Incidence of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Lower Respiratory Tract Illness in Infants in Low- and Middle-Income Regions During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

Background: Incidence data of respiratory syncytial virus-associated lower respiratory tract illness (RSV-LRTI) are sparse in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We estimated RSV-LRTI incidence rates (IRs) in infants in LMICs using World Health Organization case definitions. Methods: This prospective cohort study, conducted in 10 LMICs from May 2019 to October 2021 (largely overlapping with the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic), followed infants born to women with low-risk pregnancies for 1 year from birth using active and passive surveillance to detect potential LRTIs, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction on nasal swabs to detect RSV. Results: Among 2094 infants, 32 (1.5%) experienced an RSV-LRTI (8 during their first 6 months of life, 24 thereafter). Seventeen (0.8%) infants had severe RSV-LRTI and 168 (8.0%) had all-cause LRTI. IRs (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) of first RSV-LRTI episode were 1.0 (.3-2.3), 0.8 (.3-1.5), and 1.6 (1.1-2.2) per 100 person-years for infants aged 0-2, 0-5, and 0-11 months, respectively. IRs (95% CIs) of the first all-cause LRTI episode were 10.7 (8.1-14.0), 11.7 (9.6-14.0), and 8.7 (7.5-10.2) per 100 person-years, respectively. IRs varied by country (RSV-LRTI: 0.0-8.3, all-cause LRTI: 0.0-49.6 per 100 person-years for 0- to 11-month-olds). Conclusions: RSV-LRTI IRs in infants in this study were relatively low, likely due to reduced viral circulation caused by COVID-19-related nonpharmaceutical interventions. Clinical Trials Registration: NCT03614676.

[Folic acid for neural tube defects prevention: consumption and information in fertil-age women in Centro Cuyo Region]. / Acido fólico para prevenir defectos del tubo neural: consumo e información en mujeres en edad fértil de la Región Centro Cuyo.

INTRODUCTION: Neural tube defects are congenital malformations of brain and spinal cord. There is evidence that adequate amounts of folic acid supply to women before and during early pregnancy decreases the risk of having a neural tube defects affected child. Main sources of folic acid are food rich in folic acid, multivitamins with folic acid supplementation, and folic acid fortification of cereal products. OBJECTIVES: To assess folic acid consumption from food and from medication in a group of mothers. To analyze their knowledge about using folic acid to prevent neural tube defects. To evaluate association between inadequate consumption and information, level of education, and concurrence to private or public health sector. To measure the amount of folic acid in bread sold within the region. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. SURVEYS: Mothers of children under 2 months of age that were assisted by 38 pediatricians in five cities in the Region, collected between November 2006 and March 2007. Amount of folic acid in bread: bread samples acquired in the same cities. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: 327 surveys were collected. The average daily intake of folic acid from food was 481 Hg; 43,4% of women consume less than 400 Hg daily. Medical supplementation was suitable in 27,8% of the sample. 52,9% had appropriated knowledge about folic acid and prevention of neural tube defects. Differences were observed between mothers concurring to private or public health sector, and those who had or had not completed secondary school in relation to both supplementation and knowledge of folic acid. The media amount of folic acid in bread samples was 192,34 Hg / 100 g. All samples were manufactured with fortified flour.

Aciclovir oral para profilaxis posexposición familiar a varicela / Oral acyclovir as family prophylaxis after exposure to varicella

Objetivo. Determinar si la varicela puede prevenir-se por la administración de aciclovir oral durante elperíodo de incubación de la enfermedad. Población, material y métodos. Se administró acicloviroral (20 o 40 mg/kg/día) durante cinco días a 26 niños expuestos a la enfermedad por contacto familiar, comenzando nueve días después del inicio clínico de la enfermedad en el hermano considerado como caso índice. La aparición de varicela clínica se comparó con doce pacientes que estuvieron expuestos a la enfermedad por contacto familiar, pero que no recibieron ningún tratamiento y constituyeron el grupo de control. Se evaluó a través de inmunofluorescencia indirecta el porcentaje de pacientes que presentó seroconversión luego de recibir tratamiento con aciclovir. Resultados. Ninguno de los 26 niños que recibieron aciclovir desarrolló enfermedad clínica, mientras que todos los que no recibieron tratamiento (12 casos) presentaron el exantema característico de la varicela. Del total de pacientes (26) que recibieron aciclovir, independientemente de la dosis adminis-trada, no concurrieron a control 7 (26,9%). De los 19 pacientes restantes, 17 hicieron seroconversión (89,5% intervalo de confianza 95%; 66,9 a 98,7%), mientras que 2 pacientes (10,5%) no la presentaron. Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio demuestran la efectividad del aciclovir oral paraprevenir la aparición de varicela en los niños susceptibles expuestos a esta enfermedad por contacto familiar. Ninguno de los pacientes que en nuestra serie recibió tratamiento profiláctico con aciclovir (independientemente de la dosis administrada) desarrolló varicela clínica, mientras que el 89,5% de ellos (excluyendo los casos perdidos) tuvo evidencia serológica de infección por virus varicela-zóster.

Objective. To determine whether administration ofacyclovir during the incubation period of varicellacan prevent the development of disease. Population, material & methods. Oral acyclovir (20-40mg/kg/d) was administered during five days to 26 children, nine days after the initial exposure to a household contact with varicella. Development of clinical disease and seroconversion in this group of children were compared to a control group of 12 children exposed to varicella zoster virus who did not receive prophylactic acyclovir. The percentage of patients who presented seroconversion after receiving acyclovir was evaluated by immunofluores-cence.

Aciclovir oral para profilaxis posexposición familiar a varicela / Oral acyclovir as family prophylaxis after exposure to varicella

Objetivo. Determinar si la varicela puede prevenir-se por la administración de aciclovir oral durante elperíodo de incubación de la enfermedad. Población, material y métodos. Se administró acicloviroral (20 o 40 mg/kg/día) durante cinco días a 26 niños expuestos a la enfermedad por contacto familiar, comenzando nueve días después del inicio clínico de la enfermedad en el hermano considerado como caso índice. La aparición de varicela clínica se comparó con doce pacientes que estuvieron expuestos a la enfermedad por contacto familiar, pero que no recibieron ningún tratamiento y constituyeron el grupo de control. Se evaluó a través de inmunofluorescencia indirecta el porcentaje de pacientes que presentó seroconversión luego de recibir tratamiento con aciclovir. Resultados. Ninguno de los 26 niños que recibieron aciclovir desarrolló enfermedad clínica, mientras que todos los que no recibieron tratamiento (12 casos) presentaron el exantema característico de la varicela. Del total de pacientes (26) que recibieron aciclovir, independientemente de la dosis adminis-trada, no concurrieron a control 7 (26,9%). De los 19 pacientes restantes, 17 hicieron seroconversión (89,5% intervalo de confianza 95%; 66,9 a 98,7%), mientras que 2 pacientes (10,5%) no la presentaron. Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio demuestran la efectividad del aciclovir oral paraprevenir la aparición de varicela en los niños susceptibles expuestos a esta enfermedad por contacto familiar. Ninguno de los pacientes que en nuestra serie recibió tratamiento profiláctico con aciclovir (independientemente de la dosis administrada) desarrolló varicela clínica, mientras que el 89,5% de ellos (excluyendo los casos perdidos) tuvo evidencia serológica de infección por virus varicela-zóster.(AU)

Objective. To determine whether administration ofacyclovir during the incubation period of varicellacan prevent the development of disease. Population, material & methods. Oral acyclovir (20-40mg/kg/d) was administered during five days to 26 children, nine days after the initial exposure to a household contact with varicella. Development of clinical disease and seroconversion in this group of children were compared to a control group of 12 children exposed to varicella zoster virus who did not receive prophylactic acyclovir. The percentage of patients who presented seroconversion after receiving acyclovir was evaluated by immunofluores-cence.(AU)