Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics最新文献

{"title":"Electroencephalogram Utilization, Epileptiform Findings, and Associated Factors Among Children with Epilepsy in Southwestern Uganda: A 5-Year Retrospective Record Review.","authors":"Fiona Okumu, Moses Ochora, Stuart Turanzomwe, Adrian S L Kayanja, Gerald Wakweyika, Olive Keneema, Peters Kalubi","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S612883","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S612883","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Epilepsy is the most common neurological condition in children in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). Although the diagnosis remains majorly clinical, EEG is fundamental in assessment and management of epilepsy. However, its uptake remains low in LMIC. We aimed to determine the proportion of children with epilepsy who have had an EEG, the proportion of epileptiform EEGs, and the factors associated with epileptiform EEGs among the children with epilepsy at a neurology clinic in South Western Uganda.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective record review of 427 children less than 18 years old attending the Epilepsy Clinic at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital. Records were selected by simple random sampling. A waiver of consent was obtained to study the medical records. Data was collected using REDCAP and analysed with STATA version 17. Proportions were reported as percentages and factors associated with epileptiform EEGs were analysed using the modified Poisson regression analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 427 participants in this study, 149 (34.9%) had done EEG. Epileptiform EEGs were observed among 102 (68.5%) children. The factors independently associated with epileptiform EEGs among the children with epilepsy included participants' sex and type of seizure. Having an epileptiform EEG was 1.98 times more likely among females than males (cPR:1.98, <i>P</i> -value 0.005) while it was 1.87 times more likely in children with generalized seizures compared to those with focal seizures (cPR:1.87, <i>P</i>-value=0.019).</p><p><strong>Significance: </strong>There is need for more EEGs to be done especially among children with generalized seizures. More health workers also need to be trained in electro-encephalography.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"612883"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13499556/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148802765","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":"Clinical Analysis of 17 Cases of Eosinophilic Cystitis in Children and Literature Review.","authors":"Ying Liang, Ying Shen, Yeping Jiang","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S602469","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S602469","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To summarize the clinical, laboratory, imaging, pathological features, treatment and prognosis of eosinophilic cystitis (EC) in children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective analysis was performed on 17 children diagnosed with EC at our hospital from January 2012 to December 2024, combined with literature review.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The cohort included 15 males and 2 females, with a median age of 6 years and 3 months. Major symptoms included frequent urination, urgency, dysuria, abdominal pain and distension. Mean disease duration was 42.3 days. Urinalysis showed proteinuria (1+-3+) in 7 cases and leukocyturia in 1 case. Peripheral blood eosinophil percentage averaged 43.6%. All 17 cases had bladder wall thickening on ultrasound; 9 cases were confirmed pathologically by cystoscopic biopsy. Eight cases were complicated with eosinophilic gastroenteritis, 3 by gastroscopic pathology. Treatments included anti-allergic therapy (11 cases), prednisone (7 cases), anti-parasitic agents (2 cases) and surgery (2 cases). During follow-up, 16 cases had no recurrence at 2 years; 1 case relapsed during steroid tapering and remained on low-dose prednisone.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pediatric EC presents mainly with urinary irritation and abdominal symptoms. Diagnosis relies on clinical, laboratory, imaging and histological findings. EC is frequently associated with eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Anti-allergic and steroid therapies are effective; surgery is reserved for specific cases. The overall prognosis is favorable.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"602469"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13455806/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148708859","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":"Early Prediction Model for Etoposide-Based Protocols Resistance in Pediatric HLH.","authors":"Jiajia Wu, Longlong Xie, Xun Li, Haipeng Yan, Yufan Yang, Ting Luo, Xiangyu Wang, Xinping Zhang, Jiaotian Huang, Mincui Zheng, Haixia Yang, Xiulan Lu","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S577441","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S577441","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Etoposide-based protocols remain the first-line therapy for pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), yet 20-30% of patients exhibit primary resistance. Early identification of non-responders is critical to enable timely salvage therapy. We aimed to develop and validate a predictive model for etoposide-based protocols resistance using readily available clinical and laboratory parameters.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A retrospective cohort of 79 pediatric HLH patients (median age 3.5 years; 53% male) treated with etoposide-based protocols (HLH-94/2004) at Hunan Children's Hospital (2020-2024) was analyzed. Patients were stratified into refractory (n=20) and responsive (n=59) groups based on 8-week treatment outcomes. Chemosensitive patients were defined as those achieving complete response (CR) or entering maintenance by week 8; chemorefractory patients were defined as those who died during induction, required salvage therapy due to progression, or failed to achieve CR within 8 weeks. CR required normalization of all quantifiable disease markers (sCD25, ferritin, triglycerides, ALT, hemoglobin, neutrophils, platelets). Pre-chemotherapy and early post-chemotherapy (Day 3) variables were compared using <i>t</i>-tests, Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>-tests, and χ² analyses. Multivariable logistic regression and ROC analyses identified predictors of resistance, with internal validation via 1000-bootstrapping.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Pre-chemotherapy IL-10 >131.2 μmol/L (OR=5.1; 95% CI 1.9-13.7; P=0.001) and pre-chemotherapy platelet count <55.5×10⁹/L (OR=4.2; 95% CI 1.6-11.3; P=0.004) independently predicted refractoriness. A combined model incorporating these parameters achieved an AUC of 0.822 (sensitivity 81.3%, specificity 75.0%). Post-chemotherapy Day 3 platelet count (OR=1.02 per 10⁹/L increase; P=0.01) and lymphocyte count (OR=2.5 per 10⁹/L increase; P=0.03) further refined prediction (AUC 0.880). Calibration curves and decision curve analysis confirmed clinical utility.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Pre-chemotherapy IL-10 and platelet count reliably identify pediatric HLH patients at high risk of etoposide-based protocols resistance. Integration of Day 3 post-chemotherapy parameters enables ultra-early and more precise risk stratification, facilitating prompt transition to salvage therapies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"577441"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13310505/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148347553","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":"Summary and Critical Appraisal of Evidence for Intrahospital Neonatal Transport.","authors":"Xingchen Li, Tonghui Suo, Fengqin Zhang, Liping Wang","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S587666","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S587666","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To systematically review and analyze the literature on intrahospital neonatal transport and synthesize the available evidence to inform the development of standardized transport procedures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the \"6S\" evidence model, a systematic search was conducted across multiple databases from inception to August 31, 2025. Eligible documents were appraised for methodological quality, and relevant recommendations and evidence statements were extracted and synthesized narratively. The level of evidence and strength of recommendations were graded according to the 2014 JBI evidence pre-grading system.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 10 documents were included, comprising 7 guidelines, 2 evidence summaries, and 1 systematic review. A total of 35 evidence statements were synthesized and grouped into 7 themes: transport team; pre-transport assessment and decision-making; preparation of healthcare providers and neonates; preparation of supplies and medications; transport equipment; monitoring and care during transport; and handover and quality management. The evidence base was primarily derived from guideline recommendations, evidence summaries, and expert consensus.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This review provides a structured synthesis and critical appraisal of the available evidence and recommendations for intrahospital neonatal transport. The synthesized recommendations may help inform standardized transport procedures; however, they should be interpreted with caution because a substantial proportion of the evidence base is derived from guidelines or expert consensus. Further high-quality prospective, multicenter studies are warranted to evaluate the effectiveness, feasibility, and generalizability of these recommendations across diverse clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"587666"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13279006/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148297615","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":"Comparison of the Effects of Local Heat and Massage Using the Flick Application on Pain Caused by Vitamin K Injection in Neonates.","authors":"Javad Momenisoroshk, Tabandeh Sadeghi, Seyedhamid Seyedbagheri","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S559432","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S559432","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Healthy neonates experience pain during procedures such as vitamin K injections. Pain adversely affects the neonate, so it is important to control it. This study compared the effects of local heat and massage using the flick application on the pain caused by vitamin K injection in neonates.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>This experimental research was conducted on neonates in Rafsanjan, Iran. The samples were selected using the convenience method and randomly placed in three groups: flick application massage, local heat, and control. In the flick application group, a flick was delivered with the thumb and the index finger on the injection site. In the local heat group, injection site was heated to 40 °C using a hair dryer. The pain score was measured using the Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS), and data analysis was performed using SPSS software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Based on the results, there was a significant difference between the average pain score of the neonates in the local heat group and the control group (P<0.001) and between the massage group and the control group (P<0.001). Neonates in the local heat group experienced less pain than those in the massage group. However, there was no difference between the average pain score of the massage group and the local heat group after injection (P = 0.11).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this study, both interventions reduced the pain caused by the intramuscular injection of vitamin K. These findings suggest that either technique can be used in clinical practice, depending on the conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"559432"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13242753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148207129","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":"Effectiveness of HIV Status Disclosure Interventions Among Children and Adolescents in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Joseph Kirabira, Letizia Maria Atim, Angela Spencer","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S526169","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S526169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Appropriate pediatric HIV status disclosure remains a public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review aims to describe the existing pediatric HIV disclosure interventions in LMICs and their efficacy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Literature search was conducted in Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, and Google Scholar following PICOS framework to identify interventional studies aimed at improving HIV status disclosure among children and adolescents. Retrieved studies were screened, data were extracted using a piloted tool, and a narrative synthesis and methodological quality assessment were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 260 studies were retrieved and after the screening, 6 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria, three of which were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) while others were quasi-experimental designs. Only two interventions were based on pre-existing theory. Four interventions were delivered by Health Care Workers (HCWs) only, one by HCWs and peer supporters and one by trained research assistants. The main components of the interventions included education/training, media/videos, books, disclosure counseling, and disclosure support and half of the studies applied multiple components. The commonly assessed disclosure-related intervention outcomes were safety, acceptability, prevalence of disclosure, perceptions, and experiences. Only two studies reported significant changes in outcome (prevalence of disclosure) between control and intervention groups. However, there was marked variation in the methods used to assess outcomes across studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and recommendations: </strong>This review highlights that there are limited interventions addressing pediatric HIV status disclosure in LMICs, targeting different stakeholders in the disclosure process and assessing different outcomes. Additionally, most studies were not grounded pre-existing theories, frameworks and models. There is a need to develop standardized tools to assess disclosure and related outcomes in different contexts, compare the effectiveness of single-component and multi-component pediatric disclosure interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"526169"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13228844/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148159299","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":"Procalcitonin for Predicting Sepsis in Infants in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Nesrin Alharthy, Mohammad Alreefi, Mesaed Alsenani, Muath M Alghamdi, Abdulrahman Faisal Almunif, Saleh Alshaibi, Ahmed AlHajri, Maryam Albaqami, Abdullah Alshibani","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S589691","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S589691","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Among children younger than 5 years, infectious conditions account for the majority of pediatric emergency department visits. Due to nonspecific presentation, early identification of Sepsis and serious bacterial infection is challenging. Procalcitonin (PCT) level has been examined as a marker of sepsis. It has been shown to have advantages over other inflammatory markers.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the association between high PCT levels and positive blood, urine, or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures in all infant patients suspected of having sepsis/Serious bacterial infections (SBIs) clinically or using the Pediatric Early Warning as integration between elevated PCT and culture-proven infections with PEWS to improve early risk stratification and guide clinical decision-making in a tertiary.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study included all patients aged 28 to 90 days whose PCT was obtained simultaneously with blood, urine, or CSF cultures and a viral nasopharyngeal aspirate, taken under suspicion of sepsis/SBIs, from January 2020 to December 2021. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software (IBM) version 27.0.1.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>This study included 352 patients. In total, 205 (58.2%) were between 28 and 60 days old, while 147 (41.8%) were aged 60-90 days. The association between the PCT levels and blood culture outcomes was not statistically significant. However, the association between PCT levels and positive urine culture was statistically significant (p = 0.008). In addition, the analysis revealed a nonsignificant association between PCT levels and respiratory viral infection.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In this cohort, as a single center, PCT level is not a predictor of positive blood or CSF culture results. In contrast, high PCT levels are significantly associated with positive urinary culture results. The study was conducted at a single center with small sample size which may affect the generalizability of its findings. Future multicenter research with large sample size is required to validate the study findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"589691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13222615/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148145121","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":"Efficacy of Adding Intravenous Methylprednisolone to Nebulized Budesonide in RSV Pneumonia: Modification by Bacterial Co-Infection - A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Can Guo, Tingyao Guo, Wenjuan Chen, Guojing Guo","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S599427","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S599427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous methylprednisolone plus nebulized budesonide (IV+NEB CS) versus nebulized budesonide alone (NEB CS) in infants with RSV pneumonia, and to assess the influence of bacterial co-infection.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study included 303 patients (≤36 months) with RSV pneumonia. Patients were divided into IV+NEB CS (n=140) and NEB CS (n=163) groups, then stratified by bacterial co-infection and antibiotic use. Primary outcomes were time to cough/fever/wheezing relief, disappearance of pulmonary signs, hospital stay, and glucocorticoid-related adverse events.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>(1) Wheezing relief was faster in the IV+NEB CS group [2.0 (1.5,4.0) vs 3.0 (2.0,4.0) days, P=0.010], but other outcomes did not differ. (2) Subgroup B (IV+NEB CS without bacterial infection) had the shortest median wheezing relief [2.0 (1.0,3.0) days], pulmonary sign resolution [4.0 (3.0,5.0) days], and hospital stay [4.0 (3.0,5.0) days]. (3) Antibiotic use was independently associated with shorter symptom relief and discharge (all P<0.001); after adjusting for antibiotics, the main effect of IV+NEB CS was no longer significant for most outcomes. (4) Antibiotics also reduced CRP levels (P=0.002). (5) Adverse event rates did not differ between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In non-severe RSV pneumonia, adding intravenous methylprednisolone to nebulized budesonide provides no consistent independent benefit after accounting for antibiotic use. The apparent faster recovery with combination therapy was largely explained by antibiotics. Routine intravenous corticosteroids are not recommended. When bacterial co-infection is suspected, antibiotics should be prioritized.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"599427"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13192490/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148019247","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":"Spatial Distribution and Determinants of Inadequate Vitamin A-Rich Food Consumption Among Children Aged 6-23 Months in Somalia: Evidence from the 2020 Somalia Demographic and Health Survey.","authors":"Osman M Osman, Hamse Adam Abdi, Mohamed Mahamoud Abdilleh, Abdisalam Hassan Muse, Abdirahman M Osman, Yahye Hassan Muse","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S587150","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S587150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a critical public health issue in Somalia, yet evidence regarding dietary practices remains limited. This study assessed the prevalence, geographical distribution, and determinants of Vitamin A-rich food consumption among children aged 6-23 months.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using 2020 Somali Demographic and Health Survey (SDHS) data (n=2,806), we employed two-level multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression to identify individual and community-level determinants. Spatial analysis, including Global Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi* statistics, was performed to assess geographical clustering and identify consumption hotspots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 33.75% of children consumed adequate Vitamin A-rich foods. Multilevel analysis revealed that children aged 18-23 months (AOR=2.78), those with formally educated mothers (AOR=1.42), and urban residents were more likely to consume these foods. Conversely, children with a birth order of two or more (AOR=0.44), and those from rural (AOR=0.72) or nomadic (AOR=0.22) households, had significantly lower odds of consumption. Spatial analysis confirmed significant geographical clustering (Moran's I = 0.24, p=0.048), identifying high-consumption hotspots in Awdal and Shabeellaha Dhexe, and low-consumption coldspots in Bari, Gedo, and Woqooyi Galbeed.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Somali children face a substantial deficiency in Vitamin A-rich food intake, driven by pronounced sociodemographic and geographical disparities. These findings underscore the urgent need for multisectoral interventions. Strategies should prioritize enhancing maternal education and implementing context-specific programs for rural and nomadic communities to mitigate the burden of VAD in Somalia.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"587150"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13182837/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147977764","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":"Oral Health Status in Children from the Community of Madrid, Spain: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Investigation.","authors":"Anabella Reyes Ortiz, Andrea Martín-Vacas, María José Viñas, Ana Martínez Gil-Ortega, Bruno Baracco, Marta Macarena Paz-Cortés, Luis Miguel Pérez-Rodríguez","doi":"10.2147/PHMT.S585848","DOIUrl":"10.2147/PHMT.S585848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate the oral health status of children aged 3-14 years in the Community of Madrid, Spain, between 2017 and 2020, and to identify associated protective and risk factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted in 39 schools. Clinical examinations followed WHO guidelines and included caries detection (ICDAS codes 4-6), enamel developmental defects (DDE), tooth wear, malocclusion, and oral hygiene indicators. Sociodemographic data and oral hygiene habits were collected via parental questionnaires. Schools were stratified by socioeconomic status (SES). Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v29 with a 95% confidence level (p < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data from 11,646 children (mean age: 8.46 ± 1.99 years) revealed that 40.65% had caries in at least one tooth, and 9.42% had five or more affected teeth. Caries prevalence was higher among preschoolers (48.7%) than school-aged children (40.3%). Dental restorations were present in 10.5%, while only 11.7% had at least one sealant and 4.8% had all first permanent molars sealed. DDE affected 11% of children (mild: 8.1%, moderate: 2.5%, severe: 0.4%), tooth wear 4%, dental trauma 2%, and malocclusion 41.4%. Visible plaque was observed in 62.6% of participants, despite 50.5% reporting twice-daily brushing and 29.6% brushing three or more times per day. SES strongly influenced caries prevalence: 69.4% of children from low SES backgrounds had decayed teeth compared to 23.1% and 7.5% in medium and high SES groups, respectively. Logistic regression identified low SES (odds ratio (OR)=1.53, 95% CI: 1.03-2.28) as a risk factor for caries development, while absence of malocclusion (OR=0.54, 95% CI:0.32-0.93) and absence of visible plaque (OR=0.32, 95% CI: 0.20-0.51) as protective factors in preschool children. In school-aged children, low SES (OR = 3.66; 95% CI:3.21-4.18) increased the odds of caries; while toothbrushing ≥2 times/day showed a protective effect (OR range = 0.19-0.23) and absence of visible plaque (OR = 0.59; 95% CI:0.55-0.65 for absence vs presence).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Caries remains highly prevalent among children in Madrid, particularly in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, highlighting the urgent need for targeted preventive strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":74410,"journal":{"name":"Pediatric health, medicine and therapeutics","volume":"17 ","pages":"585848"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13123549/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147791535","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}