Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics最新文献

{"title":"Incidence, Risk Factors and Mortality of Hospitalization Among Late Preterm Neonates at Jinja and Kayunga Regional Referral Hospitals, Eastern Uganda, Prospective Study.","authors":"Mohamed Abdullahi Ahmed, Mohamed Abdi Hassan, Walyedin Elnour Mohamed Elfakey, Jolly Nankunda, Abishir Mohamud Hirsi, Mohamed Jayte, Mohamed Mohamud Farah, Zakaria Abdi Said, Hamdi Mohamed Yusuf, Martin Nduwimana","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S600465","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S600465","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>In Uganda, prematurity is the main cause of newborn fatalities, accounting for 41% of all annual newborn deaths. There are limited studies in Uganda that have explored preterm births. This study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors for admission and outcomes of late preterm Neonates at Kayunga and Jinja Regional Referral Hospitals (KRRH and JRRH).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective cohort study in which late preterm babies were enrolled at birth. Late preterm neonates (born at 34 weeks and 0 days through 36 weeks and 6 days) at KRRH and JRRH during the study period were enrolled. They were followed up from the time of birth till 4 weeks of life for hospital admission and mortality. Modified Poisson regression in stata version 14 was done to determine the significant risk factors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, we enrolled 329 late preterm neonates. Slightly more than half were males (59.9%). The distributions in the gestational ages slightly increased with gestation age with 31.9%, 33.4% and 34.7% born at 34, 35 and 36 weeks of gestation respectively. Of the 329 late preterm neonates enrolled in this study, 72 were admitted, representing an incidence proportion of 21.9% (219 admission per 1,000 live late preterm births). In the multivariable analysis, maternal age between 35-45 years, monthly income less than 200,000 Uganda shillings, less than two antenatal care visits, duration of labour greater than 24 hours, and presence of perinatal complications were significant. The overall mortality rate was 1.8% and admission mortality of 8.3%.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The incidence of hospital admission among late preterm Neonates was high with maternal and neonatal factors being significant at multivariate analysis. More research with longer follow up should be done to assess the long-term outcomes among late preterms.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"600465"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13571616/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148964051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Incidence and Risk Factors of Mortality Among Under Five Children with Severe Acute Malnutrition Admitted at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda.","authors":"Ahmed Hassan Mohamud, Martin Nduwimana, Zakaria Abdi Said, Hamdi Mohamed Yusuf, Sadia Mahad Mohamed, Abdiwahid Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed, Elfakey E M Walyeldin, Theoneste Hakizimana, Joanitor Nakisuyi, Jolly Nankunda, Tom Didimus Ediamu","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S586641","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S586641","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Studies conducted in Northern, Central, and Eastern Uganda revealed concerning case fatality rates for children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM). However, there is a lack of research specifically addressing mortality rates among children with SAM in Western Uganda. This study aimed to assess the mortality rates, weight change trends and risk factors for mortality among children with SAM in Midwestern Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a prospective cohort at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital in which children aged below five years admitted with SAM were enrolled and followed up for 6 weeks. The relevant data was obtained via history taking, physical examination and laboratory investigations. The percentage of children that died within 6 weeks was computed. Poisson regression was done to determine the independent predictors. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>In this study, 146 participants were enrolled. About half of the participants were aged 13-36 months (50.7%). Of the 144 that completed the 6 week follow up, 12 died, expressing a mortality of 8.3% (83 per 1000 children); with majority of deaths (83.3%) occurring in the first 48 hours of admission. In the multivariable analysis, the independent risk factors for mortality were vomiting, lower respiratory tract infection, malaria and hypoglycemia (P<0.05 for all).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mortality among children with SAM in Western Uganda remains high, with most deaths occurring within 48 hours. Early detection and management of vomiting, respiratory infections, malaria, and hypoglycemia are critical to reducing mortality. The relevant data was obtained via history taking, physical examination and laboratory investigations. Bi-variable and multivariate was used, and Poisson regression was done to determine the independent predictors. P-values <0.05 were considered significant.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"586641"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13549172/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uganda's Mandatory Newborn Sickle Cell Disease Screening Programme: Translating a Decade of Evidence into Differentiated Implementation.","authors":"Bwambale Jonani, Betty Nakawuka, Enock Ssebunya, Richard Kwizera, Felix Bongomin, Gerald Mboowa","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S621156","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S621156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Uganda's sickle cell disease (SCD) prevalence of 1.3% and sickle cell trait (SCT) prevalence of 13.3% nationally represent a substantial public health burden, with an estimated 20,000 affected infants born annually. On 9 February 2026, Uganda's Ministry of Health launched a nationwide mandatory newborn screening programme for SCD, placing the country among the first in sub-Saharan Africa to implement universal birth screening. This policy builds on over a decade of evidence, including the Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study, and cost-effectiveness analyses showing dried blood spot (DBS) screening costs of $5.88 per child, with viable point-of-care thresholds of $3.07-$5.09. However, the initial rollout relies on rapid diagnostic tests within existing hub-and-CPHL systems and does not yet fully cover private facility births, immunization-based catch-up for missed cases, or older unscreened children. In addition, the current 4-6-week turnaround time with centralized confirmation at Central Public Health Laboratories remains an operational limitation. We propose a differentiated implementation framework to strengthen the programme. It aligns screening strategies with care entry points and age-specific test performance. Private facilities would use a microchip electrophoresis analyzer (Gazelle™) at birth due to reduced accuracy of lateral flow tests in high fetal hemoglobin. Public facilities would integrate Sickle SCAN or HemoTypeSC into immunization contacts from six weeks of age, with the 9-month contact prioritized as the most reliable screening timepoint given the progressive decline in HbF, and school-based programmes would target children aged 1-5 years who were previously missed. All pathways would connect to Uganda's 100-laboratory hub network for electrophoretic confirmation, potentially reducing turnaround time to 48-72 hours. By leveraging existing delivery, immunization, and laboratory infrastructure, this framework offers a feasible and equitable route to translate Uganda's mandatory screening policy into large-scale health impact.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"621156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13549171/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148908166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risk Factors and Predictors of Pneumonia Among Under-Five Children in Sana'a City, Yemen: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.","authors":"Mohammed Al-Shehab, Rashad Abdul-Ghani, Muneera Muthana Zaid, Ahmed A Azazy, Sayaf A Alsoofi, Reham S Al-Areqi, Rawan A Al-Akwaa, Mohammed H Al-Arashani, Kafa Alwan Ali Alkhder, Sahar A Thabet, Ahlam Abdulmalik Esmail, Ahmed S Hudna","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S623667","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S623667","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pneumonia is a major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality among under-five children, particularly in low-resource and conflict-affected countries. However, evidence from Yemen remains scarce. This study examined child-related, maternal, and environmental factors possibly associated with pneumonia among under-five children in Sana'a City, Yemen.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An unmatched multicenter case-control study was conducted among 302 children aged 2-59 months at five tertiary hospitals from August to December 2023. The study included 151 children admitted to pediatric wards with pneumonia and 151 controls attending outpatient clinics for non-respiratory conditions and without clinical evidence of pneumonia. Data on potential factors associated with pneumonia were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Univariable binary logistic regression was used to assess associations, and variables with <i>p</i> < 0.20 were entered into a multivariable binary logistic regression model to identify independent predictors.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In univariable analysis, low birthweight, prematurity, acute malnutrition, recent upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), having a household contact with respiratory infection, and poor ventilation in the cooking area were significantly associated with pneumonia. In multivariable analysis, acute malnutrition (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.12-3.36; <i>p</i> = 0.020), recent URTI within the preceding week (AOR = 4.4, 95% CI: 2.49-7.80; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and having a household contact with respiratory infection (AOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.08-3.34; <i>p</i> = 0.027) remained independent predictors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Acute malnutrition, recent URTI, and household contact with respiratory infection show independent associations with pneumonia among under-five children attending tertiary hospitals in Sana'a. These findings highlight child nutrition, early recognition and management of URTI, and household infection-prevention practices as priorities in this resource-limited, conflict-affected setting. However, these hospital-based case-control findings require confirmation in longitudinal, population-based studies before they can inform context-specific prevention strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"623667"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13552417/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148914771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of a Novel CDH2 Gene Variant in an ACOGS Patient with Concurrent Respiratory Tract Infection: A Case Report.","authors":"Yuanyuan Lu, Feng Fang, Hua Zhou, Sainan Shu, Xinglou Liu","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S596065","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S596065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Agenesis of corpus callosum, cardiac, ocular, and genital syndrome (ACOGS) is a rare disease that has only been described in recent years. To date, nineteen cases have been reported. ACOGS often leads to severe complications and is potentially fatal. However, its pathogenesis and clinical spectrum remain poorly understood by clinicians, and several genetic variants associated with the syndrome have yet to be fully characterized.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We present the case of a five-month-old infant exhibiting dysmorphic facial features, corneal leucoma, esotropia, nystagmus, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and tricuspid regurgitation. The child was admitted to our hospital with a respiratory tract infection, and eventually diagnosed with ACOGS. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel de novo heterozygous variant in the cadherin 2 (<i>CDH2</i>) gene (c.744G>T). During hospitalization, the patient developed multiple symptoms including respiratory distress, tachycardia, and arrhythmia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Despite intensive interventions-including invasive mechanical ventilation-his condition continued to deteriorate, and he ultimately succumbed to complications.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ACOGS is a rare disease with complex clinical presentations and generally poor outcomes. Based on current limited evidence, it may be reasonable for clinicians to maintain a high index of suspicion and to consider early genetic testing. When ACOGS is suspected, whole exome sequencing could be considered as part of the diagnostic workup.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"596065"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13544149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148898555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Congenital Heart Defect Screening Among Children with Down Syndrome in Rwanda: A Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Vedaste Bagweneza, Philomene Uwimana, Leon Mutesa, Glorieuse Uwizeye, Donatilla Mukamana","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S614928","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S614928","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Congenital heart defects affect over half of children with Down syndrome. Screening is recommended within the first six weeks of life to enable timely management and improve survival. Despite this, congenital heart defect screening remains low and often delayed.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to assess the uptake of congenital heart defect screening and its associated factors among children with Down syndrome in Rwanda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to May 2025. A total of 313 participants were recruited using convenience sampling. The study was conducted in four hospitals and the Rwanda Down Syndrome Organization. Data were collected using a newly developed structured questionnaire that was pilot tested prior to the main data collection. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Descriptive statistics summarized congenital heart defect screening uptake, while multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with screening uptake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 313 children with Down syndrome, 159 (51%) had undergone congenital heart defect screening. Among those screened, 45 (28%) were screened within the recommended first 6 weeks after birth. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, place of residence was significantly associated with congenital heart defect screening uptake, with higher odds of screening among children in urban areas compared with those in rural areas (AOR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.29-3.68; p = 0.004).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Congenital heart defect screening among children with Down syndrome remains suboptimal, with delayed screening commonly observed. Urban residence is associated with higher screening uptake in the adjusted model. Targeted interventions are needed to improve timely screening, particularly addressing barriers in rural settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"614928"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13540595/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148889756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vitamin D Supplementation and Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Response in Infants and Children: A Narrative Review.","authors":"Simon Vieth","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S616777","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S616777","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Vitamin D deficiency remains common among infants and young children, particularly in higher latitudes and among exclusively breast-fed infants. Although routine supplementation is widely recommended, variability in achieved serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations has been reported across pediatric populations. Understanding the consistency of biochemical response across diverse pediatric settings remains clinically relevant for both research and supplementation practice.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To summarize evidence from pediatric clinical studies utilizing a standardized vitamin D formulation and to assess the magnitude and consistency of serum 25(OH)D response across independent investigator-initiated studies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Relevant studies were identified through company-supported research records and a supplementary PubMed search. Eligible publications were published between 2010 and 2020 and included infants or children ≤18 years receiving vitamin D supplementation with reported baseline and follow-up 25(OH)D concentrations. Studies were required to explicitly identify the study formulation and report serum 25(OH)D outcomes. A narrative synthesis approach was applied.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven studies (Canada, Australia, Vietnam, and Mongolia; total n ≈ 3,800) met inclusion criteria. Supplementation doses ranged from 400 IU/day to 14,000 IU/week across study durations of 1-12 months. Mean baseline 25(OH)D concentrations (≈53 nmol/L) increased to ≈75 nmol/L (mean Δ ≈22 nmol/L). Daily supplementation at 400 IU achieved sufficiency in the majority of infants, while higher-dose regimens produced proportionally greater increases. No study reported clinically significant adverse events attributable to supplementation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Vitamin D supplementation produced consistent and clinically meaningful increases in serum 25(OH)D concentrations across diverse pediatric populations. The approximately 20-25 nmol/L increase observed across the included studies was broadly consistent with published pediatric vitamin D supplementation literature. These findings support current supplementation practices while highlighting the reproducibility of biochemical response across independent pediatric research settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"616777"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13525779/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148857705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Decoding Non-Traumatic Acute Abdomen in Children: Insights from the Emergency Department of a Tertiary Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia.","authors":"Salad Mohamud Mohamed Hassan, Nasteho Mohamed Sheikh Omar, Marian Muse Osman, Hussein Hassan Mohamed, Hassan Adan Ali Adan","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S584313","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S584313","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Acute abdomen is characterized by acute and severe abdominal pain caused by intra-abdominal disease and often requires surgical intervention. Accurate diagnosis is difficult because of symptom similarity and diverse causes, such as appendicitis, intussusception, and mesenteric adenitis, which can present with overlapping symptoms in pediatric patients. The aim of this study is to analyze the causes, diagnosis, and outcome of non-traumatic acute abdomen in pediatric patients at a tertiary hospital in Mogadishu.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to December 31, 2023, including 92 children aged 0-18 who presented with non-traumatic acute abdomen and received emergency surgical intervention. All definitive diagnoses were confirmed based on intraoperative findings. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 26.0, incorporating univariate and bivariate analyses with a significance level of p < 0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 6390 pediatric emergency visits, 92 children (1.4%) were diagnosed with acute abdomen. The main reasons were appendicitis (53.3%), intestinal obstruction (16.3%), and perforation (15.2%). Appendicitis predominantly impacted school-aged children (72.7%) and adolescents (66.7%), whereas intussusception was more prevalent in newborns (40.0%) and toddlers (33.3%). Fever was strongly correlated with appendicitis (59.6%, p < 0.001) and perforation (25.0%, p < 0.001). Regarding diagnostic performance, plain radiography was negative in 71.4% of appendicitis cases, whereas ultrasonography demonstrated a significantly higher diagnostic yield of 52.1% (p = 0.015). The median duration of hospitalization was 6 days, with a low mortality rate of 2.2% (p = 0.741).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study demonstrates a significant incidence of appendicitis and other surgical emergencies in this population. We recommend early ultrasonography over plain radiography to improve diagnostic precision and prevent delays in pediatric surgical care in Somalia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"584313"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13525811/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148857628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Palatoglossal Synechia in a Neonate Causing Severe Feeding Problems and Respiratory Distress: First Case Report from Somalia.","authors":"Abdikani Mohamednor Mohamed, Ibrahim Mohamed Osman, Khalid Said Abdi, Nimo Mohamednor Mohamed","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S625296","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S625296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Palatoglossal synechia (glossopalatal fusion) is an exceptionally rare congenital anomaly characterized by abnormal adhesion between the tongue and palate. Severe forms present in the neonatal period with restricted oral opening, feeding difficulty, and airway compromise. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented case of complete palatoglossal synechia reported from Somalia.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report the case of a seven-day-old full-term female neonate who presented with severe feeding difficulty and persistent respiratory distress since birth. Feeding attempts were associated with choking and intermittent cyanotic episodes. On examination, the neonate was tachypneic with increased work of breathing and nasal flaring. Oral cavity examination revealed complete palatoglossal synechia associated with cleft palate, resulting in near-complete restriction of oral opening and absent tongue mobility. Initial management included supplemental oxygen via nasal cannula and nasogastric tube feeding for nutritional support. Following stabilization, the patient underwent successful surgical release of the adhesion under general anesthesia using electrocautery after nasopharyngeal intubation. Postoperatively, the infant showed marked improvement in feeding ability, respiratory status, and oral function. At two-month follow-up, the patient demonstrated effective breastfeeding, normal tongue mobility, appropriate weight gain, and no evidence of respiratory compromise or recurrence.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Complete palatoglossal synechia is an exceptionally rare congenital condition that may cause significant neonatal feeding and airway difficulties. Careful oral examination is crucial for early diagnosis in neonates with unexplained respiratory distress and feeding impairment. Early multidisciplinary management and timely surgical intervention can result in excellent clinical outcomes, even in resource-limited settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"625296"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13523868/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148852141","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Application of Cardiac CTA Three-Dimensional Reconstruction Combined with 3D Printing Technology in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease in Children.","authors":"Yonglin Chen, Muqing Niu, Bo Hu, Hui Zhang, Bo Yuan, Jinyong Pan","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S596871","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S596871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CTA)-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction combined with 3D printing technology in the diagnosis and interventional planning of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective comparative study included 30 pediatric patients with CHD who underwent interventional occlusion between January 2023 and March 2025. Fifteen patients underwent interventional occlusion guided by cardiac CTA-based 3D reconstruction combined with 3D printing technology and were assigned to the combined-technique group. Another 15 patients who underwent conventional interventional occlusion during the same period were included as the conventional group. Baseline characteristics, diagnostic accuracy, surgical planning time, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative recovery time, complications, residual shunt, X-ray exposure dose, and X-ray exposure time were compared between the two groups. The role of 3D-printed models in defect assessment and occluder planning was also evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The diagnostic accuracy was 80.0% (12/15) in the conventional group and 93.3% (14/15) in the combined-technique group. Although the combined technique showed a numerically higher diagnostic accuracy, the difference was not statistically significant. Compared with the conventional group, the combined-technique group had significantly shorter surgical planning time and operative time, as well as lower X-ray exposure dose and shorter X-ray exposure time. No significant differences were observed in intraoperative blood loss, postoperative recovery time, or postoperative complications between the two groups. The 3D-printed models provided additional information regarding defect morphology, surrounding rims, and spatial relationships with adjacent cardiac structures, and allowed preprocedural assessment of occluder seating and stability.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cardiac CTA-based 3D reconstruction combined with 3D printing may serve as a useful adjunct for preprocedural assessment and interventional planning in pediatric CHD. By improving visualization of defect morphology and supporting occluder simulation, this approach may help optimize device selection and improve procedural efficiency. However, its effects on postoperative recovery, complications, and long-term outcomes require further validation in larger prospective multicenter studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"596871"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13510266/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148835528","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}