scholarly journals Epidemiological aspects, clinical manifestations, and prevention of pediatric tuberculosis from the perspective of the End TB Strategy

2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Cristina Calçada Carvalho ◽  
Claudete Aparecida Araújo Cardoso ◽  
Terezinha Miceli Martire ◽  
Giovanni Battista Migliori ◽  
Clemax Couto Sant’Anna

ABSTRACT Tuberculosis continues to be a public health priority in many countries. In 2015, tuberculosis killed 1.4 million people, including 210,000 children. Despite the recent progress made in the control of tuberculosis in Brazil, it is still one of the countries with the highest tuberculosis burdens. In 2015, there were 69,000 reported cases of tuberculosis in Brazil and tuberculosis was the cause of 4,500 deaths in the country. In 2014, the World Health Organization approved the End TB Strategy, which set a target date of 2035 for meeting its goals of reducing the tuberculosis incidence by 90% and reducing the number of tuberculosis deaths by 95%. However, to achieve those goals in Brazil, there is a need for collaboration among the various sectors involved in tuberculosis control and for the prioritization of activities, including control measures targeting the most vulnerable populations. Children are highly vulnerable to tuberculosis, and there are particularities specific to pediatric patients regarding tuberculosis development (rapid progression from infection to active disease), prevention (low effectiveness of vaccination against the pulmonary forms and limited availability of preventive treatment of latent tuberculosis infection), diagnosis (a low rate of bacteriologically confirmed diagnosis), and treatment (poor availability of child-friendly anti-tuberculosis drugs). In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and prevention of tuberculosis in childhood and adolescence, highlighting the peculiarities of active and latent tuberculosis in those age groups, in order to prompt reflection on new approaches to the management of pediatric tuberculosis within the framework of the End TB Strategy.

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Attapon Cheepsattayakorn ◽  
◽  
Ruangrong Cheepsattayakorn ◽  

As of February 15, 2020, 51,800 cases of COVID-19 disease, including more than 1,600 COVID-19-related deaths, had been laboratory-confirmed in mainland China, mainly in Hubei province. Additionally, 526 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported across 25 other countries. Approximately, 15% of cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) are severe, 3% are critical, and 82% are mild clinical manifestations, whereas the estimated overall case fatality rate is approximately 2% but the figure outside of Hubei province is approximately 0.05% or less, not different from the fatality identified in the seasonal influenza. The mean age of COVID-19 patients is 52.4 years, whereas children and adolescents are the least likely group to be infected with the COVID-19, occurring in only 2 % of cases 19 years of age or younger. When the younger-age group get sick, they will get a mild form of COVID-19 without serious complications, with an average death rate of 0.2 %. Men constitute more than two-thirds of the reported COVID-19 cases (73 % vs. 27 %) and are more than 1.5 times more likely to die from COVID-19 (death rate : 2.8 % vs. 1.7 %). This sexual distinction of the anti-viral immunity between men and women is due to the genetic factors, hormonal factors, and environmental factors. The unanswered questions include the pathophysiology of pulmonary clinical infection, influenza and other viral co-infection, and the rate of bacterial complications. SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection has evolved to become a pandemic, in contrast to infections with SARS and MERS, whereas SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) has demonstrated having the similarities of genome sequence, receptor affinity, pathogenesis, and disease manifestation. In conclusion, although genomic evidence does not support the belief that COVID-19 is a laboratory construct, currently it is impossible to disprove or prove the theories of its origin. To identify the COVID-19 origin, obtaining virus sequences from immediate non-human animal sources would be the most definite method. In the absence of proper cure of COVID-19, it is necessary to identify the factors that may assist in assessment of the COVID-19 disease severity before rapid progression of the disease


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (S1) ◽  
pp. 13-15
Author(s):  
Lapina Elizaveta Yurievna ◽  
Puzyrev Viktor Gennadievich

are important, and used to be well known, human and animal pathogens.A novel coronavirus was identified at the end of 2019, as the cause of a number of pneumonia cases in city in the Hubei Province of China, Wuhan. Appeared to be a highly contagious anthroponotic infection. It rapidly caused an epidemic throughout China, hereafter an increasing number of cases in other countries throughout the world. All age groups, including children, are susceptible to the virus, but this age group is more likely to be asymptomatic. However, children may play a great epidemiological role in the spread of the virus with the absence of clinical signs of respiratory disease. Elderly people are the most severe carriers of the virus, as well as people with concomitant diseases. In February 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the disease COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019 [4]. The virus that causes COVID-19 is designated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); before, it was referred to as 2019-nCoV. We conducted meta-analysis of currently available data to summarize knowledge about the current epidemic in Russia, the dynamic of spread of the infection and management of the disease. Quarantine measures, which were carried out rather quickly, avoided the rapid spread of infection and thus contributed to a gradual increase in the load on medical facilities. As a result, most hospitals had time to prepare for an increased number of patients with coronavirus infection.


Author(s):  
T. S. Kitsak ◽  
T. B. Mandziuk

The  study aimed at identifying health leaders peculiarities forming carriages under the influence of factors of production for the purpose of scientific justification of low-cost and effective recovery measures are important because prolonged exposure to harmful factors on the health worsens and leads to various diseases, which adversely affects the workers to perform their duties.The aim of the study – to examine the state of dental hard tissues, to assess the intensity and peculiarities of clinical manifestations of both carious process and non-carious affects of dental hard tissues among the passenger car attendants of Chernivtsi station.Materials and Methods. To solve the tasks we examined 52 people, including 30 passenger car attendants of Chernivtsi station (treatment group) and 22 employees not exposed to harmful factors (experimental group). All patients were divided into four age groups and examined according to recommendations of World Health Organization on dental examination. Teeth assessment was conducted according to CFE (caries, filled, extracted) index.Results and Discussion. The degree of caries expansion among the passenger car attendants is 100 % in all age groups, the number affected teeth with caries depending on the length of service and age ranges from 20.0 to 25.97. Only half of teeth affected by caries is treated. Depending on the age from 12 % to 53 % of teeth are extracted.Conclusions. We recommend to restore the programs of dental diseases prevention that would include dental education of the employees, learning the rules of sensible nutrition, learning the rules of the mouth cavity hygienic care, secondary prevention (planned oral cavity sanation), dispensary observation.


Author(s):  
Zen Ahmad

Corona Virus Disease (Covid-19) is a contagious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which was discovered in December 2019 in China. This disease can cause clinical manifestations in the airway, lung and systemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) representative of China reported a pneumonia case with unknown etiology in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China on December 31, 2019. The cause was identified as a new type of coronavirus on January 7, 2020 with an estimated source of the virus from traditional markets (seafood market). ) Wuhan city


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukman Olagoke ◽  
Ahmet E. Topcu

BACKGROUND COVID-19 represents a serious threat to both national health and economic systems. To curb this pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued a series of COVID-19 public safety guidelines. Different countries around the world initiated different measures in line with the WHO guidelines to mitigate and investigate the spread of COVID-19 in their territories. OBJECTIVE The aim of this paper is to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of these control measures using a data-centric approach. METHODS We begin with a simple text analysis of coronavirus-related articles and show that reports on similar outbreaks in the past strongly proposed similar control measures. This reaffirms the fact that these control measures are in order. Subsequently, we propose a simple performance statistic that quantifies general performance and performance under the different measures that were initiated. A density based clustering of based on performance statistic was carried out to group countries based on performance. RESULTS The performance statistic helps evaluate quantitatively the impact of COVID-19 control measures. Countries tend show variability in performance under different control measures. The performance statistic has negative correlation with cases of death which is a useful characteristics for COVID-19 control measure performance analysis. A web-based time-line visualization that enables comparison of performances and cases across continents and subregions is presented. CONCLUSIONS The performance metric is relevant for the analysis of the impact of COVID-19 control measures. This can help caregivers and policymakers identify effective control measures and reduce cases of death due to COVID-19. The interactive web visualizer provides easily digested and quick feedback to augment decision-making processes in the COVID-19 response measures evaluation. CLINICALTRIAL Not Applicable


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramón G. Carreón-Burciaga ◽  
Enrique Castañeda-Castaneira ◽  
Rogelio González-González ◽  
Nelly Molina-Frechero ◽  
Enrique Gaona ◽  
...  

Background. Mucositis is an adverse effect of chemotherapy (QT) and/or radiotherapy (RT). The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of oral mucositis in children undergoing cancer treatment. Methods. Fifty-one children with cancer who had received QT, RT, or both (QT-RT) underwent clinical evaluations; World Health Organization criteria were used to establish the degree and severity of mucositis. The correlations between the clinical data, type of cancer, and therapy were statistically analysed. Results. Mucositis was present in 88.23% of the patients; 57.78%, 7.78%, and 24.44% received QT, RT, and QT-RT, respectively. Severity scores of 1 and 2 were the most common; scores of 3-4 were observed in patients who received QT-RT or more than 7 treatment cycles. There was a significant association between mucositis, the type of treatment, and the number of cycles received (p<0.05). Conclusion. It is important to implement therapeutic protocols that help maintain excellent oral health and reduce the risk of oral mucositis. Stomatologists should be consulted to assess patients’ oral cavities and provide preventive treatment prior to QT and/or RT administration. It is important to integrate a stomatologist into the oncological working group to focus on preventing and managing oral mucositis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Anzar Alam ◽  
Mohd Abdul Gani ◽  
G. Shama ◽  
Ghulamuddin Sofi ◽  
Mohd Aleemuddin Quamri

AbstractAccording to the World Health Organization (WHO), viral diseases continue to rise, and pose a significant public health problem. Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of COVID-19 is close to Amraz-e-Wabai (epidemic diseases) which was described by Hippocrates, Galen, Aristotle, Razes, Haly Abbas, Avicenna, Jurjani etc. Presently, there is no specific or challenging treatment available for COVID-19. Renowned Unani Scholars recommended during epidemic situation to stay at home, and fumigate the shelters with aromatics herbs like Ood kham (Aquilaria agallocha Roxb.), Kundur (Boswellia serrata Roxb), Kafoor (Cinnamomum camphora L.), Sandal (Santalum album L), Hing (Ferula foetida L.) etc. Use of specific Unani formulations are claimed effective for the management of such epidemic or pandemic situation like antidotes (Tiryaqe Wabai, Tiryaqe Arba, Tiryaqe Azam, Gile Armani), Herbal Decoction (Joshandah), along with Sharbate Khaksi, Habbe Bukhar, Sharbate Zanjabeel, Khamira Marwareed, Jawarish Jalinus, and Sirka (vinegar). Such drugs are claimed for use as antioxidant, immunomodulatory, cardiotonic, and general tonic actions. The study enumerates the literature regarding management of epidemics in Unani medicine and attempts to look the same in the perspective of COVID-19 prevention and management.


Author(s):  
Katarzyna Dereń ◽  
Justyna Wyszyńska ◽  
Serhiy Nyankovskyy ◽  
Olena Nyankovska ◽  
Marta Yatsula ◽  
...  

Overweight and obesity, as well as underweight in children and adolescents, pose a significant public health issue. This study aimed to investigate the secular trend of the incidence of underweight, overweight, and obesity in children from Ukraine in 2013/2014 and 2018/2019. The studies were conducted in randomly selected primary and secondary schools in Ukraine. In total, 13,447 children (6468 boys and 6979 girls) participated in the study in 2013/2014 and 18,144 children (8717 boys and 9427 girls) participated in 2018/2019. Measurements of body weight and height were performed in triplicate. Underweight, overweight, and obesity were diagnosed according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO). In the group of girls, a significant difference between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019 measurements was found only among 7-year-olds. The percentage of girls at this age exceeding the body mass index (BMI) norm was lower in the 2018/2019 study. In boys, a significant difference was also found in 7-year-olds, and, as in girls, a lower share of overweight and obesity was found in 2018/2019. But for the ages of 12, 13, and 15, the significant differences had a different character—more overweight or obese boys were found in the 2018/2019 study. The proportion of underweight children was similar for the majority of age groups in both genders and did not differ in a statistically significant way.


Author(s):  
Neils Ben Quashie ◽  
Nancy Odurowah Duah-Quashie

Abstract Based on reports of parasite resistance and on World Health Organization recommendation, chloroquine was replaced with the artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) as the first choice of drugs for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria. Disuse of chloroquine led to restoration of drug-sensitive parasite to some extent in certain countries. Ever since chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine were touted as potential treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been a dramatic surge in demand for the drugs. Even in areas where chloroquine is proscribed, there has been an unexpected increase in demand and supply of the drug. This situation is quite worrying as the indiscriminate use of chloroquine may produce drug-resistant parasites which may impact negatively on the efficacy of amodiaquine due to cross-resistance. Amodiaquine is a partner drug in one of the ACTs and in some of the drugs used for intermittent preventive treatment. We herein discuss the consequences of the escalated use of chloroquine in the management of COVID-19 on chemotherapy or chemoprevention of malaria and offer an advice. We speculate that parasite strains resistant to chloroquine will escalate due to the increased and indiscriminate use of the drug and consequently lead to cross-resistance with amodiaquine which is present in some drug schemes aforementioned. Under the circumstance, the anticipated hope of reverting to the use of the ‘resurrected chloroquine’ to manage malaria in future is likely to diminish. The use of chloroquine and its derivatives for the management of COVID-19 should be controlled.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheng Li ◽  
Cynthia Jones ◽  
Girum S. Ejigu ◽  
Nisha George ◽  
Amanda L. Geller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Three months after the first reported cases, COVID-19 had spread to nearly 90% of World Health Organization (WHO) member states and only 24 countries had not reported cases as of 30 March 2020. This analysis aimed to 1) assess characteristics, capability to detect and monitor COVID-19, and disease control measures in these 24 countries, 2) understand potential factors for the reported delayed COVID-19 introduction, and 3) identify gaps and opportunities for outbreak preparedness, particularly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We collected and analyzed publicly available information on country characteristics, COVID-19 testing, influenza surveillance, border measures, and preparedness activities in these countries. We also assessed the association between the temporal spread of COVID-19 in all countries with reported cases with globalization indicator and geographic location. Results Temporal spreading of COVID-19 was strongly associated with countries’ globalization indicator and geographic location. Most of the 24 countries with delayed COVID-19 introduction were LMICs; 88% were small island or landlocked developing countries. As of 30 March 2020, only 38% of these countries reported in-country COVID-19 testing capability, and 71% reported conducting influenza surveillance during the past year. All had implemented two or more border measures, (e.g., travel restrictions and border closures) and multiple preparedness activities (e.g., national preparedness plans and school closing). Conclusions Limited testing capacity suggests that most of the 24 delayed countries may have lacked the capability to detect and identify cases early through sentinel and case-based surveillance. Low global connectedness, geographic isolation, and border measures were common among these countries and may have contributed to the delayed introduction of COVID-19 into these countries. This paper contributes to identifying opportunities for pandemic preparedness, such as increasing disease detection, surveillance, and international collaborations. As the global situation continues to evolve, it is essential for countries to improve and prioritize their capacities to rapidly prevent, detect, and respond, not only for COVID-19, but also for future outbreaks.


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