Research Articles (Paediatrics and Child Health)

Burkitt lymphoma – nutritional support during induction treatment : effect on anthropometric parameters and morbidity of treatment

Hesseling, Peter B.; Tamannai, Mona; Ladas, Elena; Afungchwi, Glenn; Katayi, Edouard; Kouya, Francine (AOSIS, 2018-10-22)

Background: Malnutrition is common in children diagnosed with cancer in Africa, and it adds to the morbidity and mortality of treatment. Nutritional support is known to reduce morbidity and mortality of treatment. Aim: ...

Five year neurodevelopment outcomes of perinatally HIV-infected children on early limited or deferred continuous antiretroviral therapy

Laughton, Barbara; Cornell, Morna; Kidd, Martin; Springer, Priscilla Estelle; Dobbels, Els; Van Rensburg, Anita Janse; Otwombe, Kennedy; Babiker, Abdel; Gibb, Diana M.; Violari, Avy; Kruger, Mariana; Cotton, Mark F. (Wiley Open Access, 2018)

Introduction: Early antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved neurodevelopmental outcomes of HIV-infected (HIV-positive) children; however, little is known about the longer term outcomes in infants commencing early ART ...

Pediatric Xanthogranulomatus cholangitis

Zbaidaa, Reda A.; Schubert, Pawel T.; Banieghbala, Behrouz (Elsevier, 2018)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Xanthogranulomatous cholangitis is rare entity, usually it happens as an extension of Xanthogranuloma of the gall bladder (XCC) [1], although they are case reports of isolated Xanthogranulomatous ...

Early childhood caries and dental treatment need in low socio-economic communities in Cape Town, South Africa

Mohamed, Nadia; Barnes, Jo M. (AOSIS, 2018-05-12)

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a particularly severe problem in low socio-economic communities which impacts the overall health and well-being of children. The extensive waiting lists for general anaesthesia ...

Comparison of the demographic and diagnostic profile of new patients attending a neurodevelopmental clinic in 2008/2009 and 2016

Rasdien, U.; Springer, P. E. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2019-04)

Background. Literature suggests an increasing prevalence of developmental disabilities, and specifically of conditions such as autism and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The resulting burden on paediatric ...

Neurodevelopment at 11 months after starting antiretroviral therapy within 3 weeks of life

Laughton, Barbara; Naidoo, Shalena; Dobbels, Els; Boivin, Michael J.; Janse van Rensburg, Anita; Glashoff, Richard H.; Van Zyl, Gert U.; Kruger, Mariana; Cotton, Mark F. (AOSIS, 2019-10-03)

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) started between 7 and 12 weeks of age improves neurodevelopmental outcomes in HIV-infected (HIV+) infants, but the impact of even earlier initiation is not yet described. Objectives: ...

Current perspectives on paediatric HIV management from the Mexico International Aids Society Conference, 2019

Archary, Mohendran; Fairlie, Lee; Slogrove, Amy (AOSIS, 2019-10-31)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: While acknowledging the great achievements in getting 23 million people living with HIV to access antiretroviral treatment (ART) globally, there is still more to do in order to close the HIV treatment ...

The peripartum management of a 32-year-old patient presenting at 34 weeks’ gestation with unrepaired cyanotic heart disease

Rossouw, J. N.; Langenegger, E.; Burke, J.; Van Rensburg, A.; Pecoraro, A.; Bryan, M. (Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2018-11)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Unrepaired cyanotic heart disease is considered a high-risk lesion owing to the consequent increase in maternal and fetal complications. In the presence of pulmonary hypertension, maternal mortality ...

The impact of cerebrospinal fluid viral analysis on empiric antibiotic use in children admitted to Tygerberg Children’s hospital with suspected meningitis

Kruger, Irma; Maritz, Jean; Finlayson, Heather (Medpharm Publications, 2018)

Background: Viral meningitis is the most common form of aseptic meningitis and requires minimal investigation and treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become the ‘gold standard’ for identifying viruses in ...

HIV-1 RNA testing of pooled dried blood spots is feasible to diagnose acute HIV infection in resource limited settings

Dowling, Wentzel; Veldsman, Kirsten; Katusiime, Mary Grace; Maritz, Jean; Bock, Peter; Meehan, Sue-Ann; Schalkwyk, Marije Van; Cotton, Mark F.; Preiser, Wolfgang; Van Zyl, Gert U. (Medpharm Publications, 2018)

Objectives: Rapid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody tests, routinely used for diagnosis in adults and older children in resource-limited settings (RLS), do not detect early HIV infections prior to seroconversion ...

Burkitt's lymphoma : the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the outcome of treatment

Hesseling, P. B.; Kouya, F.; Katayi, E.; Mbah, G.; Wharin, P. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2018)

The prevalence of HIV in Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) patients and the outcome of treatment in Cameroon were unknown. Records of all patients diagnosed with BL at three Cameroon Baptist Convention hospitals were reviewed to ...

Healthcare-associated infections in paediatric and neonatal wards : a point prevalence survey at four South African hospitals

Olivier, C.; Kunneke, H.; O'Connell, N.; Von Delft, E.; Wates, M.; Dramowski, A. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2018)

Background. Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) cause substantial morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. The prevalence of neonatal/paediatric HAI at South African (SA) district and regional hospitals is ...

Asthma treatment in children : a pragmatic approach

Masekela, R.; Jeevanathrum, A.; Kling, S.; Gray, T. C.; Morrison, J.; Vanker, A.; Puterman, A. S.; Rhode, D.; Zollner, E. W.; De Waal, P.; Manjra, A.; Levin, M.; Zar, H.; Green, R. J.; Kritzinger, F. E. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2018)

Background. Asthma is a heterogeneous condition characterised by chronic inflammation and variable expiratory airflow limitation, with airway reversibility. Management of chronic inflammation with anti-asthma medication ...

Is adrenal suppression in asthmatic children reversible? A case series

Zollner, E. W. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2018-06)

Background. Six hypocortisolaemic asthmatic children on steroids given at physiological doses were identified during a previous study. Objectives. To establish whether hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression ...

Neonatal and paediatric bloodstream infections : pathogens, antimicrobial resistance patterns and prescribing practice at Khayelitsha District Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Crichton, H.; O'Connell, N.; Rabie, H.; Whitelaw, A. C.; Dramowski, A. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2018)

Background. The epidemiology of neonatal and paediatric community-acquired and healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSI) at South African (SA) district hospitals is under-researched. Objective. Retrospective ...

Variation in HIV prevalence and the population-level effects of antiretroviral therapy in reducing tuberculosis incidence in South Africa

Sloot, R.; Maarman, G. J.; Osman, M.; Marx, F. M. (Health & Medical Publishing Group, 2018)

The current year (2018) marks the 10th year after the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in South Africa (SA) reached a historic peak of 848 incident TB cases per 100 000 population in 2008.[1,2] TB incidence has since decreased ...