Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Nutritional Anemia in Children: Recommendations of the Joint Committee of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Chapter and Pediatric and Adolescent Nutrition Society of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.

Justification: Anemia in children is a significant public health problem in our country. Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18 provides evidence that more than 50% of childhood anemia is due to an underlying nutritional deficiency. The National Family Health Survey-5 has reported an increase in the prevalence of anemia in the under-five age group from 59% to 67.

Proceedings of the Expert Consensus Group meeting on meningococcal serogroup B disease burden and prevention in India.

Meningococcal disease is highly transmissible, life-threatening and leaves significant sequelae in survivors. Every year, India, which has a plethora of risk factors for meningococcal disease, reports around 3000 endemic cases. However, the overall disease burden and serogroup distribution are unknown, creating a setting of general disease negligence and unawareness.

Electroencephalogram versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging Brain as the Initial Investigation of Choice in Neurologically Normal Children with First Afebrile Seizure in India.

Background And Purpose: To compare the rates of clinically relevant information provided by electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain in first afebrile seizure (FAS) in children.

Methods: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, neurologically normal children between the age of 2 and 14 years, presenting with first episode of unprovoked, afebrile generalized or partial seizures, were included. Enrolled patients were randomized into two groups.

A prospective study of catch-up growth among Indian children with celiac disease.

Objectives: The study was done to investigate the response of the gluten-free diet (GFD) on growth and other biochemical parameters in newly diagnosed children with celiac disease (CD). We also determined the association of Marsh biopsy classification and the response in haematological parameters among the children with GFD over the follow-up time.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted for 1.

Mass gatherings: a review of the scope for meningococcal vaccination in the Indian context.

The risk of meningococcal transmission is increased with crowding and prolonged close proximity between people. There have been numerous invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) outbreaks associated with mass gatherings and other overcrowded situations, including cramped accommodation, such as student and military housing, and refugee camps. In these conditions, IMD outbreaks predominantly affect adolescents and young adults.

Intussusception in children aged under two years in India: Retrospective surveillance at nineteen tertiary care hospitals.

Objective: Intussusception has been linked with rotavirus vaccine (RVV) as a rare adverse reaction. In view of limited background data on intussusception in India and in preparation for RVV introduction, a surveillance network was established to document the epidemiology of intussusception cases in Indian children.

Methods: Intussusception in children 2-23 months were documented at 19 nationally representative sentinel hospitals through a retrospective surveillance for 69 months (July 2010 to March 2016).

Pediatric Appropriate Evaluation Protocol for India (PAEP-India): Tool for Assessing Appropriateness of Pediatric Hospitalization.

Objective: To develop and assess Pediatric Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol for India (PAEP-India) for inter-rater reliability and appropriateness of hospitalization.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: The available PAEP tools were reviewed and adapted for Indian context by ten experienced pediatricians following semi-Delphi process.

Safety and immunogenicity of Bio Pox™, a live varicella vaccine (Oka strain) in Indian children: A comparative multicentric, randomized phase II/III clinical trial.

Varicella or chickenpox is a highly contagious disease with a high secondary attack rate. Almost 30% of Indian adolescents lack protective antibodies against varicella, emphasizing the need of routine varicella immunization. The Oka VZV is a well-established, safe and efficacious vaccine strain that is highly immunogenic and produces lifelong protective immunity.

Effect of prophylactic or therapeutic administration of paracetamol on immune response to DTwP-HepB-Hib combination vaccine in Indian infants.

Background: Vaccination is considered as the most cost effective method for preventing infectious diseases. Low grade fever is a known adverse effect of vaccination. In India, it is a common clinical practice to prescribe paracetamol either prophylactically or therapeutically to manage fever.

Antibody persistence up to 5 y after vaccination with a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine in adolescents.

Long-term protection against meningococcal disease relies on antibody persistence after vaccination. We report antibody persistence up to 5 y after vaccination in adolescents who received a single dose of either meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, Y tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT, Pfizer) or MenACWY polysaccharide vaccine (MenPS, GSK Vaccines) at the age of 11-17 y in the randomized controlled primary study NCT00464815. In this phase III, open, controlled, multi-center persistence follow-up study conducted in India and the Philippines (NCT00974363), antibody persistence was evaluated by a serum bactericidal antibody assay using rabbit complement (rSBA) yearly, up to year 5 after vaccination.

Dengue fever in infants: report of three cases.

Dengue fever has classically been described as a disease of children and young adults. Infants are naturally protected by virtue of maternally derived immunoglobulins, especially in endemic countries. The resurgence of dengue, coupled with the availability of early and sensitive diagnostic methods and a high degree of clinical suspicion, has led to an increasing number of infants being diagnosed.

Persistence of the immune response two years after vaccination with quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT) in Asian adolescents.

Invasive meningococcal disease is a serious infection that is most often vaccine-preventable. Long-term protection relies on antibody persistence. Here we report the persistence of the immune response 2 y post-vaccination with a quadrivalent meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, Y tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT) compared with a MenACWY polysaccharide vaccine (Men-PS), in Asian adolescents aged 11-17 y.

Safety, immune lot-to-lot consistency and non-inferiority of a fully liquid pentavalent DTwp-HepB-Hib vaccine in healthy Indian toddlers and infants.

Pentavalent combination vaccines are important tools to strengthen the immunization programs in numerous countries throughout the world. A large number of countries have recognized the value of combination vaccines and have introduced whole cell pentavalent vaccines into their immunization programs. A phase III, multi-center, randomized, single blinded study of a fully liquid pentavalent DTwP-HepB-Hib investigational vaccine (Shan5™) was conducted across India in 2 cohorts: 15 toddlers were evaluated for safety and immunogenicity following a single booster dose (Cohort 1) followed by 1085 infants (Cohort 2) evaluated for immunogenicity and safety following 3-dose primary immunization of the investigational vaccine or a locally licensed comparator vaccine (Pentavac SD).

Immunogenicity and safety of a tetravalent dengue vaccine in healthy adults in India: A randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled phase II trial.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is endemic in India. We evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of recombinant, live-attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) in Indian adults. In this observer-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, Phase II study, adults aged 18-45 years were randomized 2:1 to receive CYD-TDV or placebo at 0, 6 and 12 months in sub-cutaneous administration.

Clinical and histopathological correlation of duodenal biopsy with IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase titers in children with celiac disease.

Background: Data correlating anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody titers with severity of duodenal involvement is limited.

Objective: The aim of this study was to correlate IgA anti-tTG antibody titers with symptoms, anthropometric parameters, and duodenal histopathology.

Methods: Consecutively diagnosed patients of celiac disease as per modified ESPGHAN criteria presenting over a year were enrolled.

Evaluation of C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetra hydrofolate reductase gene and its association with levels of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 as maternal risk factors for Down syndrome.

Aims And Objective: Evaluation of C677T polymorphisms of the methylenetetra hydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and its association with level of serum homocysteine, folate, and vitamin B12 as possible maternal risk factors for Down syndrome.

Design: This was a case-control study.

Material And Methods: Fifty-two mothers (mean age 27.

Celiac disease presentation in a tertiary referral centre in India: current scenario.

Background: Nondiarrheal celiac disease (NDCD) is being increasingly reported but data from India is limited.

Aim: We undertook this study to compare the clinical spectrum of NDCD with that of diarrheal/classical celiac disease (CCD).

Method: This facility-based retrospective observational study included consecutive patients diagnosed with celiac disease (CD) (as per modified ESPGHAN criteria) from October 2009 to August 2011.

Patterns of diagnosis disclosure and its correlates in HIV-Infected North Indian children.

This facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the patterns of disclosure of HIV positive serostatus among 145 Indian children aged >5 years. Only 60 (41.4%) children were aware of their HIV-positive status.

Lipodystrophy and metabolic complications of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To assess the metabolic drug toxicities of first-line, World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended generic highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens, to estimate the prevalence of body fat redistribution and to identify associated risk factors.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. During 3 month period, 52 HIV infected children (25 on HAART; 27 not on HAART) were assessed.

Cystic lymphangiomatous hamartoma masquerading as massive ascites.

We report a 4-year-old boy presenting with a tense massive ascites and large hydrocele. History and physical examination were unremarkable. Routine laboratory studies were normal.

Celiac disease in a child with beta-thalassemia major: a need for improved screening and awareness.

Growth failure is one of the most common problems in children with thalassemia with multiple etiologies. We present a case of celiac disease, an underdiagnosed cause of growth failure in a child with beta-thalassemia major. A 10-year-old boy on a hypertransfusion regimen was referred for early onset growth failure.

Efficacy of modified WHO feeding protocol for management of severe malnutrition in children: a pilot study from a teaching hospital in New Delhi, India.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of modified World Health Organization (WHO) feeding protocol for severe malnutrition.

Setting: Prospective observational study conducted in the nutritional rehabilitation center of a tertiary care teaching hospital of New Delhi, India over four months period from August to November 2007.

Methods: 25 children with severe malnutrition (age 6 months to 5 years) were recruited.

Caspofungin.

Caspofungin is a new antifungal drug meant for intravenous use. It has been shown to be comparable to other antifungal agents such as amphotericin B and fluconazole for empirical therapy in febrile neutropenic patients, oropharyngeal/esophageal candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis. Its efficacy has also been documented in children in small uncontrolled trials.