Study Finds Major Drop in Peanut Allergies Among Young Children

The study, led by Dr. David Hill of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, analyzed electronic health records from dozens of pediatric practices to track food allergy trends before and after the introduction of the new guidance. “That’s a remarkable thing,” Hill said. “There are fewer kids with food allergy today than there would have been if we hadn’t implemented this public health effort.”

Researchers found that peanut allergies in children ages 0 to 3 dropped by more than 27% after the initial 2015 guidance for high-risk infants, and by more than 40% after broader recommendations were released in 2017. While overall food allergy rates in the U.S. continue to rise—now affecting about 8% of children—the data suggest that the peanut-specific trend has reversed course.

Background: How Early Feeding Became the New Norm

For decades, medical advice discouraged parents from feeding peanuts and other potential allergens to children before age 3. That changed after the 2015 Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) trial, led by Dr. Gideon Lack at King’s College London, found that introducing peanut-containing foods to infants as early as 4 months old reduced the likelihood of developing an allergy by over 80%. Follow-up research showed the protective effect persisted into adolescence for roughly 70% of children.

The LEAP trial revolutionized pediatric allergy prevention and prompted new guidelines from U.S. and U.K. health authorities recommending early exposure to peanuts for both high-risk and average-risk infants. The guidance was expanded in 2017 and updated again in 2021 to include all major food allergens such as dairy, soy, and eggs.

Slow Implementation Among Pediatricians

Despite the strong evidence, adoption of the early-feeding approach has been uneven. Surveys show that only about 29% of pediatricians and 65% of allergists follow the full 2017 guidelines. Many doctors and parents initially questioned whether introducing allergens so early could be done safely outside of controlled clinical trials.

“The data show encouraging progress, but implementation is still incomplete,” said Dr. Ruchi Gupta, a pediatric allergy specialist at Northwestern University, in a commentary accompanying the study. Gupta noted that the dataset may not fully represent all U.S. pediatric populations but nonetheless provides “promising evidence that early allergen introduction is not only being adopted but making a measurable impact.”

Public Health and Parental Education

Food allergy advocates say the findings are an encouraging sign of progress. “This research reinforces what we already know and underscores a meaningful opportunity to reduce the incidence and prevalence of peanut allergy nationwide,” said Sung Poblete, CEO of Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a nonprofit that supports the 33 million Americans living with food allergies.

The updated 2021 guidelines recommend introducing peanuts and other allergenic foods between four and six months of age—without the need for prior screening tests. The approach, experts say, can help the immune system build tolerance safely through gradual exposure.

“It doesn’t have to be a lot of food,” Hill explained. “Small tastes of peanut butter, milk-based yogurt, soy products, or nut butters are good ways to help the immune system learn to tolerate these foods safely.”

From Skepticism to Acceptance: A Parent’s Experience

For many parents, the idea of feeding babies peanuts still feels counterintuitive. Tiffany Leon, a Maryland-based registered dietitian and FARE director, introduced peanuts and other allergens early to her sons, James and Cameron, following the updated recommendations. Initially, her own mother was alarmed by the shift in advice.

“At first, she was shocked,” Leon said. “But as a dietitian, I practice evidence-based recommendations. When I saw the science and the new guidelines, I knew this was the right approach.”

Leon says her experience reflects a growing awareness among parents that early allergen exposure can be both safe and beneficial. “It’s a big change from what we were told years ago, but it’s one that’s making a real difference for kids,” she added.

Why Early Feeding Matters

Peanut allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies peanut proteins as threats, triggering symptoms that range from hives and breathing difficulties to potentially fatal anaphylaxis. In the United States, about 2% of children have a diagnosed peanut allergy—one of the most common and severe food allergies worldwide.

The success of early feeding in reducing peanut allergy risk has inspired similar research into preventing other common allergies. Scientists are studying whether early exposure to milk, eggs, and tree nuts could offer similar protective effects.

Global Health Implications

Experts say the U.S. experience offers valuable lessons for other countries facing rising allergy rates. The World Health Organization and national pediatric associations in Canada, the U.K., and Australia have adopted similar early-feeding guidance, though implementation remains inconsistent across regions and socioeconomic groups.

“This is one of the few clear examples of a population-level intervention changing the trajectory of a chronic condition,” Hill said. “It shows what’s possible when science, policy, and clinical practice align.”

Source: AP News – Advice to feed babies peanuts early and often helped 60,000 kids avoid allergies, study finds

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The Birth of a Meme That Means Nothing — and Everything

In classrooms across the United States, shouting “6-7!” has become a daily ritual. Whether a teacher turns to page 67 or lunchtime is six to seven minutes away, the number chant echoes through hallways.

“It’s like a virus that’s taken over these kids’ minds,” said Gabe Dannenbring, a seventh-grade science teacher in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. “You can’t say any version of six or seven without at least 15 kids yelling ‘6-7!’”

The phenomenon has no clear meaning, yet its emptiness is precisely the point. “It becomes a language game — something only people in their group understand,” explained Gail Fairhurst, a leadership communication professor at the University of Cincinnati.

Linguist Taylor Jones calls it “semantic bleaching” — when a word or phrase loses all meaning through repetition. “People don’t like that it means nothing, and that’s why kids love it,” Jones said. “It’s both upsetting and fascinating at the same time.”

The Origins: From TikTok to Sports Culture

The meme’s rise traces back to “Doot Doot (6 7)”, a 2024 viral song by Philadelphia rapper Skrilla, in which “6-7” may reference the police code 10-67 (used to report a death). Around the same time, high school basketball player Taylen Kinney popularized a gesture for the phrase on TikTok after jokingly rating a Starbucks drink “like a 6 … 6 … 6-7.”

Kinney began incorporating the song and motion into videos that quickly reached millions. Soon after, “6-7” began appearing in sports highlights — even clips featuring NBA player LaMelo Ball, who stands 6 feet 7 inches tall.

By March 2025, a viral video of a young basketball fan shouting “6-7!” during a game cemented the meme’s identity. The boy — dubbed “Mason 67” by the internet — became the unofficial face of the trend. According to meme database Know Your Meme, Mason has since evolved into a recurring online character representing chaotic, overenthusiastic youth.

Why Kids Keep Shouting It

To outsiders, “6-7” sounds like meaningless noise. To insiders, it’s a linguistic password — a “shibboleth,” as linguists call it, that marks who’s “in” and who’s not.

“Language is how people form communities,” Fairhurst said. “Even if it’s nonsense, it can unite those who understand it and exclude those who don’t.”

Jones believes the meme’s staying power comes from adult frustration. “The more annoyed parents and teachers get, the longer it lives,” he said. “If you can make adults mad with something meaningless, that gives it power.”

Some teachers, like Dannenbring, have heard “6-7” shouted more than 70 times in a single day. “If you don’t acknowledge it, it becomes chaos,” he said. “If you lean into it, it dies out in 15 seconds.”

Teachers and Parents Fight Back — With Humor

Educators are experimenting with creative ways to tame the craze. In Michigan, a middle school choir teacher turned “6-7” into a class warm-up song, blending it with other Gen Alpha slang like “rizz,” “Ohio,” and “skibidi.”

Meanwhile, some teachers use the phrase deliberately wrong to dull its appeal. “I’ll say, ‘That’s so 6-7 of you,’” Dannenbring joked. “It kills the fun instantly.”

Comedian Josh Pray, a father of two, has even started using the meme himself in videos. “I’m trying to take our numbers back,” he said. “I’ll be 67 before my kids know it, and I don’t want to hear that tone used against my age!”

Jones said the easiest way to defuse it is for adults to call it “cool.” Once that happens, “it dies almost overnight,” he added.

Not Brainrot — Just Growing Up Online

Despite parental worries about “brainrot,” experts say the “6-7” trend is harmless. It’s part of a long history of youthful rebellion through language — from “groovy” in the 1960s to “yeet” and “skibidi” in recent years.

“We’ve always invented slang that confuses adults,” Jones noted. “Every generation rewrites the rules of communication.”

Fairhurst agrees that “6-7” isn’t a sign of declining intelligence. “It’s just kids experimenting with meaning,” she said. “They’re playing with language for fun — that’s a healthy thing.”

The meme also reflects broader trends in what Fairhurst calls a “post-truth society,” where meaning is fluid and interpretation trumps precision. “We’re using language just to use language, not necessarily to say something real,” she said.

The Meme’s Future: Fading or Evolving?

After nearly a year of dominance — an eternity in TikTok time — signs suggest “6-7” may finally be losing steam. Some students now roll their eyes when classmates shout it, and new contenders are emerging.

Middle school teacher and comedian Philip Lindsay said he’s hearing “41” gaining popularity. “It’s trying to dethrone 6-7,” he said. “But 6-7 just happened — 41 feels forced.”

Dannenbring isn’t worried about what comes next. Compared to past viral trends that damaged property or encouraged dangerous stunts, “6-7” feels harmless. “We’ve had worse,” he said. “This one’s just loud.”

As memes rise and fall, experts say adults should see them less as cultural decay and more as linguistic creativity. The “6-7” phenomenon shows that, even in a chaotic online world, kids still find clever ways to connect — one absurd number at a time.

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Source: CNN – The ‘6-7’ meme can be annoying. But kids are shouting it for good reason

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Elon Musk, 53, has reportedly welcomed his 13th child, according to author Ashley St. Clair. In a surprising revelation, St. Clair announced on Friday, February 14, that she gave birth to their child five months ago.

Ashley St. Clair’s Announcement

St. Clair shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), explaining that she had initially kept the birth private to protect her child’s safety.

“Five months ago, I welcomed a new baby into the world. Elon Musk is the father. I have not previously disclosed this to protect our child’s privacy and safety, but in recent days, it has become clear that tabloid media intends to do so, regardless of the harm it will cause.”

She urged the media to respect their child’s privacy, adding:

“I intend to allow our child to grow in a normal and safe environment. For that reason, I ask that the media honor our child’s privacy and refrain from invasive reporting.”

Her post was captioned with the Latin phrase “Alea Iacta Est”, meaning “The die is cast.”

Who Is Ashley St. Clair?

St. Clair is best known as an outspoken conservative author. She wrote the children’s book Elephants Are Not Birds, published by BRAVE Books. The book, which promotes conservative and Christian values, follows a character named Kevin who learns that despite being able to sing, he is not a bird—challenging ideas about identity.

According to the BRAVE Books website, the company collaborates with figures who uphold “moral integrity” to help teach children traditional values.

Musk’s Growing Family

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has fathered 13 children from multiple relationships. His children include:

• With ex-wife Justine Wilson (Canadian author)
  • Nevada Alexander (died at 10 weeks old)
  • Twins: Vivian and Griffin (20)
  • Triplets: Kai, Saxon, and Damian (18)
• With singer Grimes
  • X Æ A-12 (4)
  • Exa Dark Sideræl (3)
  • Techno Mechanicus (age undisclosed)
• With Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis
  • Twins: Strider and Azure (3)
  • Another child, born early 2024 (name undisclosed)

With this latest revelation, Musk’s family continues to expand, adding yet another chapter to his already complex personal life.

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Anna Maxwell Martin, known for her roles in Line of Duty and Ludwig, recently opened up about the profound impact of her ex-husband Roger Michell’s death four years ago. The director, celebrated for his work on Notting Hill, passed away from a heart attack in September 2020, just after completing the final sound mix for his documentary Elizabeth: A Portrait in Parts.

Following Michell’s unexpected passing, Anna faced what she described as a sense of “financial terror.” This came more than a year after the couple had announced their separation, and her main concern shifted to ensuring the well-being of their daughters, Maggie, 15, and Nancy, 13, amid an uncertain financial future.

In an interview on BBC’s Women’s Hour, Anna reflected on her struggles since her husband’s death, saying, “My husband died three years ago, and things were really difficult on every aspect of our lives.” She emphasized that dealing with grief comes with many challenges, particularly financial ones, along with the responsibility of supporting her children through their own emotional turmoil.

Anna and Roger first met when he directed her in the 2004 film adaptation of Ian McEwan’s Enduring Love. At the time, she was 26, and he was 48. Roger, a father of four, was living in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, at the time of his death. His grown son, Harry, from a previous marriage, reported the news to the Register Office.

In an interview shortly before Roger’s death, Anna mentioned that they were still on good terms and planned to spend Christmas together. Reflecting on her grief journey, she admitted, “Looking back, I was probably in a state of shock, fear, and heightened emotions for a long time… I didn’t really start to grieve for Roger until probably six months ago.”

She compared this experience to the loss of her father, Ivan, when she was just 24. “I’ve walked this road before, and in a way, I could pick myself up and do it again,” she noted, adding that her focus was primarily on her children during this difficult time.

Anna expressed gratitude for her supportive friends and network, which she believes helped her navigate the challenges of loss. “As a woman in my 40s, I’m thankful for having exceptional friends and a strong support system,” she said.

When Anna announced her separation from Roger in 2020, she emphasized the importance of prioritizing their children’s well-being during the transition. “I haven’t really spoken about it because it isn’t fair to all the people involved,” she shared.

Roger Michell was best known for directing Notting Hill, the beloved romantic comedy that starred Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant. His other notable works included Changing Lanes, Venus, and adaptations of Ian McEwan’s novels. Although he was once in talks to direct the James Bond film Quantum of Solace, he withdrew from the project due to script concerns and had previously backed out of directing Captain Corelli’s Mandolin after suffering a heart attack in 1999.

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This cough was a sign that her daughter might have mycoplasma pneumonia, an infection caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae. According to the CDC, cases began rising in the U.S. during the spring and summer, and this trend has continued into fall. In Dallas, Sharma noticed a significant increase in cases after children returned to school.

“Kids are spreading it to one another in schools, and they are likely bringing it home to their families,” Sharma explains.

Mycoplasma pneumonia often presents with upper respiratory symptoms, but some children may also experience red eyes or rashes, along with headaches.

Caleb Ward, a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., reports a tenfold increase in mycoplasma pneumonia cases this year. The good news is that many cases are mild, which is why it’s often referred to as “walking pneumonia.”

“People may assume they just have a mild cold, but they might actually have mycoplasma pneumonia,” Ward says.

New York City has also experienced a surge in cases. Dr. Adam Ratner, who heads the pediatric infectious diseases division at NYU and Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, notes that while the infection typically affects children and teens aged 5 to 17, there has been a noticeable rise in cases among younger children aged 2 to 4 during this current spike.

“That’s consistent with what we are seeing nationwide,” Ratner says, and he is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Infectious Diseases.

Most children can be treated at home. Parents should ensure their kids stay hydrated, give age-appropriate fever medication as needed, and encourage plenty of rest. For children over one year old, honey can help soothe a cough.

Parents should contact a doctor if they notice their child has difficulty breathing, isn’t drinking enough fluids, seems excessively sleepy, or has a fever lasting more than five days.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is easily treated with antibiotics, but it’s important to use the correct one. Amoxicillin, commonly prescribed for other types of pneumonia, is ineffective against mycoplasma pneumonia; instead, a macrolide antibiotic like azithromycin is necessary.

Sharma advises that kids can return to school once they have been fever-free for at least 24 hours without using fever reducers, provided they feel well enough.

However, it’s important to note that symptoms such as cough and runny nose can persist for weeks, and children may continue to spread the bacteria during this time. This is one reason why outbreaks of mycoplasma pneumonia tend to last a long time.

Now is a good time to remind children—and ourselves—to wash our hands frequently and cover our coughs and sneezes, as the winter respiratory virus season is just beginning.

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