Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul Sondo, Toussaint Rouamba, Marc Christian Tahita, Karim Derra, Berenger Kabore, Yssimini Nadege Guillene Tibiri, Hyacinthe Abd-El Latif Faical Kabore, So-vii Franck Hien, Florence Ouedraogo, Adama Kazienga, Hamidou Ilboudo, Eli Rouamba, Thiery Lefevre, Halidou Tinto
Summary: A survey conducted during the 2020 SMC campaign in the Nanoro health district revealed that most children who received SMC were undernourished. This suggests the need for combining SMC with synergistic interventions against malnutrition to achieve optimal impact.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Baby S. Ansuya, Baby S. Nayak, B. Unnikrishnan, Y. N. Shashidhara, Suneel C. Mundkur
Summary: Childhood malnutrition has negative effects on health, development, and productivity in adulthood, including cognitive abnormalities. This study investigated the impact of a nutrition-focused intervention on cognitive development in malnourished preschool children aged 3-5 years in Udupi district, Karnataka. The intervention group showed significant improvement in cognitive development compared to the control group, highlighting the importance of home-based nutrition-focused strategies.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Amir Kirolos, Todd D. D. Swarthout, Andrew A. A. Mataya, Farouck Bonomali, Comfort Brown, Jacquline Msefula, Naor Bar-Zeev, Pui-Ying Iroh Tam, Maaike Alaerts, Sithembile Bilima, Robert S. S. Heyderman, Neil French
Summary: The introduction of PCV13 vaccine in Malawi has led to reduced disease from Streptococcus pneumoniae, with serotypes 5 and 1 showing high invasive potential. However, pre-hospital antibiotic usage may decrease pneumococcal detection among hospitalized children. Further research is needed to explore serotypes associated with acute respiratory infection.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Md. Reazul Karim, Abu Sayed Md. Al Mamun, Md. Masud Rana, Rashidul Alam Mahumud, Nurun Naher Shoma, Dhiman Dutt, Premananda Bharati, Md. Golam Hossain
Summary: The study revealed a high prevalence of acute malnutrition among preschool children, with modifiable factors such as children's age, mothers' early childbearing age, poor family conditions, living in unhygienic environments, and certain religious beliefs associated with acute malnutrition. Therefore, social mobilization and food security interventions could be effective strategies to prevent acute malnutrition among children in Bangladesh.
Article
Respiratory System
Shuk Yu Leung, Steven Yuk Fai Lau, Ka Li Kwok, Kirran N. Mohammad, Paul Kay Sheung Chan, Ka Chun Chong
Summary: The study found that acute bronchiolitis-related hospitalisation in children was associated with high temperature, humidity, and exposure to NO2 and PM10, indicating the need for sustainable clean air policies to protect children's health.
Article
Virology
Jun Tachikawa, Yuta Aizawa, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Tatsuki Ikuse, Kazuhiro Kamata, Su Mon Kyaw Win, Lasham Di Ja, Khin Nyo Thein, Nay Chi Win, Aye Thida, Aye Tun, Yuko Suzuki, Ai Ito, Hidekazu Osada, Irina Chon, Wint Wint Phyu, Tomomi Ota, Yadanar Kyaw, Htay Htay Tin, Kanako Watanabe, Yugo Shobugawa, Hisami Watanabe, Reiko Saito, Akihiko Saitoh
Summary: This study examined the presence of PeV-A virus in children in Myanmar and found positive samples. The virus was classified into four genotypes, and further evaluation of its clinical impact on children is needed.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Malte Kohns Vasconcelos, Katherine Loens, Louise Sigfrid, Elias Iosifidis, Cristina Epalza, Daniele Dona, Veerle Matheeussen, Savvas Papachristou, Emmanuel Roilides, Manuel Gijon, Pablo Rojo, Chiara Minotti, Liviana Da Dalt, Samsul Islam, Jessica Jarvis, Aggeliki Syggelou, Maria Tsolia, Maggie Nyirenda Nyang'wa, Sophie Keers, Hanna Renk, Anna-Lena Gemmel, Carmen D'Amore, Marta Ciofi degli Atti, Carmen Rodriguez-Tenreiro Sanchez, Federico Martinon-Torres, Sigita Burokiene, Tessa Goetghebuer, Vana Spoulou, Andrew Riordan, Cristina Calvo, Despoina Gkentzi, Markus Hufnagel, Peter J. Openshaw, Menno D. de Jong, Marion Koopmans, Herman Goossens, Margareta Ieven, Pieter L. A. Fraaij, Carlo Giaquinto, Julia A. Bielicki, Peter Horby, Michael Sharland
Summary: The study found that RSV is the leading cause of ARI hospitalizations in young children in Europe, with detection of RSV, influenza virus, PIV, or metapneumovirus on NP swabs establishing the etiology with high probability. Influenza viruses, PIVs, and metapneumoviruses also showed strong associations with ARI hospitalization.
BMJ OPEN RESPIRATORY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Grace Tione, Edith Gondwe, Beston B. Maonga, Kennedy Machira, Samson Pilanazo Katengeza
Summary: Despite efforts to improve food availability in Malawi through the Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP), wasting among children under-5 years old remains a public health problem. This study found that accessing FISP coupons was not a stand-alone predictor for reducing child wasting, but increased maize production due to the coupons was significantly correlated with lower wasting likelihood. In addition, households in the central region that accessed FISP coupons had higher wasting probabilities, indicating challenges in addressing wasting among children in certain areas.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Virology
Gregory J. Walker, Sacha Stelzer-Braid, Caroline Shorter, Claire Honeywill, Matthew Wynn, Christiana Willenborg, Phillipa Barnes, Janice Kang, Nevil Pierse, Julian Crane, Philippa Howden-Chapman, William D. Rawlinson
Summary: Acute respiratory infections are a common illness among children, with respiratory viruses being detected even in asymptomatic periods. This study aimed to define the rates of infection and community epidemiology of respiratory viruses in healthy children to help interpret molecular diagnostic assays. The results showed that respiratory viruses were more likely to be detected during symptomatic periods, and human rhinovirus was the most common virus identified.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ville Forsstroem, Laura Toivonen, Kiara Homil, Matti Waris, Casper-Emil T. Pedersen, Klaus Bonnelykke, Tuomas Jartti, Ville Peltola
Summary: This study found that genetic predisposition to childhood asthma is associated with early respiratory tract infections, particularly in the 17q21 and CDHR3 genes. Multiple asthma risk alleles are also associated with viral respiratory infections and asthma. Therefore, non-wheezing and wheezing respiratory infections and asthma may share common genetic risk factors.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Divya Reddy, Yicheng Ma, Subitha Lakshminarayanan, Swaroop Sahu, Laura F. White, Ayiraveetil Reshma, Gautam Roy, Padmini Salgame, Selby Knudsen, Chelsie Cintron, Jerrold J. Ellner, C. Robert Horsburgh, Sonali Sarkar, Natasha S. Hochberg
Summary: Severe undernutrition in children was associated with decreased odds of TST positivity. Caution is warranted when interpreting negative results in undernourished populations, as false-negative TSTs may result from undernutrition.
Article
Pediatrics
Aparna Mukherjee, K. R. Jat, Rakesh Lodha, Jagdish Prasad Goyal, Javeed Iqbal Bhatt, Rashmi Ranjan Das, Vinod Ratageri, Bhadresh Vyas, S. K. Kabra
Summary: This multi-site study conducted in India's medical colleges confirms the feasibility of establishing Acute Respiratory Infection Treatment Units (ATUs) for the management of acute respiratory infections in children. The observed case fatality and rate of unnecessary antibiotic usage were lower than reported in literature.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Nina Bisballe-Muller, Anne B. Chang, Erin J. Plumb, Victor M. Oguoma, Susanne Halken, Gabrielle B. McCallum
Summary: The study suggests that cough characteristics alone are not sufficient to accurately differentiate between common acute respiratory illnesses in children, indicating the need for further research in this area.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Renata Tenorio Antunes Moura, Nassib Bezerra Bueno, Luiz Gonzaga Ribeiro Silva-Neto, Isabele Rejane de Oliveira Maranhao Pureza, Myria Glaucia Viana da Silva, Marcela Jardim Cabral, Telma Maria de Menezes Toledo Florencio
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of red propolis supplementation in reducing the frequency of acute respiratory infections in stunted preschool children. However, the results showed that supplementation with red propolis did not reduce the number of infections in stunted children over one year.
CLINICAL NUTRITION ESPEN
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jonathan P. Sturgeon, James M. Njunge, Claire D. Bourke, Gerard Bryan Gonzales, Ruairi C. Robertson, Mutsa Bwakura-Dangarembizi, James A. Berkley, Paul Kelly, Andrew J. Prendergast
Summary: Severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is a life-threatening condition that contributes to a significant number of deaths in children under 5 in low-income countries. This review explores the role of inflammation in SAM and suggests potential therapeutic interventions based on evidence from other inflammatory syndromes.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Harry Pickering, John D. Hart, Sarah Burr, Richard Stabler, Ken Maleta, Khumbo Kalua, Robin L. Bailey, Martin J. Holland
Summary: Mass drug administration (MDA) with azithromycin increases carriage of macrolide-resistant bacteria, but has limited impact on clinically relevant bacteria. However, increased abundance of enteropathogenic Escherichia species after treatment requires further investigation.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
David Chaima, Harry Pickering, John D. Hart, Sarah E. Burr, Joanna Houghton, Kenneth Maleta, Khumbo Kalua, Robin L. Bailey, Martin J. Holland
Summary: The study found that mass azithromycin treatment did not significantly impact gut microbiota diversity in children aged 1 to 59 months in rural Malawi. However, four biannual rounds of treatment were associated with increased abundance of Prevotella.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
John D. Hart, Lyson Samikwa, Harry Meleke, Sarah E. Burr, Jen Cornick, Khumbo Kalua, Robin L. Bailey
Summary: This study reports on macrolide resistance after biannual azithromycin mass drug administration in the Malawi site of the MORDOR study. The findings suggest that macrolide resistance was higher in the azithromycin group compared to the placebo group, supporting previous evidence from trachoma MDA programs.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Ian McCormick, Robert Butcher, Jennifer R. Evans, Islay Z. Mactaggart, Hans Limburg, Emma Jolley, Yuddha D. Sapkota, Joseph Enyegue Oye, Sailesh Kumar Mishra, Andrew Bastawrous, Joao M. Furtado, Anagha Joshi, Baixiang Xiao, Thulasiraj D. Ravilla, Rupert R. A. Bourne, Alarcos Cieza, Stuart Keel, Matthew J. Burton, Jacqueline Ramke
Summary: The study analyzed the differences in global cataract surgical coverage among countries and found that eCSC is higher in high-income countries and in men. In pursuit of the 2030 targets, many countries should focus on quality improvement before increasing surgical access and address issues of service inequity.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Rupert Richard Alexander Bourne, Maria Vittoria Cicinelli, Tabassom Sedighi, Ian H. Tapply, Ian McCormick, Jost B. Jonas, Nathan G. Congdon, Jacqueline Ramke, Kovin S. Naidoo, Timothy R. Fricke, Matthew J. Burton, Andreas Muller, Mukharram M. Bikbov, Joao M. Furtado, Fatima Kyari, Mingguang He, Ya Xing Wang, Lingam Vijaya, Vinay Nangia, Garry Brian, Mohammad Hassan Emamian, Akbar Fotouhi, Hassan Hashemi, Rajiv B. Khandekar, Srinivas Marmamula, Solange Salomao, Ronnie George, Gyulli Kazakbaeva, Tasanee Braithwaite, Robert J. Casson, Aiko Iwase, Noopur Gupta, Mohammad H. Abdianwall, Rohit Varma, Tien Y. Wong, Ningli Wang, Hugh R. Taylor, Seth R. Flaxman, Stuart Keel, Serge Resnikoff
Summary: According to this study, there has been an improvement in the global effective refractive error coverage (eREC), but further improvements are needed in the case of near vision impairment. The levels of eREC vary across different regions, with higher eREC in men and lower eREC with increasing age.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amy Roll, Malvika Saxena, Elizabeth Orlan, Angelin Titus, Sanjay Kamlakar Juvekar, Marie-Claire Gwayi-Chore, Euripide Avokpaho, Felicien Chabi, Comlanvi Innocent Togbevi, Abiguel Belou Elijan, Providence Nindi, Judd L. Walson, Sitara S. R. Ajjampur, Moudachirou Ibikounle, Khumbo Kalua, Kumudha Aruldas, Arianna Rubin Means
Summary: Formative qualitative research was conducted in Benin, India, and Malawi to identify barriers and facilitators to launching a community-wide mass drug administration (cMDA) program. Key facilitators included availability of tailored sensitization materials and leveraging resources from previous campaigns, while key barriers included overburdening of health workers, uncertainty of funding, and coordination issues within the government.
GLOBAL HEALTH RESEARCH AND POLICY
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Laura Sbaffi, Efpraxia Zamani, Khumbo Kalua
Summary: People living with HIV/AIDS and their informal caregivers in Malawi lack access to patient-centered care, particularly in remote rural areas, due to the high burden of HIV/AIDS and a fragmented healthcare system. This study explores the effects of a short-term intervention aimed at supporting caregivers and improving their well-being. The intervention involves disseminating health advisory messages via WhatsApp to caregivers attending peer support groups in Namwera.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL INTERNET RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Clare E. F. Dyer, Khumbo Kalua, Alvin B. Chisambi, Handan Wand, Hamish McManus, Bette Liu, John M. Kaldor, Susana Vaz Nery
Summary: After a national population-based trachoma survey and one round of azithromycin mass drug administration (MDA) in Malawi, it was found that trachoma prevalence was below 5% and considered eliminated. However, active trachoma was still present in over 200 children. This study aimed to assess whether water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) factors were associated with the ongoing presence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) in children aged 1-9 years after MDA.
OPHTHALMIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Kristin M. Sullivan, Emma M. Harding-Esch, Alexander P. Keil, Matthew C. Freeman, Wilfrid E. Batcho, Amadou A. Bio Issifou, Victor Bucumi, Assumpta L. Bella, Emilienne Epee, Segni Bobo Barkesa, Fikre Seife Gebretsadik, Salimato Sanha, Khumbo M. Kalua, Michael P. Masika, Abdallahi O. Minnih, Mariamo Abdala, Marilia E. Massangaie, Abdou Amza, Boubacar Kadri, Beido Nassirou, Caleb D. Mpyet, Nicholas Olobio, Mouctar D. Badiane, Balgesa E. Elshafie, Gilbert Baayenda, George E. Kabona, Oscar Kaitaba, Alistidia Simon, Tawfik Q. Al-Khateeb, Consity Mwale, Ana Bakhtiari, Daniel Westreich, Anthony W. Solomon, Emily W. Gower
Summary: This study examines the impact of increasing water and sanitation coverage on trachoma transmission. The results suggest that increasing face-washing water and latrine use coverage to at least 30% can effectively reduce trachoma prevalence in areas working to meet elimination targets. However, the relationship between water sanitation and trachoma differs in areas that have already met elimination targets, indicating the need for further research. These findings can inform the development of targeted interventions for trachoma elimination.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
William Sheahan, Roy Anderson, Kumudha Aruldas, Euripide Avokpaho, Sean Galagan, Jeanne Goodman, Parfait Houngbegnon, Gideon John Israel, Venkateshprabhu Janagaraj, Saravanakumar Puthupalayam Kaliappan, Arianna Rubin Means, Chloe Morozoff, Emily Pearman, Rohan Michael Ramesh, Amy Roll, Alexandra Schaefer, James Simwanza, Stefan Witek-McManus, Sitara S. R. Ajjampur, Robin Bailey, Moudachirou Ibikounle, Khumbo Kalua, Adrian J. F. Luty, Rachel Pullan, Judd L. Walson, Kristjana Hronn Asbjornsdottir
Summary: This study analyzes the discrepancies between school-level reporting and individual-level survey reporting of school-based deworming (SBD) coverage. The findings suggest that school-level reporting may significantly overestimate the coverage of the program.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Ophthalmology
Luis Filipe Nakayama, William Greig Mitchell, Skyler Shapiro, Alvina Pauline D. Santiago, Warachaya Phanphruk, Khumbo Kalua, Leo Anthony Celi, Caio Vinicius Saito Regatieri
Summary: This review analyzes sociodemographic disparities in ophthalmological phases III and IV clinical trials. The majority of participants in these trials are white and from high-income countries, and reports on race and ethnicity are not commonly included in the studies. However, there has been improvement in reporting race and ethnicity in the past 7 years. Actions are needed to increase representativeness and generalizability in ophthalmological research results to optimize care and reduce healthcare disparities.
BMJ OPEN OPHTHALMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
John D. Hart, Paulo Afonso de Andre, Carmen Diva Saldiva de Andre, Tim Adair, Lucia Pereira Barroso, Sandra Valongueiro, Ana Luiza Bierrenbach, Patricia Ismael de Carvalho, Maria Bernadete de Cerqueira Antunes, Conceicao Maria de Oliveira, Luiz Alberto Amador Pereira, Catia Martinez Minto, Tania Maria da Silva Bezerra, Sergio Parente Costa, Barbara Araujo de Azevedo, Jose Ricardo Alves de Lima, Denise Souza de Meira Mota, Ana Maria de Oliveira Ramos, Maria de Fatima Marinho de Souza, Luiz Fernando Ferraz da Silva, Elisabeth Barboza Franca, Deirdre McLaughlin, Ian D. Riley, Paulo Hilario Nascimento Saldiva
Summary: This study validates the feasibility of using the SmartVA method to estimate cause of death data, and finds that SmartVA has reasonable accuracy in predicting broad cause of death groups important in assessing the epidemiological transition of a population. VA remains a useful tool for understanding causes of death where medical certification is not possible.
LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-AMERICAS
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Kristen K. Renneker, Mariamo Abdala, James Addy, Tawfik Al-Khatib, Khaled Amer, Mouctar Dieng Badiane, Wilfrid Batcho, Lucienne Bella, Clarisse Bougouma, Victor Bucumi, Tina Chisenga, Tran Minh Dat, Djore Dezoumbe, Balgesa Elshafie, Mackline Garae, Andre Goepogui, Jaouad Hammou, George Kabona, Boubacar Kadri, Khumbo Kalua, Sarjo Kanyi, Asad Aslam Khan, Benjamin Marfo, Sultani Matendechero, Aboulaye Meite, Abdellahi Minnih, Francis Mugume, Nicholas Olobio, Fatma Juma Omar, Isaac Phiri, Salimato Sanha, Shekhar Sharma, Fikre Seife, Oliver Sokana, Raebwebwe Taoaba, Andeberhan Tesfazion, Lamine Traore, Naomi Uvon, Georges Yaya, Makoy Yibi Logora, P. J. Hooper, Paul M. Emerson, Jeremiah M. Ngondi
Summary: This study reviewed the progress towards the elimination of active trachoma by country and geographical group. Scale-up was described based on the number of known endemic implementation units and mass drug administration implementation over time. Different visualizations were used to show the changes in the prevalence of active trachoma among children and the progress of the program.
LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH
(2022)
