Can’t get enough of Bubble Wrap? The Bubble Wrap Plus is a monthly paediatric Journal Club reading list from Professor Jaan Toelen (University Hospitals Leuven) and Dr Anke Raaijmakers (Sydney Children’s Hospital).
This comprehensive list is developed from 34 journals, including major and subspecialty paediatric journals. We suggest that this list can help you discover relevant or interesting articles for your local journal club or keep you up to date on the latest paediatric research.
Even though human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are genetically related viruses, their pathology in children are not entirely identical. In a study in the USA, researchers found that children with HMPV-associated hospitalisation tend to be older and are more likely to have underlying medical conditions compared with children with RSV-associated hospitalisation.
Children often experience pain due to medical procedures, which can have short- and long-term adverse effects. Therefore, an accurate assessment of pain is crucial for designing effective prevention strategies. A Turkish study found that children themselves reported the highest pain levels, followed by parents, and then nurses. So, more empathy – rather than an eye roll – is the better strategy the next time we put a needle in a child.
When it comes to youth suicide attempts, intentional self-poisoning is the most common method. In this USA-based study 50% of the patients required medical intervention, and nearly 25% needed medical admission. A pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis, history of sexual abuse, and history of automutilation were associated with self-poisoning recurrence.
Helicobacter pylori (HP) clinical guidelines encourage obtaining gastric biopsy culture and antimicrobial susceptibilities to guide therapy. The latter is not always part of standard clinical care in many countries. A study from Boston Children’s Hospital showed that treatments guided by antimicrobial susceptibility testing were more effective than empiric therapy. Antibiotic resistance – especially resistance to amoxicillin – turned out to be the biggest reason for treatment failure.
Families living on low incomes tend to face more health challenges than those with higher incomes. A JAMA Pediatrics study looked at whether giving mothers in low-income households unconditional monthly cash transfers (about $15,000 spread over four years) would improve health outcomes. Surprisingly, the transfers did not improve maternal mental health, BMI (for mothers or children), or even mothers’ reports of their children’s health. The authors suggest a few possible reasons: perhaps cash transfers do not directly affect health, perhaps the benefits show up later in life, or perhaps a 20% income boost is simply not enough to offset the deep structural disadvantages tied to poverty.
A Dutch study investigated the development of the gut microbiome in babies with and without infantile colic (IC). They found that infants who developed IC had a different pattern of microbiota development compared to non-IC infants, especially in early-onset cases. AB exposure in the first week appeared to have specific and overlapping effects on the infants’ gut microbiota.
You will find the list is broken down into four sections:
1.Reviews and opinion articles
Bloody diarrhea, STEC infection, and HUS in the molecular microbiology era.
Dato L, et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Aug 23.
Family-Centered Care for Children with Abusive Head Trauma.
Cerf C, et al. J Child Neurol. 2025 Aug 21:8830738251364164.
A Practical Guide to Genetic Eye Conditions for Paediatricians.
Lin R, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug 6.
Manoy S, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug 4.
An update on paediatric traumatic brain injury in the emergency department: a narrative review.
Alsuwais S, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 2;184(8):523.
Medical Complications of Anorexia Nervosa.
Trapani S, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 1;156(2):e2024070304.
Exercise-Induced Dyspnea: There is More to This Than Meets the Eye!-A Narrative Review.
Papamichael MM, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug;61(8):1182-1188.
Routine pulse oximetry testing for newborn babies: a framework for practice.
Monnelly V, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Aug 19;110(5):436-443.
Menon RN, et al. Lancet. 2025 Aug 9;406(10503):636-649.
Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Review.
Pishko AM, et al. JAMA. 2025 Aug 12;334(6):517-529.
The ADHventures of Asterix and Copeptin: The Hyponatraemia Challenge.
Bockenhauer D. Horm Res Paediatr. 2025 Aug 26:1-4.
2.Original clinical studies
Kwong AK, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2025 Aug 28: archdischild-2025-329242.
Human Metapneumovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: A Comparative Analysis.
Goldstein LA, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 6:e2024070218.
Cakil Guzin A, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug 27.
Hui WF, et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Aug 13.
Robinson D, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2025 Aug 27:archdischild-2025-328871.
Cappelli E, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Aug 27.
Gicchino MF, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 27;184(9):577.
Valentini NC, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 27;184(9):579.
Outcomes of Preterm Infants Born at 22 to 23 Weeks’ Gestation in 11 International Neonatal Networks.
Isayama T, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 25:e252958.
Ahmadi S, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Aug 26.
Sezici E, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug 25.
Ng HCD, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Aug 25:fetalneonatal-2025-328547.
Aronson PL, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 26:e2025071666.
Analysis of Risk Factors for the Recurrence of Chronic Tic Disorder in Children.
Jing M, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug 24.
Temperature Percentiles by Hour of Life in the Newborn Nursery.
Dang R, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 22:e2025070973.
Predictors of Recurrent Intentional Self-Poisoning.
Lavina IS, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 22:e2025071670.
Ríos-Barnés M, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Aug 21.
Simma A, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 21;184(9):569.
Moraleda C, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Aug 12.
Risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children With Epilepsy and Sleep Apnea.
Wu PM, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 19:e2024069635.
Evaluation of copeptin as a marker for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in children.
Bueso-Inchausti García L, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 14;184(9):550.
Increasing Short-Course Treatment of Acute Otitis Media in a Pediatric Primary Care Network.
Rabbani N, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 14:e2024070155.
Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale in children with migraine or dizziness.
Kong R, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 11;184(9):544.
Sahoo JK, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug 8.
Chan C, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug 8.
Positive Predictive Value of Tissue Transglutaminase IgA for Celiac Disease.
Chang D, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 8:e2025070897.
Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in Children With Cancer.
Body A, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 8:e2024070209.
Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Motor Tics in Children: A Case Series.
Edmondson E, et al. J Child Neurol. 2025 Aug 6:8830738251360210.
Outpatient Therapy and Risk of Rehospitalization for Youth With Eating Disorders.
Mikhail ME, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 1;156(2):e2025070797.
Effectiveness of Nirsevimab Against RSV and RSV-Related Events in Infants.
Hsiao A, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 1;156(2):e2024069510.
Rumbold AR, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 4:e252365.
Awareness and Use of Vaping Products With a Nicotine Analogue Among Adolescents and Young Adults.
Sanchez LM, et al. Pediatrics. 2025 Aug 1;156(2):e2024070484.
Duncan GJ, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 1;179(8):867-875.
Sim MB, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug;61(8):1295-1300.
Babu PA, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug;81(2):324-330.
Aberrant microbiota signatures precede symptom development in infantile colic.
Daele EV, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug;81(2):217-225.
Cool D, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug;61(8):1263-1269.
Wiszniewska D, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug;81(2):331-338.
Greenberg RG, et al. J Pediatr. 2025 Aug;283:114629.
Hirsch S, et al. J Pediatr. 2025 Aug;283:114628.
Associations of Infant Colic and Excessive Crying With Atopic Outcomes in Childhood and Adolescence.
Switkowski KM, et al. J Pediatr. 2025 Aug;283:114623.
Near-fatal asthma in children and young adults: an international eDelphi Study.
McMurray A, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2025 Aug 18;110(9):693-700.
Kidney involvement during the course of febrile urinary tract infection.
Pietropaolo G, et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Aug;40(8):2455-2468.
Risdiplam in Presymptomatic Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Finkel RS, et al. N Engl J Med. 2025 Aug 14;393(7):671-682.
Influenza-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in US Children.
IA-ANE Working Group JAMA. 2025 Aug 26;334(8):692-701.
3.Guidelines and best evidence
Combination therapies in spinal muscular atrophy: a systematic review.
Bemanalizadeh M, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2025 Aug 29;184(9):583.
Karrento K, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug 20.
Soler Wenglein J, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Aug 15.
Verduci E, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug 17.
Groen J, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2025 Aug;81(2):442-471.
Albaum C, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2025 Aug 1;179(8):886-895.
Noronha AA, et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2025 Aug;40(8):2481-2488.
4.Case reports
A Teenager With Ear Drainage, Jaundice and Right Hip Pain.
Abdel-Haq N, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2025 Aug 11;44(9):910-912.
Erythematous Papules on the Pulps of the Fingers.
Aparício Martins A, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug;61(8):1354-1355.
Lingual swelling in a boy aged 4 days due to a foregut duplication cyst.
Munn-Bookless K, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2025 Aug 19;110(5):520.
A Toddler With New Onset Poor Sleep, Irritability and Head Banging.
Ng NBH, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Aug;61(8):1325-1327.
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments!