Background: Malnutrition is a major underlying factor in under-five mortality and morbidity. Early detection and management are key in preventing the associated complications. However, the nutritional status of children is not frequently assessed at outpatient clinics. Objective: This study aimed to determine the degree of wasting and underweight and their associated factors in children presenting at the outpatients’ department (OPD) of the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods: A 5-month retro...
Introduction Childhood cancer is a leading cause of death. It is unclear whether the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted childhood cancer mortality. In this study, we aimed to establish all-cause mortality rates for childhood cancers during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the factors associated with mortality. Methods Prospective cohort study in 109 institutions in 41 countries. Inclusion criteria: children
Abstract/Overview Infants exposed to HIV are more vulnerable to infections compared to those not HIV exposed. The occurrence and risks of infections among these infants are less understood. High maternal viral load can result in advanced disease, low maternal survival rates and puts the infant at higher risk of having early T- cell abnormality. This study aimed at characterizing the infections among HIV Exposed Infants (HEI) and establishing the risk factors associated with infections for...
Abstract/Overview Background: An estimated 200 million children suffer from developmental delays, most in developing countries. Early diagnosis through screening is key to timely intervention. However, screening tools have not been assessed in developing countries. Objective: This study therefore assesses parental screening tool for evaluating developmental delays (PEDS; DM) in children under 5 years. Method: Across-sectional survey of randomly selected 870 caregivers to test sensitivity ...
Abstract/Overview Background: Pathological changes due to infection with Schistosoma haematobium include cytokine-mediated urinary tract inflammation. The involved cytokines may be excreted in urine and their presence in urine may therefore reflect S. haematobium-related urinary tract pathology. The present study, for the first time, reports on the relationship between selected cytokines in urine and infection with S. haematobium in children from an area highly affected by this parasite. ...
Abstract/Overview Research in malaria-endemic areas is usually focused on malaria during early childhood. Less is known about malaria among older school age children. The incidence of clinical attacks of malaria was monitored, using active case detection in primary schools, in two areas of western Kenya that differ in the intensity of transmission. Clinical malaria was more common in schools in the Nandi highlands, with a six-fold higher incidence of malaria attacks during the malaria epi...
Abstract/Overview Background: Achieving optimal iron status in children in malariaendemic areas may increase the risk of malaria. Malaria itself may contribute to iron deficiency, but the impact of an interruption in malaria transmission on the prevalence of iron deficiency is unknown. Objectives: We aimed to determine whether 1) iron status improved in children living in 2 Kenyan villages with a documented cessation in malaria transmission and 2) changes in iron status correlated with ch...