Evolution in pediatric health care

Background: There is disturbing evidence of escalating chronic disease among children – a phenomenon that is extracting a heavy toll from individuals, families, and health‐care systems. Methods: This review was prepared by assessing medical and scientific literature available from Medline, as well as by reviewing numerous books, conference proceedings, and government publications. Results: Knowledge translation in medical science, the process whereby new research is incorporated into clinical practice, remains lethargic. Nutritional and environmental factors have recently been recognized as common determinants of modern illness, and various diagnostic techniques in molecular medicine are now available to facilitate diagnosis of disease etiology. Conclusions: A re‐evaluation of the current pediatric clinical paradigm is required in light of emerging research from fields such as epigenetics, molecular medicine and environmental health. Education about these branches of medical science should be integrated into pediatric medical education, and important research information from these disciplines should be incorporated into public health care and clinical practice relating to children.