A systematic review of the clinical features of pneumonia in children aged 5-9 years: Implications for guidelines and research.

Background: Childhood pneumonia presents a large global burden, though most data and guidelines focus on children less than 5 years old. Less information is available about the clinical presentation of pneumonia in children 5-9 years of age. Appropriate diagnostic and treatment algorithms may differ from those applied to younger children.

Adherence rates and risk factors for suboptimal adherence to secondary prophylaxis for rheumatic fever.

Aim: Secondary prophylaxis with 3-4 weekly benzathine penicillin G injections is necessary to prevent disease morbidity and cardiac mortality in patients with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study aimed to determine secondary prophylaxis adherence rates in the Far North Queensland paediatric population and to identify factors contributing to suboptimal adherence.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of data recorded in the online RHD register for Queensland, Australia, was performed for a 10-year study period.

Adherence to Secondary Prophylaxis for Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: Optimal delivery of regular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections prescribed as secondary prophylaxis for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is vital to preventing disease morbidity and cardiac sequelae in affected pediatric and young adult populations. However, poor uptake of secondary prophylaxis remains a significant challenge to ARF/RHD control programs.

Objective: In order to facilitate better understanding of this challenge and thereby identify means to improve service delivery, this systematic literature review explored rates of adherence and factors associated with adherence to secondary prophylaxis for ARF and RHD worldwide.

Sharing success - understanding barriers and enablers to secondary prophylaxis delivery for rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.

Background: Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) cause considerable morbidity and mortality amongst Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis in the form of 4-weekly benzathine penicillin injections is the mainstay of control programs. Evidence suggests, however, that delivery rates of such prophylaxis are poor.