scholarly journals Parental assessment of disease severity in febrile children under 5 years of age: a qualitative study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e042609
Author(s):  
Dora L Kuijpers ◽  
Daphne Peeters ◽  
Nina C Boom ◽  
Josephine van de Maat ◽  
Rianne Oostenbrink ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Febrile Child ◽  
Normal Behaviour ◽  
Parental Assessment ◽  
Minor Illness ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
Specific Symptoms

ObjectiveTo explore how parents judge disease severity of their febrile child and to identify symptoms they associate with serious illness, minor illness or health.DesignSemistructured interviews were conducted. Interviews were audio taped, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.ParticipantsParents of children aged 0–5 years with a febrile illness.SettingParticipants were recruited at the paediatric ward and the emergency department.ResultsTwenty-six interviews were conducted, in which 37 parents participated. Parents described disease severity of their child mainly in terms of changes in their child’s normal characteristics (behaviour and physical features). They found it harder to describe specific disease symptoms such as dyspnoea or dehydration. Their child being active, eating and drinking well, and smiling were perceived as reassuring, whereas high fever, moving very little and uncertainty about the type of infections were mentioned as alarming symptoms. Previous experience with febrile illnesses in their children was of great influence on the number and accuracy of symptoms they reported.ConclusionParents used the normal behaviour and physical features of their child as a reference frame for judging disease severity. With a larger deviation from the child’s normal characteristics, parents considered the illness more serious. They were less able to describe specific symptoms of disease such as dyspnoea or dehydration. This knowledge is important for clinicians in their communication with parents of children with febrile illness.

Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), A rapidly spreading epidemic in Chennai - A standalone lab experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (09) ◽  
pp. 4896
Author(s):  
Sripriya C.S.* ◽  
Shanthi B. ◽  
Arockia Doss S. ◽  
Antonie Raj I. ◽  
Mohana Priya
Keyword(s):  
Scrub Typhus ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Orientia Tsutsugamushi ◽  
The Past ◽  
Igm Elisa ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Specific Symptoms ◽  
Symptoms And Signs

Scrub typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi), is a strict intracellular bacterium which is reported to be a recent threat to parts of southern India. There is re-emergence of scrub typhus during the past few years in Chennai. Scrub typhus is an acute febrile illness which generally causes non-specific symptoms and signs. The clinical manifestations of this disease range from sub-clinical disease to organ failure to fatal disease. This study documents our laboratory experience in diagnosis of scrub typhus in patients with fever and suspected clinical symptoms of scrub typhus infection for a period of two years from April 2014 to April 2016 using immunochromatography and IgM ELISA methods. The study was conducted on 648 patients out of whom 188 patients were found to be positive for scrub typhus. Results also showed that pediatric (0 -12 years) and young adults (20 – 39 years) were more exposed to scrub typhus infection and female patients were more infected compared to male. The study also showed that the rate of infection was higher between September to February which also suggested that the infection rate is proportional to the climatic condition. Statistical analysis showed that the mean age of the patients in this study was 37.6, standard deviation was 18.97, CV % was 50.45. 

scholarly journals Early recognition of PIMS-TS: a single centre retrospective review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. e001011
Author(s):  
Roshni Mistry ◽  
Nicola Scanlon ◽  
James Hibberd ◽  
Fionnghuala Fuller
Keyword(s):  
Early Recognition ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Final Diagnosis ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Single Centre ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Specific Symptoms

IntroductionResearch into paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) has focused on tertiary level management. This review reports on symptoms and investigations at presentation.MethodsSingle centre retrospective case note analysis of patients fulfilling PIMS-TS diagnostic criteria from March to May 2020 in a London district level university hospital.ResultsSix patients presented in the week prior to their final diagnosis with fever and non-specific symptoms. Raised C-reactive protein (CRP), lymphopenia and hyponatraemia were noted. Kawasaki-like symptoms were under-represented in all patients.InterpretationThe results suggest that a proportion of children with early PIMS-TS present with a non-specific febrile illness and abnormal blood results. Further research is needed to determine the most appropriate identification and follow-up of these children.

scholarly journals Integrated fever management: disease severity markers to triage children with malaria and non-malarial febrile illness

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chloe R. McDonald ◽  
Andrea Weckman ◽  
Melissa Richard-Greenblatt ◽  
Aleksandra Leligdowicz ◽  
Kevin C. Kain
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Fever Management

scholarly journals Prospective validation of pediatric disease severity scores to predict mortality in Ugandan children presenting with malaria and non-malaria febrile illness

Critical Care ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L Conroy ◽  
Michael Hawkes ◽  
Kyla Hayford ◽  
Sophie Namasopo ◽  
Robert O Opoka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Disease Severity Scores

scholarly journals Exploring Park Director Roles in Promoting Community Physical Activity

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 731-738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Marsh ◽  
Kathryn Pitkin Derose ◽  
Deborah A. Cohen
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Health Departments ◽  
Administrative Burden ◽  
Community Interaction ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Physical Features ◽  
And Training

Background:Parks provide numerous opportunities for physical activity (PA). Previous studies have evaluated parks’ physical features, but few have assessed how park staff influence PA.Methods:We conducted semistructured interviews with 49 park directors, focusing on perceptions of their role, park programs, marketing and outreach, external collaborations, and PA promotion. Directors also completed a questionnaire providing demographics, education and training, and other personal characteristics.Results:Park directors’ descriptions of their roles varied widely, from primarily administrative to emphasizing community interaction, though most (70% to 80%) reported offering programs and community interaction as primary. Including PA in current programs and adding PA-specific programs were the most commonly reported ways of increasing PA. Also noted were facility and staffing improvements, and conducting citywide marketing. Many directors felt inadequately trained in marketing. Most parks reported community collaborations, but they appeared fairly superficial. An increasing administrative burden and bureaucracy were recurring themes throughout the interviews.Conclusions:Staff training in marketing and operation of PA programs is needed. Partnerships with health departments and organizations can help facilitate the PA promotion potential of parks. As there are competing views of how parks should be managed, standardized benchmarks to evaluate efficiency may help to optimize usage and PA promotion.

The febrile child

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 188-195
Author(s):  
Mohsin Azam ◽  
Su Laurent
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Febrile Child ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Serious Bacterial Infections

Fever is probably the most common reason for a child to be taken to a doctor’s surgery, with approximately 20 to 40% of parents reporting that their child had a febrile illness in the last year. Febrile illness in young children has a wide range of causes, and creates concern in parents and carers. In most cases, the cause is a self-limiting viral infection. However, fever may also be the presenting feature of serious bacterial infections such as meningitis. Infections remain the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5 years, despite advances in healthcare. Therefore, guidance to help healthcare professionals distinguish between the majority of children who have minor self-limiting conditions and the occasional child with a sinister or even life-threatening infection is vital. This article aims to advise GPs on how to assess and initially manage a febrile child younger than 5 years, principally based on up-to-date National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

scholarly journals Biocontrol studies on rizpspheric microorganisms against black rot disease of tea caused by Corticium theae Bernard

2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 985-991
Author(s):  
Mohammed Syeful Islam ◽  
Iftekhar Ahmad ◽  
Mohammad Ali
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Disease Severity ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Black Rot ◽  
Growth Promoter ◽  
Dual Culture ◽  
Antagonistic Microorganisms ◽  
Microbial Strains ◽  
Rot Disease ◽  
Tea Soil

Assessment of plant growth promoter and biocontrol properties of plant growth promoting rhizomicroorganisms (PGPR) from tea soil against black rot disease agent of tea caused by Corticium theae Bernard in Bangladesh was done. The antagonistic microorganisms were isolated from rhizosphere soils of tea fields and cultured on different nutrient media. The isolates were screened for their antagonism against Corticium theae by dual culture technique. The microbial strains were inoculated with tea nursery soils by mixing with 50 g of decomposed cowdung. In tea plantations, the microbial strains were sprayed on diseased plants two times at 15 days intervals. Four different species of PGPR strains such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Trichoderma were isolated from rhizospheric soil of tea. These PGPR strains enhanced plant growth in nursery and had a positive effect on the rate of increased in number of leaves, height of plants and girth of plants by 33, 43 and 3%, respectively. Lowest severity of black rot was found in plants treated with Trichoderma followed by Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Streptomyces strains. Trichoderma and Bacillus caused 16 and 14% reduction of disease severity while both Pseudomonas and Streptomyces strains reduced disease severity by 10%. All the PGPR’s have a great influence in reducing disease severity by 19% with optimistic relations. Radial mycelial growth of C. theae was also inhibited in similar trends. The biofertilizer showed comparatively lower response in reducing disease severity (8%) in comparison to PGPR’s. It can be concluded that Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces and Trichoderma isolated from tea soil have their growth enhance capacity as well as decrease the disease severity of black rot in tea.

scholarly journals Sociocultural Practices Affecting the Care of Preterm Infants in the Ghanaian Community

2020 ◽  
pp. 104365962097509
Author(s):  
Esther Abena Adama ◽  
Deborah Sundin ◽  
Sara Bayes
Keyword(s):  
Preterm Infants ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Great Influence ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Semistructured Interviews ◽  
Sociocultural Practices ◽  
Household Members ◽  
Communal Living

Introduction Although culture is an integral part of health, there is scarcity of evidence on the influence of culture on caregiving experiences of parents of preterm infants. The aim of this study was to explore the influence of sociocultural practices on caring for preterm infants in the Ghanaian community. Method Narrative inquiry was utilized to explore the influence of sociocultural practices on the care of preterm infants from 21 mothers, 9 fathers, and 12 household members. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews and observations at participants’ homes. Results Analysis of data resulted in three threads/themes—respect for the elderly, use of herbal medicines, and communal living. Discussion Community and extended family members have great influence on the care of preterm infants. Traditional herbal medicines are considered effective in treating traditional illnesses among preterm infants. Understanding the influence of culture on the care of vulnerable preterm infants in the community is essential in developing interventions for infant survival.

scholarly journals Healthcare Utilization Patterns for Acute Febrile Illness in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan: Results from the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project

2020 ◽  
Vol 71 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. S248-S256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason R Andrews ◽  
Krista Vaidya ◽  
Shampa Saha ◽  
Mohammad Tahir Yousafzai ◽  
Caitlin Hemlock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Severity ◽  
Enteric Fever ◽  
Febrile Illness ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Acute Febrile Illness ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Healthcare Seeking ◽  
The Past ◽  
Catchment Areas

Abstract Background Characterizing healthcare-seeking patterns for acute febrile illness is critical for generating population-based enteric fever incidence estimates from facility-based surveillance data. Methods We used a hybrid model in the Surveillance for Enteric Fever in Asia Project (SEAP) to assess incidence of enteric fever at 6 study hospitals in 3 countries. We recruited individuals presenting to the hospitals and obtained blood cultures to evaluate for enteric fever. For this analysis, we undertook cluster random household surveys in Dhaka, Bangladesh (2 sites); Karachi, Pakistan; Kathmandu, Nepal; and Kavrepalanchok, Nepal between January 2017 and February 2019, to ascertain care-seeking behavior for individuals with 1) fever for ≥3 consecutive days within the past 8 weeks; or 2) fever resulting in hospitalization within the past year. We also collected data about disease severity and household demographics and assets. We used mixed-effect multivariable logistic regression models to identify determinants of healthcare seeking at study hospitals and determinants of culture-confirmed enteric fever. Results We enrolled 31 841 households (53 926 children) in Bangladesh, 25 510 households (84 196 children and adults) in Nepal, and 21 310 households (108 031 children and adults) in Pakistan. Children <5 years were most likely to be taken to the study hospitals for febrile illness at all sites. Household wealth was positively correlated with healthcare seeking in 4 of 5 study sites, and at least one marker of disease severity was positively associated with healthcare seeking in 3 of 5 catchment areas. Wealth and disease severity were variably predictive of blood culture-confirmed enteric fever. Conclusions Age, household wealth, and disease severity are important determinants of healthcare seeking for acute febrile illness and enteric fever risk in these communities, and should be incorporated into estimation models for enteric fever incidence.

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