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.” 

One effective way of tackling childhood food insecurity could be hiring and collaborating with food outreach specialists in pediatrician offices, 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 “Addressing Childhood Food Insecurity: An Integrated and Community-Based Approach,” placed a food outreach specialist from a local community organization in an urban Midwest clinic to serve as a liaison for connecting families in need with available resources

Media: Journalists covering the conference must be registered as members of the press. Reporters must apply for press credentials in advance of the conference and meet criteria of Media Guidelines. Attendees can pick up their badge at the Colorado Convention Center registration desk with photo ID. All conference attendees must wear a badge at all times. Masks are optional and are not provided on site. For more information about covering the conference, contact AAP Public Affairs. Information will also be available in the AAP News Room. All attendees must adhere to AAP’s Health & Safety and Code of Conduct policies.

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.

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.

Measles infections are on the rise, due partly to falling vaccination rates — and because of their work, healthcare workers and those around them are particularly vulnerable. In a new Frontiers in Public Health article, Nikki Heinze and her colleagues talk to healthcare workers in a London hospital to understand the factors that encourage or discourage measles vaccination. In this editorial, Heinze explores those factors, and calls for action to improve immunity screening, raise awareness, and support healthcare workers who want to be vaccinated.