15% of 5-year-olds & 10% of 6-year-olds experience bed-wetting. While it often becomes less common as kids get older, caregivers should look into possible physical causes if wetness is ongoing or accompanied by UTIs. Learn more about diagnoses and treatment here: https://ucsfh.org/49RUGHO

While researchers don’t yet know whether chatbots cause, worsen or merely reflect psychosis, Dr. Karthik Sarma hopes chat log analysis can help identify risks of mental health crises and safeguards for kids and teens. https://ucsfh.org/3LP10I7

Please congratulate Nancy! She rang our end-of-treatment bell surrounded by her care team and family, after multiple rounds of chemo for acute myeloid leukemia. After four months in and out of our Oakland hospital receiving treatment, she’s heading home to Humboldt County!

Stress can worsen many conditions in kids, such as asthma and cognitive function. “We have tools that can help immediately and have a lasting impact," UCSF’s Nicki Bush says. "Let’s start providing every child & family with the resources to be as healthy as possible." https://ucsfh.org/4a494xX

Babies born with heart defects are vulnerable to developmental issues, but oxygen tests and brain scans can help doctors identify those most at risk, a study finds. “It’s really about early detection and early treatment," Dr. Shabnam Peyvandi tells @ktvufox2.bsky.social. https://ucsfh.org/45ixKQF

Kids spend ~70 minutes of the school day on their phones. But caregivers can help by modeling healthy screen time, Dr. @jasonmnagata.bsky.social says. Caregiver phone use is “one of the biggest predictors of adolescent phone use, or screen use in general,” he explains. https://ucsfh.org/49b2mGg

Jonah is doing great after three heart surgeries at our hospital — please congratulate his family! He'll need more heart and abdominal surgeries in the future, but for now, he is thriving. “He is so resilient and just has a smile that lights up the room,” his mom, Angel, says.

Kids are most at risk for thirdhand smoke, the toxic residue tobacco leaves behind on surfaces, a study from UCSF, @sandiegostate.bsky.social & @berkeleylab.lbl.gov finds. New CA smoke disclosure requirements for real estate deals started 1/1 and could help. https://ucsfh.org/4b4Rzi1

Happy holidays from everyone at our hospitals! ☃️🎁🎄

Thank you for visiting us and bringing joy to our patients, Santa Claus! 🎅❤️🎁

The percentage of healthcare costs for treating mental health, substance use & other behavioral care for U.S. kids has nearly doubled since 2011. “As a country, we need to make sure behavioral health care is accessible & affordable for every family," Dr. Ashley Foster says. https://ucsfh.org/45dNxA5

Tiny cell movements behind cleft lip and palate could help us make sense of health concerns in both kids and adults. "Understanding fundamentally what these genes do in development is extremely useful for understanding all human diseases," researcher Jeffrey Bush says. https://ucsfh.org/48x28sH

At just 13 mos. old, Penny was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma. After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, tumor removal and 198 days in our Oakland hospital, she's now cancer-free! This Giving Tuesday, Penny's mom recalls her daughter's last scan on Christmas Eve. https://ucsfh.org/4apGEPA

Some babies born premature can develop apnea, which periodically stops breathing for more than 15 to 20 seconds at a time and sometimes is associated with slowing of the heart rate. Fortunately, apnea is treatable. Learn more here: https://ucsfh.org/3UTn4lQ

🍁 Happy Thanksgiving from all the little turkeys at our hospitals! 🦃

For some children, strong feelings show up on brain scans, a UCSF study finds. “If we know an individual child’s brain patterns and how that maps to emotion and behavior, we may be able to use this to personalize treatment,” co-senior author Dr. Pratik Mukherjee says. https://ucsfh.org/44vQifM

A simple oxygen test can identify which babies with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at higher risk for developmental abnormalities like ADHD, a study finds — potentially leading to early detection and life-changing treatments. https://ucsfh.org/43xour4

Kids who spent at least an hour on social media daily scored lower on reading, memory and vocabulary tests than kids who didn't use social media, a study finds. To help focus on enriching activities, Dr. Jason Nagata recommends families establish "screen-free zones." https://ucsfh.org/43QMHss

Twins Zazil and Alaia graduated from their baby helmets — please congratulate them! 🎉 🎓 They're among the first group of patients to graduate from our new pediatric orthotics and prosthetics clinic at Parnassus, and both toddlers are thrilled to go helmet-free!

📣 New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in @jama.com! Underage social media use linked to lower reading and memory scores - even low levels of social media exposure were linked to poorer cognitive performance 🔗 tinyurl.com/3vnpw4p3 @ucsf-ihps.bsky.social

Federal funding cuts are slowing research on treatments for pediatric cancer. “In the 1960s, essentially a pediatric cancer diagnosis was almost universally fatal,” Dr. William Temple tells KQED. "Nowadays, ~70% of those kids are now cured... because of clinical trials." https://ucsfh.org/4o3EQ2S

Preteens who use increasing amounts of social media perform poorer in reading, vocabulary & memory tests compared w/ those using none or very little, a study finds. Dr. Jason Nagata notes that even "low users had smaller differences in their cognitive scores." https://ucsfh.org/4mZCVeb

Did you know that even mild or partial hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to speak & understand language? Early detection allows parents, teachers & doctors to better assist with development and corrective options. Learn more about diagnosis & where to get treatment: https://ucsfh.org/46GokQ6

👏 U.S. News and World Report results for Best Children’s Hospitals are in! We’re proud to rank as the best children’s hospital in Northern California again, and Top 10 in the nation for cancer, neonatology and gastroenterology! 🎉 https://ucsfh.org/4o5ISXY

Using CRISPR to boost a healthy gene, scientists stopped seizures in mice with a type of brain disorder, offering new hope for children with the mutation. “A therapy like this in the clinic could improve their ability to talk and even live independently,” Kevin Bender says. https://ucsfh.org/46glgtM

In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, I visited UCSF & @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social to see the world-class care and groundbreaking research leading the fight against pediatric cancer.

A new a toolkit will help families of childhood cancer survivors reduce exposure to harmful pollutants. “Medical providers receive little to no education... on the impacts of environmental pollutants... (and) need resources to better treat patients,” Dr. Mark Miller says. https://ucsfh.org/4mxdRLz

Multiple sclerosis is most commonly diagnosed in young adults, but kids can be affected, too. We offer early diagnosis and specialized care for pediatric MS, helping young patients manage symptoms like fatigue, vision issues and balance difficulties. Learn more: https://ucsfh.org/3JWlygK

With kids returning to the football field, Dr. Gil Rabinovici urges caution. He's conducting research on CTE/brain injuries in former players. “There is some data that suggests that starting football at a younger age puts people at higher risk,” Dr. Rabinovici says. https://ucsfh.org/41G1GEK

Back-to-school stress is causing more headaches in kids, but pediatric neurologist Dr. Hannah Shapiro is tackling migraines with innovative virtual therapy and IV treatments—no heavy meds needed! Learn more about how to help your child find relief. https://ucsfh.org/42jg45R

A new grant will set the stage for Dr. Alfonso Ramirez-Ristori to become one of Mexico’s first molecular pediatric pathologists! He'll train at UCSF in gene-based testing & mutation sequencing to help provide better access to cancer detection & treatment for kids in Mexico. https://ucsfh.org/3I5iz4S

An algorithm to personalize care in kids w/ leukemia is the 1st in the world to show benefits of a new approach & is "a direct example of how research funding goes from bench to bedside, developing treatments in the lab that reach patients,” UCSF’s Janel Long-Boyle says. https://ucsfh.org/4mTAdYM

Vibrant poppies, a heron and an ode to steel manufacturing are all featured in a new mural near our Mission Bay hospital! Created by SF artist Cameron “CAMER1sf” Moberg, the idea for the art “came directly from our neighbors,” UCSF’s Fernando Enciso-Marquez says. https://ucsfh.org/4g1uZY8

Cannabis use can affect kids differently than adults. "Teenagers who frequently use cannabis have reduced brain matter and activity in the areas crucial for decision making and planning,” Dr. William Burrough says. https://ucsfh.org/45Ts9zU

As school sports start, focusing on injury prevention in training keeps an athlete playing and happy, @brianfeeleymd.bsky.social tells @drniravpandya.bsky.social. They discuss the role of injury prevention, nutrition and sleep on the 6-8 Weeks podcast.

It was such a treat to welcome 3x World Series Champion with the @sfgiants.com, Buster Posey, and his wife, Kristen, who brought smiles and joy to our young patients! Buster signed hats and memorabilia, and the Poseys came with Giants gift bags to share. 🧡⚾

With school sports starting up & people gearing up for the fall, it's important to understand the role of injury prevention, load management, and overuse for all ages. Listen to our latest podcast as @brianfeeleymd.bsky.social and I break it down: peds-ortho.simplecast.com/episodes/inj...

Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious condition that occurs when a child's bone marrow fails to produce enough of the stem cells that give rise to the three types of blood cells. Learn more about diagnosis, treatment and where to get care: ucsfh.org/4mm9nZ2

Daxtin’s diagnosis of a rare type of leukemia was only the third case that oncologist Dr. Elliot Stieglitz had ever seen, but precision medicine & a stem cell transplant gave the "miracle baby" a second chance at life. ucsfh.org/41FjXBN

Apnea is a condition in which a baby periodically stops breathing for more than 15 to 20 seconds. "Central apnea" can affect some premature infants because their brains aren’t yet programmed to sustain nonstop breathing. Learn more: ucsfh.org/3UTn4lQ

Experts warn ultra-processed foods can fuel addiction, especially in kids. "The food industry's business model – they got a lot of help in creating that business model from the tobacco industry," UCSF's Dr. Laura Schmidt says.

More than a month ago, I started my #postdoc at UCSF! 🎶 Grateful to Laura & Greg Perloff for supporting this fellowship. Looking forward to working with @noneedlesspain.bsky.social, Julene Johnson, Sheri Robb & the music therapy teams at @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social on #pediatricpain & #palliativecare

Kids hospitalized for eating disorders are 25x less likely to return if they get therapy sessions after discharge, a study finds. “Outpatient therapy from any type of provider can help break the cycle of repeat hospitalizations,” UCSF's Erin Accurso says.

For teens with developing brains, e-cigarette addiction is especially problematic—and more addicting vapes are now available, with some containing the same amount of nicotine as 100 packs of cigarettes, Dr. Pamela Ling tells @nytimes.com.

📣 New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in Current Psychiatry Reports and at #MediaAndMinds25! A review of interventions aimed at reducing #MentalHealth effects of problematic #SocialMedia use among adolescents 🔗 tinyurl.com/psmuinterventions @childrenandscreens.bsky.social @smahrteam.bsky.social

We had to make sure that we included as many of the UCSF Peds Endo Family that we could - here are updated group photos + AI cartoon versions of us representing @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social at #ENDO2025 @endocrinesociety.bsky.social ! 😊

An assessment of Alameda County residents found mental health, systemic inequities & safety are the top health issues local kids face. That's why we're expanding access to mental health, trauma & emergency care, hospital president Dr. Nicholas Holmes says.

Farewell & happy trails to Michael Towne, who retired after more than 20 years as our manager of Child Life Services in San Francisco (and 24+ years at UCSF)! Michael is training to become an end-of-life doula so he can support patients in their final days during his retirement!

New @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social study in Sleep Health! Bedtime #screenuse, #sleep outcomes, and #sociodemographic associations ➡️ 71% of teens had an Internet-connected device in their bedroom ➡️ 25% were woken up in the past week by notifications 🔗 tinyurl.com/cr66wrzk @sleepfoundation.bsky.social

Thank you for visiting us, therapy dog, Babo, and his person, Cindy! Babo loves to roll over, shake, turn, sit up & play dead. He can also do a funny crawl when he meets a new friend! Thank you for bringing joy to staff, kids & parents at our hospital! 🐾 💕