International journal of environmental research and public health
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Aug 2017
Young People's Use of E-Cigarettes across the United Kingdom: Findings from Five Surveys 2015-2017.
Concern has been expressed about the use of e-cigarettes among young people. Our study reported e-cigarette and tobacco cigarette ever and regular use among 11-16 year olds across the UK. Data came from five large scale surveys with different designs and sampling strategies conducted between 2015 and 2017: The Youth Tobacco Policy Survey; the Schools Health Research Network Wales survey; two Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Smokefree Great Britain-Youth Surveys; and the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey. ⋯ For 2015/16 data for 11-16 year olds: ever smoking ranged from 11% to 20%; regular (at least weekly) smoking between 1% and 4%; ever use of e-cigarettes 7% to 18%; regular (at least weekly) use 1% to 3%; among never smokers, ever e-cigarette use ranged from 4% to 10% with regular use between 0.1% and 0.5%; among regular smokers, ever e-cigarette use ranged from 67% to 92% and regular use 7% to 38%. ASH surveys showed a rise in the prevalence of ever use of e-cigarettes from 7% (2016) to 11% (2017) but prevalence of regular use did not change remaining at 1%. In summary, surveys across the UK show a consistent pattern: most e-cigarette experimentation does not turn into regular use, and levels of regular use in young people who have never smoked remain very low.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Aug 2017
ReviewTrapped in Statelessness: Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh.
The Rohingya people are one of the most ill-treated and persecuted refugee groups in the world, having lived in a realm of statelessness for over six generations, and who are still doing so. In recent years, more than 500,000 Rohingyas fled from Myanmar (Burma) to neighboring countries. This article addresses the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, with special emphasis on the living conditions of this vulnerable population. ⋯ Overall, the living conditions of Rohingya refugees inside the overcrowded camps remain dismal. Mental health is poor, proper hygiene conditions are lacking, malnutrition is endemic, and physical/sexual abuse is high. A concerted diplomatic effort involving Bangladesh and Myanmar, and international mediators such as the Organization of Islamic Countries and the United Nations, is urgently required to effectively address this complex situation.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jul 2017
Child Supervision and Burn Outcome among Admitted Patients at Major Trauma Hospitals in the Gambia.
Burn-related injuries are a significant burden in children, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where more than 90% of burn-related pediatric deaths occur. Lack of adult supervision of children is a major risk for pediatric burn injuries. The goal of this paper was to examine the general characteristics of burns and identify burn injury outcomes among adult-supervised children compared to those who were not supervised. ⋯ Supervised children (compared to unsupervised children) had less severe burns. Programs that focus on burn prevention at all levels including child supervision could increase awareness and reduce burns or their severity. Programs need to be designed and evaluated with focus on the child development stage and the leading causes of burns by age group.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jul 2017
Adherence to Referral Criteria at Admission and Patient Management at a Specialized Burns Centre: The Case of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa.
Referral guidelines for burn care are meant to assist in decision-making as regards patient transfer and admissions to specialized units. Little is known, however, concerning how closely they are followed and whether they are linked to patient care. This is the object of the current study, focused on the paediatric burns centre of the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. ⋯ Children aged 2 years or older were more likely to undergo surgery or to stay longer than those of young age (although a referral criterion) and so were those with higher injury severity (a referral criterion). In this specialized paediatric burns centre, children are admitted mainly according to the guidelines. However, given the high prevalence of paediatric burns in the region and the limited resources at the burns centre, adherence to the guidelines need to be further studied at all healthcare levels in the province.
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Int J Environ Res Public Health · Jun 2017
Case ReportsEarly Desquamating Perineal Erythema in a Febrile Infant: A Characteristic Clinical Feature of Kawasaki Disease.
Background: The occurrence of a distinctive perineal eruption that appears early in infants with Kawasaki disease (KD), the most relevant type of febrile vasculitis of childhood, has received little attention in pediatric reports. KD diagnosis is based on clinical criteria, which can be supported by laboratory abnormalities or positive echocardiography findings: difficulty in diagnosis can be increased by incomplete or atypical presentations, but a timely diagnostic process is essential in the youngest patients who are more prone to the risk of cardiac sequelae resulting from KD. Case Presentation: In this report, we present the case of a 2-month-old infant with an unusual presentation of KD, in whom diagnosis was made despite fever remission on the fourth day of hospitalization following intravenous corticosteroid therapy to treat concomitant bronchoconstriction. ⋯ Conclusions: Diagnosis of KD represents a demanding challenge, mainly when the illness starts with an incomplete or nuanced presentation. An erythematous desquamating perineal rash is a valuable early clinical clue, which might facilitate a prompt diagnosis of KD. This case emphasizes that an accurate assessment of all clinical features, including perineal erythema with early tendency to desquamation, and an eventual echocardiography, are necessary in an infant displaying fever to corroborate the suspicion of KD.