Potential beneficial effects of kefir and its postbiotic, kefiran, on child food allergy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susy Érika de Lima Barros ◽  
Caique dos Santos Rocha ◽  
Mayara Storel Beserra de Moura ◽  
Mariana Pegrucci Barcelos ◽  
Carlos Henrique Tomich de Paula da Silva ◽  
...  

Food allergies are known as the public health problem, affecting people of all age groups, but more commonly in babies and children, with consequences for nutritional status and quality of life.

Author(s):  
Susan Elliott ◽  
Francesca Cardwell

Food allergy is a growing public health epidemic in Canada, affecting 50 percent of Canadian households either directly or indirectly. Despite the physical, psychosocial and quality of life impacts to those affected, food allergy has recently been ignored in the Canadian policy context. While the complete etiology of food allergy remains unknown, we have enough information to make strong policy choices that can maximize choice and minimize risk for affected Canadians, and place Canada at the forefront of food allergy management and research. Policy recognizing food allergy as a chronic health issue that represents a significant public health problem in Canada is critical.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelui Collinson ◽  
Joseph Timothy ◽  
Samuel K Zayay ◽  
Karsor K Kollie ◽  
Eglantine Lebas ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundScabies is known to be a public health problem in many settings but the majority of recent data is from rural settings in the Pacific. There is a need for high quality data from sub-Saharan Africa and peri-Urban settings to inform scale up of scabies control efforts. There have been anecdotal reports of scabies being a public health problem in Liberia but robust data are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional cluster-randomised prevalence survey for scabies in a peri-urban community in Monrovia, Liberia in February-March 2020. Participants underwent a standardised examination conducted by trained local health care workers. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using age-appropriate dermatology life quality indices (DLQIs). Prevalence estimates were calculated accounting for clustering at community and household levels and associations with key demographic variables assessed through multivariable random-effects logistic regression.Results1,318 participants from 477 households were surveyed. The prevalence of scabies prevalence was 9.3% (95% CI: 6.5-13.2%), across 75 (19.7%) households; impetigo or infected scabies prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4-1.9%). The majority (52%) of scabies cases were classified as severe. Scabies prevalence was lower in females and higher in the youngest age group; no associations were found with other collected demographic or socio-economic variables. DLQI scores indicated a very or extremely large effect on HRQoL in 29% of adults and 18% of children diagnosed with scabies.ConclusionsOur study indicates a substantial burden of scabies in this peri-Urban population in Liberia. This was associated with significant impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for action to control scabies in this population. Further work is needed to assess the impact of interventions in this context on both the prevalence of scabies and quality of life.Plain English summaryScabies is an infestation with a microscopic mite which affects many people living in low-resource tropical countries. It causes intense itching, which can lead to complications through bacterial infection and poor quality of life. To help develop global scabies control programmes, we need a better understanding of how common it is across different tropical settings. We conducted a survey to assess the burden of scabies and bacterial skin infection in a random sample of people living in a community in Monrovia, Liberia. Information about participants and their household were collected and their skin was examined; those with skin conditions were asked about its impact on quality of life.We examined 1,318 participants and found that almost 10% of people had scanies. Scabies was more common in young children, and was more common in male children than female children. We found that there was a large impact on quality of life due mostly to the itching that scabies causes and to people feeling embarrassed or sad because of their skin condition. This scabies survey is one of the first conducted across all age groups in recent years in sub-Saharan Africa and indicates a substantial burden and impact on quality of life. More work is needed to understand how common scabies is in different settings and the impact that different treatment strategies may have.


Author(s):  
Guillermo López Cala ◽  
Yolanda María de la Fuente Robles ◽  
Rosa María Fernández Alcalá

This chapter deals with accessibility, a relevant and important concept for every citizen in the improvement of their quality of life in any environment or daily situation. Specifically, an empirical study about accessibility in the public health centers of a Basic Health Area (BHA) of Jaén is carried out. From this study, accessibility deficiencies in health buildings are revealed, and explicit proposals are provided with the aim of improving accessibility in different scopes such as information and communications. The improvement plans based on the use of Technology, Information, and Communication (TIC) tools help sensory disabled users that attend to the Health Center.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel A. Galán-Martín ◽  
Federico Montero-Cuadrado ◽  
Enrique Lluch-Girbes ◽  
M. Carmen Coca-López ◽  
Agustín Mayo-Iscar ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Chronic musculoskeletal pain affects more than 20% of the population, and the prevalence is increasing, causing suffering, loss of quality of life, disability, and an enormous expenditure on healthcare resources. The most common location for chronic pain is the spine. Many of the treatments used are mainly passive (pharmacological and invasive) and poor outcomes. The treatments currently applied in the public health system do not comply with the recommendations of the main clinical practice guidelines, which suggest the use of educational measures and physical exercise as the first-line treatment. A protocol based on active coping strategies is described, which will be evaluated through a clinical trial and which could facilitate the transfer of the recommendations of the clinical practice guidelines to a primary care setting. Methods Randomised and multicentre clinical trials, which will be carried out in 10 Primary Care centres. The trial will compare the effect of a Pain Neuroscience Education program (six sessions, 10 h) and group physical exercise (18 sessions program carried out in six weeks, 18 h), with usual care physiotherapy treatment. Group physical exercise incorporates dual tasks, gaming, and reinforcement of contents of the educational program. The aim is to assess the effect of the intervention on quality of life, as well as on pain, disability, catastrophism, kinesiophobia, central sensitisation, and drug use. The outcome variables will be measured at the beginning of the intervention, after the intervention (week 11), at six months, and a year. Discussion Therapeutic interventions based on active coping strategies are essential for the treatment of chronic pain and the sustainability of the Public Health System. Demonstrating whether group interventions have an effect size is essential for optimising resources in such a prevalent problem. Trial registration NCT03654235 “Retrospectively registered” 31 August 2018.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. e0008943
Author(s):  
Shelui Collinson ◽  
Joseph Timothy ◽  
Samuel K. Zayzay ◽  
Karsor K. Kollie ◽  
Eglantine Lebas ◽  
...  

Scabies is known to be a public health problem in many settings but the majority of recent data is from rural settings in the Pacific. There is a need for high quality data from sub-Saharan Africa and peri-urban settings to inform scale up of scabies control efforts. There have been anecdotal reports of scabies being a public health problem in Liberia but robust data are lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional cluster-randomised prevalence survey for scabies in a peri-urban community in Monrovia, Liberia in February-March 2020. Participants underwent a standardised examination conducted by trained local health care workers. Health related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using age-appropriate versions of the dermatology life quality index (DLQI). Prevalence estimates were calculated accounting for clustering at community and household levels and associations with key demographic variables assessed through multivariable random-effects logistic regression. 1,318 participants from 477 households were surveyed. The prevalence of scabies was 9.3% (95% CI: 6.5–13.2%), across 75 (19.7%) households; impetigo or infected scabies prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI: 0.4–1.9%). The majority (52%) of scabies cases were classified as severe. Scabies prevalence was lower in females and higher in the youngest age group; no associations were found with other collected demographic or socio-economic variables. DLQI scores indicated a very or extremely large effect on HRQoL in 29% of adults and 18% of children diagnosed with scabies. Our study indicates a substantial burden of scabies in this peri-urban population in Liberia. This was associated with significant impact on quality of life, highlighting the need for action to control scabies in this population. Further work is needed to assess the impact of interventions in this context on both the prevalence of scabies and quality of life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-10
Author(s):  
Hira Ejaz ◽  
Nirmal Walicha ◽  
Saba Rizwan ◽  
Sadaf Javeria ◽  
Sana Iqbal ◽  
...  

Background: Malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem in developing and underdeveloped countries. The objectives of the study were to determine the determinants of nutritional status of under 5 years children in our population. Materials & Methods: This analytical cross sectional study was conducted by the Department of Public Health, Islamabad, Federal College, Islamabad, from November 2016 to March 2017. Sample size was 200 selected by convenient sampling. Demographic variables were sex, age-groups, socio-economics status, family structure. Research variable was nutritional status. The data collection was done in urban slums of Islamabad on a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS software. Results: Out of 200 children, 117(58.5%) were boys and 83(41.5 %) were girls. One hundred (50%) children were of 6 to 24 months and 100(50%) were of 25 to 59 months of age. Eighty three (41.5%) were rich and 117(58.5%) were poor. One hundred and fifty eight (79%) children were from joint family system and 42(21%) were living in nuclear family system were children. One hundred and fifty one (75.50%) were normal, 39(19.50%) were mild and 10(5%) were having severe malnutrition. Conclusion: Except age all the other factors including sex, socio-economics status and family structure were associated with nutritional status of under 5 year children.


Author(s):  
Ravinder Kaur ◽  
Pragyan Swagatika Panda ◽  
Shahnawaz Khan

Background: Onychomycosis is rarely life threatening but can affect patient’s quality of life by its associated morbidity and cosmetic disfigurement that makes it an important public health problem. So the current study was undertaken to look for causes of onychomycosis including the non-dermatophytic molds that are normally considered as contaminants. Methods: A total of 100 nail samples from clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis, were processed by direct microscopy of the KOH mount followed by two sets of culture on Sabourauds’ Dextrose Agar and incubated at 25ºC and 37ºC and were examined once a week for a period of 4-6 weeks, to look for the fungal causative agent. Results: Infection was more common among males and amongst age group 21-30 years (31%). The finger nails (57%) were more commonly involved than toe nails (43%). Onychomycosis was mostly caused by molds (55%), followed by dermatophytes (15.8%) and yeasts (9.3%). Aspergillus niger and A. flavus (13% each) were the most common molds, T. verrucossum (4.6%) was the most common dermatophyte, while Candida albicans (6.5%) was the most common yeast isolated. Conclusions: There is a rising trend of non dermatophytic molds causing onychomycoses, Thus microbiologists should look for all the possible causes of superficial fungal infection. 


2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Oana Iaru ◽  
◽  
Mihaela Oros ◽  
D. Oraseanu ◽  
◽  
...  

Obesity is a public health problem, with an important increase in prevalence in the last decades, pediatric population also fits these characteristics. Among the systemic complications of obesity is included the sleep – related respiratory pathology. The association obstructive sleep apnea – obesity is suspected in a child who snores, has sleep fragmentation and breathing pauses, but the diagnosis is confirmed using polysomnography. Obstructive sleep apnea has many kinds of complications (increased by the association with obesity) – cardiac, metabolic, neurocognitive, all of them affecting the quality of life. The treatment of obstructive sleep apnea includes weight loss, adenotonsillectomy and CPAP ventilation.


Author(s):  
Sabina Sedlak ◽  
Sandra Simonović ◽  
Marjetka Jelenc

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases represent a growing public health problem and pose a major burden on health systems. Due to the increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases, this area is becoming increasingly important in work organizations. An individual with health problems is less efficient and less productive at work, which results in poorer economic results. The health problems caused by these diseases also lead to premature retirement and a poorer quality of life for the individual. This increases the direct and indirect costs that burden employers and society as a whole. In cooperation with the Faculty of Economics, University of Ljubljana in 2000 the Slovenian National Institute of Public Health analyzed the economic burden of selected six diagnoses of the most common causes of musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases for the period 2016 to 2018, on the basis of routine health databases. Based on the calculation of indirect and direct costs, the economic burden of musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases accounted for about 5% of total health expenditure, which is 0.4% of gross domestic product in the study period. Risk factors associated with the development of diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue can be influenced by a healthy lifestyle, which is reflected in a better quality of life of the individual and higher productivity in work organizations.


Author(s):  
Thaís Mello de Souza ◽  
Luiz Faustino dos Santos Maia

Desde os anos sessenta do século passado, a expressão qualidade de vida tem sido referência de inúmeros discursos acadêmicos, políticos, ideológicos. A preocupação com a saúde do idoso vem promovendo a implantação de políticas públicas de saúde, visando cada vez mais melhoria da qualidade de vida. O envelhecimento populacional é um fenômeno que diz respeito a todos, não ficando circunscrito apenas aos cidadãos maiores de 60 anos. Portanto esta pesquisa através de uma revisão literária objetivou levar ao conhecimento dos profissionais de saúde a cerca da saúde do idoso e as políticas públicas de saúde para este segmento etário. Os resultados mostrou que os profissionais de saúde têm uma grande importância para a melhoria, implementação e execução das políticas públicas de saúde.Descritores: Qualidade de Vida, Saúde do Idoso, Envelhecimento. Health of the aged one, the aging and the public politics of healthAbstractSince the sixties of last century, the term quality of life has been a benchmark for many academic discourses, political, ideological. The concern with the health of the aged one comes promoting the implantation of public politics of health, aiming at each time more improvement of the quality of life. The population aging is a phenomenon that says respect to all, not being circumscribed only to the citizens biggest of 60 years. Therefore this research through a literature review aimed to inform health professionals about the health of the elderly and public health policies for this age group. The results showed that health professionals are of great importance for the improvement, implementation and enforcement of public health policies.OuvirDescriptors:Quality of Life, Health of the Aged one, Aging. Salud Del anciano, el envejecimiento y las politicas publica de saludResumenDesde los años sesenta del siglo pasado, el término calidad de vida ha sido un referente para muchos discursos académicos, políticos, ideológicos. La preocupación por la salud de las personas de edad ha estado promoviendo el despliegue de políticas de salud pública, en busca de mayor calidad y mejores de vida mejor. El envejecimiento poblacional es un fenómeno que concierne a todos, no limitándose sólo a los ciudadanos mayores de 60 años. Por tanto, esta investigación a través de una revisión de la literatura destinada a informar a los profesionales de salud acerca de la salud de las personas mayores y las politicas publicas de salud para este grupo de edad. Los resultados mostraron que los profesionales de la salud son de gran importancia para el mejoramiento, aplicación y ejecución de políticas de salud pública.Descriptores: Calidad de Vida, Salud del Adulto Mayor, Envejecimiento.


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