Anterolateral thigh measurements by ultrasound in neonates and young infants to ensure safe intramuscular injections during vaccination in low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: Use of same length needle for intramuscularly administered vaccines had been reported to cause under-and over-penetration among infants due to their different body weights and underlying variations in the fat and muscle thickness. Normative data regarding thigh compartment thickness are, however, lacking among neonates and infants aged ≤12 weeks particularly in low- and middle-incoming countries with high burden of low birth weight/growth restricted infants. METHODS: Present study investigated skin to muscle and skin to bone (STBD) distances of anterolateral thigh of babies (n = 300) aged ≤12 weeks (1-80 days) with different weight groups (<3 kg, 3-4 kg and >4 kg) by ultrasonography during their intramuscular vaccinations. RESULTS: Overall, mean [standard deviation (SD)] STBD was 17.04 (2.66) mm with range of 10.60-23.30 mm. Stratifying by current body weight, mean (SD) STBD in infants weighing less than 3 kg was 14.39 (1.23) mm. For infants weighing between 3-4 kg and >4 kg, the mean (SD) STBD were 16.69 (1.43) mm and 17.04 (2.66) mm, respectively. Estimated safety (no risk of over-penetration) of 16 mm was observed in 57.33% (172) infants whereas 25 mm needle had 100% over-penetration risk in the study cohort. Current body weight of infants was a significant predictor of safe injection [area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve 0.95; 95% CI 0.92-0.97]. CONCLUSIONS: Our study offers objective normative measurements of anterolateral thigh for safe intramuscular vaccination in young infants especially for low birth weight and growth restricted infants in low- and middle-income countries.

Needle Fear among Children during Mass Measles Rubella (MR) Injectable Vaccination Campaign in North India: an Observational Study.

The cross-sectional observational study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of needle-fear among school-going children during mass Measles-Rubella (MR) immunization campaign (year 2017) in the north Indian city of Chandigarh. Fear of needle was assessed using a single-item self-report global question, anxiety was assessed using the Likert scale (score 1-5) and the standardized "Children Faces Scale" where facial responses were graded from 0 to 4. Out of a total sample of 2568 school children, 1225 (47.7%) reported needle fear (95% CI: 45.8%-49.6%) on a global single item assessment. On an anxiety related Likert scale, 52.3% did not respond (mainly younger children) and among those who responded, 42.6% (523/1226) showed significant anxiety (score of ≥3 on Likert scale of 1 to 5). Finally, 17.4% children (95% CI: 15.9%-18.9%) (n = 446/2568) scored 2 or above (indicating significant needle fear) on the 'Children Faces Scale' during the actual vaccination procedure. The needle fear were significantly increased among girl students as compared to boys (adjusted OR 2.58; 95% CI: 2.05-3.24, p < 0.001) as well as children accompanied by their parents (adjusted OR 2.05; 95% CI:1.57-2.69, p < 0.001). On the other hand, needle fear was significantly lowered in children studying in private schools as compared to public school children (adjusted OR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.28-0.74, p = 0.002). The needle fear, which was an overriding concern in the minds of girls, children accompanied by their parents, and public-school students, must be proactively addressed for successful mass vaccination campaigns. These findings assume further importance with recent international roll out of COVID 19 vaccine.

Longitudinal comparative trial of antibiotic cycling and mixing on emergence of gram negative bacterial resistance in a pediatric medical intensive care unit.

PURPOSE: To compare antibiotic mixing vs. cycling with respect to acquisition of resistance and PICU mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children between >1 month to 12 years admitted to a medical PICU were enrolled over three phases (baseline, mixing and cycling) with washout interval of 3 months following each antibiotic strategy. Following a baseline phase, empiric gram negative antibiotic protocol for suspected HCAI, was sequentially subjected to mixing and cycling using Latin Square methodology. Surveillance cultures were taken at admission, 48 h, weekly thereafter and within 2 days of PICU discharge. Acquisition of resistance and PICU mortality were primary and secondary outcomes respectively. RESULTS: 778 children were enrolled; 99 baseline, 146 mixing, 362 cycling, and 171 during two washout phases. Proportion of children with acquired resistance at baseline (56.6%) was significantly higher than mixing (22.6%) and cycling (18.51%) (p < .0001). Adjusted hazards of acquired resistance (HR:0.82; 95% CI: 0.53-1.25, p = .352), and PICU mortality (RR1.07; 95% CI: 0.71-1.60, p = .72) were similar in cycling and mixing strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Acquisition of resistance was significantly lower in both mixing and cycling as compared to baseline phase. Both were similar with respect to risk of antibiotic resistance as well as incidence of HCAI and PICU mortality.

Role of chest X-ray in predicting outcome of acute severe pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: Radiological appraisal in children with clinically diagnosed severe pneumonia and its association with clinical outcome. DESIGN: Prospective. SETTING: Civil Hospital in Himachal Pradesh. PATIENTS: Eighty-three children hospitalized with severe pneumonia. RESULTS: Lobar consolidation (n=43, 51.8%) was the most common radiological abnormality. Twenty six (31.3%) had interstitial abnormalities and 14(16.9%) had normal chest radiographs. Clinical characteristics at admission could not predict a radiographic abnormality. Time to defervescence for outcome measures of fever and tachypnea was similar in children with consolidation, interstitial pneumonia or normal radiograph. However, length of hospital stay was significantly longer in children with abnormal chest radiographs on univariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Radiological findings in hospitalized children with clinically defined severe pneumonia have limited value in predicting clinical improvement.

Worm Infestation: Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention.

Worm infections continue to be among the most common diseases affecting children from low and middle income countries. Major worm infections of public health importance include Ascariasis, Trichuriasis, Hookworm, and Enterobiasis, which are transmitted through contaminated soil. In India, combined prevalence rates of worm infestation as per pooled data of 127 surveys is over 20%. Although most helminthic infections are mild and are often asymptomatic, but moderate to heavy worm infestations are generally associated with growth faltering, nutritional compromise, anemia and suboptimal academic performance among children from endemic regions. Migration of larval or adult worms also underpins pulmonary and gastrointestinal morbidity in affected children. Some of the distinctive life cycle and clinical features of various worms are discussed in the review. The gold standard diagnostic technique for evaluation of worm infestation includes stool microscopy for direct egg detection and species identification. Most of the community based surveys for detecting soil transmitted helminths (STH) use Kato-Katz technique. The drug armamentarium against worm infestation has evolved tremendously in last three to four decades with the availability of more efficacious and broad spectrum anthelminthics. The key strategies of a multi-component integrated management of worm infestation include individualized treatment, community management (mass drug administration) as well as preventive measures. Finally, barriers to diagnosis, treatment and prevention of worm infestations need to be identified and aggressively managed at individual, family and societal levels so that WHO's 75% coverage target can be achieved to eliminate soil transmitted helminthiasis in children by 2020.

Prevalence and correlates of hypertension in a semi-rural population of Southern India.

While elevated blood pressure is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the prevalence of hypertension still remains unclear for most populations. A door-to-door survey was conducted using modified WHO STEPS questionnaire in a group of villages under the Thavanampalle Mandal of Chittoor District in the state of Andhra Pradesh of South India. Data were collated and analyzed for 16,636 individuals (62.3% females and 37.7% males) above 15 years of age. Overall, prevalence of hypertension (as per JNC-7 classification) was found to be 27.0% (95% CI, 26.3, 27.7) in the surveyed community with 56.7% of the total hypertensives being diagnosed for the first time during the survey. An additional 39.1% had their blood pressure readings in the prehypertensive range. Among the known Hypertensives on treatment only 46.2% had a blood pressure recording within acceptable limits, with 31.2% in the prehypertensive range and only 15.0% in the normal range. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the surveyed population showed a continuous linear increase with age, but diastolic blood pressure (DBP) peaked and started reducing in early fifth decade in males. Male gender, increasing age, higher body mass index (BMI), increased waist-hip ratio, increased body weight, family history of hypertension, death of spouse, and diabetes were found to be positively correlated with hypertension. Risk factors of alcohol intake, use of ground nut/palm oil, and family history of diabetes lost their independent predictive ability for hypertension on multivariate logistic regression analysis. The level of physical activity was also not found to be a significant predictor of hypertension in the study population.

A review of the Apgar score indicated that contextualization was required within the contemporary perinatal and neonatal care framework in different settings.

OBJECTIVE: To triangulate the Apgar score by using a crossdisciplinary approach and highlighting the differences that exist between actual everyday practice and accepted standards of scoring in contrasting populations of the world. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Clinimetrics review of Apgar scoring. RESULTS: The Apgar scoring has weighting problems, rigid categorization, redundancy and subjectivity in its variables. Poor inter-rater reliability and equivocal validity mark its use in the present milieu. The ceiling and floor effects further hamper the evaluative responsiveness of scoring. Moreover, despite some recent evidence in its favor, the Apgar score has poor calibration when used as an isolated criterion to predict mortality and long-term morbidity, particularly in preterms. Also, the vigor of resuscitation (nature and duration), in essence, is beyond the realm of the Apgar score in contemporary resuscitation guidelines. In developed nations, with rapidly decreasing age of viability, and alternative modes of childbearing, threats to Apgar are more ominous today than before. On the other hand, in developing countries, feasibility problems due to unattended home deliveries and barriers to effective scoring in the overburdened and understaffed hospitals cast doubts about its accuracy as a measure of neonatal well-being. CONCLUSION: Use of the Apgar score definitely needs to be contextualized within the contemporary perinatal and neonatal care framework in different settings.

A community-based cluster randomized controlled trial of "directly observed home-based daily iron therapy" in lowering prevalence of anemia in rural women and adolescent girls.

In a community-based cluster randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned clusters of anemic women and adolescent girls to either "directly observed home-based daily iron therapy" (DOHBIT; n = 524 in 16 villages) or unsupervised self-treatment at home (n = 535 in 16 villages) for a period of 90 days. Those in the DOHBIT group, when compared with those in the unsupervised self-treatment group, had significantly lower relative risk (RR) of anemia (16.8% vs 35.3%, RR = 0.47 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.33-0.65]; P < .0001), higher hemoglobin (Hb) rise of ≥2 g/dL (70.2% vs 42.2%, RR = 1.56 [95% CI = 1.31-1.87]; P <.0001), and nonsignificant trend for lower side effects (3.5% vs 6.7%, RR = 0.49 [95% CI = 0.22-1.08; P < .08) on intention-to-treat analyses. On linear mixed model analysis, the subjects in the intervention group demonstrated higher mean Hb levels (13.01 vs 12.32 g/dL; P < .0001) and higher adherence to iron therapy (93% vs 60%; P < .0001). DOHBIT is effective in lowering the prevalence of anemia in rural women and adolescent girls.

Measles in a hilly hamlet of northern India.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the epidemiological links and risk factors responsible for the epidemic of measles in the village Astani in Himachal Pradesh. METHODS: All the children less than twelve years who were present on 27th July 1997 were evaluated. A questionnaire requesting data on vaccination history and symptoms of measles was administered and complete physical examination including anthropometry was recorded in each child by the authors. The data also included complications (including that of death) secondary to measles infection. RESULTS: A total of 48 children less than 12 years, present in the hamlet on 27th July 1997, were examined, out of which 28 (58%) were affected and 20 (42%) were unaffected. The immunization coverage in the affected children was 33% in contrast to 70% coverage in the unaffected group. Vaccine efficacy in the present epidemic was 51%. The complication rate was 59%, which included one death. The anthropometric data showed that 92% of the affected children were malnourished. All the children were given age appropriate dose of Vitamin A and children of the nearby villages were vaccinated against measles as a part of outbreak control. CONCLUSION: This study clearly highlights the need to achieve and sustain high immunization coverage along with strengthening of the routine surveillance systems in remote village of India.

Feasibility of "directly observed home-based twice-daily iron therapy" (DOHBIT) for management of anemia in rural patients: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health challenge in resource-poor settings, despite strong evidence for efficacy of iron supplementation. We hypothesized, modeled on the successful initiatives in disorders like tuberculosis or HIV, that directly observed therapy is an effective and practical strategy for control of IDA in such settings. OBJECTIVE: To overcome practical constraints and optimize compliance and effectiveness of iron supplementation by "Directly Observed Home-Based twice daily Iron Therapy" (DOHBIT) through village youth volunteers. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal evaluation of DOHBIT. SETTING: A remote rural hilly hamlet with 25 families. METHODS AND MATERIAL: 100 mg elemental iron was administered twice daily under direct supervision to 33 anemic patients at home for 90 days. Outcome measures included hemoglobin rise, weight gain and side-effects. STATISTICS: Pre- and post-intervention weight and hemoglobin values were compared using paired t-test. RESULTS: 29 patients completed 3-months twice-daily iron therapy without interruption (compliance 87%). There was significant increase in mean weight (43.3 +/- 6.8 kg vs. 45.1+/- 6.9 kg; P < 0.0001) as well mean hemoglobin concentration (9.5 +/- 0.9 gm% vs. 11.7 +/- 0.7 gm%; P < 0.0001) and prevalence of anemia decreased by 40% from recruitment through the 3-months therapy. In terms of side effects, occasional constipation was stated by 3 patients, transient heartburn by two and diarrhea by none. Vomiting prompted withdrawal of iron therapy in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: Providing iron supplementation as directly observed home based therapy is feasible and successful in decreasing the prevalence of anemia in resource-poor settings.

Role of Acute Illness Observation Scale (AIOS) in managing severe childhood pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: In the perspective of integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy and recent evidence favoring use of oral antibiotics in severe pneumonia, a generic illness severity index--Acute Illness Observation Scale (AIOS)--was prospectively validated in children with severe pneumonia in a civil hospital in remote hilly region. METHODS: AIOS was used in quantifying overall severity of illness for eighty-nine consecutive children (age, 2-59 months) hospitalized with community-acquired severe pneumonia. A detailed clinimetric evaluation of scale was carried out and logistic regression analyses predicted the following outcomes: 1) mode of initial antimicrobial therapy (oral vs. parenteral); and 2) need for intravenous fluids at admission. RESULTS: Majority of children (80.9%) with severe pneumonia scored abnormally (AIOS score> 10) at initial evaluation. Children with abnormal AIOS scores (>10) had significantly greater severity of respiratory distress and higher incidence of radiological pneumonia. Outcome measures i.e. time to defervescence and length of hospital stay were also positively and significantly correlated with the scores. The six-item scale had good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.81); and its factor analysis yielded a single latent factor explaining 54% of variance in illness severity at admission. Furthermore, logistic regression analyses revealed an independent predictive ability of AIOS in aiding clinician to decide the mode of initial antimicrobial therapy (oral or parenteral), as well as need for intravenous fluids. CONCLUSION: Authors study indicates the clinimetric validity of AIOS in managing, Severe childhood pneumonia and suggests its role in further enriching IMCI strategy.