scholarly journals Epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the Panamanian pediatric population, 1998-2008

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (05) ◽  
pp. 318-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Nieto-Guevara ◽  
Kathia Luciani ◽  
Abian Montesdeoca-Melían ◽  
Mercedes Mateos-Durán
Keyword(s):  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Circulation Pattern ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Mean ◽  
One Year

Introduction: Worldwide public health authorities report 500,000 cases of invasive meningococcal disease with 50,000 deaths per year and 10-15% of sequelae in people affected. This study describes the epidemiology, microbiology, and clinical presentation of this disease in the Panamanian pediatric population. Methodology:  The discharge of patients with a meningococcal invasive disease diagnosis was reviewed in the statistical database and archives of the Hospital del Niño. Results: A total of 32 discharges with a meningococcal disease diagnosis were reported during the study period (1998-2008).  Ninety-one percent (n/N = 29/32) were confirmed as meningitis. The mean age of patients was 4.1 ± 4.6 years. The incidence in the period of the study was 0.25/100,000. Infants younger than one year old presented the highest incidence rate and number of cases. Four deaths were reported, three of which occurred in the group of 10-14 years and one in the group of 1-4 years. The overall fatality rate was 12.5%. The serogroup of the causative agent, Neisseria meningitidis, was documented in 30 of the 32 cases, with serogroup B the most frequent (66.7%). Ninety-percent (18/20) of serogroup B were isolated in the first five years of study. Serogroup C was identified in 8 of the 12 cases during the period 2004-2008. Conclusions: The present study showed a change in the epidemiological circulation pattern from serogroup B to serogroup C during the study period. Such epidemiological surveillance data is important in the implementation of preventive measures such as vaccination.

scholarly journals Previous COVID-19 Infection and Antibody Levels After Vaccination

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamad Ali ◽  
Barrak Alahmad ◽  
Abdullah A. Al-Shammari ◽  
Abdulmohsen Alterki ◽  
Maha Hammad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Previous Infection ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Vaccine Shortages ◽  
Antibody Levels ◽  
Ig G

Background: The emergence of new COVID-19 variants of concern coupled with a global inequity in vaccine access and distribution has prompted many public health authorities to circumvent the vaccine shortages by altering vaccination protocols and prioritizing persons at high risk. Individuals with previous COVID-19 infection may not have been prioritized due to existing humoral immunity.Objective: We aimed to study the association between previous COVID-19 infection and antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccination.Methods: A serological analysis to measure SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, and neutralizing antibodies was performed on individuals who received one or two doses of either BNT162b2 or ChAdOx1 vaccines in Kuwait. A Student t-test was performed and followed by generalized linear regression models adjusted for individual characteristics and comorbidities were fitted to compare the average levels of IgG and neutralizing antibodies between vaccinated individuals with and without previous COVID-19 infection.Results: A total of 1,025 individuals were recruited. The mean levels of IgG, IgA, and neutralizing antibodies were higher in vaccinated subjects with previous COVID-19 infections than in those without previous infection. Regression analysis showed a steeper slope of decline for IgG and neutralizing antibodies in vaccinated individuals without previous COVID-19 infection compared to those with previous COVID-19 infection.Conclusion: Previous COVID-19 infection appeared to elicit robust and sustained levels of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in vaccinated individuals. Given the inconsistent supply of COVID-19 vaccines in many countries due to inequities in global distribution, our results suggest that even greater efforts should be made to vaccinate more people, especially individuals without previous COVID-19 infection.

scholarly journals Geography of Microcephaly in the Zika Era: A Study of Newborn Distribution and Socio-environmental Indicators in Recife, Brazil, 2015-2016

2018 ◽  
Vol 133 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariani Impieri Souza ◽  
Marília Teixeira de Siqueira ◽  
Ana Laura Carneiro Gomes Ferreira ◽  
Clarice Umbelino de Freitas ◽  
Anselmo César Vasconcelos Bezerra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Hospital ◽  
Incidence Rate Ratio ◽  
Mixed Race ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
The North ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Incidence Risk ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Larvae Density

Objectives: We assessed sociodemographic and health care factors of mothers and newborns during a 2015-2016 outbreak of microcephaly in Recife, Brazil, and we analyzed the spatial distribution and incidence risk of newborns with microcephaly in relation to socio-environmental indicators. Methods: We collected data from August 2015 through May 2016 from Brazil’s Live Birth Information System and Bulletin of Microcephaly Notification, and we geocoded the data by maternal residence. We constructed thematic maps of districts, according to socio-environmental and vector indicators. We identified spatial aggregates of newborns with microcephaly by using the Bernoulli model. We performed logistic regression analyses to compare the incidence risk of microcephaly within socio-environmental indicator groups. Results: We geocoded 17 990 of 19 554 (92.0%) live births in Recife, of which 202 (1.1%) newborns were classified as having microcephaly, based on a head circumference of ≥2 standard deviations below the mean. Larger proportions of newborns with microcephaly (compared with newborns without microcephaly) were born to mothers who delivered in a public hospital, did not attend college, were aged ≤19, or were black or mixed race. A higher risk of microcephaly (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 3.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.88-8.06) occurred in districts with the lowest (vs highest) Municipal Human Development Index (ie, an index that assesses longevity, education, and income). The risk of microcephaly was significantly higher where rates of larvae density (IRR = 2.31; 95% CI, 1.19-4.50) and larvae detection (IRR = 2.04; 95% CI, 1.05-4.00) were higher and rates of sewage system (IRR = 2.20; 95% CI, 1.16-4.18) and garbage collection (IRR = 1.96; 95% CI, 0.99-3.88) were lower. Newborns with microcephaly lived predominantly in the poorest areas and in a high-risk cluster (relative risk = 1.89, P = .01) in the north. Conclusions: The disproportionate incidence of microcephaly in newborns in poor areas of Recife reinforces the need for government and public health authorities to formulate policies that promote social equity and support for families and their children with microcephaly.

Reptile-associated salmonellosis in children aged under 5 years in South West England

2014 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Murphy ◽  
Femi Oshin
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severity Of Illness ◽  
Invasive Disease ◽  
Exposure Age ◽  
South West ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Uk ◽  
South West England ◽  
Children Under 5

ObjectiveTo determine the proportion of Salmonella cases in children aged <5 years that were reptile-associated salmonellosis (RAS) and to compare the severity of illness.DesignTo analyse all cases of salmonellosis reported to public health authorities in children aged under 5 years in the South West of the UK from January 2010 to December 2013 for reptile exposure, age, serotype, hospitalisation and invasive disease.Results48 of 175 (27%) Salmonella cases had exposure to reptiles. The median age of RAS cases was significantly lower than non-RAS cases (0.5 vs 1.0 year). RAS cases were 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalised (23/48) compared with non-RAS cases (25/127; p=0.0002). This trend continued in cases aged under 12 months, with significantly more RAS cases hospitalised (19/38) than non-RAS cases (8/42; p=0.003). Significantly more RAS cases had invasive disease (8/48: 5 bacteraemia, 2 meningitis, 1 colitis) than non-RAS cases (4/127: 3 bacteraemia, 1 meningitis).ConclusionsReptile exposure was found in over a quarter of all reported Salmonella cases in children under 5 years of age. RAS is associated with young age, hospitalisation and invasive disease.

scholarly journals Recent national French food and nutrient intake data

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (S1) ◽  
pp. S57-S59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Luc Volatier ◽  
Philippe Verger
Keyword(s):  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Dietary Guidelines ◽  
Fat Intake ◽  
Dietary Survey ◽  
The North ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Food And Nutrient Intake ◽  
Saturated Fat Intake

In France, the first national dietary survey, called ASPCC, was done in 1993–1994. According to this survey, the mean fat intake in France is rather high, both for men (37.7 %) and women (40 %). Saturated fat intake is above 15 % of energy. The intake of fruit and vegetables is particularly low for younger people and manual workers. Fruit intake is also lower for people from the north of the country. These data show the necessity of a targeted nutritional policy in France. Therefore, public health authorities are determining new dietary guidelines. The fact that people with unsatisfactory nutritional status are often not concerned with nutrition proves the importance of simple understandable food-based dietary guidelines.

scholarly journals Measles and Mumps Outbreaks in Lebanon : Trends and Links

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talal El Zarif ◽  
Mohamed Faisal Kassir ◽  
Nazih Bizri ◽  
Ghida Kassir ◽  
Umayya Musharrafieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Public Database ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Measles Outbreaks ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Abstract: Background: Lebanon has experienced several measles and mumps outbreaks in the past twenty years . In this article, the trend of measles outbreaks in Lebanon was studied in an attempt to outline factors contributing to the failure of elimination plans, and to provide potential solutions. The relationship between measles and mumps outbreaks in Lebanon was described and explored. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of confirmed cases of measles and mumps in Lebanon between 2003 and 2018 collected from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health Epidemiological Surveillance Unit public database was carried out. The information collected was graphically represented taking into consideration dates of cases, age groups affected, and vaccination status. Results: The mean number of measles cases was 150.25 cases/year in the 1-4 years age group, 87 cases/year in individuals aging between 5 and 14, and 63.68 cases/year in those > 14 years old. In the latter group, only 18.05% were unvaccinated. The mean number of mumps cases was 30.4 cases/year in the <4 year age group and 53.8 cases/year in the 10-19 years age group. During the study period, every spike in measles cases was followed by a similar spike in mumps. 9.66% of measles cases occurred in individuals who received at least 2 doses of the vaccine, 52.26% in the unvaccinated, and 38% in those whose vaccination status was undetermined. Conclusions: Measles in Lebanon is a disease of the pediatric population, but adults remain at risk. Outbreaks of mumps followed those of measles and were mainly among adolescents. Presence of a large number of Syrian refugees in the country may further complicate the situation. Vaccination activities need to be intensified. Keywords: Measles, mumps, elimination, vaccine, Lebanon.

scholarly journals Spreadable Virus of the 21stCentuary: COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1&2) ◽  
pp. 13-18
Author(s):  
Priya Chaudhary ◽  
Pracheta Janmeda
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Process ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Ground Glass Opacity ◽  
Nasal Discharge ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Third ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

The latest outbreak of a respiratory disease, known as coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), is the third virus spillover from animals to humans in the last two decades. The disease is caused by coronavirus and has converted into an epidemic in recent days. It spread via direct contact or droplets of nasal-discharge from one human-to-another within the mean-incubation period of 6.5 days. Dyspnea, cough and fever are the most common symptoms in the patients of COVID-19, though along with diarrhea in 3% cases. Bilateral pulmonary with ground-glass opacity and consolidation has been observed in 98% cases of the disease by the help of computed tomography.  The treatment process of COVID-19 with chloroquine and remdesivir drug is under the clinical trial worldwide and responding well to cure the disease. Under the prevalent circumstances, the main goal is to control the widespread infection of SARS-CoV-2 across the world and to aware the public regarding the possible preventive measures and treatments. However, the public health authorities should keep a close eye on the circumstances strictly, as the more we know about this novel coronavirus and its outbreak, the better we can respond or control the conditions worldwide.

scholarly journals Measles and Mumps Outbreaks in Lebanon : Trends and Links

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Talal El Zarif ◽  
Mohamed Faisal Kassir ◽  
Nazih Bizri ◽  
Ghida Kassir ◽  
Umayya Musharrafieh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Vaccination Status ◽  
Epidemiological Surveillance ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Public Database ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: Lebanon has experienced several measles and mumps outbreaks in the past twenty years. In this article, a case-based surveillance of both measles and mumps outbreaks in Lebanon was carried out in an attempt to outline factors contributing to the failure of elimination plans and to provide potential solutions. The relationship between the outbreaks of both diseases was described and explored. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study of confirmed cases of measles and mumps in Lebanon between 2003 and 2018 collected from the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health Epidemiological Surveillance Unit public database was carried out. The information collected was graphically represented taking into consideration dates of reported cases, age groups affected, and vaccination status. Results: The mean number of measles cases was 150.25 cases/year in the 1-4 years age group, 87 cases/year in individuals aging between 5 and 14, and 63.68 cases/year in those > 14 years old. In the latter group, only 18.05% were unvaccinated. The mean number of mumps cases was 30.4 cases/year in the <4 year age group and 53.8 cases/year in the 10-19 years age group. During the study period, every spike in measles cases was followed by a similar spike in mumps. 9.66% of measles cases occurred in individuals who received at least 2 doses of the vaccine, 52.26% in the unvaccinated, and 38% in those whose vaccination status was undetermined. Conclusions: Measles in Lebanon is a disease of the pediatric population, but adults remain at risk. Outbreaks of mumps followed those of measles and were mainly among adolescents. Presence of a large number of Syrian refugees in the country may further complicate the situation. Vaccination activities need to be intensified.

Characteristics of Disease Progression and Genetic Correlation in Ambulatory Iranian Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gholamreza Zamani ◽  
Sareh Hosseinpour ◽  
Mahmoud Reza Ashrafi ◽  
Mahmoud Mohammadi ◽  
Reza Shervin Badv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Clinical History ◽  
Disease Diagnosis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mutation Type

Abstract Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common muscular dystrophy in the pediatric population. The manifestations are progressive muscle weakness, impairment in walking and motor function leading to loss of ambulation by age of 13 years. Molecular studies are standard tests for diagnosis. This article describes the status of disease progression and genetic pattern in the Iranian affected boys and furthermore, concerns to find a correlation between the genotype and motor function phenotype of them. Methods This study was performed on 152 DMD patients. Clinical history including disease phenotype, steroid therapy data and the NorthStar Ambulatory Assessment (NSAA) score were all collected. Molecular diagnoses were confirmed by multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification and Next Generation Sequencing tests. Results We studied a total of 152 Iranian DMD patients. The mean age at disease onset was 4.04 ± 2.00 year and the mean age at diagnosis was 5.05 ± 2.08 year. The mean age of loss of ambulatory was 10.9 year. Contracture was seen in 38.9 %. The overall mean of NSAA total score versus age of the patients peaked at 4 year with mean NSAA score of 24. We assessed the yearly changes in the NSAA linear score for all cases based on mutation type and exon site. We found deletion mutation in 79.1%, duplication in 6.8%, nonsense in 12.8%, and splice site in 1.4%. The most common single exon was deletion exon 44 in our patients (5.3%) and the most common multiexon deletion was 45–50 and 45–52 exon equally with 4.6%. This study did not show any correlation between age at disease onset, loss of ambulation age and wheelchair dependency with mutation type but a correlation between contracture with mutation type was found. A significant deference in NSAA score were seen between deletion and nonsense groups at the age of 3 year (P = 0.036) and 3.5 years (p = 0.04). We couldn’t find any correlation among phenotype and Exon site. 91.1% had a history of corticosteroid taking and 54.1% of patient had compliance with rehabilitation. Conclusion This study has demonstrated the phenotype and mutational features of DMD boys and provide information of the disease natural motor history, disease progression and disease diagnosis with the management status of DMD in Iran. Achieved data will encourage the development of clinical trials and advance future molecular therapies in Iran.

Aetiology of acute febrile illness: a multicentre study from the province of Kerala in southern India

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 322-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mekkattukunnel A Andrews ◽  
Abraham M Ittyachen
Keyword(s):  
Tract Infection ◽  
Multicentre Study ◽  
Monsoon Season ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Limited Resources ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Prospective Multicentre Study ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
One Year

Acute febrile illness with varied aetiology but similar symptoms is common in tropical countries. This prospective, multicentre study was conducted in selected centres in the province of Kerala in India principally to analyse the aetiology of acute febrile illnesses in adult patients over the course of one year. Overall, 1324 patients were included in the study. The most common cause was dengue in 576 patients (43.5%). In 396 (29.9%), the exact aetiology could not be identified. Other causes, in order, were leptospirosis, enteric fever, malaria, respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection and typhus. When such a wide variation with a significant number of ‘indeterminate’ cases exists, especially in such a small area and with limited resources, the onus is on public health authorities to draw up an ‘easy-to-use algorithm’ to tackle epidemics of febrile illness, particularly in the monsoon season.

scholarly journals Pathways Improving Compliance with Preventive Behaviors during the Remission Period of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3512
Author(s):  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
Nanyue Rao ◽  
Buxin Han
Keyword(s):  
Risk Perception ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Political Trust ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Preventive Behaviors ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Government ◽  
One Year

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a significant threat to people’s lives. Compliance with preventive behaviors, recommended by public health authorities, is essential for infection control. In the remission stage, one year after the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China, we advanced a moderated parallel mediation model of the link between risk perception and compliance with preventive behaviors as well as a serial mediation model of the link between optimism and compliance with preventive behaviors, explaining the roles of various psychosocial factors in these associations. In January 2021, 200 participants under 50 years of age, located in 80 Chinese cities, participated in an online survey assessing risk perception, compliance with preventive behaviors, fear, anxiety, political trust, government dependency, and dispositional optimism. The results showed that the effect of risk perception on compliance with preventive behaviors was mediated by political trust and fear, and was moderated by government dependency. Anxiety and fear serially mediated the effect of optimism on compliance with preventive behaviors. Our study provided implications for future research to reduce negative emotions, strengthen confidence in the government, and sustain moderate government dependency accompanied by individual self-efficacy.

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