Publications by authors named "S Balan"

Objectives: Inappropriate prescriptions are known to cause medication-related problems, but little is known about the prevalence of this issue in paediatric patients. This systematic review provides an overview of the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions identified through tools developed for the paediatric population and delineates the strengths and limitations of the identification tools.

Methods: Literature from PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane database and Google Scholar was searched with a combination of medical subject headings (MeSH) and free-text terms related to inappropriate prescriptions, paediatrics and potentially inappropriate prescription tools.

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Article Synopsis
  • Scurvy, often seen as a condition of the past, is frequently overlooked in children, particularly those with neurodevelopmental disorders, leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary tests.
  • This study presents 10 cases of children diagnosed with scurvy at Amrita Hospital between 2017 to 2022, highlighting their clinical symptoms, imaging results, and recovery after vitamin C treatment.
  • Findings suggest that pediatricians and rheumatologists should consider scurvy when faced with unexplained bone pain, and address selective eating habits to prevent complications.
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Chronic kidney disease in children is being increasingly recognised and reported worldwide, and the focus of paediatric dialysis planning has changed from acute care alone to encompass chronic care. In many parts of the world, haemodialysis for children is performed in adult units and is based on standards established for adults. This review proposes standards for paediatric haemodialysis, incorporating special requirements for children while simultaneously drawing from the adult experience.

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Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of synthetic organic chemicals of global concern. A group of 36 scientists and regulators from 18 countries held a hybrid workshop in 2022 in Zürich, Switzerland. The workshop, a sequel to a previous Zürich workshop held in 2017, deliberated on progress in the last five years and discussed further needs for cooperative scientific research and regulatory action on PFASs.

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