Publications by authors named "Larissa Klootwijk"
Article Synopsis
- Over 400,000 children develop cancer annually, with survival rates in high-income countries (75-80%) significantly higher than in low- and middle-income countries (less than 30%).
- The case report examines two pediatric cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from Kenya and the Netherlands, emphasizing the differences and similarities in their diagnostic journeys and treatments.
- Both patients faced challenges like febrile neutropenia but successfully completed treatment and entered remission, showcasing the potential for effective AML care even in resource-limited environments and highlighting the need to expand focus beyond commonly recognized curable cancers.
Background: Awareness could play a key role in reducing underdiagnosis and accelerating referral of childhood cancer in low- and middle-income countries and ultimately improve outcomes. This study describes the implementation of a childhood cancer awareness program in Bungoma County in Kenya, containing five components: (1) baseline data collection of primary healthcare facilities; (2) live training session for healthcare providers (HCP); (3) early warning signs posters; (4) online SMS course for HCP; and (5) radio campaign.
Methods: This study was conducted between January and June 2023.
Introduction: Western Kenya is home to approximately 24 million people, with 10 million children under the age of 15 years. Based on estimates of cancer incidence in similar populations from around the world, approximately 1500 patients should be diagnosed with pediatric cancer each year. This article describes the international collaboration that investigates potential barriers preventing the effective diagnosis of pediatric patients with cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Death during paediatric cancer treatment is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Using the infrastructure of Supportive Care for Children with Cancer in Africa (SUCCOUR), our objective was to describe fever and neutropenia (FN) characteristics and outcomes in order to identify potential areas for future intervention.
Methods: A multicentre prospective, observational cohort study was conducted in sub-Saharan Africa.
Background: Reducing the burden of malaria highly depends on access to prompt and effective malaria diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to identify challenges affecting prompt access to effective uncomplicated malaria case management in children below 10 years old in rural primary health care facilities in Malawi.
Methods: A cross sectional health facility survey was conducted in six primary health facilities in Chikhwawa district, Malawi.