Pediatricians can give better advice by tracking the health misinformation their patients encounter, according to research presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 conference in San Diego.

Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia created a survey asking clinicians what misinformation they heard from families, whether they felt prepared to address it, and what worked. More than 50 percent of the misinformation recorded involved vaccines. Other topics included aluminum, acetaminophen, ADHD and supplements.

The team used the data to build Pediatric Health Chat, a public website with educational material debunking the myths families actually encounter. They also created internal training for hospital staff.

"Looking at these trends allowed us to see in real time what was worrying the families we care for," said study author Dr Katie Lockwood. "Addressing pediatric health misinformation is vital to protecting the health of children, and as trusted messengers, children's hospitals have an obligation to respond." The approach turns everyday questions into targeted education.

Sources: brightsurf.com; medicalxpress.com; news-medical.net.