#Neonatal

[reasonsforhope]

Article

The number of children dying under five years of age declined by two thirds over the past two decades in Southern Asia, according to new mortality estimates released by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Division and the World Bank Group. Southern Asia includes nine countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The report reveals that the number of child deaths under 5 years of age decreased from 5 million in 1990 to 1.3 million in 2022.  The report also shows that Southern Asia’s under five mortality rate, or the probability that a child would die before five years of age, reduced by 72 per cent since 1990, and 62 per cent since 2000.

“We have made heartening progress to save millions of children’s lives since 1990.  These aren’t just numbers on a page – these are children’s lives saved, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters. This success is largely due to investments in trained health workers, improvements in newborn care, treatment of childhood illnesses and vaccinations for children against deadly diseases,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, UNICEF Regional Director for Southern Asia. “This progress shows us that change is possible. These lives saved are testament to the engagement and will of governments, local organizations, health care professionals such as skilled birth attendants, parents, and families to save the most vulnerable children.” ...

Despite this progress, however, much more needs to be done...

The report also reveals that progress among countries is uneven. Three countries (Iran, Sri Lanka and Maldives) have achieved the SDG 2030 target for under five child mortality reduction and four are on track to meet the target (India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal). For example, Bangladesh’s neonatal mortality rate decreased from 66 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990, to 17 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022.

However, in Pakistan and Afghanistan, urgent action is required to accelerate their annual rates of reduction substantially to meet 2030 targets...

“We call on governments across the region to invest in simple solutions such as having trained birth attendants at every birth, ensuring that all newborns have essential care, better care of small and sick newborn babies, medicines, clean water, electricity, and vaccines to save lives. Every child has the right to healthcare.”

-via UNICEF, March 14, 2024

[vyorei]

A short video from Al Jazeera on the desperate conditions around childbirth in Gaza right now

[broadlyepi]

Respiratory distress in SARS-CoV-2 exposed uninfected neonates followed in the COVID Outcomes in Mother-Infant Pairs (COMP) Study

Top 5 Takeaways

High Rates of Respiratory Distress in Exposed Uninfected Neonates: The study found unusually high rates (17%) of respiratory distress (RD) in SARS-CoV-2 exposed uninfected (SEU) term neonates.

Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination Reduces Neonatal RD: Maternal vaccination against COVID-19 significantly reduced the frequency of neonatal RD, with a 67% decline in the odds of RD in neonates born to vaccinated mothers compared to those born to unvaccinated mothers.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Inflammatory Response: Proteomic analysis indicated a robust inflammatory response in SEU neonates with RD, involving pathways like ciliary dysregulation and enhanced IgE production.

Demographic and Clinical Factors: The study enrolled 221 pregnant persons with COVID-19 and 227 exposed fetuses. It highlighted the correlation of RD with factors like maternal disease severity, prematurity, and the absence of maternal COVID-19 immunization.

Th2-Skewed Immune Response in SEU Neonates: SEU preterm infants with RD showed a Th2-skewed immune response, indicated by elevated levels of certain cytokines and the inhibition of FC gamma receptors.

Original Article Author and Citation

Olivia M. Man, Tamiris Azamor, Mary Catherine Cambou, Trevon L. Fuller, Tara Kerin, Sophia G. Paiola, Jessica S. Cranston, Thalia Mok, Rashmi Rao, Weiqiang Chen, Jae U. Jung, Viviana Fajardo Martinez, Suan-Sin Foo, Karin Nielsen-Saines

Suggested Citation

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44549-5

Summary

The study aimed to understand the impact of prenatal COVID-19 exposure on neonatal respiratory distress (RD). A high incidence of RD was observed in SEU neonates, and maternal vaccination notably reduced this risk. Proteomic analysis suggested a strong inflammatory response in these neonates.

Methods

The research employed a longitudinal cohort study approach, enrolling mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and their exposed fetuses. Various demographic, clinical, and proteomic analyses were used to understand the complex relationship between maternal COVID-19 parameters and infant RD.

Discussion

The findings highlight the protective role of maternal COVID-19 vaccination in reducing neonatal RD. The study also revealed a Th2-skewed immune response in SEU neonates with RD, suggesting potential long-term implications, including the development of allergic processes and pulmonary fibrosis.

Conclusion

Maternal vaccination against COVID-19 significantly decreases the risk of neonatal RD in SEU infants. The study underscores the importance of maternal vaccination for reducing neonatal morbidity and improving long-term infant health.

[fivay774]

Greater Los Angeles wildfires

The Greater Los Angeles area has long been susceptible to wildfires, a phenomenon that has become an annual fixture due to the region’s Mediterranean climate, dry brush, and strong seasonal winds. Wildfires in this area, often referred to as "LA fires," are both a natural and devastating occurrence, with far-reaching consequences for the environment, residents, and emergency responders.

Severity and Frequency: Wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles region have increased in both frequency and intensity over recent years, exacerbated by climate change, drought, and urban sprawl. The 2018 Woolsey Fire and the 2020 Bobcat Fire are among the most significant examples of recent devastation. These fires, along with others like the 2007 Griffith Park Fire and 2014 San Fernando Valley Fires, have ravaged large swathes of land, destroying homes, forcing thousands of people to evacuate, and disrupting daily life.

The impact is not limited to the physical destruction of homes and infrastructure; the loss of natural habitats and wildlife is equally tragic. Forests, chaparral, and other ecosystems that rely on periodic fires for regeneration are devastated, and animals are displaced or perish. Smoke pollution is also a major concern, affecting air quality across the region and even spreading to neighboring states.

Preparedness and Response: One of the strengths of the Los Angeles area when it comes to wildfire management is the rapid and coordinated response of local agencies, particularly the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), Cal Fire, and other regional firefighting units. These agencies are equipped with the latest technology, including fire-retardant planes, helicopters, and ground crews, to combat wildfires. However, despite their best efforts, the sheer scale and unpredictable nature of these fires often result in overwhelming situations, especially when fires spread quickly due to high winds or difficult terrain.

Evacuation plans, public alerts, and community preparedness programs are crucial in mitigating the impact of wildfires. Unfortunately, some neighborhoods in wildfire-prone areas are still underprepared, which can lead to tragic outcomes. The public's awareness of fire dangers has improved over the years, but ongoing education remains necessary to minimize risks and casualties.

Environmental Consequences: Beyond the immediate destruction caused by wildfires, the environmental aftermath is long-lasting. While fire can play a natural role in certain ecosystems by clearing out dead vegetation, the intensity and frequency of these fires have outpaced nature's ability to recover. Wildfires in urban-adjacent areas are particularly harmful because of their impact on water supplies, air quality, and local wildlife, many of which struggle to adapt to the increasingly volatile environment.

The rebuilding process is not only financially costly but also environmentally taxing, as there is often a need to balance restoration with sustainability. There’s also the added issue of the loss of carbon sequestration capacity in areas that burn, which further contributes to the cycle of climate change.

Conclusion: Wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles area are a constant and evolving challenge. While the region is well-equipped to handle these events, the frequency and scale of these disasters continue to test the limits of preparedness, response, and recovery. As climate change intensifies, it’s crucial that both residents and authorities adapt to new methods of fire management, land use, and ecological restoration.

As it stands, the wildfires in the Greater Los Angeles area serve as a stark reminder of the fragile balance between human development and nature. The beauty and appeal of the LA area are inextricably linked to the wild landscapes that surround it, but so too is the ever-present risk of fire. Until there is a significant shift in both environmental policy and urban planning, these wildfires will remain a defining aspect of life in Los Angeles.

[drsonnet]

"...medical teams refused to leave the hospitals, staying behind to take care of patients in ICUs and NICUS who could not move without dying. This includes 48 premature babies whose incubators and respirators have since failed."

"... رفضت الفرق الطبية مغادرة المستشفيات، وبقيت هناك لرعاية المرضى في وحدات العناية المركزةICUs ورعاية الخدج NICUs الذين سيتسبب نقلهم بوفاتهم. ويشمل ذلك 48 طفلاً خديجًا تعطلت حاضناتهم وأجهزة التنفس الصناعي منذ ذلك الحين."

@LatuffCartoons #غزة #Gaza #MedTwitter

[dr-scarlette-witch]

13.09.2023

Had a busy couple of days. I am currently waiting for my official announcement for my course commencement. Until then I decided to tutor at a nearby coaching institute and I was kept busy, also it helps me pay for my Uworld.

Last Sunday I got a day off and I decided to meet my closest friends from school. We have know each other for over a decade and a half and our lives are so different now, but like every time we meet and hangout it feel like nothing has changed. So had lunch and decided to go beach hopping, while we reached the beach it was too sunny so we decided to wait for sometime, when we noticed this huge black cloud moving towards the beach from the sea. And our dumbasses were like yeah we ll go to the sea when the cloud comes closer because it will be less sunny then🤡. Long story short as soon as it got cloudy we walked towards the sea and the cloud bursted into a heavy 5mins rain and we all got wet👍🏽. Got my car covered in sand and rain water. Anyways had a good time.

Today I have an evening full of free time. Planning to read some neonatology. As I said before, I feel that I have a lot of unclear topics when it comes to neonatology. I am currently reading AIIMS NICU protocols, because I feel the language used is simple and I can cover the book faster and I feel that it will be enough for my first year residency.

[sriramakrishnahospital]

பச்சிளம் குழந்தைகளுக்கு ஏற்படும் மூச்சு திணறல் பிரச்சனை வராமல் எவ்வாறு தடுக்கலாம் | Tips to prevent PPHN

மேலும் விவரங்களுக்கு எங்களை தொடர்புகொள்ள : 91 7970 108 108 (அல்லது) https://bit.ly/42iEmug

To watch the full video >>> https://youtu.be/z7VDgYPgFvM

[kpchildhealth]

Did you know children often heal faster than adults? Don't let myths about pediatric surgery deter you.

Dr. Kalpesh Patil for expert care and a smooth recovery.

#pediatricsurgery #myths #facts #childhealth #drkppatil #pune

[nicunurseinthemaking]

9 / 26 / 2024

For as long as I can remember, being a nurse was always the dream. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was always followed by “a NICU nurse.”

Wynnie here was born at 28 weeks, 4 days gestational age. She was 2 pounds, 2 ounces when she was born. I met her parents when they were first admitted, and became friends with her mom through “how are you today? kiddo matters but so do you.”

and by some wild twist of fate, we discovered that we were starting nursing school together just a couple of weeks later. Wynter has become one of my regular study buddies, and watching her grow and reach milestone after milestone makes me remember why i’m doing what I am doing.

There have been quite a few bumps along the way, and things haven’t gone nearly as smoothly as I would have liked, but watching the 2 pound, 2 ounce peanut turn into a normal, happy, healthy chunk is something I will never, ever, get tired of watching.

[vyorei]

They're literally pumping oxygen by hand trying to keep these babies alive whilst the hospital is surrounded by the IOF.

Fuel, which is vital to power the incubators and various other machines that keep preemies and other patients alive, is allegedly being permitted into Gaza according to the earlier report I've popped below, but for the UN trucks and not the hospitals

[nationwidechildrenshospital]

"I am passionate about providing the absolute best care for the babies I take care of down to the minute details. My team does everything from bedside procedures to coordinating the complex care of our patients."

Kimberly Siler-Wurst, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

[hipernikao]

Feliz día de la Enfermera Neonatal

[drsonnet]

10-11-2023 Northern Gaza:

“We had to leave the patients behind. In the ICU of Nasr Children’s Hospital, we had to leave the patients in their beds…We left surrounded by tanks. We couldn’t take any of the patients with us.”

#ICRC committed to transport these NICU babies to another hospital or any safe place upon evacuation of the Hospital. #ICRC left those children there to die in collaboration with IOF which made the hospital a military occupied place!

During the truce,...Parents returned to the hospital today to find their babies dead & decomposed in their cots.

27-11-2023

The Israeli military forced families to evacuate Al Nasr Hospital, leaving behind their premature babies in the intensive care unit. Israel refused to release the babies. The decomposed bodies of those babies have been found during this truce.

"Shocking scenes in this hospital, seeing babies which the Israeli soldiers refused to evacuate from this unit. According to eyewitness accounts, parents were forced to say goodbye, and leave their children to die in their beds in the intensive care unit in al Nasr Children's Hospital. To reiterate: the Israeli army forbid these children to be evacuated, or for anyone to help evacuate them from the hospital."

Source: Almashhad TV

‘Patients are dying’: What we know about Gaza hospitals under Israeli siege : They have now all stopped functioning. The al-Nasr Children’s Hospital and al-Rantisi Specialised Hospital for Children can no longer function without access to medical aid. They are also under Israeli fire. It remains unclear what has happened to the 30 children who remain at al-Nasr Hospital. (10-11-2023)

www.aljazeera.com

This is an urgent message: northern Gaza’s hospitals are in danger of imminent, full-scale Israeli military attacks. Please help us take action to protect them. 

Early Friday morning, the grounds of Shifa Hospital were targeted by an Israeli airstrike.  The Nasser Hospital has also been targeted. Attacks on Rantisi children’s hospital have caused fires, while bombardment around the Indonesian Hospital has reportedly injured displaced people sheltering in the grounds. 

These vital facilities are filled with medical staff treating thousands of wounded civilians. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Palestinians are sheltering in the grounds, forced from their homes, hiding from Israeli bombs. 

Any attack on these hospitals would be devastating and lead to the deaths of countless innocent civilians, including children and medical staff. (map.org.uk)

10-11-2023

Gaza's hospitals are now in danger... - Medical Aid for Palestinians | Facebook

More thread on Twitter

Muath Hamed 🔻 on X: "ثريد 🔴جريمة إسرائيلية 1/7 في 10 نوفمبر أُخلي مستشفى النصر للأطفال تحت تهديد السلاح من إسرائيل، وقال مدير المستشفى للصحافة أنه تم إخلاء المرضى منه. أمس 27 نوفمبر وصل محمد بعلوشة مراسل قناة @almashhadmedia إلى المستشفى ليوثق مشهدا صادما،لجثث أطفال خدّج يخرج الدود منهم على الأسرة: https://t.co/AaiZWWjhKU" / X (twitter.com)

#محمد_بعلوشة #أطفال_غزة #مستشفى_النصر #المشهد

Doctors were forced to leave the babies behind in the hospital after they were reportedly given 30 minutes to evacuate the hospital by Israeli forces and leave patients.

استشهـ.ـدوا جوعا وعطشا وبدون رعاية طبية.. العثور على جثث أطفال متحللة في #مستشفى_النصر بعد إجبار قوات الاحتلال الإسرائيلي طاقمه والمرضى على إخلائه تثير حالة من الصدمة والغضب على منصات التواصل

Update from #ICRC : They said they didn't show any commitment toward them! Situation was difficult. https://www.facebook.com/ICRCarabic/posts/pfbid0VRa5P6hXni2E3dgWWWq2G82Ma1AbYfARNpFipNS4877mczW2uLmdFwALjdMbuRM9l

[healing92]

Free Pediatric Hospital in Bengaluru

Sapthagiri Hospital

As a health visitor who works in various parts of the city, I have come to know many institutions in the field of healthcare, yet Sapthagiri Hospital is really the only free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru that is trying to innovate in the way care is given to children, without putting the financial burden on their families.

In the heart of Bengaluru, the Sapthagiri Hospital has turned into a beacon of hope for the underprivileged families. As a free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru, it treats children of all age groups, from newborns to adolescents, with world-class health care services. Modern medical infrastructure and well-qualified pediatricians, along with caring nurses who would bestow love and dignity on every child, make this hospital great.

During my visits, I observed several major reasons why families choose Sapthagiri Hospital as their main free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru:

Completely Free Services: From consultations, diagnostics, and investigations through surgeries and follow-up, all pediatric services rendered to the patients free of charge. This alone could be a major motivation for low-income families.

Specialty Pediatric Units: The hospital has specialty units for neonatology, pediatric surgery, intensive care (PICU/NICU), and immunization, providing a one-stop shop for child healthcare.

Outreach and Community Programs: In my experience as a health visitor, I have witnessed the community health programs of Sapthagiri Hospital

extending awareness and treatment access even to the remotest areas of Bangalore.

One story that remains etched in my heart is that of a 6-month-old baby with congenital heart disease. Working as daily wage earners, his parents were heartbroken to be told of astronomical surgery charges at some other place. The baby was then referred to Sapthagiri Hospital, where he had the life-saving surgery completely free of cost. The baby is now okay and performing well, all because of this excellent free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru.

Sapthagiri Hospital says no child is ever denied treatment because he cannot pay for it. It is not just a hospital; it is an organization wherein the community and children come first. Every time I walk into the pediatric ward, I see smiles-many on small faces, but also smiles of relief from parents grateful that their tiny ones are being cared for in this free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru.

With the growing load of patients and increasing support from donors and volunteers, Sapthagiri Hospital is instituting the benchmark of a free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru. Their vision goes beyond cure; they aim at building a healthier generation through prevention, education, and inclusive-care.

As someone intimately invested in public health, I am absolutely certain that Sapthagiri Hospital is one of the best free pediatric hospital in Bengaluru and a shining example of humane and fair healthcare. If you or someone close to you requires good pediatric care without it costing much, this is where one needs to be. Such a treasure being in Bengaluru is a blessing after all.