Effectiveness of COVID-19 Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) mRNA vaccination in adolescents aged 12-17 years: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The rapid emergence of COVID-19 variants of concern (VOCs) has hindered vaccine uptake. To inform policy, we investigated the effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccination among adolescents against symptomatic and severe COVID-19 diseases using mostly real-world data (15 studies). We searched international databases until May 2022 and used Cochrane's risk of bias tools for critical appraisal.

Nasal nitric oxide measurement in children for the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia: European Respiratory Society technical standard.

Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is extremely low in most people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) and its measurement is an important contributor to making the diagnosis. Existing guidelines and technical standards focus on nNO measurements in older, cooperative children using chemiluminescence analysers. However, measurements of nNO in pre-school-age children (age 2-5 years) may facilitate early diagnosis and electrochemical rather than chemiluminescence analysers are widely used.

Bronchiectasis in African children: Challenges and barriers to care.

Bronchiectasis (BE) is a chronic condition affecting the bronchial tree. It is characterized by the dilatation of large and medium-sized airways, secondary to damage of the underlying bronchial wall structural elements and accompanied by the clinical picture of recurrent or persistent cough. Despite an increased awareness of childhood BE, there is still a paucity of data on the epidemiology, pathophysiological phenotypes, diagnosis, management, and outcomes in Africa where the prevalence is mostly unmeasured, and likely to be higher than high-income countries.

An international survey on nasal nitric oxide measurement practices for the diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) measurements are used in the assessment of patients suspected of having primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), but recommendations for performing such measurements have not focused on children and do not include all current practices. To guide the development of a European Respiratory Society-supported technical standard for nNO measurement in children, an international online survey was conducted to better understand current measurement practices among providers involved in PCD diagnostics. 78 professionals responded, representing 65 centres across 18 countries, mainly in Europe and North America.

Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis by Using Sequence-Specific Purification of Urine Cell-Free DNA.

Transrenal urine cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a promising tuberculosis (TB) biomarker, but is challenging to detect because of the short length (<100 bp) and low concentration of TB-specific fragments. We aimed to improve the diagnostic sensitivity of TB urine cfDNA by increasing recovery of short fragments during sample preparation. We developed a highly sensitive sequence-specific purification method that uses hybridization probes immobilized on magnetic beads to capture short TB cfDNA (50 bp) with 91.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Awareness among Primary Care Physicians in Africa.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a significant health problem among adults and children globally, resulting in decreased quality of life and increased costs of healthcare. For optimal clinical care, primary care physicians should be familiar with OSA and confident in their ability to screen, diagnose, and manage this condition. To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa regarding OSA in adults and children.

Childhood pneumonia in low-and-middle-income countries: An update.

Objectives: To review epidemiology, aetiology and management of childhood pneumonia in low-and-middle-income countries.

Design: Review of published English literature between 2013 and 2019.

Results: Pneumonia remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality.

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia in children: A systematic review.

Objectives: To describe the clinical-radiological-pathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of children with suspected exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP).

Design: Systematic review. We searched electronic databases and reference lists published between 1967 and 2018, restricted to non-accidental cases.

Implementation of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Among HIV-Infected Children at Health Facilities in Nairobi County, Kenya: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: HIV is the strongest risk factor for developing tuberculosis (TB) among people with latent or new infection. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) reduces the risk of active TB among people living with HIV by up to 62%. Despite evidence that IPT is safe and efficacious, its provision remains low globally.

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia: an important cause of interstitial lung disease in infants.

Exogenous lipoid pneumonia (ELP), an important cause of interstitial lung disease, often goes unrecognized. We conducted a retrospective study of children with histologically confirmed ELP at Red Cross Children's Hospital, South Africa. Twelve children of Zimbabwean heritage aged 2.

Summer schools of adult and paediatric respiratory medicine: course report.

http://ow.ly/i4y930hzLU0.

ADAPTING A STIGMA SCALE FOR ASSESSMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS-RELATED STIGMA AMONG ENGLISH/SWAHILI-SPEAKING PATIENTS IN AN AFRICAN SETTING.

Objective: To adapt a validated instrument that quantitatively measures stigma among English/Swahili speaking TB (tuberculosis) patients in Kenya, a high burden TB country.

Methods: Following ethical approval, we elicited feedback on the English and Swahili translated Stigma Scale for Chronic Illness (SSCI) tools through cognitive interviews. We assessed difficulties in translation, differences in meaning, TB contextual relevance, patients' acceptability to the questions, and issues in tool structure.

Stakeholder perspectives for optimization of tuberculosis contact investigation in a high-burden setting.

Introduction: Optimal tuberculosis contact investigation impacts TB prevention, timely case finding and linkage to care, however data on routine implementation in high burden contexts is limited.

Materials And Methods: In a multi-method qualitative study based on individual interviews with TB patients, facility observations and focus group discussions with health workers (HWs) in 13 public health facilities, and key informant interviews with governmental and non-governmental experts, we describe TB contact investigation in the context of an urban setting in Kenya and identify opportunities for optimization.

Results: Invitation of TB patients to bring close contacts by HWs was key for all patient decisions that led to contact screening in addition to patients' understanding of TB transmission and desire to avoid contacts suffering from TB.

Perspectives of host faculty and trainees on international visiting faculty to paediatric academic departments in East Africa.

Background: Investments in faculty exchanges to build physician workforce capacity are increasing. Little attention has been paid to the expectations of host institution faculty and trainees. This prospective qualitative research study explored faculty and resident perspectives about guest faculty in paediatric departments in East Africa, asking (1) What are the benefits and challenges of hosting guest faculty, (2) What factors influence the effectiveness of faculty visits and (3) How do host institutions prepare for faculty visits?

Methods: We recruited 36 faculty members and residents from among four paediatric departments in East Africa to participate in semistructured interviews which were audio recorded and transcribed.

Wheeze as an adverse event in pediatric vaccine and drug randomized controlled trials: A systematic review.

Introduction: Wheeze is an important sign indicating a potentially severe adverse event in vaccine and drug trials, particularly in children. However, there are currently no consensus definitions of wheeze or associated respiratory compromise in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Objective: To identify definitions and severity grading scales of wheeze as an adverse event in vaccine and drug RCTs enrolling children <5 years and to determine their diagnostic performance based on sensitivity, specificity and inter-observer agreement.

Prevalence and associated factors of pulmonary hypertension in Kenyan children with adenoid or adenotonsillar hypertrophy.

Objectives: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy is a common condition in childhood, whose serious complications of pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale are devastating but local prevalence is unknown. This study determined the prevalence and associated factors of pulmonary hypertension in children with adenoid or adenotonsillar hypertrophy at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya.

Methods: This was a cross sectional hospital based survey conducted among children below 12 years of age with clinical and radiological adenoid hypertrophy attending the ear, nose and throat (ENT) outpatient clinic and general pediatric wards.