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Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health concern in India, especially among households with children and young adolescents aged 6-17 years. Despite ongoing research, there is a knowledge gap regarding specific risk factors for TB within this demographic. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining the association between TB and various socio-demographic factors, including socioeconomic status, nutritional status, and environmental conditions., Data and Methods: Utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 4th and 5th round (2015-16 and 2019-21), this study conducted a comprehensive cross-sectional analysis. Unadjusted and Adjusted Logistic regression is utilized to identify key factors influencing TB. Furthermore, Wagstaff decomposition analysis is applied, to quantifying the factors that contributes to the inequalities in social determinants on the wealth-related inequality observed in the prevalence of TB., Results: The study observed a notable decline in TB prevalence from 1.7 to 1.2% among individuals from households having children and young adolescents aged 6-17 years. Additionally, factors like the use of unclean cooking fuel, lack of electricity, and unimproved toilet facilities were associated with increased TB prevalence. Wealth-based inequality in TB prevalence was also evident, with the burden falling disproportionately on poorer households. Unclean fuel is the most significant determinant of wealth-based inequality in TB, contributing to nearly 2/5th (18.5% in NFHS-4) of the observed inequality. Notably, gender did not significantly influence TB prevalence., Conclusion: The decline in TB prevalence in India correlates with improvements in socio-economic and living conditions, as evidenced by increased access to better housing, clean fuel, and sanitation facilities. The study underscores the need for integrated public health strategies that address both medical and socio-environmental determinants of TB. Improving socio-economic conditions, alongside targeted healthcare interventions, appears vital in reducing the TB burden in high-prevalence settings like India. This research emphasizes the importance of comprehensive approaches to combat pediatric TB, combining clinical care with enhancements in living standards and access to basic amenities., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This study utilizes secondary data which is available for public use with prior approval and thus, does not require ethics approval. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Clinical Trial: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Mpox is a severe viral zoonosis that has emerged as a public health concern due to its potential for human-to-human transmission and severe illness. Understanding its clinical manifestations is crucial for effective management and control. Several systematic reviews have assessed various manifestations of Mpox. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence on Mpox's manifestations across different organ systems., Method: We conducted an umbrella review, adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, focusing on systematic reviews of Mpox manifestations. We performed a literature search up to 25th September 2023, in databases like PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. We included systematic reviews of observational studies, case reports, case series, or RCTs reporting any manifestations of Mpox in humans, focusing on a global scope. AMSTAR 2 was used to evaluate the quality of systematic reviews, and data has been synthesized in narrative and tabular manners., Results: A total of 25 systematic reviews were included, uncovering diverse manifestations of Mpox, such as cutaneous, cardiovascular, oral, ophthalmic, gastrointestinal, respiratory, and pregnancy-related. Cutaneous manifestations (up to 100%) were the most prevalent, featuring lesions and rashes. Constitutional symptoms of viral illness were reported in ~ 60% to > 85% of the cases. Significant respiratory symptoms were present in ~ 50% of cases overall. Headaches were the leading neurological symptom present in > 30%. Symptoms of gastrointestinal involvement ranged from 39% (oral lesions) with decreasing frequency to low diarrhea at ~ 5%, with proctitis percentages ranging from high teens to mid-twenties. Ophthalmic manifestations (6% but with wide variations among studies). Many primary studies included in the systematic reviews consisted of case reports and case series. A wide range of manifestations across different organ systems was observed. Negative outcomes for pregnancies were reported, but evidence is limited. Adverse cardiovascular and neurological outcomes were identified, though only a few studies provided insights into these findings., Conclusion: Mpox exhibits diverse manifestations, impacting multiple organ systems, with substantial variations. The findings highlight the importance of ongoing, nuanced, and region-specific research and management strategies for Mpox. The reliance on case reports and series underscores the need for more high-quality, long-term studies to deepen our understanding and management of this significant public health concern., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to severe cardiovascular complications. Anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, is proposed to benefit the hyperinflammatory state of MIS-C, potentially improving cardiac function. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of early Anakinra administration on cardiac outcomes in children with MIS-C., Methods: A comprehensive search across PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science until March 2024 identified studies using Anakinra to treat MIS-C with reported cardiac outcomes. Observational cohorts and clinical trials were included, with data extraction focusing on cardiac function metrics and inflammatory markers. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale., Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria, ranging from retrospective cohorts to prospective clinical studies, predominantly from the USA. Anakinra dosages ranged from 2.3 to 10 mg/kg based on disease severity. Several studies showed significant improvements in left ventricular ejection fraction and reductions in inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, suggesting Anakinra's role in enhancing cardiac function and mitigating inflammation. However, findings on vasoactive support needs were mixed, and some studies did not report significant changes in acute cardiac support requirements., Conclusion: Early Anakinra administration shows potential for improving cardiac function and reducing inflammation in children with MIS-C, particularly those with severe manifestations. However, the existing evidence is limited by the observational nature of most studies and lacks randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Further high-quality RCTs are necessary to conclusively determine Anakinra's effectiveness and optimize its use in MIS-C management for better long-term cardiac outcomes and standardized treatment protocols., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is increasingly recognized as a significant risk factor in the development of head and neck cancers (HNCs), with varying prevalence and impact. This study aims to systematically review and analyze the prevalence of HPV in HNCs in India, providing insights into regional variations., Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out using PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science up to November 10, 2023. Inclusion criteria focused on original research reporting HPV-positive cases among HNC patients in India. We used Nested-Knowledge software, for screening, and data extraction. The modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment of included studies. We pooled the prevalence of HPV among HNC patients and performed a random-effects model meta-analysis using R software (version 4.3)., Results: The search yielded 33 studies, encompassing 4654 HNC patients. The pooled prevalence of HPV infection was found to be 33% (95% CI: 25.8-42.6), with notable heterogeneity (I² = 95%). Analysis of subgroups according to geographical location indicated varying prevalence rates. Specifically, the prevalence was 47% (95% CI: 32.2-62.4) in the eastern regions and 19.8% (95% CI: 10.8-33.4) in the western regions. No evidence of publication bias was detected., Conclusion: The observed considerable regional disparities on the prevalence of HPV in HNC patients in India emphasizes the need for integrated HPV vaccination and screening programs in public health strategies. The findings underline the necessity for further research to explore regional variations and treatment responses in HPV-associated HNCs, considering the impact of factors such as tobacco use and the potential benefits of HPV vaccination., (© 2024. The Author(s).)