INTRODUCTION: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with significant long-term impacts, yet few interventions specifically target ACE exposure, especially in Asian populations. Anchor, Singapore's first home visitation programme, addresses maltreat-ment among preschool children. This study evaluated Anchor's impact on children's developmental and behavioural outcomes. METHOD: We conducted a prospective evaluation of children under 4 years assessed for maltreatment from November 2019 to July 2023. Developmental and behavioural progress was measured every 6 months using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3) and ASQ:Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE-2), and annually using the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). RESULTS: The results of 125 children (mean age 20.0 months, 48% female) were analysed. The mean length of stay in programme was 21.2 (7.3) months. At baseline, 92 (73.6%) children were at risk of develop-mental delay and 25 (31.7%) children aged ≥18 months had behavioural concerns. The programme was associated with significant improvements in gross motor (P=0.002) and fine motor (P=0.001) domains of the ASQ-3 and internalising problem scale (P=0.001) of the CBCL. CONCLUSION Anchor effectively enhances develop-mental and behavioural outcomes for children exposed to maltreatment. Targeted early intervention through such programmes can mitigate adverse impacts, optimising developmental trajectories and potentially reducing the long-term clinical and economic burdens associated with ACEs.
Humans ; Female ; Male ; Child Abuse/therapy* ; Child, Preschool ; Singapore ; House Calls ; Infant ; Prospective Studies ; Child Development ; Developmental Disabilities/epidemiology* ; Program Evaluation ; Child Behavior Disorders ; Child Behavior

Adult ; Anxiety ; psychology ; Attitude to Health ; Caregivers ; psychology ; Child, Preschool ; Depression ; psychology ; Focus Groups ; Grandparents ; psychology ; Humans ; Infant ; Parenting ; psychology ; Parents ; psychology ; Poverty ; psychology ; Preventive Health Services ; Singapore ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Children with a diagnosis of cross-reactive hypersensitivity to both paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are limited in their choice of antipyretics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a Chinese proprietary medicine, Yin Qiao San (YQS), for fever relief. METHODS: A single centre, open label, prospective clinical trial exploring the tolerability and feasibility of using YQS for fever relief in children who are unable to use conventional antipyretic medications. Children between 1-18 years of age with hypersensitivity to multiple antipyretics were recruited. Eligible participants underwent an oral provocation test with YQS. Children who passed the oral provocation test were instructed to take a prescribed dose of YQS when the temperature was >38.0℃ and continued till the fever settled. Time taken for fever resolution and any adverse events were collected. RESULTS: A total of 21 children, mean age 10.7 years, had a diagnosis of paracetamol and ibuprofen hypersensitivity. All except one patient successfully tolerated an oral challenge of YQS. Of the 88 doses of YQS taken for fever over 38.0℃, 16 (18%) had documented temperature reduction 2 hours after ingestion and 30 (34%) had documented temperature reduction 4 hours after ingestion. There were 2 reports of urticaria after YQS use which were attributed to flare of recurrent spontaneous urticaria during the illness. None of the patients developed symptoms of circulatory compromise or respiratory distress. CONCLUSION: YQS is generally well tolerated in patients with paracetamol and ibuprofen hypersensitivity.
Acetaminophen ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Antipyretics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Child ; Cyclooxygenase 1 ; Diagnosis ; Eating ; Fever ; Herbal Medicine ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Ibuprofen ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Urticaria

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to determine compliance with noninvasive home ventilation in children with obstructive sleep apnoea and the factors affecting this compliance.

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 51 children who were prescribed noninvasive home ventilation for the management of obstructive sleep apnoea from 1 January 2000 until 31 May 2008. Noninvasive ventilation was started based on positive polysomnogram, i.e. obstructive apnoea hypopnea index ≥ 1/hr. Compliance was defined as the use of noninvasive ventilation ≥ 4 days/week.

RESULTSNoninvasive home ventilation was started at a median age of 11.5 years. In all, 21 (41.2 %) children were reported to be compliant with treatment. Univariate analysis revealed that the female gender (p = 0.017), presence of asthma (p = 0.023), presence of genetic syndromes (p = 0.023), use of bi-level ventilation versus continuous positive airway pressure (p = 0.027), and funding from the social work department (p = 0.049) were associated with compliance with noninvasive home ventilation. Logistic regression revealed the presence of asthma (p = 0.008) and female gender (p = 0.047) to be significantly associated with compliance with treatment. However, factors such as counselling prior to initiation of treatment, severity of obstructive sleep apnoea before initiation of treatment, obesity, use of humidification, and polysomnogram indices were not found to be associated with treatment compliance.

CONCLUSIONOnly 41.2% of the children in this study were reported to be compliant with noninvasive home ventilation. The female gender and the presence of asthma were associated with treatment compliance. Future research focusing on effective methods to improve compliance with noninvasive home ventilation in children should be undertaken.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comorbidity ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; Patient Compliance ; Polysomnography ; Regression Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; complications ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; complications ; therapy

BACKGROUND: We have noticed changes in paediatric anaphylaxis triggers locally in Singapore. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features, causative agents and management of children presenting with anaphylaxis. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of Singaporean children presenting with anaphylaxis between January 2005 and December 2009 to a tertiary paediatric hospital. RESULTS: One hundred and eight cases of anaphylaxis in 98 children were included. Food was the commonest trigger (63%), followed by drugs (30%), whilst 7% were idiopathic. Peanut was the top food trigger (19%), followed by egg (12%), shellfish (10%) and bird's nest (10%). Ibuprofen was the commonest cause of drug induced anaphylaxis (50%), followed by paracetamol (15%) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, 12%). The median age of presentation for all anaphylaxis cases was 7.9 years old (interquartile range 3.6 to 10.8 years), but food triggers occurred significantly earlier compared to drugs (median 4.9 years vs. 10.5 years, p < 0.05). Mucocutaneous (91%) and respiratory features (88%) were the principal presenting symptoms. Drug anaphylaxis was more likely to result in hypotension compared to food anaphylaxis (21.9% vs. 2.7%, Fisher's exact probability < 0.01). There were 4 reported cases (3.6%) of biphasic reaction occurring within 24 h of anaphylaxis. CONCLUSION: Food anaphylaxis patterns have changed over time in our study cohort of Singaporean children. Peanuts allergy, almost absent a decade ago, is currently the top food trigger, whilst seafood and bird's nest continue to be an important cause of food anaphylaxis locally. NSAIDs and paracetamol hypersensitivity are unique causes of drug induced anaphylaxis locally.
Acetaminophen ; Anaphylaxis ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Arachis ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Drug Hypersensitivity ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Hypotension ; Ibuprofen ; Ovum ; Retrospective Studies ; Seafood ; Shellfish ; Singapore

Asthma ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Cost of Illness ; Humans ; Patient Admission ; trends ; Singapore ; epidemiology