All articles tagged with #child mortality
Two children in Jerusalem have died from measles within a week, both unvaccinated, amid ongoing outbreaks in Israel. The Health Ministry urges vaccination, especially in outbreak areas, as four children have died from measles complications recently, highlighting the importance of the MMR vaccine for prevention.
The article highlights a concerning decline in childhood vaccination rates in Ohio, attributed to anti-vaccine rhetoric influenced by political figures, which threatens to increase preventable disease outbreaks and child mortality, reversing decades of public health progress.
A large-scale study in Kenya found that giving $1,000 in cash to low-income families significantly reduced infant and child mortality rates by nearly half, especially when delivered close to birth, highlighting cash transfers as an effective tool alongside healthcare improvements to save children's lives.
The US child mortality rate has increased by 25% over the past decade, with disparities linked to systemic issues like healthcare access, socioeconomic inequality, and environmental hazards, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need for societal restructuring based on social needs rather than profit.
A new report by UNICEF marks a historic moment as the number of children dying before their 5th birthday has dropped below 5 million for the first time, with significant progress in countries like Malawi, Rwanda, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan. However, despite the positive trend, there is still much work to be done, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia where child mortality rates remain high due to preventable and treatable conditions. Inequalities within countries, such as urban-rural divides and disparities in wealth and education, also impact child mortality. While interventions like community health workers have shown success, more efforts are needed to address newborn care and ensure continued health investments to further reduce child mortality.
A pediatrician in the Democratic Republic of the Congo shares the devastating impact of measles on children in a region with limited medical resources, emphasizing the importance of vaccines. With thousands of children dying from measles each year, the lack of access to vaccinations and medical care exacerbates the situation. The physician highlights the stark contrast in child mortality rates between underdeveloped regions like Sankuru and the U.S., underscoring the critical role of preventive healthcare and accurate data systems in combating diseases. The essay serves as a poignant reminder of the privilege and fortune in more developed nations, urging parents to consider the life-saving benefits of vaccines.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates expressed concern about declining healthcare spending globally, particularly on child mortality, during an interview at the World Economic Forum. Despite this trend, the Gates Foundation announced its largest annual budget of $8.6 billion for 2024, with a commitment to increase spending to $9 billion by 2026. The foundation's focus remains on reducing health inequities and combating infectious diseases, with significant progress made in reducing child deaths, malaria, HIV, and polio cases. Gates emphasized the plateau in healthcare progress during the pandemic, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the sector.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have found potential evidence linking seizures during sleep to sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), after analyzing crib cam footage of seven toddlers who died in their sleep. The study, though small, is the first to offer direct evidence of a seizure link, with five of the toddlers exhibiting movements consistent with brief seizures. The findings, published in the journal Neurology, suggest that fever-related seizures, which are common and usually harmless in young children, could occasionally be a warning sign of SUDC. The research aims to uncover more about this poorly understood phenomenon, which claims over 400 lives a year in the US among toddlers and preschoolers.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have found potential evidence linking seizures during sleep to sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) after analyzing home monitoring videos of seven toddlers who died in their sleep. The study, though small, is the first to offer direct evidence of a seizure link, with five of the toddlers showing movements consistent with brief seizures. The findings raise questions about the role of fever-related seizures, which are common but usually harmless, in these unexplained deaths. The research aims to identify children at risk and potentially change outcomes, but more extensive research is needed to understand the phenomenon fully.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have found potential evidence linking seizures during sleep to sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), after analyzing home monitoring videos of seven toddlers who died in their sleep. The study, though small, is the first to offer direct evidence of a seizure link, with most of the children showing brief seizure-like movements before death. This raises questions about the common occurrence of fever-related seizures in young children and whether they could occasionally be a warning sign of a more serious condition. The findings don't change current advice about febrile seizures but point to the need for further research to identify at-risk children and potentially prevent future tragedies.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health have found potential evidence linking seizures during sleep to sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC) after analyzing home monitoring videos of seven toddlers who died in their sleep. The study, though small, is the first to offer direct evidence of a seizure link, with five of the toddlers showing brief seizure-like movements before death. The findings, published in the journal Neurology, suggest that while fever-related seizures are common and usually harmless in young children, they might occasionally be a warning of a more serious condition. Further research is needed to identify children at risk and potentially change outcomes.