Considerations and expectations for the administration of dispersible arpraziquantel to young children: a landscape analysis.

Schistosomiasis is a serious public health problem in many African countries and beyond. Preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel is a successful public health intervention that is recommended for all communities at risk, commonly reached through large-scale mass drug administration campaigns. However, preschool-age children are currently not routinely targeted for treatment due to operational challenges related to dosing and administration with the standard drug formulation.

The economic burden of atopic dermatitis in Romania: a broad perspective.

Introduction: Atopic dermatitis (AD), a common dermatological condition, is often associated with significant economic and social burdens. Despite extensive studies globally, there is a gap in understanding the impact of this condition in Romania. This study evaluated the economic burden of AD in Romania, considering both direct and indirect costs.

Ethnic and racial differences in children and young people with respiratory and neurological post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2: an electronic health record-based cohort study from the RECOVER Initiative.

Background: Children from racial and ethnic minority groups are at greater risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, but it is unclear whether they have increased risk for post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Our objectives were to assess whether the risk of respiratory and neurologic PASC differs by race/ethnicity and social drivers of health.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of individuals <21 years seeking care at 24 health systems across the U.

Age- and sex-specific care cascades to detect gaps in the care of children with tuberculosis in Bangladesh: a cohort study.

Background: Programmatic interventions to increase the detection of children with tuberculosis (TB) are rarely evaluated to understand age- and sex-specific completion rates. We applied modified TB screening and treatment cascade frameworks to assess indicators of effective implementation by age and sex of a TB screening program for children (zero to 14 years) in Bangladesh.

Methods: We implemented an intensified screening program for paediatric TB detection in 119 health care facilities (2018-21).

Global Epidemiology and health risks of Bacillus cereus Infections: Special focus on infant foods.

Bacillus cereus is a common pathogen responsible for gastrointestinal and other complicated disorders, yet epidemiological data and public health measures remain scarce. To bridge these gaps, a bilingual search spaning 50 years identified 266 relevant studies on global B. cereus infection, encompassing 6,135 cases.

Involving national stakeholders in a systems approach to map drivers of childhood obesity and actions to prevent childhood obesity in Denmark: the Generation Healthy Kids Study.

Background: Childhood obesity is a preventable global public health challenge, increasingly recognized as a complex problem, stemming from complex drivers. Obesity is characterized by multiple interdependencies and diverse influences at different societal levels. Tackling childhood obesity calls for a holistic approach that engages with complexity and recognizes that there is no single "magic bullet" intervention to prevent obesity.

Chronic inflammation in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 modulates gut microbiome: a review of literature on COVID-19 sequelae and gut dysbiosis.

Background: Long COVID or Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 is an emerging syndrome, recognized in COVID-19 patients who suffer from mild to severe illness and do not recover completely. Most studies define Long COVID, through symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and headache prevailing four or more weeks post-initial infection. Global variations in Long COVID presentation and symptoms make it challenging to standardize features of Long COVID.

The impact of educational intervention based on the theory of planned behavior on preventive behaviors for gastric cancer in obese and smoking individuals.

Background: Gastric cancer remains a significant global health issue due to its aggressive nature and high heterogeneity, making early detection and prevention critical. Obesity and smoking are established risk factors that significantly contribute to the development of gastric cancer. Despite the clear links between these risk factors and the disease, there is a lack of targeted educational interventions that address these behaviors.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Saudi Arabia: an epidemiological population-based study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent global health issue affecting millions of patients worldwide, impacting quality of life, impeding physical and psychological well-being, causing financial stress, and increasing mortality rates. This study aimed to highlight the prevalence of CKD and its associated risk factors across Saudi Arabia.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted from 2015 to 2022, using data from 42 branches of a major network of diagnostic laboratories in Saudi Arabia, covering the country's 13 administrative areas.

Neonatal indicator data in Tanzania District Health Information System: evaluation of availability and quality of selected newborn indicators, 2015-2022.

Background: The Every Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) indicators are essential in monitoring neonatal healthcare coverage and quality. The District Health Information System (DHIS2), an open-source platform in over 80 countries, supports health data collection and analysis, enabling progress tracking at national and subnational levels. This study evaluates the availability and quality of maternal and newborn health indicators, explicitly focusing on ENAP indicators within Tanzania's DHIS2.

Genetic characterization of measles virus circulating in Iran, 2021-2023.

Background: Measles, an ongoing public health concern, demands continuous molecular surveillance and virus characterization for elimination. Despite Iran achieving measles elimination status in 2019 through robust molecular testing and vaccination, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global vaccination efforts, leading to increased measles-related morbidity and mortality. This study aims to overview measles virus serological and molecular traits in Iran from 1st January 2021 to 30th April 2023.

The global air pollution and undernutrition among children under five.

Malnutrition and PM pollution remain a pressing global public health concern, especially to vulnerable populations like children under five years old. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between undernutrition in children under five years old and air pollution (exposure to PM) on a global scale. This ecological study evaluated the correlation between undernutrition (wasting and stunting) and air pollution in 123 countries.

Comparative effectiveness of antipsychotic treatment strategies for relapse prevention in first-episode schizophrenia in Finland: a population-based cohort study.

Background: The best pharmacological treatment practices for relapse prevention in patients with first-episode schizophrenia are unclear. We aimed to assess different treatment strategies used before and after the first relapse, and their associations with subsequent relapse risk.

Methods: In this population-based cohort study, we enrolled individuals (aged ≤45 years) with first-episode schizophrenia who were hospitalised and subsequently relapsed between 1996 and 2014 from the nationwide Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.

Worldwide epidemiology of paediatric multiple sclerosis: data from the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS, third edition.

Background: Limited data are available on the global rates of paediatric multiple sclerosis. Here, we report on the estimated worldwide prevalence of paediatric MS.

Methods: We included paediatric prevalence data in 2020-2022 (Multiple Sclerosis International Federation Atlas of MS) and the prevalence of child neurologists (International Child Neurology Association).

Antibiotics for Paediatric Community-Acquired Pneumonia: What is the Optimal Course Duration?

Despite significant global reductions in cases of pneumonia during the last 3 decades, pneumonia remains the leading cause of post-neonatal mortality in children aged <5 years. Beyond the immediate disease burden it imposes, pneumonia contributes to long-term morbidity, including lung function deficits and bronchiectasis. Viruses are the most common cause of childhood pneumonia, but bacteria also play a crucial role.

Consolidated Newborn Bloodspot Screening Efforts in Developing Countries in the Asia Pacific-2024.

Approximately half of all births globally occur in the Asia Pacific Region. Concerted efforts to support local activities aimed at developing national newborn screening (NBS) have been ongoing for almost 30 years, first by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and then through volunteer efforts. Sustainable newborn bloodspot screening (NBS) continues to be initiated and develop in many of the countries with developing economies in the region.

Impact of IYCF practices, as measured by national nutrition surveys from 2018 to 2022, on stunting and under-5 survival in Burkina Faso: a LiST analysis.

Introduction: Burkina Faso is facing a serious public health problem of chronic malnutrition and mortality in children under the age of 5. To tackle this situation, a number of child nutrition interventions have been implemented. This study aims to assess the impact of these interventions on the nutritional status of children aged 0-5 years between 2018 and 2022.

Community acceptance of services and effectiveness of health camps in high-risk areas of Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, 2021.

Introduction: Health camps are organized to provide basic health services in underprivileged communities. This study was conducted to determine community acceptance and effectiveness of health camps in the high-risk areas for the polio program in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted at the health campsites in high-risk union councils (HRUCs) of four districts of Karachi, Sindh.

Factors Influencing Iron Levels Among Women of Reproductive Age and Children 6-48 Months in Livestock-Keeping Communities in Narok County, Kenya.

Proper nutrition is vital for maintaining good health for all people across their lifespan, especially children and mothers, who are especially vulnerable due to their specific nutrient needs. Despite the necessity of improved nutrition for these groups, some members do not fully meet their recommended daily micronutrient needs, a challenge exacerbated by different socioeconomic, cultural, and communal constraints resulting in malnutrition. Iron deficiency anaemia is a major concern among children and mothers, especially in pastoralist communities, due to poor nutrition and other related factors.

[Disease burden and clinical status of congenital heart disease combined with heart failure in China: a survey and analysis].

To investigate the disease burden, clinical characteristics and independent risk factors affecting in-hospital outcomes of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) combined with heart failure (HF) in China. (1) Descriptive study: based on the global burden of disease study 2021, available data on children under 15 years of age with CHD and HF in China from 1990 to 2021 were collected. The prevalence and trends in different age subgroups (<1 year, 1-<2 years, 2-<5 years, 5-<10 years, 10-<15 years) were analyzed, and the annual percentage change (EAPC) was estimated using linear regression.

Demographic disparities in access to COVID-19 clinical trial sites across the United States: a geospatial analysis.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, underserved populations, such as racial and ethnic minority communities, were disproportionately impacted by illness and death. Ensuring people from diverse backgrounds have the ability to participate in clinical trials is key to advancing health equity. We sought to analyze the spatial variability in locations of COVID-19 trials sites and to test associations with demographic correlates.

Patterns of psychiatric healthcare use during pandemic times among boys and girls with pre-existing diagnoses: a Norwegian nationwide primary and specialist healthcare registry study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic introduced complexities that were likely more demanding for some groups, such as children and adolescents, and especially those with pre-existing mental health diagnoses. This study examines long-term patterns of psychiatric healthcare use among this vulnerable group, providing insights into shifts in psychiatric healthcare use during a global health crisis.

Methods: We use data from the primary and specialist healthcare registries available from the Norwegian emergency preparedness register for COVID-19 (Beredt C19) to estimate patterns of psychiatric healthcare use.

Empowering African Expertise: Enhancing Safety Data Integration and Signal Detection for COVID-19 Vaccines Through the African Union Smart Safety Surveillance Joint Signal Management Group.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated new vaccine development. Limited safety data necessitated robust global safety surveillance to accurately identify and promptly communicate potential safety issues. The African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) program established the Joint Signal Management (JSM) group to support identification of potential vaccine safety concerns in five pilot countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa), accounting for approximately 35% of the African population.

Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a leading contributor to the global burden of disease. Despite high heritability (60-80%), the majority of the underlying genetic determinants remain unknown. We analysed data from participants of European, East Asian, African American and Latino ancestries (n = 158,036 cases with bipolar disorder, 2.