The objectives of the study are to evaluate whether quantitative NS1 antigen and IgM/IgG antibody titres predict clinical severity in paediatric dengue and to determine whether the IgM/IgG ratio reliably differentiates primary from secondary infection. A 1-year cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care centre in South India, enrolling children aged 1 month to 18 years with laboratory-confirmed dengue. Quantitative NS1 antigen, IgM, and IgG titres were measured at point-of-care and correlated with clinical outcomes. Severity indices included bleeding manifestations, third spacing, thrombocytopenia, hepatic and renal involvement, shock, and duration of hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests, with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under the ROC curve (AUROC) analyses using IBM SPSS version 29. High NS1 titres (60–100 and ≥ 100) were significantly associated with bleeding, renal dysfunction, elevated SGOT, haemoconcentration, and thrombocytopenia. IgM titres < 4 correlated strongly with third spacing (82.1
Clinical research involving children presents significant challenges due to physiological, ethical, regulatory, and practical considerations unique to this vulnerable population. These intrinsic challenges were amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic, which substantially disrupted pediatric research and child health services. The pandemic exposed critical ethical, operational, and communicative tensions, especially with respect to informed consent, caregiver trust, and safe research implementation. Examining these intersecting challenges can improve and strengthen pediatric research to remain ethically robust and child-centred in the event of future public health crises.
The duration of fever defervescence in enteric fever has been observed to be increasing in recent times. An evaluation of the factors influencing fever defervescence in 150 children aged 1 month–18 years with confirmed (blood culture yielding Salmonella typhi or S. paratyphi) enteric fever was undertaken, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of ceftriaxone and azithromycin were determined. The median (q1, q3) time to fever defervescence was found to be 88 (58.75, 117.25) hours. Prior antibiotic therapy, splenomegaly and systemic complications were significantly associated with late defervescence of fever. All isolates were found to be sensitive to ceftriaxone and azithromycin, with MIC values well below the established susceptibility breakpoints.
Objectives: The study aims to provide evidence for the compressed progress of puberty in affluent South Indian girls from Chennai. Material and Methods: This is a cross-sectional school-based study. Data collected as part of these two surveys which were conducted within 2 weeks’ time during July 1981 and 1998. Tanner staging was used. The first survey was in the year 1981, designated as Group 1. The year of the second survey was 1998, designated as Group 2. Results: Results showed the following: The number of subjects was 1976 in Group 1 (1981) and 1520 in Group 2 (1998). Mean values at 50 th percentile: Time taken to move from P2 to P4, 1981 = 3.2 years and time taken to move from P2 to P4, 1998 = 2.1 years. Menarche mean/median age of attainment in year 1981 versus 1998 was 12.4 (SD 1.I) and 12.1 (SD 1.07) years respectively ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Time taken to complete all the breast and PH stages was compressed from 4.8 years to 3.4 years in the two studies. The Thelarche-menarche duration also was compressed from 1.2 years to 0.9 years in the two studies. Early menarche in South Indian girls is associated with compressed progression of sexual maturity ratings.
