Child morbidity as described by hospital admissions for primary school aged children in Tonga 2009-2013.

Aims: To describe inpatient utilisation patterns for primary school aged children in Tonga.

Methods: We described admissions for children aged 5-11 years to the main hospital in Tonga from January 2009 to December 2013. Rates with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were compared using rate ratios (RR).

Retinal haemorrhage in infants with pertussis.

Aims: It has been hypothesised that paroxysmal coughing in infantile pertussis (whooping cough) could produce retinal haemorrhages identical to those seen in abusive head trauma. We aimed to test this hypothesis.

Methods: This is a prospective study of infants hospitalised with pertussis in Auckland, New Zealand, from 2009 to 2014.

Vitamin D status of exclusively breastfed infants aged 2-3 months.

Background: New Zealand in 2008 adopted WHO policy which recommends that all infants are exclusively breast fed until 6 months of age. The benefits of this policy for the infant are undisputed; however, this policy has the potential to adversely impact on infant vitamin D status. A number of countries now recommend that all breastfed infants receive daily vitamin D supplementation of 400 IU to prevent rickets.