The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health in conversation with

This episode considers how antibiotic use can be safely reduced in children in high-risk scenarios or with severe infections. To discuss this we are joined by Dr Nadja Vissing and Dr Ulrikka Nygaard, paediatric infectious disease specialists from Copenhagen University Hospital, who led a randomized controlled trial in Denmark evaluating the early discontinuation of empirical antibiotics versus extended treatment in children with cancer and high-risk febrile neutropenia. We hear about the importance of this trial for children with cancer and their families as well as for broader antimicrobial stewardship.

We discuss other recent RCTs that are informing safely reducing antibiotic exposure in children with urinary tract infections, uncomplicated bone and joint infections and probable early onset neonatal sepsis. Nadja and Ulrikka share with listeners their take home messages related to antibiotic decision-making from these trials along with words of wisdom and motivation for other paediatric clinical trialists.

Click here to read the full article:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(26)00039-8/fulltext

Controlled medicines are essential in paediatric care yet children everywhere—and especially in low- and middle-income countries—face challenges in accessing controlled medicines for their medical needs and to alleviate serious health-related suffering.

In this episode, Belén Tarrafeta and Hazel Gutiérrez join Josefine Gibson to discuss misconceptions that have led to children’s access being overlooked in research and policy efforts. Together, they highlight the imperative of generating child-specific evidence on access, safety, and use, and they explore what it will take to move from global resolutions to real change for children's equitable access to controlled medicines.

Click here to read the full articles:

Review: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00374-8/fulltext

Health Policy: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00375-X/fulltext

Those working in clinical trials will recall that in 2025 updates were published for the SPIRIT standard clinical trial protocol items and the CONSORT guideline for reporting randomised clinical trials. 

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health will be co-publishing the first child and adolescent extensions to the SPIRIT and CONSORT reporting guidelines, along with the BMJ and JAMA Paediatrics. In this conversation with the SPIRIT and CONSORT child and adolescent project leads, Ami Baba and Martin Offringa, we discuss the need for child and adolescent specific reporting standards, the importance and value of engaging caregivers and young people in the process of developing the standards, and the potential for the SPIRIT-C and CONSORT-C reporting standards to positively impact the quality and inclusivity of paediatric clinical trials across all disciplines caring for neonates, infants, children, and adolescents.

CONSORT-C https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(26)00004-0/fulltext

SPIRIT-C https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(26)00005-2/fulltext

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In this episode, co-hosted by our Senior Editor Amy Slogrove and our Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Youth Advisory Panel member, Matea Canizares, we discuss adolescent digital intimate partner violence.

*Intimate partner violence might be a difficult topic for some, please take care if this is so for you, and do step away from this episode if you feel the need.*

Amy and Matea are in conversation with Dr Thao Ha, Associate Professor of psychology and director of the HEART (Healthy Experiences Across Relationships and Transitions)  Lab, from Arizona State University. Dr Ha along with her co-author Dr Taren McGray, have shone a spotlight on the complexity of adolescent relationships in digital and AI-influenced spaces in a Comment titled “No safe place: ending adolescent digital intimate partner violence”. We discuss what digital intimate partner violence is and the nuances in adolescent relationships, the co-occurrence with offline intimate partner violence, the sometimes shifting relationship between victims and victimizers, the central importance of young peoples perspectives in understanding these dynamics and supporting healthy intimate relationships, and the opportunities for us all to contribute and advocate for a world where technology does good instead of harm in supporting healthy relationships.

Links for the Comment and associated content in our journal:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00372-4/fulltext
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00311-6/fulltext
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00343-8/fulltext
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(24)00145-7/fulltext
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(24)00329-8/fulltext

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Dr Jason Nagata discusses his Review on muscle dysmorphia, a pathological preoccupation with being insufficiently muscular, and how paediatricians can help young people navigate body image concerns.

Click here to read the full review: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(25)00283-4/fulltext

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