Nutrition Opportunities Worldwide’s Post

Fewer infections in youth with sickle cell anemia on hydroxyurea A recent study conducted in Uganda revealed that treatment with hydroxyurea significantly reduced the incidence of severe or invasive infections among children with sickle cell anemia by 60%. Sickle cell anemia, characterized by the production of abnormal hemoglobin leading to sickle-shaped red blood cells, is prevalent in African countries, with high mortality rates, particularly among children. The study's findings, published in Blood, underscore the potential of hydroxyurea in mitigating the burden of infectious diseases in regions heavily affected by sickle cell anemia, such as Africa. Moreover, the research demonstrated that hydroxyurea treatment decreased the overall incidence of infections and substantially lowered the risk of hospitalization by 71%. This reduction in hospitalizations is particularly significant given that infectious diseases are a common cause of hospitalization and mortality among children with sickle cell anemia in Africa. The study's authors advocate for the widespread adoption of hydroxyurea as a standard treatment for sickle cell anemia across the continent, emphasizing its potential to save numerous lives by reducing infections and associated complications. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ecJT7Pek #sicklecellanemia #hydroxyurea #infectionsprevention #africanhealthcare #childhealth #publichealth #healthcareaccess #malariacontrol #pediatricresearch #globalhealth

https://lnkd.in/e-zMkEc8 The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant medical, social, and economic impacts globally, both in the short and long term. Although most individuals recover within a few days or weeks from an acute infection, some experience longer lasting effects. Data regarding the postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (PASC) in children, or long COVID, are only just emerging in the literature. These symptoms and conditions may reflect persistent symptoms from acute infection (eg, cough, headaches, fatigue, and loss of taste and smell), new symptoms like dizziness, or exacerbation of underlying conditions. Children may develop conditions de novo, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune conditions and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. This state-of-the-art narrative review provides a summary of our current knowledge about PASC in children, including prevalence, epidemiology, risk factors, clinical characteristics, underlying mechanisms, and functional outcomes, as well as a conceptual framework for PASC based on the current National Institutes of Health definition. We highlight the pediatric components of the National Institutes of Health-funded Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery Initiative, which seeks to characterize the natural history, mechanisms, and long-term health effects of PASC in children and young adults to inform future treatment and prevention efforts. These initiatives include electronic health record cohorts, which offer rapid assessments at scale with geographical and demographic diversity, as well as longitudinal prospective observational cohorts, to estimate disease burden, illness trajectory, pathobiology, and clinical manifestations and outcomes.

🎉🎉🎉New Publication Alert🎉🎉 Dear Colleagues, Academicians, Professors and Policy Makers, we are pleased to share our latest publication from our team Clinical Research Education and Management Services - CREAMS on Childhood illnesses and Indications for antibiotics use at Community hospital in Malawi Here are key highlights from our paper. Childhood remains a vulnerable period and a key determiner for adult health. Various illnesses experienced by children in their early years determine future performance and contribution to society. Acute and chronic infectious diseases, undernutrition, and early childhood non-communicable diseases have greatly been linked to intellectual disability, poor childhood development, increased morbidity, and household and healthcare economic costs. In most developing countries, infections contribute to a larger burden of disease. Despite this being the case, most developing countries have a limited range of diagnostic capacity and access to a wide range spectrum of WHO Access, Watch and Reserve antibiotics. This leads to overuse and misuse of the available antibiotics and a wide range spread of resistance strains. In this study, we evaluated common childhood presentations and indications for antibiotic prescriptions at a community hospital in Malawi Read more on https://lnkd.in/dD25Qttv Akim Bwanali Thomas Nyirenda

🌍 World Malaria Day 🌍   #Malaria remains a critical public health concern, especially during #pregnancy, with substantial risks for the mother, her foetus, and the newborns, particularly in regions like the WHO African region, where it is hyper-endemic.   👉In 2021 alone, an estimated 13.3 million pregnancies were exposed to malarial infection in this region.   The coexistence of #malnutrition further exacerbates the risks associated with malaria during pregnancy, significantly increasing the risk of adverse birth outcomes, such as low birthweight (LBW), which is a major risk factor for neonatal and infant mortality. Malaria during pregnancy also predisposes women to micronutrient deficiencies, exacerbating the risk of adverse outcomes.   📰 Published in March 2024, an article from Devex describes the urgent need to include pregnant women in clinical malaria #research. Traditionally, this group was excluded from studies due to potential risks, leading to a lack of safe and effective treatment options for pregnant women, who are particularly vulnerable to malaria. Read the article : https://lnkd.in/dkmEEjQQ   💡 Finding new tools to protect and treat pregnant women at risk of malaria must be a priority today.   This is why at Nutriset Group we are seeking to document this question: do lipid-based nutritional supplements (LNS) in combination with IPTp reduce malaria in pregnant women and improve maternal nutritional status and birth outcomes in regions of high food insecurity and high malaria prevalence?   #WorldMalariaDay #HealthForAll #MyHealthMyRight #Malnutrition #FightAgainstMalnutrition #LNS

Increased Rates of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death During COVID-19 Pandemic Edited by Mia Sims TOPLINE: Rates of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the most significant rise observed in 2021. METHODOLOGY: --- Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using US mortality data from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2021, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). --- A total of 14,308 cases of SUID were analyzed, including deaths classified as SIDS, unknown cause, and accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. --- Researchers assessed the monthly differences in the rate of SUID during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. --- They also analyzed monthly differences in the rate of SIDS before and during the pandemic, with outcomes reported as intensity ratios (IRs). TAKEAWAY: --- The risk for SUID increased during the COVID-19 pandemic (IR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.05-1.07). --- The risk for SIDS was also higher during the pandemic (IR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.08-1.12). --- The risk for SUID increased beyond pre-pandemic levels starting in July 2020, with a significant shift from June to December 2021 (ranging from 10% to 14%). --- The rate of SIDS increased throughout the pandemic vs pre-pandemic period, with the most significant increase in July 2021 (IR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.13-1.22) and August 2021 (IR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.13-1.22). --- Seasonal changes in hospitalizations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) correlated with monthly changes in SUID observed during 2021. IN PRACTICE: "These findings support the hypothesis that off-season resurgences in endemic infectious pathogens may be associated with SUID rates, with RSV rates in the US closely approximating this shift," the study authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Emma G. Guare of Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was published online on September 26 in JAMA Network Open. ***There is more to this piece, please click on the image in the banner below to access. Posted by Larry Cole Executive Director of Covid Impact 360

URGE FOR FORMAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN IPHN AND NTP IN BANGLADESH Research found that around 10% of childhood TB cases occur among severely malnourished (SAM) children. A hidden burden for nutrition program which is often being overlooked! For those cases, only nutritional support including therapeutic feeding and electrolyte balance will not improve the nutritional status, if the hidden cause untreated. The Institute of Public Health Nutrition (IPHN) and its implementing partners are not yet getting free detection and treatment services of TB among SAM children from National Tuberculosis Control Program (NTP). They do not yet have formal collaboration with the NTP. On the other hand, NTP is responsible for screening, detection and treatment of childhood TB and they are striving for detecting missing cases with inadequate focus on SAM children available in SAM units across tertiary, secondary and primary level health facilities (UHC). NTP services are also available at these facilities. Although ‘Alliance for Combating TB (ACTB)’ led by icddr,b, - a development partner of the NTP has started TB screening and detection at IMCI corners in some facilities (but not at SAM units), SAM units are still overlooked by stakeholders. Childhood TB is also being undetected in pediatric word. Several studies found around 3% to 23% Childhood TB among pneumonia cases. The concern doctors are efficiently managing pneumonia in most facilities, there is still a risk of missing childhood TB cases among pneumonia patients due to improper search for history of contact with adult TB cases. An opportunity is that, the SAM treatment unit in government health facility is usually embedded in pediatric ward which can easily offer NTP to screen and detect childhood TB among SAM children as well as among children with pneumonia as NTP services are available in the same facility. This approach only requires technical attention and integrated action by the local management. This approach may be applicable in other countries as well. ...Studies revealed that nutritional support has a synergistic effect on TB treatment response which is necessary for rapid weight gain and recovery from disease. If the IPHN and its development partners including UNICEF provide therapeutic feeding support to children with TB, these vulnerable children could benefit from the nutrition program. Hence, I urge for collaboration between the IPHN and the NTP to reduce the hidden burden of malnutrition and achieve a synergistic treatment response to childhood TB cases to support the slogan “Every Child Everywhere – We Efficiently Serve”. Dr. Sayem 3 October 2024

📃Scientific paper: Should coronavirus policies remain in place to prevent future paediatric influenza deaths? Abstract: The 2019–2020 to 2020–2021 influenza seasons in the USA saw a dramatic 99.5% decrease in paediatric mortality, with only one influenza death recorded during the latter season. This decrease has been attributed to a substantial reduction in transmission, resulting from the various restrictive measures enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, onset March 2020. The relative disappearance of influenza raises specific policy questions, such as whether these measures should be kept in place after COVID-19 transmission reaches acceptable levels or herd immunity is achieved. Given the nature of these measures as liberty restricting, it is worth discussing their intended outcome and what values they promote. Do these measures in fact promote health, or simply give the comfort of safety while undermining long-term health and individual liberties? I argue that the year-long endurance of the pandemic well into 2021 may have flattened our value landscape into one where health reigns supreme. Discussions are underway regarding whether we should modify previously accepted health risks, such as the risk of contracting influenza. In this paper, I attempt to clarify the values that motivate our policies and discuss how our present historical context has appreciated the value of health. I also provide an analysis of various pandemic policies and their relation to influenza paediatric deaths. Ultimately, the cost of certain measures on values such as education, socialisation and liberty,... Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/rky2b ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.

A Florida Man's Migraines Turned Out to Be Literal Brainworms A Florida man’s agonizing migraines turned retired to person a terrifying cause: existent brainworms. In a caller lawsuit study, his doctors picture however helium developed a parasitic infestation of tapeworm eggs successful his brain, perchance caught from eating undercooked bacon. Thankfully, the antheral was successfully treated. The M3 MacBook Airs are arsenic Good arsenic Ever, and That’s the Problem The unusual aesculapian communicative was detailed past week successful the American Journal of Case Reports. It was written by doctors from the University of South Florida and the Orlando Regional Healthcare System. According to the report, the 52-year-old antheral had a past past of chronic migraines. But by the clip helium visited the doctors astatine an outpatient clinic, helium had been experiencing much terrible and predominant headaches for 4 months—headaches that nary longer responded to the accustomed treatments. Given this caller signifier of migraines, the doctors decided to tally a CT scan of his head. And that’s erstwhile they discovered the wide beingness of cyst-caused lesions connected some sides of the brain. Further tests ruled retired different causes and confirmed that the antheral had contracted a peculiar signifier of pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) infection: neurocysticercosis. There are 2 types of pork tapeworm infection. If we ingest larval tapeworm cysts recovered successful pork oregon different undercooked meat, they tin migrate to our intestines and turn into full-blown big tapeworms. These worms tin origin gastrointestinal unwellness and value loss, though radical volition often ne'er acquisition symptoms. The worms volition besides nutrient eggs that get pooped out. And if the eggs yet infect pigs oregon different big animals, the beingness rhythm starts each over. But if different idiosyncratic oregon adjacent the aforesaid infected idiosyncratic past ingests these eggs, the caller procreation of worms reaches a dormant extremity and tin lone mature into their cyst signifier of life. The cysts tin past cram their mode into antithetic parts of the body, including the brain, and yet origin a full caller circular of trouble. Though encephalon tapeworm infections are uncommon successful the U.S., they’re a leading origin of seizures successful adults worldwide, and cysticercosis successful wide is considered a neglected tropical disease. The infected antheral reported nary caller question past to areas of the satellite wherever radical are astatine higher hazard of tapeworms, nor a past of eating earthy oregon thoroughfare vendor food. But helium did admit to regularly eating lightly cooked, non-crispy bacon, which appears to beryllium the astir apt culprit for his predicament....

📝 Severe #Malaria Treatment in Children: New-borns and infants less than 12 months of age are one of the most vulnerable groups affected by malaria. During pregnancy, malaria infection in the mother can cause low birth weight and result in infant death. After birth, susceptibility to severe malaria is slightly reduced, driven by immunity conferred by the mother. However, in malaria-endemic areas, infants once again become vulnerable to #Plasmodium falciparum malaria at approximately 3 months of age, when immunity acquired from the mother starts to wane. Thereafter, infants are again at increased risk of rapid disease progression, severe malaria and death. Severe anaemia is particularly common in this age group in areas of high transmission, making the young more vulnerable to other illnesses. P. vivax malaria, traditionally viewed as a relatively benign form of the disease, can also be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children. A number of studies report that a high proportion of severe malaria episodes may be caused by P. vivax in this age group. Treatment in infants: Most antimalarials lack infant formulations, which can lead to inaccurate dosing. Because the health of infants can deteriorate rapidly, there should be a low threshold for the use of parenteral treatment. For severe cases, when parenteral (intravenous or intramuscular) treatment cannot be given, rectal artesunate should be administered and the infant transferred immediately to a facility where full level of care can be provided. A single dose of #Artesunate Rectal Capsules as pre-referral intervention reduces the risk of death. Join us on our journey! 🌐 📧 E-Mail: info@tajpharma.com Safe Medicines for all.!!

📃Scientific paper: Should coronavirus policies remain in place to prevent future paediatric influenza deaths? Abstract: The 2019–2020 to 2020–2021 influenza seasons in the USA saw a dramatic 99.5% decrease in paediatric mortality, with only one influenza death recorded during the latter season. This decrease has been attributed to a substantial reduction in transmission, resulting from the various restrictive measures enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, onset March 2020. The relative disappearance of influenza raises specific policy questions, such as whether these measures should be kept in place after COVID-19 transmission reaches acceptable levels or herd immunity is achieved. Given the nature of these measures as liberty restricting, it is worth discussing their intended outcome and what values they promote. Do these measures in fact promote health, or simply give the comfort of safety while undermining long-term health and individual liberties? I argue that the year-long endurance of the pandemic well into 2021 may have flattened our value landscape into one where health reigns supreme. Discussions are underway regarding whether we should modify previously accepted health risks, such as the risk of contracting influenza. In this paper, I attempt to clarify the values that motivate our policies and discuss how our present historical context has appreciated the value of health. I also provide an analysis of various pandemic policies and their relation to influenza paediatric deaths. Ultimately, the cost of certain measures on values such as education, socialisation and liberty,... Continued on ES/IODE ➡️ https://etcse.fr/rky2b ------- If you find this interesting, feel free to follow, comment and share. We need your help to enhance our visibility, so that our platform continues to serve you.