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New research explores how bacteria may survive treatment and keep infections going

• About 8% to 10% of children may continue carrying strep bacteria after antibiotics, even when they feel healthy.

• Researchers found that bacterial genetics alone did not explain why some children continued carrying strep.

• The findings point to the possible role of the body's immune response and other bacteria living in the throat.

Strep throat can be miserable for children, causing fever, swollen tonsils, and a painful sore throat. While antibiotics can treat the infection, some children continue carrying Group A Streptococcus (GAS) bacteria after their symptoms disappear.

These children are known as carriers. They may feel completely healthy, but the bacteria can remain in their throats for months or even years and potentially spread to others.

Around 8 to 10% of kids will stay colonized with strep even after the antibiotics are done, Binghamton University Associate Professor of Biological Sciences Laura Cook said in a news release. They no longer have symptoms. They feel healthy.

Researchers from Binghamton University, the University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health wanted to understand why this happens. Their study, published in Cell Reports, explored whether certain characteristics of the bacteria could explain why they persist after treatment.

How researchers studied strep infections

The research team analyzed samples from 205 children ages 5 to 15 who visited pediatric clinics in Madison, Wisconsin, between 2012 and 2023. Children who tested positive for strep throat received antibiotics and returned about four weeks later for another throat swab.

Researchers compared children whose infections had cleared with those who still carried strep despite no longer having symptoms. They used whole-genome sequencing to examine the bacteria's genetic makeup and RNA sequencing to study which genes were active during infection and after treatment.

The team also tested the bacteria's ability to form biofilms, which are communities of bacteria that can stick together, and examined their antibiotic susceptibility.

What the findings mean for consumers

The researchers found no consistent genetic differences that could explain why some strep strains persisted after treatment. They also found no major differences in biofilm formation or antibiotic susceptibility between bacteria from carriers and non-carriers.

However, the bacteria showed different gene activity during active infections compared with the post-treatment carrier state. Importantly, those gene activity patterns during the initial infection did not predict which children would become carriers.

That suggests the explanation may involve more than the bacteria themselves. Researchers believe factors such as a child's immune response or the other bacteria living in their throat could play a role.

The team plans to investigate whether differences in children's throat microbiomes the communities of microorganisms living there could help explain or predict strep carriage.

For families, the findings offer new insight into why a child may test positive for strep even after feeling better. They do not establish a new treatment or mean antibiotics have failed to treat the original illness. Instead, they highlight questions researchers are still working to answer about why strep bacteria sometimes remain in the throat after treatment.

A new study examines the rise in emergency visits and what families need to know

• Suicide-related emergency department visits among children in the U.S. increased by 74%, highlighting a growing concern for childrens mental health.

• Researchers examined emergency department data to better understand changes in suicide-related visits among children.

• The findings offer insight into the scale of the issue and why recognizing childrens mental health needs matters.

When a child is experiencing a mental health crisis, getting help quickly can make a meaningful difference. But emergency departments across the country are facing increasing demand for care, including visits involving suicide or self-injury.

A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that suicide-related emergency department visits among children increased by 74% between 2016 and 2022.

The research also highlights a challenge for families: Not every emergency department has the specialized resources needed to care for children experiencing a mental health crisis.

A child experiencing a mental health crisis may arrive at any emergency department. Our findings underscore the need to equip every ED not only large pediatric centers with tools and resources to provide evidence-based mental health care, lead author Audrey Brewer, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and researcher at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago, said in a news release.

Strengthening mental and behavioral health capacity across all emergency care settings is essential to ensuring children receive timely, effective and equitable care.

How researchers examined childrens emergency visits

Researchers analyzed more than five million emergency department visits involving mental health concerns among children ages 5 to 17 across the U.S. The study used data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, a database that allowed researchers to examine childrens visits to emergency departments between 2016 and 2022.

The team focused on visits where children had a primary mental health diagnosis, looking at the types of concerns bringing them to emergency departments and the hospitals where they received care.

Researchers also examined differences between hospitals based on how many children they typically treated each year. Hospitals seeing fewer than 10,000 children annually were classified as having lower pediatric patient volumes.

What the findings mean for families

Along with the 74% increase in suicide-related visits, researchers found that overall pediatric mental health-related emergency visits increased by 24% during the study period. Suicide or self-injury accounted for 24% of mental health visits, while depressive disorders accounted for 23%.

About half of all suicide-related emergency visits occurred at hospitals with lower pediatric patient volumes. At hospitals with the lowest pediatric volumes, nearly 30% of children seen for mental health concerns were transferred to another hospital for care.

Researchers say these findings highlight the importance of ensuring that all emergency departments can respond to children experiencing mental health crises. That includes training staff, providing access to pediatric mental health professionals in person or through telehealth, screening children for suicide risk, and helping families connect with follow-up care.

For parents and caregivers, the findings underscore the importance of seeking help when a child is struggling and ensuring they have a clear plan for support after an emergency visit.

To improve care, ED-based mental health interventions need to be developed and tested for children of color, since many have not been studied in diverse populations, added Dr. Brewer. Delivering culturally responsive evidence-based interventions for children in the community and outpatient primary care settings can help to potentially lessen ED reliance for mental health care and may help reduce disparities in youth mental health outcomes.

A step-by-step guide to leaving items in your cart, triggering discounts and knowing exactly how long to wait

• Leaving an item in your online cart could trigger a discount, with offers ranging from free shipping to as much as 65% off, according to new research.

• How long you should wait depends on what you're buying: Fashion deals can arrive within hours, while deeper furniture discounts may take a week or longer.

• Don't assume the first coupon is your best deal. Some retailers send increasingly better offers, but always compare the final price with what the item originally cost.

See something you want online? Before hitting "Buy," you might want to walk away.

Literally.

Leaving an item sitting in your online shopping cart could trigger a discount from the retailer, and depending on what you're buying, the savings could be substantial.

New research from Decodo found that retailers often follow predictable schedules for sending discounts to shoppers who abandon their carts. The company tracked 1,500 products across 120 retailers in more than 40 countries throughout 2025 and found offers ranging from free shipping to as much as 65% off.

But simply dumping something in your cart and closing the browser isn't always enough.

ConsumerAffairs talked with Gabriel Vitk, Product Marketing Lead at Decodo, about how shoppers can improve their odds of triggering a discount, how long they should wait, and when this shopping trick can backfire.

Here's how to use this shopping trick to your advantage.

Step #1: Don't buy immediately

This strategy starts with something that's admittedly difficult when you really want something. Don't buy it.

Add the item to your online cart and proceed toward checkout, but stop before completing the purchase. By doing so, a retailer will often recognize you as someone whos extremely close to buying, but needs just a little extra nudge.

That nudge could be free shipping, 10% off or, in some product categories, a much larger discount.

Decodo found that many retailers will use a sequence of automated emails. The first email may simply say you forgot something and beg you to come back and buy. If you get that email, the key is to not assume that's the best deal you'll get.

A later email will often contain the actual discount youre looking for.

Pro tip: Before abandoning the cart, take a screenshot showing the item's price. If you eventually receive a coupon, you'll be able to determine whether you're actually paying less.

Step #2: Make sure they have your email address

There's a pretty obvious problem with expecting an abandoned-cart coupon: The retailer needs to know where to send it.

Vitk recommends proceeding far enough into the checkout process to provide your email address before leaving.

If you're already logged into an account, the retailer should already have it.

But if you're shopping as a guest, simply putting something into your cart may not give the company enough information to contact you.

For shoppers testing out this strategy, Vitk recommends starting with a "clean" shopping session.

"Use incognito mode with cookies cleared, and add the item to your cart while logged out, since being logged in as a known customer often suppresses new-customer offers," she told ConsumerAffairs.

Then enter your email address during the checkout process and leave before paying.

Now you've given the retailer an interested shopper, an unfinished purchase, and most importantly, a way to contact you.

Pro tip: Time your return visit. Decodo's 2025 data found Sunday was the cheapest day to revisit carts at Amazon, Walmart and Ulta, while Tuesday was best for Zara and Gap, Monday for Nike, and Friday for Newegg. These aren't guaranteed sale days, but waiting for the right day could improve your odds of catching a price drop.

Step #3: Wait but know how long

Here's where the type of product you're buying tends to matter.

Decodo actually found huge differences in how quickly retailers respond to abandoned carts.

Fast fashion: ASOS, H&M, SHEIN and Boohoo Decodo says the first discount will usually arrive within 12 hours, typically 10%15% off or free shipping.

Beauty: Sephora, Ulta, Glossier and The Ordinary offers tend to show up around 24 hours, often as a sample bundle rather than a straight coupon.

Apparel: Levi's, Madewell, Banana Republic, J.Crew and Gap Decodo found many offers of around 20% off among these brands.

Furniture: Wayfair, West Elm, Crate & Barrel and IKEA first offers typically appear within 2448 hours, while deeper offers can come 714 days later.

Electronics: Best Buy, Newegg and B&H Photo Decodo says these retailers rarely send abandoned-cart discount emails, instead leaning on financing, trade-ins or price-drop alerts.

DTC/mattress: Casper, Allbirds, Warby Parker and Brooklinen Decodo describes a typical three-email progression that can culminate in $25$100 off after 4872 hours.

Meal kits/subscriptions: HelloFresh, Blue Apron and FabFitFun discounts can arrive within hours and frequently reach 40%65% off the first order.

Marketplaces: Amazon, eBay, Walmart and AliExpress Decodo says these generally don't use abandoned-cart coupons, relying more on actual price drops and alerts.

The lesson is don't use the same waiting strategy for a $30 shirt and a $2,000 sofa.

Pro tip: Check your spam and promotions folders during the waiting period. An abandoned-cart coupon isn't much use if Gmail filed it somewhere you never look.

Step #4: Try waiting through the first email

Suppose you get an email an hour later saying: "Did you forget something?"

At this point, you should pretty much ignore this useless email. Vitk said many retailers use a graduated sequence designed to see how much persuasion you need before buying.

A reminder often comes first, followed shortly by a discount if you still havent completed the purchase.

Furniture and direct-to-consumer brands are particularly interesting for shoppers willing to wait.

Decodo found that their later emails can contain better offers than their first ones.

So, if the item isn't in danger of selling out, waiting through email No. 1 is definitely worthwhile.

Pro tip: Before using the first coupon you receive, check whether it has an expiration date. If the code remains valid for several days, waiting another day could reveal whether the retailer sends something better.

Step #5: You can try abandoning the cart again

Here's where shoppers can get a little more strategic.

What happens if you've already abandoned a cart once and received a discount? Can you do it again?

Possibly.

Vitk said repeatedly leaving a cart doesn't necessarily make a retailer think you're trying to manipulate its system.

"Repeated abandonment more often signals 'price sensitive, needs a nudge' than 'problem customer,'" she said.

Abandoning the same cart again could restart the retailer's email sequence or potentially trigger another incentive.

But don't assume you've discovered an unlimited coupon generator as some retailers cap how frequently individual shoppers can receive promotional codes.

"If you've used the discount from your email once, you might not receive it when you abandon the second shopping cart," Vitk said.

In other words, it's worth testing, but results will vary.

Step #6: Understand that someone else might get a better deal

Here's one of the most interesting parts of abandoned-cart promotions.

You and a friend could each put the exact same $100 item in your carts and receive different offers.

Retailers can potentially use far more than the product itself when deciding what incentive to send.

Vitk said factors can include:

• Your previous purchases

• Average order value

• Loyalty status

• Whether you normally open promotional emails

• How you arrived at the website

• Your device or location

For example, a new shopper who arrives after searching for a discount code might receive a coupon.

A loyal customer whose history suggests they're willing to pay full price might not.

"Two shoppers with an identical $100 item can land in completely different segments, so the item itself is rarely the deciding factor," Vitk said.

That's another reason to test the strategy rather than assuming the offer you see is the only one available.

Step #7: Don't let a coupon trick you into paying more

Getting an email saying "15% OFF!" feels like you've won.

Not necessarily.

Vitk warned that waiting can backfire because the underlying price of the product can change.

A retailer could raise the base price before you receive your coupon. Your 15% discount might then leave you paying roughly what you would have paid originally.

That's why that screenshot you took in Step #1 matters.

Ignore the size of the advertised discount and compare the final checkout price with what the item would have cost when you first put it in your cart.

That's the number that matters.

Step #8: Know when NOT to play the waiting game

There are times when saving another 10% isn't worth the gamble.

Vitk said the biggest legitimate risk is inventory. A popular shoe size, clothing color, concert weekend hotel room or limited-stock product can disappear while you're waiting for an email that may never arrive.

She also cautioned shoppers against putting too much faith in website urgency messages such as countdown clocks or "only 2 left" notices, which are sometimes nothing more than fake marketing messages.

Its smart to search other online retailers before deciding to wait. If the product is widely available elsewhere, abandoning your cart carries considerably less risk.

New research highlights how tobacco use can affect fertility and reproductive health

• Smoking may affect a person's ability to conceive, adding another concern for people planning to start a family.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) examined evidence on tobacco use and reproductive health.

• The findings highlight why avoiding tobacco is an important consideration for people thinking about having children.

For people hoping to have a baby, fertility can be affected by a number of factors, including tobacco use.

A new knowledge summary from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights evidence linking smoking to fertility problems in both men and women.

The findings are especially relevant given that infertility affects an estimated one in six people of reproductive age worldwide at some point in their lives. WHO defines infertility as being unable to achieve pregnancy after at least 12 months of regular, unprotected sex.

How researchers examined the evidence

Rather than conducting one new experiment, WHO brought together findings from existing research examining tobacco use and reproductive health.

One systematic review covered studies published between 2000 and 2026, looking at the relationship between smoking and infertility in women. The summary also drew on a review of 44 studies involving more than 60,000 men to examine how smoking may affect male reproductive health.

Researchers also considered evidence from 21 studies exploring smoking and the outcomes of fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization (IVF). The summary included research on secondhand smoke exposure and discussed what is currently known about newer products, such as e-cigarettes and waterpipes.

What the findings mean for consumers

The evidence suggests smoking may make it harder for some people to conceive. Women who currently smoke had a 40% higher risk of infertility than women who do not smoke, according to the systematic review. Women who had smoked in the past but no longer smoked had a 25% lower risk than those who continued smoking.

For men, smoking was associated with problems involving sperm quality and sexual function, including erectile and ejaculation difficulties. Researchers also identified issues with sperm movement and shape.

Smoking may also affect the success of fertility treatments. Research cited by WHO linked cigarette smoking to fewer pregnancies and live births following assisted reproduction, with some findings suggesting success rates could be roughly halved.

And the potential risks aren't limited to people who smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke may increase infertility risk and reduce the chance of conceiving each month.

WHO recommends that healthcare providers discuss tobacco-related fertility risks with people planning a pregnancy and offer proven support to help them quit. Evidence on newer nicotine and tobacco products is still developing, but WHO says they may also pose risks.

The takeaway: avoiding tobacco may be one way people can help protect their reproductive health, although fertility is complex and smoking is only one factor that can affect the ability to conceive.