Sleep and the gut microbiota in preschool aged children

Sleep plays a significant role in the mental and physical development of children. Emerging evidence in animals and human adults indicates a relationship between sleep and the gut microbiota; however, it is unclear whether the sleep of preschoolers during a key developmental period, associates with features of their gut microbiota. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between sleep and gut microbiota in preschool aged children (4.37 ±0.48 years, n=143). Sleep measures included total nighttime sleep (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and wake-time after sleep onset (WASO) assessed using actigraphy. Beta-diversity differences between children with low and high TST (p =0.048) suggest gut microbiota community differences. Particularly, relative abundance of Bifidobacterium was higher in the high TST group and Bacteroides, was higher in children who had higher SE and low WASO (LDA score >2). In contrast, some Lachnospiraceae members including Blautia and Coprococcus 1 were associated with shorter nighttime sleep duration and less efficiency, respectively. We also found a group of faecal metabolites, including specific neuroactive compounds and immunomodulating metabolites were associated with greater sleep efficiency and less time awake at night. Notably, tryptophan and its metabolizing products were higher in children who had higher SE or lower WASO (LDA score >2); concentration of propionate was higher in children with lower WASO (p =0.036). Overall, our results reveal a novel association between sleep and gut microbiota in preschool aged children. Longer nighttime sleep and greater sleep efficiency were associated with specific commensal bacteria that may regulate sleep through modulating neurotransmitter metabolism and the immune system.

Effect of nutritional education on anthropometric deficits among pre-school aged children in south West Ethiopia: quasi-experimental study

Background Under-nutrition is a global problem and one of the most serious public health issues. Globally, 156 million under-five children were stunted, and 50 million were wasted in 2016. Malnutrition among preschool-age children is caused by low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, poor feeding practices, and infectious diseases. This intervention aimed to evaluate the effect of nutrition education delivered through trained health professionals in improving the nutritional status of preschool -aged children. Methods A quasi-experimental design among 588 preschool –aged children was used. A multistage sampling technique followed by a systematic random sampling technique was used to identify caregivers with preschool-aged children. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. The baseline difference in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics between the two groups was examined using a chi-square test and an independent sample t-test was used to determine the mean difference in under-nutrition between the intervention and control groups. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to determine the change in the difference in outcome between the intervention and control groups as well as the association of predictors with under-nutrition in children. The Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals was reported to show the strength of the association. Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant in multivariable analysis. Results In this study, the nutritional status of preschool age children was significantly associated with nutrition education intervention [AOR = 0.566, 95% CI: (0.347, 0.923)], place of delivery [AOR = 0.724, 95% CI: (0.551, 0.951)], ARI in the last 2 weeks [AOR = 1.823, 95% CI: (1.226, 2.710)], source of drinking water [AOR = 0.624, 95% CI: (0.484, 0.805)] and household food security [AOR = 1.311, 95% CI: (1.030, 1.669)] . Conclusions Findings of this study showed that nutrition education can effectively reduce the magnitude of under-nutrition among preschool children. Under-nutrition was e significantly associated with nutritional education, place of delivery, ARI in the last 2 weeks, source of drinking water, and food security. Therefore, both government and non-government should consider the impacts of nutrition education to alleviate under-nutrition and improve the health status of preschool-age children.

‘Read for Nutrition’ Program Improves Preschool Children’s Liking and Consumption of Target Vegetable

Objective: To determine whether the ‘Read for Nutrition’ program would increase liking and consumption of broccoli (a target vegetable) in preschool children and test acceptability and practicality of the program. Design: Pilot pre-post intervention study, where childcare teachers received training and coaching followed by reading the book “Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli” multiple times with the children during a three-week intervention Setting: Five classrooms of Educare (blinded for peer review) in 2018. Participants: Sixty-nine (11 to 16 children per classroom) preschool-aged children and sixteen teachers (minimum, three per classroom). Results: Average total consumption of broccoli increased 35% (0.14 ounces or 0.05th cup) after the ‘Read for Nutrition’ program (t=2.66; p= .01; 95% CIs [0.035, 0.246]) for all children. Proportional consumption increased for children who received ≥ five exposures to the book (t 46 =2.77; p= .008). Exposures to the book predicted proportional consumption (β=.365; p=.002). Liking of broccoli increased (W 69 =2.2, p=.03) as well. Teachers rated the program as acceptable, practical, and enjoyable to children and to themselves. Conclusions: Programs such as ‘Read for Nutrition’ have the potential to improve children’s vegetable liking and consumption in ECE settings with only book readings and no exposure to a real vegetable.

Penerapan Kompres Hangat Terhadap Penurunan Suhu Tubuh Anak Demam Usia Pra-Sekolah

Fever is a condition where body temperature exceeds normal limit, caused by an increase in the temperature-regulating center in the hypothalamus. Warm compress is an easy way to lower body temperature. This type of compress involves a clean cloth soaked in warm water, which is applied to the skin. The purpose of this case study is to evaluate a warm compress method in reducing fever. Two preschool-aged children with fever were treated by warm compresses. The results of this case study showed that the first and second patients experienced a decrease in body temperature after warm compresses. Body temperature for the first patient was 39ºC and dropped to normal (37ºC). meanwhile, the second patient temperature was 38,7ºC dropped to 36,5ºC. The conclusion of this study is warm compress can reduce body temperature in children with fever. Nurses or patients may be albe to apply warm compresses as a first ald in reducing fever.Keywords: Preschool Age Children, Fever, Warm Compress AbstrakDemam adalah kondisi suhu tubuh melebihi batas normal yang diakibatkan oleh meningkatnya pusat pengatur suhu di hipotalamus. Salah satu tindakan untuk menurunkan suhu tubuh anak yaitu dengan kompres hangat. Kompres adalah pemeliharaan suhu tubuh dengan menggunakan cairan atau alat yang dapat menimbulkan hangat atau dingin pada bagian tubuh. Tujuan dilakukan penerapan ini untuk mengambarkan penerapan kompres hangat terhadap penurunan suhu tubuh anak demam usia prasekolah. Metode yang digunakan dalam studi kasus ini adalah penelitian deskriptif dengan subyek dua pasien anak usia prasekolah yang mengalami demam. Hasil dari studi kasus ini menunjukan bahwa klien pertama dan kedua mengalami penurunan suhu tubuh setelah dilakukan kompres hangat, pada kasus 1 suhu awal 39ºC setelah dilakukan kompres hangat suhu menjadi 37,1ºC, sedangkan pada kasus 2 dengan suhu awal 38,7ºC setelah dilakukan kompres hangat suhu menjadi 36,5ºC. Kesimpulannya adalah pemberian kompres hangat dapat menurunkan suhu tubuh pada anak dengan demam. Saran bagi perawat dan orangtua untuk dapat menerapkan kompres hangat sebagai alternatif menurunkan suhu tubuh anak dengan demam.Kata kunci: Anak Usia Prasekolah, Demam, Kompres Hangat