Peanut allergies have plummeted; 1 in 10 young children rarely play outside; microplastics tied to cardiovascular, neurologic risks – Morning Medical Update

Peanut allergies plunge with new guidelines

Rates of peanut and other food allergies in U.S. toddlers have dropped sharply since pediatricians began encouraging early introduction of allergenic foods, according to a Pediatrics study led by researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Analyzing records from more than 125,000 children under age 3, the team found a 43% decline in peanut allergies and a 36% overall drop in IgE-mediated food allergies after new feeding guidelines were released in 2017. Egg allergies have now surpassed the peanut as the most common food allergy among young children. The findings align with the landmark 2015 LEAP trial showing that early peanut exposure reduces allergy risk by over 80%.

1 in 10 young children rarely play outside

A new national poll from the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital finds that 1 in 10 toddlers and preschoolers play outdoors as little as once a week. Screen time is quickly taking over. Nearly one-third of parents report their young child plays video games, and three in five say TV or videos are part of daily play. While 88% of children engage in physical play and 68% in make-believe activities, many parents admit to relying on phones and tablets to keep kids occupied. More from Michigan Medicine.

Microplastics tied to cardiovascular, neurologic risks

A new JAMA Insights review highlights mounting evidence that microplastics are accumulating in human tissues and may be contributing to disease. Researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health report that microplastics have been detected in the lungs, brain, blood, liver, kidneys, placenta and even infants’ first stools. In one study, patients with microplastics in carotid artery plaques had a 4.5-fold higher risk of myocardial infarction, stroke or death over nearly three years of follow-up. Another postmortem analysis found brain tissue from patients with dementia contained significantly higher microplastic concentrations than controls. The authors call for standardized detection methods and stronger international efforts to curb plastic pollution and develop safer alternatives.