Publications
103 results found
Nesr G, Whittaker E, Bain BJ, 2023, Atypical lymphocytes - from chickenpox to monkey pox, American Journal of Hematology, Pages: 1-2, ISSN: 0361-8609
Channon-Wells S, Vito O, McArdle AJ, et al., 2023, Immunoglobulin, glucocorticoid, or combination therapy for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a propensity-weighted cohort study, The Lancet Rheumatology, ISSN: 2665-9913
Bamford A, Whittaker E, 2023, Resurgence of group A streptococcal disease in children., BMJ, Vol: 380
Cardoso Pinto A, Shariq S, Ranasinghe L, et al., 2023, Reasons for reductions in routine childhood immunisation uptake during the COVID-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review, PLOS Global Public Health, ISSN: 2767-3375
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a substantial decline in routine immunisation coverage in children globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study summarises the reasons for disruptions to routine child immunisations in LMICs. A systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42021286386) was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Six databases were searched: MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus and MedRxiv, on 11/02/2022. Observational and qualitative studies published from January 2020 onwards were included if exploring reasons for missed immunisations during the COVID-19 pandemic in LMICs. Study appraisal used National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tools. Reasons for disruption were defined with descriptive codes; cross-sectional (quantitative) data were summarised as mean percentages of responses weighted by study population, and qualitative data were summarised narratively. A total of thirteen studies were included describing reasons behind disruptions; 7 cross-sectional (quantitative), 5 qualitative and 1 mixed methods. Seventeen reasons for disruptions were identified. In quantitative studies (total respondents = 2,853), the most common reasons identified were fear of COVID-19 and consequential avoidance of health centres (41.2%, SD ±13.3%), followed by transport challenges preventing both families and healthcare professionals from reaching vaccination services (11.1% SD ±16.6%). Most reasons stemmed from reduced healthcare-seeking (83.4%), as opposed to healthcare-delivery issues (15.2%). Qualitative studies showed a more even balance of healthcare-seeking (49.5%) and healthcare-delivery issues (50.5%), with fear of COVID-19 remaining a major identified issue (total respondents = 92). The most common reasons for disruption were parental fear of COVID-19 and avoidance of health services. Health systems must therefore prioritise public health me
Jayawardena-Thabrew H, Warris A, Ferreras-Antolin L, 2022, Nystatin is commonly prescribed as prophylaxis in children beyond the neonatal age, Medical Mycology, Vol: 61, ISSN: 1369-3786
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The indications for nystatin as prophylaxis or treatment are limited. In the PASOAP (Pediatric Antifungal Stewardship Optimizing Antifungal Prescription) study, high use of nystatin in hospitalized children beyond the neonatal age was observed. In this report, we present the data on nystatin use in infants and children ≥ 3 months who participated in the PASOAP study. Nystatin was prescribed mainly for prophylaxis. Congenital heart disease, cystic fibrosis, and chronic renal disease were the most commonly reported conditions in children receiving prophylactic nystatin. There is sparse evidence supporting the use of nystatin prophylaxis beyond neonates; trials in specific pediatric patient groups are required.</jats:p>
Swanepoel J, Zimri K, van der Zalm MM, et al., 2022, Understanding the biology, morbidity and social contexts of adolescent tuberculosis: a prospective observational cohort study protocol (Teen TB), BMJ Open, Vol: 12, ISSN: 2044-6055
Introduction: A considerable burden of the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic is found in adolescents. The reasons for increased susceptibility to TB infection and higher incidence of TB disease in adolescence, compared with the 5–10 years old age group, are incompletely understood. Despite the pressing clinical and public health need to better understand and address adolescent TB, research in this field remains limited.Methods and analysis: Teen TB is an ongoing prospective observational cohort study that aims to better understand the biology, morbidity and social context of adolescent TB. The study plans to recruit 50 adolescents (10–19 years old) with newly diagnosed microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB disease and 50 TB-exposed controls without evidence of TB disease in Cape Town, South Africa, which is highly endemic for TB. At baseline, cases and controls will undergo a detailed clinical evaluation, chest imaging, respiratory function assessments and blood collection for viral coinfections, inflammatory cytokines and pubertal hormone testing. At 2 weeks, 2 months and 12 months, TB disease cases will undergo further chest imaging and additional lung function testing to explore the patterns of respiratory abnormalities. At week 2, cases will complete a multicomponent quantitative questionnaire about psychological and social impacts on their experiences and longitudinal, in-depth qualitative data will be collected from a nested subsample of 20 cases and their families.Ethics and dissemination: The study protocol has received ethical approval from the Stellenbosch University Health Research Ethics Committee (N19/10/148). The study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, academic conferences and formal presentations to health professionals. Results will also be made available to participants and caregivers.
Carr JP, MacLennan JM, Plested E, et al., 2022, Impact of meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccines on pharyngeal carriage in adolescents: evidence for herd protection from the UK MenACWY programme, CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Vol: 28, ISSN: 1198-743X
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Bertran M, Pinto Pereira SM, Nugawela MD, et al., 2022, The relationship between Post COVID symptoms in young people and their parents., J Infect, Vol: 85, Pages: 702-769
Ranasinghe L, Achar J, Groschel M, et al., 2022, The global impact of COVID-19 on childhood tuberculosis: analysis of notification data, The Lancet Global Health, Vol: 10, Pages: e1774-e1781, ISSN: 2214-109X
Background:There is concern that the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has damaged global childhood tuberculosis management. Quantifying changes in child tuberculosis notifications could support more targeted interventions to restore child tuberculosis services.Methods: Annual case notification data reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by 215 countries were used to calculate annual notification counts for 2014-2020 stratified by age groups (0-4, 5-14 and 15+ years) and sex. We used time series modelling to predict notification counts for 2020, and calculated differences from observed 2020 notifications at WHO region level and country-level for the 30 high tuberculosis-burden countries. We assessed association between these differences and the Oxford Government Response Tracker, a measure of COVID-19 social impact. Findings:Before 2020, annual notification counts increased across all age groups and WHO regions. More males than females 0-4 years were notified in all years and WHO regions. In 2020, global notifications for children 0-4 years were 35.4% lower than predicted (95% prediction interval [PI] -30.3 to -39.9), compared to 27.7% lower (95% PI: -23.4 to -31.5) in children 5-14 years and 18.8% lower (95%PI; -15.4 to -21.9) in 15+ years. The difference between predicted and observed notifications for 2020 were greater in males (-30.9%; 95%PI: -24.8 to -36.1) than females (-24.5%; 95%PI: -18.1 to –29.9%). No association was seen between severity of COVID-19 restrictions and change in notifications.Interpretation:Our findings suggest that COVID-19 has substantially impacted child tuberculosis services with the youngest children most affected. Although children suffered fewer severe health consequences from COVID-19 infection, they have been disproportionately affected by the consequences of the pandemic on tuberculosis care. As countries rebuild health systems post-COVID-19, it is vital that childhood tuberculosis services are placed centr
Jones CE, Bailey H, Bamford A, et al., 2022, Managing challenges in congenital CMV: current thinking, ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD, ISSN: 0003-9888
Buonsenso D, Roland D, Yock-Corrales A, et al., 2022, The challenges of doing paediatric research during the first year of the covid-19 pandemic, BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, Vol: 379, ISSN: 0959-535X
Ramnarayan P, Mitting R, Whittaker E, et al., 2022, Neonatal Monkeypox Virus Infection, NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, Vol: 387, Pages: 1618-1620, ISSN: 0028-4793
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- Citations: 5
Ladhani SN, Aiano F, Edwards DS, et al., 2022, Very low risk of monkeypox among staff and students after exposure to a confirmed case in educational settings, England, May to July 2022, EUROSURVEILLANCE, Vol: 27, Pages: 2-6, ISSN: 1025-496X
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- Citations: 1
Harwood R, Rad L, Kelly C, et al., 2022, Lateral flow test performance in children for SARS-CoV-2 using anterior nasal and buccal swabbing: sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD, ISSN: 0003-9888
Cohen JM, Bamford A, Eisen S, et al., 2022, Care of children exposed to monkeypox Comment, LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE, Vol: 21, ISSN: 2666-7762
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- Citations: 3
Hoste L, Soriano-Arandes A, Buddingh EP, et al., 2022, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Vaccination in Children with a History of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children: An International Survey, JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS, Vol: 248, Pages: 114-118, ISSN: 0022-3476
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- Citations: 3
Duret A, Olgemoeller F, Ferreras-Antolin L, et al., 2022, Paediatric TB care in the United Kingdom, INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TUBERCULOSIS AND LUNG DISEASE, Vol: 26, Pages: 814-819, ISSN: 1027-3719
Cardoso Pinto A, Ranasinghe L, Dodd P, et al., 2022, Disruptions to routine childhood vaccinations in low- and middle-Income countries during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, Frontiers in Pediatrics, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2296-2360
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted routine childhood vaccinations worldwide with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) most affected. This study aims to quantify levels of disruption to routine vaccinations in LMICs. MethodsA systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42021286386) was conducted of MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Scopus and MedRxiv, on the 11th of February 2022. Primary research studies published from January 2020 onwards were included if they reported levels of routine paediatric vaccinations before and after March 2020. Study appraisal was performed using NHLBI tool for cross-sectional studies. Levels of disruption were summarised using medians and interquartile ranges. ResultsA total of 39 cross-sectional studies were identified. These showed an overall relative median decline of 10.8% (interquartile range [IQR] -27.6%, -1.4%) across all vaccines. Upper-middle-income countries (upper-MICs) (-14.3%; IQR -24.3%, -2.4%) and lower-MICs (-18.0%; IQR 48.6%, 4.1%) showed greater declines than low-income countries (-3.1%; IQR -12.8%, 2.9%), as did vaccines administered at birth (-11.8%; IQR -27.7%, -3.5%) compared to those given after birth (-8.0%; IQR -28.6%, -0.4%). Declines during the first three months of the pandemic ( 8.1%; IQR -35.1%, -1.4%) were greater than during the remainder of 2020 (-3.9%; IQR 13.0%, 11.4%) compared to baseline. ConclusionThere has been a decline in routine paediatric vaccination, greatest in MICs and for vaccines administered at birth. Nations must prioritise catch-up programmes alongside public health messaging to encourage vaccine uptake.
Piccinelli E, Bautista-Rodriguez C, Herberg J, et al., 2022, Segmental and global longitudinal strain differences between Kawasaki disease and multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children, CARDIOLOGY IN THE YOUNG, ISSN: 1047-9511
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- Citations: 1
Vivancos R, Anderson C, Blomquist P, et al., 2022, Community transmission of monkeypox in the United Kingdom, April to May 2022, EUROSURVEILLANCE, Vol: 27, ISSN: 1025-496X
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- Citations: 108
Levin M, Whittaker E, 2022, Balancing risk and benefit of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in children Comment, LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH-EUROPE, Vol: 18, ISSN: 2666-7762
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- Citations: 1
Welzel T, Schobi N, Andre MC, et al., 2022, Multicenter Randomized Trial of Methylprednisolone vs. Intravenous Immunoglobulins to Treat the Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome-Temporally Associated With SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS): Protocol of the Swissped RECOVERY Trial, FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS, Vol: 10, ISSN: 2296-2360
Johnson SM, Pinera C, Whittaker E, et al., 2022, Rare Mycobacteria and HIV in Children: Two Case Reports, CLINICAL DRUG INVESTIGATION, Vol: 42, Pages: 541-547, ISSN: 1173-2563
Burkhardt I, Whittaker E, 2022, Use of single-dose tocilizumab for treatment of severe COVID-19 in pregnancy: implications for the timing of live infant vaccines, ARCHIVES OF DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD, Vol: 107, Pages: 516-516, ISSN: 0003-9888
Swann O, Pollock L, Holden KA, et al., 2022, Comparison of UK paediatric SARS-CoV-2 admissions across the first and second pandemic waves, PEDIATRIC RESEARCH, ISSN: 0031-3998
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- Citations: 3
Turkova A, Wills GH, Wobudeya E, et al., 2022, Shorter treatment for non-severe tuberculosis in African and Indian children, New England Journal of Medicine, Vol: 386, Pages: 911-922, ISSN: 0028-4793
Background:Two thirds of children with tuberculosis have nonsevere disease, which may be treatable with a shorter regimen than the current 6-month regimen.Methods:We conducted an open-label, treatment-shortening, noninferiority trial involving children with nonsevere, symptomatic, presumably drug-susceptible, smear-negative tuberculosis in Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, and India. Children younger than 16 years of age were randomly assigned to 4 months (16 weeks) or 6 months (24 weeks) of standard first-line antituberculosis treatment with pediatric fixed-dose combinations as recommended by the World Health Organization. The primary efficacy outcome was unfavorable status (composite of treatment failure [extension, change, or restart of treatment or tuberculosis recurrence], loss to follow-up during treatment, or death) by 72 weeks, with the exclusion of participants who did not complete 4 months of treatment (modified intention-to-treat population). A noninferiority margin of 6 percentage points was used. The primary safety outcome was an adverse event of grade 3 or higher during treatment and up to 30 days after treatment.Results:From July 2016 through July 2018, a total of 1204 children underwent randomization (602 in each group). The median age of the participants was 3.5 years (range, 2 months to 15 years), 52% were male, 11% had human immunodeficiency virus infection, and 14% had bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis. Retention by 72 weeks was 95%, and adherence to the assigned treatment was 94%. A total of 16 participants (3%) in the 4-month group had a primary-outcome event, as compared with 18 (3%) in the 6-month group (adjusted difference, −0.4 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, −2.2 to 1.5). The noninferiority of 4 months of treatment was consistent across the intention-to-treat, per-protocol, and key secondary analyses, including when the analysis was restricted to the 958 participants (80%) independently adjudicated to have tuberc
Hammitt LL, Dagan R, Yuan Y, et al., 2022, Nirsevimab for Prevention of RSV in Healthy Late-Preterm and Term Infants, NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE, Vol: 386, Pages: 837-846, ISSN: 0028-4793
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- Citations: 59
Ferreras-Antolin L, Irwin A, Atra A, et al., 2022, Pediatric Antifungal Prescribing Patterns Identify Significant Opportunities to Rationalize Antifungal Use in Children, PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE JOURNAL, Vol: 41, Pages: E69-E74, ISSN: 0891-3668
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- Citations: 4
RECOVERY Collaborative Group, 2022, Casirivimab and imdevimab in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial, The Lancet, Vol: 399, Pages: 665-676, ISSN: 0140-6736
BACKGROUND: Casirivimab and imdevimab are non-competing monoclonal antibodies that bind to two different sites on the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein, blocking viral entry into host cells. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of casirivimab and imdevimab administered in combination in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. METHODS: RECOVERY is a randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial comparing several possible treatments with usual care in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. 127 UK hospitals took part in the evaluation of casirivimab and imdevimab. Eligible participants were any patients aged at least 12 years admitted to hospital with clinically suspected or laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual care plus casirivimab 4 g and imdevimab 4 g administered together in a single intravenous infusion. Investigators and data assessors were masked to analyses of the outcome data during the trial. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality assessed by intention to treat, first only in patients without detectable antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 infection at randomisation (ie, those who were seronegative) and then in the overall population. Safety was assessed in all participants who received casirivimab and imdevimab. The trial is registered with ISRCTN (50189673) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04381936). FINDINGS: Between Sept 18, 2020, and May 22, 2021, 9785 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible for casirivimab and imdevimab, of which 4839 were randomly assigned to casirivimab and imdevimab plus usual care and 4946 to usual care alone. 3153 (32%) of 9785 patients were seronegative, 5272 (54%) were seropositive, and 1360 (14%) had unknown baseline antibody status. 812 (8%) patients were known to have received at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. In the primary efficacy population of seronegative patients, 396 (2
Stephenson T, Pinto Pereira SM, Shafran R, et al., 2022, Physical and mental health 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID) among adolescents in England (CLoCk): a national matched cohort study, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, Vol: 6, Pages: 230-239, ISSN: 2352-4642
BackgroundWe describe post-COVID symptomatology in a non-hospitalised, national sample of adolescents aged 11–17 years with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with matched adolescents with negative PCR status.MethodsIn this national cohort study, adolescents aged 11–17 years from the Public Health England database who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between January and March, 2021, were matched by month of test, age, sex, and geographical region to adolescents who tested negative. 3 months after testing, a subsample of adolescents were contacted to complete a detailed questionnaire, which collected data on demographics and their physical and mental health at the time of PCR testing (retrospectively) and at the time of completing the questionnaire (prospectively). We compared symptoms between the test-postive and test-negative groups, and used latent class analysis to assess whether and how physical symptoms at baseline and at 3 months clustered among participants. This study is registered with the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN 34804192).Findings23 048 adolescents who tested positive and 27 798 adolescents who tested negative between Jan 1, 2021, and March 31, 2021, were contacted, and 6804 adolescents (3065 who tested positive and 3739 who tested negative) completed the questionnaire (response rate 13·4%). At PCR testing, 1084 (35·4%) who tested positive and 309 (8·3%) who tested negative were symptomatic and 936 (30·5%) from the test-positive group and 231 (6·2%) from the test-negative group had three or more symptoms. 3 months after testing, 2038 (66·5%) who tested positive and 1993 (53·3%) who tested negative had any symptoms, and 928 (30·3%) from the test-positive group and 603 (16·2%) from the test-negative group had three or more symptoms. At 3 months after testing, the most common symptoms among the test-positive group were tiredness (1196 [39·0%]), headache (710
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