Verbal autopsy to assess causes of mortality among the economically productive age group in the tribal region of Melghat, central India.

Background & Objectives: Verbal autopsy (VA) is the systematic and retrospective inquiry (from relatives) about the symptoms of an illness prior to death. In tribal India, 67-75 per cent of deaths occur at home with an unknown cause of death (CoD). Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the CoD in the 16-60 yr age group utilizing VA.

Integrated host/microbe metagenomics enables accurate lower respiratory tract infection diagnosis in critically ill children.

BACKGROUNDLower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause of death in children worldwide. LRTI diagnosis is challenging because noninfectious respiratory illnesses appear clinically similar and because existing microbiologic tests are often falsely negative or detect incidentally carried microbes, resulting in antimicrobial overuse and adverse outcomes. Lower airway metagenomics has the potential to detect host and microbial signatures of LRTI.

Challenges of Assessing Community Mortality Due to Respiratory Viruses in Children Aged Less Than 5 Years.

Background: Estimating the real impact of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease is key for the development of vaccines and treatments. Ascertaining the burden of community mortality due to RSV is challenging due to the lack of primary data. Therefore, conducting observational studies to determine the factors associated with community mortality due to the virus in developing countries is important.

Global burden of respiratory infections associated with seasonal influenza in children under 5 years in 2018: a systematic review and modelling study.

Background: Seasonal influenza virus is a common cause of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in young children. In 2008, we estimated that 20 million influenza-virus-associated ALRI and 1 million influenza-virus-associated severe ALRI occurred in children under 5 years globally. Despite this substantial burden, only a few low-income and middle-income countries have adopted routine influenza vaccination policies for children and, where present, these have achieved only low or unknown levels of vaccine uptake.

Large-scale otoscopic and audiometric population assessment: A pilot study.

Objective: Large-scale otoscopic and audiometric assessment of populations is difficult due to logistic impracticalities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). We report a novel assessment methodology based on training local field workers, advances in audiometric testing equipment and cloud-based technology.

Methods: Prospective observational study in Bohol, Philippines.

The respiratory syncytial virus vaccine landscape: lessons from the graveyard and promising candidates.

The global burden of disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is increasingly recognised, not only in infants, but also in older adults (aged ≥65 years). Advances in knowledge of the structural biology of the RSV surface fusion glycoprotein have revolutionised RSV vaccine development by providing a new target for preventive interventions. The RSV vaccine landscape has rapidly expanded to include 19 vaccine candidates and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in clinical trials, reflecting the urgency of reducing this global health problem and hence the prioritisation of RSV vaccine development.

Influenza and respiratory syncytial virus in infants study (IRIS) of hospitalized and non-ill infants aged <1 year in four countries: study design and methods.

Background: This multi-country prospective study of infants aged <1 year aims to assess the frequency of influenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections associated with hospitalizations, to describe clinical features and antibody response to infection, and to examine predictors of very severe disease requiring intensive care.

Methods/design: We are enrolling a hospital-based cohort and a sample of non-ill infants in four countries (Albania, Jordan, Nicaragua, and the Philippines) using a common protocol. We are currently starting year 2 of a 2- to 3-year study and will enroll approximately 3,000 infants hospitalized for any acute illness (respiratory or non-respiratory) during periods of local influenza and/or RSV circulation.

Defining the Risk and Associated Morbidity and Mortality of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

Introduction: The REGAL (RSV Evidence-a Geographical Archive of the Literature) series provide a comprehensive review of the published evidence in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Western countries over the last 20 years. This fourth publication covers the risk and burden of RSV infection in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken for articles published between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2015 across PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.

Correction: Effects of Chronologic Age and Young Child Exposure on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease among US Preterm Infants Born at 32 to 35 Weeks Gestation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Tetanus and Occam's Razor: Almost Forgotten but Not Gone: A Case Report.

Tetanus is a rare disease in industrialized countries, largely due to the highly protective effect of immunization. We present a case of tetanus in a formerly preterm infant with myelomeningocele repaired in utero, who presented at 44 days of age with poor feeding, lethargy, and increased tone. His symptoms progressed despite a course of antibiotics for presumed meningitis.

Effects of Chronologic Age and Young Child Exposure on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease among US Preterm Infants Born at 32 to 35 Weeks Gestation.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease as a function of chronologic age and exposure to young children in US preterm infants.

Methods: In the RSV Respiratory Events among Preterm Infants Outcomes and Risk Tracking (REPORT) study, preterm infants born at 32-35 weeks gestational age (wGA) were enrolled from 188 US clinics and followed September-May of 2009-2010 or 2010-2011. Infants with medically-attended acute respiratory illness had nasal/pharyngeal swabs collected for viral testing.

Defining the Risk and Associated Morbidity and Mortality of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Infants with Chronic Lung Disease.

Introduction: The REGAL (RSV evidence-a geographical archive of the literature) series provide a comprehensive review of the published evidence in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Western countries over the last 20 years. This third publication covers the risk and burden of RSV infection in infants with chronic lung disease (CLD), formerly called bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD).

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken of publications between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2015 across PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.

Insurance Status and the Risk of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease in United States Preterm Infants Born at 32-35 Weeks Gestational Age.

 Database studies have identified that public health insurance status is associated with an increased risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in US infants. However, these studies did not adjust for the presence of other risk factors and did not evaluate the risk in preterm infants.  In this study, we evaluate the independent association between public insurance and severe RSV disease outcomes adjusting for other risk factors.

Defining the Risk and Associated Morbidity and Mortality of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Preterm Infants Without Chronic Lung Disease or Congenital Heart Disease.

Introduction: The REGAL (RSV Evidence-a Geographical Archive of the Literature) series provide a comprehensive review of the published evidence in the field of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Western countries over the last 20 years. This second publication covers the risk and burden of RSV infection in preterm infants born at <37 weeks' gestational age (wGA) without chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease.

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken for articles published between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2015.

Distance to health services modifies the effect of an 11-valent pneumococcal vaccine on pneumonia risk among children less than 2 years of age in Bohol, Philippines.

Background: Both vaccine trials and surveillance studies typically use passive surveillance systems to monitor study outcomes, which may lead to under-reporting of study outcomes in areas with poor access to care. This detection bias can have an adverse effect on conventional estimates of pneumonia risk derived from vaccine trials.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind vaccine trial that examined the efficacy of an 11-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV) among children less than 2 years of age in Bohol, Philippines.

Defining the Epidemiology and Burden of Severe Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection Among Infants and Children in Western Countries.

Introduction: The REGAL (RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] Evidence-a Geographical Archive of the Literature) series provides a comprehensive review of the published evidence in the field of RSV in Western countries over the last 20 years. This first of seven publications covers the epidemiology and burden of RSV infection.

Methods: A systematic review was undertaken for articles published between Jan 1, 1995 and Dec 31, 2015 across PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.

Duration of Infant Protection Against Influenza Illness Conferred by Maternal Immunization: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Influenza immunization of women during pregnancy protects the young infants against influenza illness. The duration of this protection remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the duration of infant protection conferred by maternal immunization and its association with transplacental antibody transfer.

SENTINEL1: An Observational Study of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations among U.S. Infants Born at 29 to 35 Weeks' Gestational Age Not Receiving Immunoprophylaxis.

 SENTINEL1 characterized U.S. preterm infants 29 to 35 weeks' gestational age (wGA) < 12 months old hospitalized for laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease and not receiving RSV immunoprophylaxis during the 2014 to 2015 RSV season.

Cost of management of severe pneumonia in young children: systematic analysis.

Background: Childhood pneumonia is a major cause of childhood illness and the second leading cause of child death globally. Understanding the costs associated with the management of childhood pneumonia is essential for resource allocation and priority setting for child health.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to identify studies reporting data on the cost of management of pneumonia in children younger than 5 years old.

Comparison of microarray-predicted closest genomes to sequencing for poliovirus vaccine strain similarity and influenza A phylogeny.

We evaluate sequence data from the PathChip high-density hybridization array for epidemiological interpretation of detected pathogens. For influenza A, we derive similar relative outbreak clustering in phylogenetic trees from PathChip-derived compared to classical Sanger-derived sequences. For a positive polio detection, recent infection could be excluded based on vaccine strain similarity.

Otitis Media and Its Sequelae in Kenyan Schoolchildren.

Background: The goal of this study was to obtain representative Kenyan data on the point prevalence of acute otitis media (AOM) and its sequelae (otitis media with effusion [OME] and chronic suppurative otitis media [CSOM]), a major cause of preventable hearing loss in children in developing countries. In Africa, there are limited studies on the prevalence of AOM and its sequelae in children.

Methods: Study subjects were children aged 2 to 15 years and were enrolled from randomly selected preprimary and primary schools.