OBJECTIVES

This study determined the prevalence of BBD among toilet-trained children attending a tertiary hospital’s pediatric outpatient clinic, and to evaluate the effectiveness of standard urotherapy among affected children.

METHODS

A prospective interventional study was conducted among 144 toilet-trained children aged 7 to 12 years seen at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital outpatient clinic from August 2025 to September 2025. Sociodemographic data were collected, and BBD was screened using the validated Filipino version of the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Scores (DVSS) questionnaire. Children with BBD underwent standard urotherapy, which included behavioral and lifestyle interventions such as timed voiding, adequate hydration, constipation management and proper voiding posture. DVSS assessments were repeated at two and four weeks.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of BBD was 22.9% (33 of 144). BBD was significantly more prevalent among females (31.88%) than males (14.67%) (adjusted OR = 2.96, 95% CI: 1.28–6.86; p = 0.011). At baseline, children with BBD had significantly higher mean total DVSS scores (9.15 ± 3.64) compared to those without (2.01 ± 1.80, pCONCLUSION

Standard urotherapy proved effective in reducing symptom scores within two weeks and resulted in complete clinical resolution after four weeks among those who continued therapy. Routine screenings for BBD using DVSS and early initiation of standard urotherapy in pediatric outpatient settings are recommended to prevent complications and improve children’s urinary and bowel health.

Human ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; World Health Organization ; Outpatient Clinics, Hospital ; Mass Screening ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Constipation ; Ambulatory Care Facilities

A singular medical incident can alert health officials to an emerging, if not widespread, but possibly undetected publichealth concern.

Our issue contains a remarkable case of a ruptured hepatic abscess in a 3-year-old, which turned out to be MethicillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by authors Torrico and Tarnate.The concern is that the infection is communityacquired,and the patient was immunocompetent. This sounds the alarm for the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)in the communities and calls for a response from health authorities to investigate, analyze, and propose solutions for sucha sentinel event.

We need to support these efforts and, in this issue, we publish such work from our investigators. Antimicrobial resistanceis an urgent global health concern.The impact is magnified in low to middle-income countries where health risks are high,and health infrastructure is weak. Thus, it is imperative that determinants of AMR are scrutinized to allow crafting offocused strategies to combat the problem.

The article by Dela Cruz and Hernandez on the prevalence and practices of antibiotic misuse among adult residents ofRodriguez, Rizal, contributes to this analysis.The paper reveals a disturbing prevalence of self-medication and identifiesbarriers to accessing proper health education and care. This is a global problem, and the paper from Brazil relates the observationof community pharmacists of antibiotic misuse to the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

Dela Cruz and Hernandez recommend stricter antibiotic regulation, and this falls squarely into the scope of concernof another article in this issue, the “Research Needs in Philippine Pharmaceutical Sciences: A Qualitative Perspective fromRegulatory and Clinical Research Sectors of the Pharmaceutical Industry” by Pena and co-authors.Interestingly, whiledrug registration and clinical trials were the focus of the paper, it may be a desired expansion of the regulatory reach of theindustry to temper the use of antibiotics as it is being dispensed to end users.Antimicrobial stewardship involves ethicalpromotion of use and equitable access to appropriate treatment, and these concerns require the responsible participation of thepharmaceutical industry.

Health challenges are complex. The analysis of these challenges requires surveillance of literature for sentinel events, useof community-based research to investigate phenomena, and system mapping to identify relevant sectors to improve strategyand to involve relevant stakeholders.

We support this type of scholarship, which seeks to expand the focus from isolated clinical interventions towards placinga spotlight on relevant work that will lead to impactful reform of broad health ecosystems.

Human ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Therapeutics ; Staphylococcus Aureus ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Research Personnel ; Health Services Needs And Demand ; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ; Antimicrobial Stewardship

BACKGROUND

Stunting remains a major public health issue in Indonesia, particularly in regions like Pandeglang Regency, where prevalence rates are high. Understanding the contributing factors is essential for targeted interventions.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze factors associated with stunting among toddlers using a mixed-methods approach.

METHODS

A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted in two health centers in Banten Province from December 2021 to January 2022. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using chi-square tests (pRESULTS

There is a relationship between maternal knowledge, history of exclusive breastfeeding, history of supplementary feeding, support from health workers, and socio-economic status with the prevalence of stunting. However, the pattern of exclusive breastfeeding and seeking health services in the working areas of Bangkonol Health Center and Kaduhejo Health Center, Pandeglang Regency, is not good enough and needs to be improved. Health workers need to educate mothers with toddlers about patterns of providing complementary feeding, food preparation, and storage, and basic health practices to prevent stunting.

RESULTS

There is a relationship between maternal knowledge, history of exclusive breastfeeding, history of supplementary feeding, support from health workers, and socio-economic status with the prevalence of stunting. However, the pattern of exclusive breastfeeding and seeking health services in the working areas of Bangkonol Health Center and Kaduhejo Health Center, Pandeglang Regency, is not good enough and needs to be improved. Health workers need to educate mothers with toddlers about patterns of providing complementary feeding, food preparation, and storage, and basic health practices to prevent stunting.

Human ; Infant: 1-23 Months ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Public Health ; Prevalence ; Methods ; Indonesia ; Health ; Growth Disorders ; Comprehension

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroids have been used in ophthalmology for its potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. Although the role of corticosteroid treatment is pivotal in the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases and as postoperative management of patients who undergo ocular surgeries, intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation has been a significant ocular side effect that could result after steroid use. Evaluating the changes in IOP in pediatric eyes will provide early detection and timely intervention to prevent glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the incidence of IOP elevation among pediatric patients given corticosteroids after strabismus surgery in a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines.

METHODS

This is a single-center, retrospective, observational study that employs review of the clinical records of pediatric patients who underwent strabismus surgery between January 2015 and December 2022. This study was conducted last February to November 2023. Data were gathered and descriptively summarized regarding patient demographics, ophthalmologic diagnosis, type of strabismus surgery performed, preoperative and postoperative IOP readings, frequency and duration of postoperative topical steroid use, and treatment received and response to elevated IOP.

RESULTS

Forty-five (28.48%) out of the 158 pediatric patients who had strabismus surgery during the study period met the inclusion criteria for the study. The mean age of pediatric patients was 11.38 ± 5.28 years (range 2-18 years old). There were more males (55.6%) than females. All patients were administered Tobramycin + Dexamethasone eyedrops, ointment or both. The baseline, peak, and net change in IOP were 13.5 ± 2.7 mmHg, 23.1 ± 8.8 mmHg and 10 ± 8.4 mmHg respectively. IOP increased in thirty-seven (82.2%) of the patients from baseline, and 21 (56.7%) of them had a considerable rise. For most patients with considerable rise of IOP, topical steroid medication was either stopped or immediately tapered off. Nine patients received topical IOP-lowering medicine, and most of them returned to normal IOP levels two months following surgery. After then, topical IOP-lowering drugs were stopped.

CONCLUSION

IOP elevation following strabismus surgery was frequently associated with topical steroid usage, and most patients experienced considerable IOP elevation. It is highly advised to closely monitor IOP following strabismus surgery, particularly in children receiving topical steroid treatment.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Child: 6-12 Yrs Old ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Strabismus ; Intraocular Pressure ; Ophthalmology ; World Health Organization ; Optic Nerve Diseases ; Volition ; General Surgery

Drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) is used for directly visualizing sites of obstruction among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Owing to the scarcity of data, there is still no consensus on the anesthetic regimen for conducting pediatric DISE.

This paper presents a 5-year-old patient who underwent DISE using an opioid-sparing regimen with dexmedetomidine and propofol infusion.

Simultaneous dexmedetomidine and propofol infusion is a promising opioid-sparing regimen for pediatric DISE.

Human ; Male ; Child Preschool: 2-5 Yrs Old ; Endoscopy ; Propofol ; Dexmedetomidine ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Anesthetics ; Apnea ; Consensus ; Paper ; Patients ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; Research Report ; Sleep ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; World Health Organization

PURPOSE: To comprehensively analyze the geographic and temporal trends of foot fracture, understand its health burden by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI), and explore its leading causes from 1990 to 2019. METHODS: The datasets in the present study were generated from the Global Burden of Diseases Study 2019, which included foot fracture data from 1990 to 2019. We extracted estimates along with the 95% uncertainty interval (UI) for the incidence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of foot fracture by location, age, gender, and cause. The epidemiology and burden of foot fracture at the global, regional, and national level was exhibited. Next, we presented the age and sex patterns of foot fracture. The leading cause of foot fracture was another focus of this study from the viewpoint of age, sex, and location. Then, Pearson's correlations between age-standardized rate (ASR), SDI, and estimated annual percentage change were calculated. RESULTS: The age-standardized incidence rate was 138.68 (95% UI: 104.88 - 182.53) per 100,000 persons for both sexes, 174.24 (95% UI: 134.35 - 222.49) per 100,000 persons for males, and 102.19 (95% UI: 73.28 - 138.00) per 100,000 persons for females in 2019. The age-standardized YLDs rate was 5.91 (95% UI: 3.58 - 9.25) per 100,000 persons for both genders, 7.35 (95% UI: 4.45 - 11.50) per 100,000 persons for males, and 4.51 (95% UI: 2.75 - 7.03) per 100,000 persons for females in 2019. The global incidence and YLDs of foot fracture increased in number and decreased in ASR from 1990 to 2019. The global geographical distribution of foot fracture is uneven. The incidence rate for males peaked at the age group of 20 - 24 years, while that for females increased with advancing age. The incidence rate of older people was rising, as younger age incidence rate declined from 1990 to 2019. Falls, exposure to mechanical forces, and road traffic injuries were the 3 leading causes of foot fracture. Correlations were observed between ASR, estimated annual percentage change, and SDI. CONCLUSIONS The burden of foot fracture remains high globally, and it poses an enormous public health challenge, with population aging. It is necessary to allocate more resources to the high-risk populations. Targeted realistic intervention policies and strategies are warranted.
Humans ; Male ; Female ; Incidence ; Fractures, Bone/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Adult ; Global Health ; Aged ; Global Burden of Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Young Adult ; Foot Injuries/epidemiology* ; Cost of Illness ; Child, Preschool ; Aged, 80 and over ; Infant

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of routine childhood immunization depends on timely vaccine uptake and facility use patterns. This study examined the association between pediatric vaccination facility use patterns and routine childhood immunization uptake among children up to age eight years. METHODS: As part of the Kochi Adjunct Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), we analyzed data from 1,644 participants whose Maternal and Child Health Handbook photographs were collected in the eighth year of the cohort study. Maternal and Child Health Handbook records determined immunization completion. Participants were categorized into four groups based on pediatric vaccination facility use patterns: single facility use throughout, multiple facility use during the first period, multiple facility use during the second period, and multiple facility use throughout both periods. Maternal and child characteristics were collected via paper-based questionnaires. Associations between facility use patterns, sociodemographic factors, and immunization completion were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, routine childhood immunization completion was observed in 1,259 (76.6%) participants. Chi-square tests indicated that marital status, educational level, lower parity, never smoking, not attending nursery, and breastfeeding practice for infants aged four months old were significantly associated with routine childhood immunization completion. Single facility use throughout the immunization period was observed in 1,011 (61.5%) participants. Multiple facility use (38.5%) was associated with higher odds of routine childhood immunization incompletion than single facility use. This association was the strongest for those who used multiple facilities throughout the vaccination period (adjusted odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-2.91). CONCLUSIONS Single pediatric facility use was associated with higher routine immunization uptake. Our findings suggest that encouraging the use of one medical institution for a child's vaccinations may be a useful approach to consider when addressing vaccination coverage challenges.
Humans ; Japan ; Female ; Male ; Infant ; Child, Preschool ; Health Facilities/statistics & numerical data* ; Child ; Vaccination/statistics & numerical data* ; Adult ; Immunization/statistics & numerical data* ; Cohort Studies ; Infant, Newborn

BACKGROUND: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and malaria pose a major health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Initially, we performed a descriptive analysis of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 database, categorizing data by subtypes. Next, linear regression models were employed to analyze temporal trends. We then utilized four predictive models to forecast the future burden. Additionally, we explored the relationship between estimated annual percentage change (EAPCs) and age-standardized rates (ASRs), as well as Human Development Index (HDI) scores for 2021. Furthermore, decomposition analysis was applied to assess the influence of aging, population dynamics, and epidemiological changes. Lastly, frontier analysis was conducted to examine the connection between disease burden and sociodemographic development. RESULTS: In 2021, NTDs and malaria contributed significantly to the global disease burden, with considerable disparities across genders, age groups, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) regions, GBD regions, and individual countries. From 1990 to 2021, both the number of cases and the associated ASRs have shown a recent downward trend. The EAPCs are positively correlated with ASRs and HDI scores. Projections indicate a continued decline in disease burden through 2046. Additionally, our decomposition analysis highlighted the positive impact of aging and epidemiological shifts on the reduction of the disease burden. Finally, frontier analysis revealed that countries and regions with higher SDI scores have greater potential for further reducing their health burden. CONCLUSION While the global burden of NTDs and malaria has improved overall, significant disparities remain across regions and countries. Our findings highlight the importance of implementing targeted intervention strategies and maintaining sustained investments to tackle the ongoing challenges.
Malaria/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Neglected Diseases/epidemiology* ; Global Burden of Disease/trends* ; Global Health/statistics & numerical data* ; Male ; Female ; Tropical Medicine ; Adult ; Cost of Illness ; Child, Preschool ; Middle Aged ; Adolescent ; Young Adult ; Infant

BACKGROUND: Changes in socioeconomic inequalities in health behaviours following the COVID-19 pandemic remain unknown, particularly among Japanese school-aged adolescents. Therefore, in this study, we examined changes in socioeconomic inequalities in school-aged adolescents' health behaviours, including physical activity (PA), screen time (ST), sleep duration, breakfast consumption, and bowel movement frequency, before and after the pandemic. METHODS: This three-wave repeated cross-sectional study utilised data from the 2019, 2021, and 2023 National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People in Japan, analysing data from 766, 725, and 604 participants aged 12-18 years, respectively. Favourable health behaviours were defined as moderate-to-vigorous PA of ≥60 min/day, ST <2 h/day, sleep duration of 8-10 h, daily breakfast consumption, and bowel movements at least every 3 days. Absolute and relative socioeconomic inequalities were quantified using the slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative index of inequality (RII). Temporal changes were analysed using quadratic trend analyses, employing interaction terms between socioeconomic status and survey year. RESULTS: Significant quadratic trends indicated that socioeconomic inequalities in breakfast consumption decreased substantially from 2019 (SII: 20.7%, RII: 5.09) to 2021 (SII: -0.1%, RII: 0.95) but resurged in 2023 (SII: 16.2%, RII: 3.70). This resurgence may have been primarily driven by changes among those in the moderately low-income (poverty level II) and higher-income groups, which had a breakfast consumption rate of 81.0, 87.0, and 76.4% in 2019, 2021, and 2023, and 88.7, 82.1, and 87.5%, respectively. Among low-income households, adherence to PA recommendations significantly declined from 18.6% to 5.3%, and ST adherence worsened over the study period. No significant inequalities or trends were observed for sleep duration or bowel movement frequency across survey years. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic disparities in breakfast consumption among Japanese school-aged adolescents resurfaced after initially narrowing during the pandemic, likely driven by changes in moderately low-income and higher-income groups. Among low-income households, adherence to PA and ST guidelines declined over time. However, at the population level, socioeconomic inequalities in PA did not exhibit a consistent trend of widening or narrowing. This study highlights the need for sustained public health initiatives to address these socioeconomic disparities.
Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Breakfast ; COVID-19/psychology* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Exercise ; Health Behavior ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Screen Time ; Sleep ; Socioeconomic Factors ; East Asian People

OBJECTIVES: The 24-hour movement behaviors, comprising physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, are crucial factors affecting children's mental health. This study aims to explore the longitudinal association between 24-hour movement behaviors and psychological well-being in overweight and obese children, providing empirical evidence for mental health promotion in this population. METHODS: A total of 445 overweight and obese children were recruited via stratified cluster random sampling from a provincial capital city in China and followed up for one year. Measures included objectively assessed physical activity and sleep duration using triaxial accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+), parent-reported sedentary screen-based time (SST), and self-reported psychological well-being. RESULTS: After one year, the proportion of children meeting all 3 movement guidelines increased from 10.11% to 11.68%, while those meeting none increased from 11.24% to 15.06%. After adjusting for relevant covariates, children who met individual guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (β=0.377, 95% CI 0.209 to 0.545), sleep (β=0.187, 95% CI 0.042 to 0.332), or guideline combinations of MVPA+SST (β=0.545, 95% CI 0.377 to 0.713) and MVPA+sleep (β=0.602, 95% CI 0.449 to 0.755) showed significant improvements in psychological well-being after one year. Additionally, an increase in the number of guidelines met was significantly associated with improved well-being (β=0.113, 95% CI 0.011 to 0.214). CONCLUSIONS Adherence to any single movement guideline, especially MVPA or sleep, and combinations such as MVPA+SST or MVPA+sleep is significantly associated with enhanced psychological well-being in overweight and obese children. Integrated behaviors may be an effective strategy to improve mental well-being in this population.
Humans ; Child ; Exercise/psychology* ; Sleep ; Sedentary Behavior ; Female ; Male ; Pediatric Obesity/psychology* ; Overweight/psychology* ; Mental Health ; China ; Accelerometry ; Psychological Well-Being