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The Countrywide Mortality Surveillance for Action project aims to implement a child mortality surveillance program through strengthening vital registration event reporting (pregnancy, birth, and death) and investigating causes of death (CODs) based on verbal autopsies. In Quelimane (central Mozambique), Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS) procedures were added to fine-tune the COD approaches. Before the implementation of MITS, an evaluation of the acceptability and ethical considerations of child mortality surveillance was considered fundamental. A socio-anthropological study was conducted in Quelimane, using observations, informal conversations, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions with healthcare providers, nharrubes (traditional authorities who handle bodies before the funeral), community and religious leaders, and traditional birth attendants to understand the locally relevant potential facilitators and barriers to the acceptability of MITS. Audio materials were transcribed, systematically coded, and analyzed using NVIVO12®. The desire to know the COD, intention to discharge the elders from accusations of witchcraft, involvement of leaders in disseminating project information, and provision of transport for bodies back to the community constitute potential facilitators for the acceptability of MITS implementation. In contrast, poor community mobilization, disagreement with Islamic religious practices, and local traditional beliefs were identified as potential barriers. MITS was considered a positive innovation to determine the COD, although community members remain skeptical about the procedure due to tensions with religion and tradition. Therefore, the implementation of MITS in Quelimane should prioritize the involvement of a variety of influential community and religious leaders.

ImportanceAlthough child mortality trends have decreased worldwide, deaths among children younger than 5 years of age remain high and disproportionately circumscribed to sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. Tailored and innovative approaches are needed to increase access, coverage, and quality of child health care services to reduce mortality, but an understanding of health system deficiencies that may have the greatest impact on mortality among children younger than 5 years is lacking.ObjectiveTo investigate which health care and public health improvements could have prevented the most stillbirths and deaths in children younger than 5 years using data from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study used longitudinal, population-based, and mortality surveillance data collected by CHAMPS to understand preventable causes of death. Overall, 3390 eligible deaths across all 7 CHAMPS sites (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa) between December 9, 2016, and December 31, 2021 (1190 stillbirths, 1340 neonatal deaths, 860 infant and child deaths), were included. Deaths were investigated using minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), a postmortem approach using biopsy needles for sampling key organs and fluids.Main Outcomes and MeasuresFor each death, an expert multidisciplinary panel reviewed case data to determine the plausible pathway and causes of death. If the death was deemed preventable, the panel identified which of 10 predetermined health system gaps could have prevented the death. The health system improvements that could have prevented the most deaths were evaluated for each age group: stillbirths, neonatal deaths (aged ResultsOf 3390 deaths, 1505 (44.4%) were female and 1880 (55.5%) were male; sex was not recorded for 5 deaths. Of all deaths, 3045 (89.8%) occurred in a healthcare facility and 344 (11.9%) in the community. Overall, 2607 (76.9%) were deemed potentially preventable: 883 of 1190 stillbirths (74.2%), 1010 of 1340 neonatal deaths (75.4%), and 714 of 860 infant and child deaths (83.0%). Recommended measures to prevent deaths were improvements in antenatal and obstetric care (recommended for 588 of 1190 stillbirths [49.4%], 496 of 1340 neonatal deaths [37.0%]), clinical management and quality of care (stillbirths, 280 [23.5%]; neonates, 498 [37.2%]; infants and children, 393 of 860 [45.7%]), health-seeking behavior (infants and children, 237 [27.6%]), and health education (infants and children, 262 [30.5%]).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cross-sectional study, interventions prioritizing antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal care could have prevented the most deaths among children younger than 5 years because 75% of deaths among children younger than 5 were stillbirths and neonatal deaths. Measures to reduce mortality in this population should prioritize improving existing systems, such as better access to antenatal care, implementation of standardized clinical protocols, and public education campaigns.

Background The current burden of >5 million deaths yearly is the focus of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years old by 2030. To accelerate progression toward this goal, data are needed that accurately quantify the leading causes of death, so that interventions can target the common causes. By adding postmortem pathology and microbiology studies to other available data, the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network provides comprehensive evaluations of conditions leading to death, in contrast to standard methods that rely on data from medical records and verbal autopsy and report only a single underlying condition. We analyzed CHAMPS data to characterize the value of considering multiple causes of death. Methods and findings We examined deaths identified from December 2016 through November 2020 from 7 CHAMPS sites (in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and South Africa), including 741 neonatal, 278 infant, and 241 child, In an analysis of data from the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network, Robert Breiman, Dianna Blau, and colleagues investigate how considering all conditions in the causal chain leading to death informs the identification of deaths attributable to various diagnoses., Author summary Why was this study done? More than 5 million deaths occur annually in children

Severe malaria (SM) is a major public health problem in malaria-endemic countries. Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum–infected erythrocytes in vital organs and the associated inflammation leads to organ dysfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are rapidly released from damaged tissues into the host fluids, constitute a promising biomarker for the prognosis of SM. We applied next-generation sequencing to evaluate the differential expression of miRNAs in SM and in uncomplicated malaria (UM) in children in Mozambique. Six miRNAs were associated with in vitro P. falciparum cytoadhesion, severity in children, and P. falciparum biomass. Relative expression of hsa-miR-4497 quantified by TaqMan-quantitative reverse transcription PCR was higher in plasma of children with SM than those with UM (p

- Label: BACKGROUND NlmCategory: BACKGROUND content: "Sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia contributed 81% of 5\xC2\xB79 million under-5 deaths and 77% of 2\xC2\xB76 million stillbirths worldwide in 2015. Vital registration and verbal autopsy data are mainstays for the estimation of leading causes of death, but both are non-specific and focus on a single underlying cause. We aimed to provide granular data on the contributory causes of death in stillborn fetuses and in deceased neonates and children younger than 5 years, to inform child mortality prevention efforts." - Label: METHODS NlmCategory: METHODS content: "The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network was established at sites in seven countries (Baliakandi, Bangladesh; Harar and Kersa, Ethiopia; Siaya and Kisumu, Kenya; Bamako, Mali; Manhi\xC3\xA7a, Mozambique; Bombali, Sierra Leone; and Soweto, South Africa) to collect standardised, population-based, longitudinal data on under-5 mortality and stillbirths in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia, to improve the accuracy of determining causes of death. Here, we analysed data obtained in the first 2 years after the implementation of CHAMPS at the first five operational sites, during which surveillance and post-mortem diagnostics, including minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), were used. Data were abstracted from all available clinical records of deceased children, and relevant maternal health records were also extracted for stillbirths and neonatal deaths, to incorporate reported pregnancy or delivery complications. Expert panels followed standardised procedures to characterise causal chains leading to death, including underlying, intermediate (comorbid or antecedent causes), and immediate causes of death for stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and child (age 1-59 months) deaths." - Label: FINDINGS NlmCategory: RESULTS content: Between Dec 10, 2016, and Dec 31, 2018, MITS procedures were implemented at five sites in Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Mali, and Bangladesh. We screened 2385 death notifications for inclusion eligibility, following which 1295 families were approached for consent; consent was provided for MITS by 963 (74%) of 1295 eligible cases approached. At least one cause of death was identified in 912 (98%) of 933 cases (180 stillbirths, 449 neonatal deaths, and 304 child deaths); two or more conditions were identified in the causal chain for 585 (63%) of 933 cases. The most common underlying causes of stillbirth were perinatal asphyxia or hypoxia (130 [72%] of 180 stillbirths) and congenital infection or sepsis (27 [15%]). The most common underlying causes of neonatal death were preterm birth complications (187 [42%] of 449 neonatal deaths), perinatal asphyxia or hypoxia (98 [22%]), and neonatal sepsis (50 [11%]). The most common underlying causes of child deaths were congenital birth defects (39 [13%] of 304 deaths), lower respiratory infection (37 [12%]), and HIV (35 [12%]). In 503 (54%) of 933 cases, at least one contributory pathogen was identified. Cytomegalovirus, Escherichia coli, group B Streptococcus, and other infections contributed to 30 (17%) of 180 stillbirths. Among neonatal deaths with underlying prematurity, 60% were precipitated by other infectious causes. Of the 275 child deaths with infectious causes, the most common contributory pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae (86 [31%]), Streptococcus pneumoniae (54 [20%]), HIV (40 [15%]), and cytomegalovirus (34 [12%]), and multiple infections were common. Lower respiratory tract infection contributed to 174 (57%) of 304 child deaths. - Label: INTERPRETATION NlmCategory: CONCLUSIONS content: Cause of death determination using MITS enabled detailed characterisation of contributing conditions. Global estimates of child mortality aetiologies, which are currently based on a single syndromic cause for each death, will be strengthened by findings from CHAMPS. This approach adds specificity and provides a more complete overview of the chain of events leading to death, highlighting multiple potential interventions to prevent under-5 mortality and stillbirths. - Label: FUNDING NlmCategory: BACKGROUND content: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Background Lower respiratory tract infections are a leading cause of death in young children, but few studies have collected the specimens needed to define the role of specific causes. The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) platform aims to investigate causes of death in children aged Methods We included deaths that occurred between December 2016 and December 2019. Panels determined causes of deaths by reviewing all available data including pathological results from minimally invasive tissue sampling, polymerase chain reaction screening for multiple infectious pathogens in lung tissue, nasopharyngeal swab, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid samples, clinical information from medical records, and verbal autopsies. Results We evaluated 1213 deaths, including 695 in neonates (aged Conclusions RSV is an important cause of child deaths, particularly in young infants. These findings add to the substantial body of literature calling for better treatment and prevention options for RSV in high–mortality rate settings.

Background Klebsiella spp. are important pathogens associated with bacteremia among admitted children and is among the leading cause of death in children Klebsiella spp. from admitted and postmortem children. Methods Antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence factors of Klebsiella spp. recovered from blood samples collected upon admission to the hospital (n = 88) and postmortem blood (n = 23) from children Results Klebsiella isolates from postmortem blood were likely to be ceftriaxone resistant (69.6%, 16/23 vs. 48.9%, 43/88, p = 0.045) or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers (60.9%, 14/23 vs. 25%, 22/88, p = 0.001) compared to those from admitted children. blaCTX-M-15 was the most frequent ESBL gene: 65.3%, 9/14 in postmortem isolates and 22.7% (5/22) from admitted children. We found higher frequency of genes associated with hypermucoviscosity phenotype and invasin in postmortem isolates than those from admitted children: rmpA (30.4%; 7/23 vs. 9.1%, 8/88, p = 0.011), wzi-K1 (34.7%; 8/23 vs. 8%; 7/88, p = 0.002) and traT (60.8%; 14/23 vs. 10.2%; 9/88, p pic) to 12.6% (pet) among all isolates. Klebsiella case fatality rate was 30.7% (23/75). Conclusion Multidrug resistant Klebsiella spp. harboring genes associated with hypermucoviscosity phenotype has emerged in Mozambique causing invasive fatal disease in children; highlighting the urgent need for prompt diagnosis, appropriate treatment and effective preventive measures for infection control.

Severe malaria (SM) is a major public health problem in malaria-endemic countries. Sequestration of Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) infected erythrocytes in vital organs and the associated inflammation leads to organ dysfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), which are rapidly released from damaged tissues into the host fluids, constitute a promising biomarker for the prognosis of SM. This study applied next-generation sequencing to evaluate the differential expression of miRNAs in SM compared to uncomplicated malaria (UM). Six miRNAs were associated with in vitro Pf cytoadhesion, severity in Mozambican children and Pf biomass. Relative expression of hsa-miR-4497 quantified by TaqMan-RT-qPCR, was higher in SM children plasmas compared to that of UM (pPf biomass (p=0.033). These findings suggest that different physiopathological processes in SM and UM lead to differential expression of miRNAs and pave the way to future studies aiming to assess the prognostic value of these miRNAs in malaria.

Despite reductions over the past 2 decades, childhood mortality remains high in low- and middle-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In these settings, children often die at home, without contact with the health system, and are neither accounted for, nor attributed with a cause of death. In addition, when cause of death determinations occur, they often use nonspecific methods. Consequently, findings from models currently utilized to build national and global estimates of causes of death are associated with substantial uncertainty. Higher-quality data would enable stakeholders to effectively target interventions for the leading causes of childhood mortality, a critical component to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by eliminating preventable perinatal and childhood deaths. The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network tracks the causes of under-5 mortality and stillbirths at sites in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia through comprehensive mortality surveillance, utilizing minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS), postmortem laboratory and pathology testing, verbal autopsy, and clinical and demographic data. CHAMPS sites have established facility- and community-based mortality notification systems, which aim to report potentially eligible deaths, defined as under-5 deaths and stillbirths within a defined catchment area, within 24–36 hours so that MITS can be conducted quickly after death. Where MITS has been conducted, a final cause of death is determined by an expert review panel. Data on cause of death will be provided to local, national, and global stakeholders to inform strategies to reduce perinatal and childhood mortality in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia., This manuscript details methods for the establishment of mortality surveillance for timely detection of deaths in children

A 4-year-old boy was admitted to our district hospital, in the southern region of Mozambique, with a 3-month history of night fevers, night sweats, a non-productive cough, weight loss, neck swelling, backache, and a progressive deformity of his back. 1 week earlier he had developed weakness of all limbs and was unable to walk.

In low-income countries, data on prevalence and effects of group B Streptococcus (GBS) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) colonization among pregnant women are scarce, but necessary to formulate prevention strategies. We assessed prevalence of GBS and E. coli colonization and factors associated among pregnant women, its effect in newborns and acceptability regarding the utilized sampling methods in a semirural Mozambican hospital.Pregnant women were recruited from June 2014 to January 2015, during routine antenatal clinics at gestational age ≥ 34 weeks (n = 200); or upon delivery (n = 120). Maternal risk factors were collected. Vaginal and vagino-rectal samples for GBS and E. coli determination were obtained and characterized in terms of antimicrobial resistance and serotype. Anti-GBS antibodies were also determined. Neonatal follow-up was performed in the first 3 months after birth. Semistructured interviews were performed to investigate acceptability of sample collection methods.In total, 21.3% of women recruited were GBS carriers, while 16.3% were positive for E. coli. Prevalence of HIV was 36.6%. No association was found between being colonized by GBS and E. coli and maternal risk factors. GBS isolates were fully susceptible to penicillin and ampicillin. Serotypes V (32.4%), Ia (14.7%) and III (10.3%) were the most commonly found and 69.2% of the women tested had immunoglobuline G antibodies against GBS. E. coli isolates showed resistance to ampicillin in 28.9% and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in 61.3% of the cases.Prevalence of GBS and/or E. coli colonization among pregnant women is high in this semirural community and comparable with those reported in similar settings. Four serotypes accounted for nearly 70% of all isolates of GBS. Population-based data on infant GBS infections would enable the design of prevention strategies for GBS disease in Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: Although the burden of postdischarge mortality (PDM) in low-income settings appears to be significant, no clear recommendations have been proposed in relation to follow-up care after hospitalization. We aimed to determine the burden of pediatric PDM and develop predictive models to identify children who are at risk for dying after discharge. METHODS: Deaths after hospital discharge among children aged RESULTS: Overall PDM was high (3.6%), with half of the deaths occurring in the first 30 days. One primary predictive model for all ages included young age, moderate or severe malnutrition, a history of diarrhea, clinical pneumonia symptoms, prostration, bacteremia, having a positive HIV status, the rainy season, and transfer or absconding, with an area under the curve of 0.79 (0.75–0.82) at day 90 after discharge. Alternative models for all ages including simplified clinical predictors had a similar performance. A model specific to infants CONCLUSIONS: Death after discharge is an important although poorly recognized contributor to child mortality. A simple predictive algorithm based on easily recognizable variables could readily be used to identify most infants and children who are at a high risk of dying after discharge.

The appearance, over a decade ago, of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices has triggered a patient-centred revolution in the control and management of diabetes mellitus and other metabolic conditions, improving the patient’s glycaemic control and quality of life. Such devices, the use of which remains typically restricted to high-income countries on account of their elevated costs, at present show very limited implantation in resource-constrained settings, where many other urgent health priorities beyond diabetes prevention and management still need to be resolved. In this commentary, we argue that such devices could have an additional utility in low-income settings, whereby they could be selectively used among severely ill children admitted to hospital for closer monitoring of paediatric hypoglycaemia, a life-threatening condition often complicating severe cases of malaria, malnutrition, and other common paediatric conditions.

BACKGROUND: Despite recent efforts and successes in reducing the malaria burden globally, this infection still accounts for an estimated 212 million clinical cases, 2 million severe malaria cases, and approximately 429,000 deaths annually. Even with the routine use of effective anti-malarial drugs, the case fatality rate for severe malaria remains unacceptably high, with cerebral malaria being one of the most life-threatening complications. Up to one-third of cerebral malaria survivors are left with long-term cognitive and neurological deficits. From a population point of view, the decrease of malaria transmission may jeopardize the development of naturally acquired immunity against the infection, leading to fewer total cases, but potentially an increase in severe cases. The pathophysiology of severe and cerebral malaria is not completely understood, but both parasite and host determinants contribute to its onset and outcomes. Adjunctive therapy, based on modulating the host response to infection, could help to improve the outcomes achieved with specific anti-malarial therapy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In the last decades, several interventions targeting different pathways have been tested. However, none of these strategies have demonstrated clear beneficial effects, and some have shown deleterious outcomes. This review aims to summarize evidence from clinical trials testing different adjunctive therapy for severe and cerebral malaria in humans. It also highlights some preclinical studies which have evaluated novel strategies and other candidate therapeutics that may be evaluated in future clinical trials.

In the last 25 years, child mortality has significantly dropped at a global level. Understanding particularities of child mortality at the national level is useful to tailor health policy to those conditions requiring more attention. In Mozambique, a variety of efforts have been made to better characterize the overall child mortality and to describe the main contributors for death. In this review, we attempt to contextualize current knowledge on causes of pediatric deaths in Mozambique. The available data regarding the principal causes of death in Mozambican children point out to infectious diseases and neonatal causes as the principal causes of preventable deaths, with important variations in recent years in line with the epidemiological changes seen in the country as a result of reductions in malaria transmission and the impact of the nationwide introduction of different conjugate vaccines. Data regarding the main causes of death among children in Mozambique are patchy, outdated, and in many cases based on methodologies with many underlying limitations, which make them unreliable. More robust postmortem methodologies to study the underlying causes of mortality, currently being introduced in a surveillance sentinel site of the country, will surely contribute to improve our understanding of what is really killing children in this country.

Background Community-acquired methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MSSA) is responsible for the majority of skin and soft-tissue infections. CA-MSSA can also cause life-threatening infections, possibly in relation to particular virulence factors, including Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Methods We describe a severe CA-MSSA necrotizing pneumonia complicated with multifocal osteomyelitis, pericardial effusion and endocarditis in a 6-year-old boy admitted to a Mozambican hospital. Staphylococcus aureus isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed by conventional microbiology. Additionally, microarray assay was used for molecular characterization. Results Blood culture confirmed the presence of S. aureus susceptible to most antimicrobial agents, including methicillin. Molecular characterization confirmed the presence of PVL, together with alpha and beta haemolysin genes. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of disseminated CA-MSSA disease with confirmed PVL exotoxin in sub-Saharan Africa. PVL-positive CA-MSSA should be considered in the differential diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia, making laboratory testing a higher priority.

BACKGROUND: Despite the widespread use and availability of rapidly acting anti-malarials, the fatality rate of severe malaria in sub-Saharan Africa remains high. Adjunctive therapies that target the host response to malaria infection may further decrease mortality over that of anti-malarial agents alone. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists (e.g. rosiglitazone) have been shown to act on several pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of severe malaria and may improve clinical outcome as an adjunctive intervention. METHODS: In this study, the safety and tolerability of adjunctive rosiglitazone in paediatric uncomplicated malaria infection was evaluated in Mozambique, as a prelude to its evaluation in a randomized controlled trial in paediatric severe malaria. The study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIa trial of rosiglitazone (0.045 mg/kg/dose) twice daily for 4 days versus placebo as adjunctive treatment in addition to Mozambican standard of care (artemisinin combination therapy Coartem(R)) in children with uncomplicated malaria. The primary outcomes were tolerability and safety, including clinical, haematological, biochemical, and electrocardiographic evaluations. RESULTS: Thirty children were enrolled: 20 were assigned to rosiglitazone and 10 to placebo. Rosiglitazone treatment did not induce hypoglycaemia nor significantly alter clinical, biochemical, haematological, or electrocardiographic parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive rosiglitazone was safe and well-tolerated in children with uncomplicated malaria, permitting the extension of its evaluation as adjunctive therapy for severe malaria. The trial is registered with Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02694874.

BACKGROUND: Hypoglycaemia is a frequent complication among admitted children, particularly in malaria-endemic areas. This study aimed to estimate the occurrence of hypoglycaemia not only upon admission but throughout the first 72 h of hospitalization in children admitted with malaria. METHODS: A simple pilot study to continuously monitor glycaemia in children aged 0-10 years, admitted with malaria in a rural hospital was conducted in Southern Mozambique by inserting continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in subcutaneous tissue of the abdominal area, producing glycaemia readings every 5 min. RESULTS: Glucose was continuously monitored during a mean of 48 h, in 74 children. Continuous measurements of blood glucose were available for 72/74 children (97.3%). Sixty-five of them were admitted with density-specific malaria diagnosis criteria (17 severe, 48 uncomplicated). Five children (7.7%) had hypoglycaemia (

Chronic bullous disease of childhood (CBDC) is the most common, non-hereditary, autoimmune blistering disorder of childhood. This rare condition, characterised by linear IgA staining on direct immunofluorescence of the basement membrane of the squamous epithelium, has been considered the paediatric variant of adult linear IgA disease,1 although CBDC tends to occur in children less frequently, usually as a response to neoplasms or drug hypersensitivity. The clinical hallmark of this condition is the abrupt appearance on normal or erythematous skin of many large, tense bullae, filled with clear or sometimes haemorrhagic …

Background: Leukoerythroblastosis, a non-specific and often short-lasting response of the bone marrow to different diseases such as malignancies or infections, is characterized by the presence in the peripheral blood of immature red and white cells. Methods: We present a case of leukoerythoblastosis occurring in a 24 months old Mozambican girl, in the context of a severe malaria episode and an associated urinary tract infection. Peripheral blood smear was used for diagnosis of malaria and leukoerythroblastosis. Enterobacter cloacae isolation and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed by conventional microbiology. Results: Peripheral blood smear was positive for Plasmodium falciparum and showed a leukoerythroblastosis with red cell anisopoikilocytosis and left shifted neutrophils. Urine culture confirmed the presence of a multi-resistant E. cloacae. Treatment of underlying conditions resolved the leukoerythroblastic reaction. Conclusions: Leukoerythroblastosis may be related to different infectious diseases and may also appear in the context of severe malaria. Bacterial superinfection needs to be investigated.

Introduction: The study of child brain development and its environmental determinants and risk factors is a high priority in global health. Although several tools are available to measure child neu...

Hypoglycemia is a life-threatening complication of several diseases in childhood. We describe the prevalence and incidence of hypoglycemia among admitted Mozambican children, establishing its associated risk factors. We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 13 years collected through an ongoing systematic morbidity surveillance in Manhica District Hospital in rural Mozambique. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for hypoglycemia and death. Minimum community-based incidence rates (MCBIRs) for hypoglycemia were calculated using data from the demographic surveillance system. Of 49,089 children < 15 years hospitalized in Manhica District Hospital, 45,573 (92.8%) had a glycemia assessment on admission. A total of 1,478 children (3.2%) presented hypoglycemia (< 3 mmol/L), of which about two-thirds (972) were with levels < 2.5 mmol/L. Independent risk factors for hypoglycemia on admission and death among hypoglycemic children included prostration, unconsciousness, edema, malnutrition, and bacteremia. Hypoglycemic children were significantly more likely to die (odds ratio [OR] = 7.11; P < 0.001), with an associated case fatality rate (CFR) of 19.3% (245/1,267). Overall MCBIR of hypoglycemia was 1.57 episodes/1,000 child years at risk (CYAR), significantly decreasing throughout the study period. Newborns showed the highest incidences (9.47 episodes/1,000 CYAR, P < 0.001). Hypoglycemia remains a hazardous condition for African children. Symptoms and signs associated to hypoglycemia should trigger the verification of glycemia and the implementation of life-saving corrective measures.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital and perinatal infections are a leading cause of neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. Maternal screening, vaccines or treatment where available, constitute effective prevention strategies to reduce the burden of these diseases. Data on the burden of congenital and perinatal infections are very limited for low and middle-income regions. AREAS COVERED: This review aims to summarize the burden of congenital and perinatal infections and the main challenges for their control in resource-limited settings. Articles were identified through the main electronic databases and cover the period 1971- 2016. Expert commentary: Estimates from low and middle-income countries indicate that the burden of congenital infections may be higher in these regions than in industrialized countries. As preventive and curative strategies are available to tackle some of these infections, efforts at the international and national levels must be made to implement those and thus reduce their burden in resource-limited countries.