Immunogenicity of measles-rubella vaccine administered under India's Universal Immunization Programme in the context of measles-rubella elimination goal: A longitudinal study.

Background & objectives: There is a paucity of data regarding immunogenicity of recently introduced measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in Indian children, in which the first dose is administered below one year of age. This study was undertaken to assess the immunogenicity against rubella and measles 4-6 wk after one and two doses of MR vaccine administered under India's Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Methods: In this longitudinal study, 100 consecutive healthy infants (9-12 months) of either gender attending the immunization clinic of a tertiary care government hospital affiliated to a medical college of Delhi for the first dose of routine MR vaccination were enrolled. MR vaccine (0.5 ml, subcutaneous) was administered to the enrolled participants (1st dose at 9-12 months and 2nd dose at 15-24 months). On each follow up (4-6 wk post-vaccination), 2 ml of venous blood sample was collected to estimate the antibody titres against measles and rubella using quantitative ELISA kits. Seroprotection (>10 IU/ml for measles and >10 WHO U/ml for rubella) and antibody titres were evaluated after each dose. Results: The seroprotection rate against rubella was 97.5 and 100 per cent and against measles was 88.7 per cent and 100 per cent 4-6 wk after the first and second doses, respectively. The mean (standard deviation) titres against rubella and measles increased significantly (P<0.001) after the second dose in comparison to the levels after the first dose by about 100 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively. Interpretation & conclusions: MR vaccine administered below one year of age under the UIP resulted in seroprotection against rubella and measles in a large majority of children. Furthermore, its second dose resulted in seroprotection of all children. The current MR vaccination strategy of two doses, out of which the first is to be given to infants below one year of age, appears robust and justifiable among Indian children.

USPSTF and ISPAD Guidelines on Screening for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.

The rising trends of obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes in adults are worrisome globally. The majority of antecedents to adult non-communicable diseases begin in childhood. Type 2 diabetes is recognized as one of the major diseases that contribute to the NCD burden in childhood. Recently, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) released their guidelines on diagnosis and management of prediabetes and diabetes in children targeted screening for youth-onset type 2 diabetes is suggested in at-risk children (obese, positive family history of type 2 diabetes, etc.), while the role of screening asymptomatic children is not substantiated. Obesity and insulin resistance are important risk factors for type 2 diabetes. The cutoffs of fasting plasma glucose for the diagnosis of prediabetes and diabetes are >100 to 125 and ≥126 mg/dL, respectively. This update briefly summarizes the recommendations on screening for youth-onset prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Quality of Life of Developmentally Normal Children With Epilepsy and Their Siblings.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QOL) is a fundamental and multidimensional concept that should be considered with health problems, specifically chronic diseases, such as epilepsy. There have been limited studies on how pediatric epilepsy impacts the QOL of siblings of affected individuals. Hence, we studied the impact of epilepsy on the QOL of affected children and their siblings. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the QOL of developmentally normal children with epilepsy and their siblings and the association of QOL scores with the clinicodemographic profile. METHODS: This study was conducted at the University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital, New Delhi, India, a tertiary care hospital. The QOL of children (4-12 years) with epilepsy was assessed using epilepsy-specific questionnaires, i.e., Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire-55 (QOLCE-55), which covers the cognitive, emotional, social, and physical domains, and Pediatric Quality of Life Epilepsy Module (Peds QL EM), which covers the impact, cognitive, sleep, executive, and mood/ behavior domains. QOL in siblings was assessed using the Peds QL Inventory, which covers the following domains: physical, emotional, social, and school. The principal investigator administered these questionnaires to parents in Hindi/ English. Scoring was done as per standard instructions of the questionnaire. Clinical and demographic data were recorded in a pro forma. RESULT: The median QOLCE-55 score was 81.12, with a range of 74.65-86.34, and the median Peds QL EM score was 89.31, with a range of 75.58-94.48. Overall, Cronbach's alpha of QOLCE-55 and Peds QL EM was >0.8. Breakthrough seizures (≥10) affected the overall QOL (p=0.001) and all domains of QOLCE-55 (except emotional function (p=0.44)) and Peds QL EM (except sleep/fatigue domain (p=0.59)). Age, sex, parental education, socioeconomic status, and type of epilepsy did not affect the overall QOL (p>0.05). The QOL of siblings was not affected as per the Peds QL Inventory score (median score 100) and self-made questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the QOL of children with epilepsy was compromised, whereas the QOL of their siblings was not affected.

Sleep Disorders and Quality of Life in Children with Cerebral Palsy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine sleep disorders and quality of life (QOL) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to find the association between them. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included children (4-12 y) with CP (n = 117) and age- and gender-matched healthy controls (n = 117). Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was used to record sleep-related symptoms. Sleep-related breathing disorder (SRBD) scale and sleep disturbance scale for children (SDSC) were used to evaluate sleep disorders. Cerebral palsy quality-of-life questionnaire for children (CPQOL-CHILD) was used to assess QOL. RESULTS: Sleep disorders by SRBD scale (score ≥ 0.33) were significantly more in CP (n = 7, 6%) than controls [(n = 0, 0%) (p value 0.014, OR 15.95)]. Using T score > 70 by SDSC scale, sleep disorders were seen in 7.7% (n = 9) CP children and 0% (n = 0) in controls (p value 0.04, OR 20.6). Using T score ≥ 51, 43.6% CP children and 17% controls had sleep disorders (p value 0.001, CI 2.1, 6.9). About 43.6% CP children had abnormal T score on at least one SDSC factor. Presence of epilepsy, motor disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and type of CP significantly correlated with sleep disorders. The overall SRBD scores and SDSC T scores of CP children were negatively correlated with QOL (r = -0.489, p < 0.001 and r = -0.445, p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Sleep disorders are more common in CP which adversely affect QOL. Routine screening and appropriate treatment are suggested.

Profile of adverse events following immunization with measles rubella vaccine at a tertiary care hospital in East Delhi, India.

BACKGROUND: As a part of a measles and rubella (MR) campaign, the MR vaccine replaced the two-dose measles vaccine at 9-12 months and 16-24 months of age under the Universal Immunization Program (UIP). Although adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) following the measles and MMR vaccine at 9 months of age have been studied, AEFIs following the MR vaccine at 9 months of age have not been studied. As the MR vaccine a is very recent introduction in the UIP for routine immunization at 9 months of age, we intend to investigate the AEFI profile of MR vaccination at 9 months of age by active surveillance. AIM: We aimed to study the profile of the AEFIs with MR vaccine at 9-12 months of age in children vaccinated at the immunization clinic at the Pediatrics Department of a tertiary care hospital in East Delhi, India. METHODS: Our study was a prospective observational study (telephonic survey). Children who attended Pediatrics OPD for the first dose of the MR vaccine at 9-12 months of age were enrolled in the study. Demographic details of the children who received the first dose of MR vaccine at 9-12 months of age at the immunization clinic of the hospital were recorded in a case record form. A telephone survey was conducted on day 7 and day 30 post-vaccination for AEFIs. RESULT: A total of 278 children were enrolled in the study, but 7 were unavailable for the further telephone survey. A total of 42 (15.5%) AEFIs were reported, of which 39 (94%) were in the initial 7 days and 3 (6%) were in the following 21 days following immunization. Of the AEFIs reported, the most common symptom was fever (38%), followed by upper respiratory tract infection (30.9%), local swelling at injection site (26.1%), and skin rash (4%). CONCLUSION: MR vaccine introduced in National Immunization Schedule is found to be safe for use in children except for a few minor reactions.

Pneumococcal Vaccines - How Many Serotypes are Enough?

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes meningitis, pneumonia, septicemia, arthritis, sinusitis and otitis media specially in children and over 65 y age groups. It contributes significantly to under-five mortality and morbidity worldwide as well as in India. Use of pneumococcal vaccine seems to be the most effective measure to decrease the disease burden and reduction of under-five mortality. Many countries have already included Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV) in their National Immunization Programmes (NIP). Government of India has announced recently to include PCV13 in NIP in a phased manner. Superiority of a vaccine over the other depends upon serotype coverage, vaccine efficacy, cost effectiveness and safety profile. These facts will be discussed for the vaccines available in India. Further research is warranted to know the disease burden and develop vaccines to have more serotype coverage.