Sleep-related disorders (SRDs) are widely prevalent in India and an emerging health issue. They not only affect quality of life, but also cause or contribute to health problems—cardiovascular diseases, psychological disturbances, accidents, and decreased individual performance. A recent study sought to estimate the prevalence of SRDs in Southern India and…
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The United Nation’s Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4) calls for a reduction in childhood mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. A recent paper from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF’s Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group tracks worldwide progress in childhood mortality. The investigators found that the number of…
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A study of 1,000 children presenting in outpatient clinics for pediatric skin diseases in India has found that bacterial infections and infestations are more prevalent than eczema in India. In developed countries, eczema is the prevalent type of skin condition. Researchers studied 1,000 consecutive pediatric patients, up to age 5…
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Worldwide, the incidence of measles has fallen dramatically, from 4.6 cases per 1,000 people in 2000, to 1.6 cases per 1,000 in 2010, according to a newly issued report. Improvements in measles outcomes have not been keeping pace in India, however. “…The practicing pediatrician should scan through the vaccination card…
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A randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind trial found that the effects of a single nocturnal dose of honey was more effective than placebo for treating nocturnal cough and difficulty sleeping associated with childhood upper respiratory tract infections (URIs). “Honey has been used as a traditional remedy for generations in India for a…
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Despite the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) guidelines recommending against the use of antibiotics for acute nonbloody diarrhea, many healthcare providers in India do so, according to a recently published study. “The main financial reason cited by the doctors in the study quoted is…
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Prevalence of childhood obesity in India and other developing countries is increasing
As with adults, changing dietary practices and lifestyles are leading to increased childhood obesity globally, including in developing countries. In India, this trend recently has been documented at 22% for children aged 5 years to 19 years. Trends such as this one can indicate an increasing overall prevalence rate; from…
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