Diagnosing asthma in children represents an important clinical challenge. There is no single gold-standard test to confirm the diagnosis. Consequently, over- and under-diagnosis of asthma is frequent in children. A task force supported by the European Respiratory Society has developed these evidence...-based clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis of asthma in children aged 5–16 years using nine Population, Intervention, Comparator and Outcome (PICO) questions. The task force conducted systematic literature searches for all PICO questions and screened the outputs from these, including relevant full-text articles. All task force members approved the final decision for inclusion of research papers. The task force assessed the quality of the evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.
The task force then developed a diagnostic algorithm based on the critical appraisal of the PICO questions, preferences expressed by lay members and test availability. Proposed cut-offs were determined based on the best available evidence. The task force formulated recommendations using the GRADE Evidence to Decision framework.
Based on the critical appraisal of the evidence and the Evidence to Decision framework, the task force recommends spirometry, bronchodilator reversibility testing and exhaled nitric oxide fraction as first-line diagnostic tests in children under investigation for asthma. The task force recommends against diagnosing asthma in children based on clinical history alone or following a single abnormal objective test. Finally, this guideline also proposes a set of research priorities to improve asthma diagnosis in children in the future.
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The Noncommunicable Diseases Country Profiles 2018 by the World Health Organization (WHO) provides an in-depth look at the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes across WHO Member States. It includes data on NCD m...ortality, risk factors like tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol consumption, as well as country-specific responses and health system capacities to manage and prevent NCDs.
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Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood. The prevalence is rising and the mortality and morbidity from asthma are unacceptably high in South Africa. This article emphasizes the importance to make a correct diagnosis based, most importantly, on the clinical history and supported by inv...estigations. Further, the appropriate drug and device must be chosen to achieve good asthma control. It explains that patients must be followed up regularly and their asthma control must be assessed so that the treatment can then be adjusted according to the level of control. Additionally, Asthma education and adherence are important components of management of the condition.
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Although asthma is very common, affecting 5–10% of the population, the diagnosis of asthma in adults remains a challenge in the real world, which results in both over- and under-diagnosis. A taskforce was set up by the European Respiratory Society to systematically review the literature on the dia...gnostic accuracy of tests used to diagnose asthma in adult patients and provide recommendations for clinical practice.
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This guideline covers diagnosing, monitoring and managing asthma in adults, young people and children. It aims to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, help people to control their asthma and reduce the risk of asthma attacks. It does not cover managing severe asthma or acute asthma attacks. It emphasi...zes the importance to include advice in the personalised
action plan on minimising indoor air pollution and reducing exposure to outdoor air pollution.
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Coronavirus disease 2019 has a mild disease course in children and adolescents. Chronic respiratory conditions, including asthma, have been suggested as risk factors; however, asthma in children is highly variable in both triggers and severity.
During the pandemic, pediatric asthma services limite...d consultations and established virtual clinics. However, respondents perceived their patients’ asthma control to be retained or even improved, while treatment adherence was considered increased. Children with asthma were not disproportionately affected by coronavirus disease 2019.
Trigger avoidance and treatment adherence can rapidly improve asthma control in children, even under lockdown pressure. Children/adolescents with asthma do not appear to need additional prophylactic measures from coronavirus disease 2019 when asthma is well-treated. This article analyses the effect of COVID-19 on Asthma in children, providing information for management guidelines.
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The document titled "Use of Non-Sugar Sweeteners: WHO Guideline" provides recommendations from the World Health Organization on the use of non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) to reduce sugar intake, manage weight, and prevent diet-related noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). It discusses the potential effects of... NSS on body weight, blood sugar control, and long-term health risks such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The guideline highlights limited evidence on the benefits of NSS for weight control and raises concerns about possible health risks with long-term use, leading WHO to suggest limiting NSS consumption as a preventive health measure.
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L’année 2024 a été particulièrement éprouvante pour les enfants. Face à l’intensification des conflits violents, des chocs climatiques et de la pauvreté, leurs besoins n’ont en effet cessé de croître tandis que les ressources disponibles pour y répondre ont continué de diminuer.
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Comme le montre notre Rapport annuel, l’UNICEF a néanmoins été présent dans plus de 190 pays et territoires, sauvant et améliorant la vie de millions d’enfants, y compris dans les endroits les plus difficiles d’accès. Avec l’aide de nos partenaires, nous avons œuvré à fournir de l’eau salubre et des installations d’assainissement, ainsi que des services de protection, de soutien psychosocial, de santé, de nutrition, de vaccination, d’éducation et de développement des compétences.
Alors que 2025 s’ouvre dans un contexte d'instabilité persistante, de bouleversements politiques, d'incertitude économique et de multiplication des crises humanitaires, l’organisation doit plus que jamais donner le meilleur d’elle-même. Or, les coupes annoncées et attendues dans les financements de l’aide internationale limitent notre capacité à venir en aide aux millions d’enfants les plus vulnérables.
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El año 2024 fue especialmente difícil para la infancia. Los conflictos cada vez más violentos, las conmociones climáticas y la pobreza provocaron un aumento drástico de las necesidades de los niños y niñas, justo cuando los recursos necesarios para atenderlas se reducían de forma constante. ...
Pese a todo, tal como muestra este Informe anual, UNICEF mantuvo su presencia en más de 190 países y territorios, donde protegió y salvó la vida a millones de niños y niñas incluso en los lugares más remotos. En colaboración con nuestros aliados, suministramos agua salubre e instalaciones de saneamiento, brindamos protección y apoyo psicosocial y prestamos servicios de salud, nutrición, inmunización, educación y capacitación.
En 2025, el panorama mundial sigue estando presidido por cambios políticos importantes, volatilidad, incertidumbre económica y crisis humanitarias cada vez más graves. Si queremos rendir frutos, UNICEF debe dar lo mejor de sí.
Pero los recortes en la financiación –los que ya se han anunciado y los que hay previstos– están limitando la capacidad de UNICEF para llegar a millones de niños y niñas en situación de extrema necesidad. Estos nuevos recortes están generando una crisis mundial de financiación que pondrá en peligro la vida de millones de niños y niñas más.
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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 improves asthma control and quality of life. The aim of this journal is to provide an eviden...ce-based approach for chronic asthma management in young children and adolescents and provide guidance on the use of new asthma drugs in children.
For that, the South African Childhood Asthma Working Group (SACAWG) convened in January 2017. The asthma treatment task group reviewed the available scientific literature and international asthma treatment guidelines. The evidence was then graded according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system and recommendations were made based on scientific evidence and local context. Asthma management recommendations were made for children ˂6 years of age and older children and adolescents, as well as for stepping up and stepping down of therapy. This review does not include biologics or novel asthma drugs, which are covered in another CME article in this edition of SAMJ.
The final conclusions are that it is important to ensure good response, treatment and adherence, type of medication, device and checking of technique are all critical. Stepping up of therapy should be done only after ensuring good adherence and technique. Once therapeutic response is achieved, medication administration has to be stepped down to improve ease of use and avoid unnecessary side-effects.
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Asthma is a heterogeneous condition characterised by chronic inflammation and variable expiratory airflow limitation, as well as airway reversibility. The diagnosis of asthma in young children is limited by the inability to perform objective lung function testing in this group of patients and the wi...de variety of conditions that can phenotypically present with asthma-like symptoms.
This article provides an evidence-based approach for clinicians to accurately diagnose asthma in young children and to assess the level of control to guide therapeutic decisions.
The South African Childhood Asthma Working Group (SACAWG) convened in January 2017 with task groups, each headed by a section leader, constituting the editorial committee on assessment of asthma epidemiology, diagnosis, control, treatments, novel treatments and self-management plans. The asthma diagnosis and control task groups reviewed the available scientific literature and assigned evidence according to the Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system, providing recommendations based on current evidence.
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The increasing prevalence of childhood asthma in the developed world is a cause for concern. A so-called Western lifestyle has been the factor most commonly cited to explain this worrying increase in asthma prevalence. Early studies in a limited number of African countries showed a very low rural pr...evalence of childhood asthma, especially where children lived according to a traditional lifestyle. These same studies showed that asthma was not uncommon in urbanized African children. There has been an
increasing tendency over the past 20 years for those in rural communities to move to the large urban centers. This article analyses the urban-rural differences and factors that influence the development of asthma in susceptible children.
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Malar J . 2025 Jan 5;24:1. doi: 10.1186/s12936-024-05235-z
This review examines the role of routine malaria vaccination in Africa as a key strategy toward malaria elimination, explores challenges and solutions for widespread vaccine implementation, and discusses future directions in the ongoing fi...ght to eliminate malaria on the continent.
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Malar J 23, 333 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-024-05165-w.
Prioritization of spending on prevention, anti-malarial medicines, and health systems strengthening can fight incident cases and fatalities simultaneously, especially in resource-scarce, malaria-endemic countries. Furthermore, imp...roving the availability, frequency of collection, and quality of detailed disaggregated spending data is essential to support work that strengthens the evidence base on spending efficiency and work that improves understanding of how spending on malaria could be leveraged to bridge gaps in equity across population groups.
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This video highlights the significant risks that malaria poses to pregnant and breastfeeding women in malaria-endemic regions. It follows the stories of Angavu from Kenya, Moyinoluwa from Nigeria and Lamai from Thailand. It emphasises the severe consequences that malaria can have during pregnancy, i...ncluding miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight and maternal death. Due to safety concerns, pregnant women are often excluded from antimalarial drug trials, which causes long delays in effective medicines becoming available for this vulnerable group. To address this issue, the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) launched the Malaria in Mothers and Babies (MiMBa) initiative, which aims to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of safe antimalarial treatments for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The initiative aims to close critical gaps in research, drug development, and access, ensuring that these women and their babies are better protected against malaria. The video calls for continued efforts to address the needs of underserved populations most affected by malaria.
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Asthma is a common breathing condition. Chances are that at least one in every fifth person will have it. People with asthma might have a cough, or wheeze and a feeling of tightness in their chests. A group of researchers from the United Kingdom teamed up with seven African countries to learn about ...the challenges that children living with asthma in Africa face. One part of their research focuses on air pollution specifically. This research indicates ways to deal with asthma triggers and help more people understand asthma and enjoy a normal active life.
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Le paludisme, maladie parasitaire causée par le Plasmodium et transmise par les moustiques Anopheles, reste la première endémie parasitaire mondiale. Malgré une baisse significative de l’incidence et de la mortalité entre 2000 et 2013, grâce aux moustiquaires, aux traitements ACT et aux test...s rapides, la maladie continue de représenter un lourd fardeau pour les pays d’endémie, en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne. En 2013, on estimait encore à 198 millions le nombre de cas et à 584 000 le nombre de décès, principalement touchant les jeunes enfants. La lutte contre le paludisme est un objectif majeur de santé publique mondiale, soutenu notamment par le Fonds mondial. Le paludisme représente aussi un risque non négligeable pour les voyageurs, avec plus de 4 000 cas d’importation en France en 2014. L’absence de vaccin efficace et l’augmentation des résistances rendent la prévention de plus en plus difficile.
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Depending on the health profile of the traveller, the type of travel to be undertaken, and the place of transit and destination, travellers may face various health risks during travel. The International travel and health collection is an update of International travel and health (2012) and serves as... an entry point for other World Health Organization (WHO) publications that provide further information. Its primary target audience is travel health practitioners and travel health professionals, who provide health advice to travellers on appropriate precautions to be taken to minimize any travel-related health risks in unfamiliar environments, before, during and after travel. The guidance may also be of interest to health authorities who intend to support travel health professionals in their jurisdiction or develop
health advice for their population. It may also be of interest to travellers who wish to obtain such information for themselves as well as those working in the travel industry, such as agents and organizers, airlines and shipping companies.
Module 3 outlines the clinical features, geographical distribution and chemoprophylaxis against malaria, as well as personal protection measures against mosquitoes that travellers should take during their journey and at destinations, and treatment for those who are infected.
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Published by the World Health Organization, International Travel and Health 2012 provides comprehensive guidance on the health risks associated with international travel, as well as practical measures to prevent or reduce adverse health outcomes. Although the book is primarily intended for medical a...nd public health professionals who advise travellers, it is also useful for travel agents, transport providers and informed travellers. It covers a variety of topics, such as preventing infectious diseases, environmental hazards, accident risks, vaccination requirements, malaria prophylaxis and travel medical kits. Particular attention is given to travellers visiting friends and relatives, those travelling at short notice, and those journeying to remote or high-risk destinations. Recommendations are based on individual health status, destination, travel duration and behaviour. The publication emphasises the shared responsibility of travellers, healthcare providers and the travel industry in promoting safe travel and minimising preventable illnesses. Online updates provide real-time information on outbreaks, vaccine guidance and disease distribution.
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يحتوي الموجز من المنشور الرئيسي لمنظمة الأغذية والزراعة، حالة الأمن الغذائي والتغذية في العالم 2022، على الرسائل الرئيسية والنقاط لأساسية من المنشور ويستهدف وسائل ا...لإعلام وواضعي السياسات وعامة الجمهور.
يرها من المواد المتصلة بنشر الرئيسي وتتوفر أيضا :
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