline in infants born with a birth defect called gastroschisis, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center Sept. 26-30. Authors of an abstract, “A Declining Incidence of Gastroschisis Parallels Trends in Maternal Smoking Rates in the United States,” point to the success of public health efforts to discourage smoking within the general population. Consequently, a decline in maternal smoking prior to conception led to fewer diagnoses of gastroschisis, a condition in a baby is born with their organs outside of their body due to their abdominal wall not forming completely in the womb, according to the study.

More pregnant people are turning away from hospital births and instead choosing their homes, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center Sept. 26-30. Cincinnati Children’s researchers tracked out-of-hospital births and found that the numbers doubled in the region from April 1, 2020 - December 31, 2023, compared to births from January 1, 2018 - February 29, 2020. The trend was seen most in young, highly educated mothers who were also more likely to have higher body mass index and fewer prenatal visits, according to a study abstract, “The Changing Landscape of Planned Out-of-Hospital Births.”

A majority of medical and parenting videos being shared on TikTok by non-medical professionals contained misinformation, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30. Researchers centered on the “eco-influencer” movement, which emphasizes natural living, holistic health, and other alternative medical and parenting methods. The research, titled " The Rise of ‘Eco-Influencers’ and Misinformation on Child Health,” examined top TikTok videos with hashtags such as #naturalparenting, #antivaccine, #holistichealth, and #alternativehealing.

Young adults turning to TikTok for sexual health information are being confronted with misinformation, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center from Sept. 26-30. The research, titled “Digital Misinformation and Public Health: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Sexual Health Content on TikTok,” sought to determine the accuracy of medical information posted on the social media platform, whether created by a medical professional or not.

A 2018 federal mandate to equip all new vehicles with a backup camera was associated with a significant decrease in severe injuries and death in small children according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2025 National Conference & Exhibition. The abstract, “The Impact of a Federally Mandated Car Safety Feature on Rate and Severity of Pediatric Backover Trauma,” will be presented during the conference at the Colorado Convention Center Sept. 26-30.  Backover trauma refers to injury sustained when a pedestrian is struck by a motorized vehicle in reverse. These incidents disproportionately affect small children.