European Children (european + child)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


The epidemiology of epilepsy in Europe , a systematic review

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2005
L. Forsgren
Population-based epidemiological studies on epilepsy are available mainly from the UK and the Nordic, Baltic and western Mediterranean countries. No studies were identified from large areas of Europe, especially from the former eastern Europe (except the Baltic countries) and the eastern Mediterranean countries. Based on the prevalence of epilepsy in different studies and accounting for incomplete case identification the estimated number of children and adolescents in Europe with active epilepsy is 0.9 million (prevalence 4.5,5.0 per 1000), 1.9 million in ages 20,64 years (prevalence six per 1000) and 0.6 million in ages 65 years and older (prevalence seven per 1000). Approximately 20,30% of the epilepsy population have more than one seizure per month. Based on the age-specific incidence rates in European studies, the estimated number of new cases per year amongst European children and adolescents is 130 000 (incidence rate 70 per 100 000), 96 000 in adults 20,64 years (incidence rate 30 per 100 000) and 85 000 in the elderly 65 years and older (incidence 100 per 100 000). The proportion of both new and established cases with epilepsy in the young, adults and elderly in individual countries may differ substantially from total European distribution because of differences in age structure. [source]


Cross-sectional survey of risk factors for asthma in 6,7-year-old children in New Zealand: International Study of Asthma and Allergy in Childhood Phase Three

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH, Issue 6 2009
Edwin A Mitchell
Aim: To identify risk factors for asthma in primary school-aged children in New Zealand. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 10 873 6,7-year-old children in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Christchurch (a response rate of 85.2%). A questionnaire was completed by the parent or care giver. Results: 22.2% of children wheezed in the last 12 months (current wheeze). Maori children were at greater risk of current wheeze compared with European children (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) = 1.37; 95% confidence interval = 1.18,1.59). Antibiotics and paracetamol used in the first year of life were associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.78 (1.56,2.04) and adjOR = 1.31 (1.06,1.61), respectively). Watching television for 5 or more hours per day was associated with an increased risk of current wheeze (adjOR = 1.44 (1.13,1.83)). Milk and egg consumption in the last 12 months was associated with a reduced risk of current wheeze. Conclusions: This study has identified risk factors for asthma in children aged 6,7 years, although causal pathways cannot be established. These associations have important public health implications if causal. [source]


The multinational birth cohort of EuroPrevall: background, aims and methods

ALLERGY, Issue 4 2010
T. Keil
To cite this article: Keil T, McBride D, Grimshaw K, Niggemann B, Xepapadaki P, Zannikos K, Sigurdardottir ST, Clausen M, Reche M, Pascual C, Stanczyk AP, Kowalski ML, Dubakiene R, Drasutiene G, Roberts G, Schoemaker A-FA, Sprikkelman AB, Fiocchi A, Martelli A, Dufour S, Hourihane J, Kulig M, Wjst M, Yazdanbakhsh M, Szépfalusi Z, van Ree R, Willich SN, Wahn U, Mills ENC, Beyer K. The multinational birth cohort of EuroPrevall: background, aims and methods. Allergy 2010; 65: 482,490. Abstract Background/aim:, The true prevalence and risk factors of food allergies in children are not known because estimates were based predominantly on subjective assessments and skin or serum tests of allergic sensitization to food. The diagnostic gold standard, a double-blind placebo-controlled food provocation test, was not performed consistently to confirm suspected allergic reactions in previous population studies in children. This protocol describes the specific aims and diagnostic protocol of a birth cohort study examining prevalence patterns and influential factors of confirmed food allergies in European children from different regions. Methods:, Within the collaborative translational research project EuroPrevall, we started a multi-center birth cohort study, recruiting a total of over 12 000 newborns in nine countries across Europe in 2005,2009. In addition to three telephone interviews during the first 30 months, parents were asked to immediately inform the centers about possible allergic reactions to food at any time during the follow-up period. Results:, All children with suspected food allergy symptoms were clinically evaluated including double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge tests. We assessed sensitization to different food allergens by measurements of specific serum immunoglobulin E and skin prick tests, collect blood, saliva or buccal swabs for genetic tests, breast milk for measurement of food proteins/cytokines, and evaluate quality-of-life and economic burden of families with food allergic children. Conclusions:, This birth cohort provides unique data on prevalence, risk factors, quality-of-life, and costs of food allergies in Europe, leading to the development of more informed and integrated preventative and treatment strategies for children with food allergies. [source]


Obesity in Mediterranean region (1997,2007): a systematic review

OBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 5 2008
C. Papandreou
Summary The objective of this review is to determine the distribution of obesity by geographical location, income, age and sex in the Mediterranean region during the last decade. A meta-analysis was conducted for 102 articles cited during the period (1997,2007) in Medline database (for 17 Mediterranean countries) searched during the summer of 2007 using the word ,obesity' and its related keywords. The study showed that adults were more obese than children in all Mediterranean continents and in different levels of income. The prevalence of obesity among European children was higher than among Asians. Also, European adults were more obese than European children. The total female adults were found to be more obese (median: 25.3%) than male adults (median: 20.0%). The regression model analysis indicated that male adults were more likely to be obese in the Euro-Med region. Taking different factors into consideration, it was noticed that Mediterranean adults, especially those in the European region, are at higher risk of obesity. Awareness programmes addressing the importance of adopting healthy dietary habits combined with physical activity should target the whole community in general and adults in particular. The findings could guide health planners for better management of obesity. [source]


Nutrition and physical activity behaviours among Mäori, Pacific and NZ European children: identifying opportunities for population-based interventions

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 1 2006
Jennifer Utter
Objectives:To describe how the prevalences of nutrition and physical activity behaviours vary by ethnicity, while controlling for other socio-demographic characteristics, and to identify appropriate points of intervention for defined ethnic populations of New Zealand children. Methods:Secondary data analysis of the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey. Results:Few ethnic differences were significant for fruit and vegetable consumption and indicators of physical activity. Where ethnic differences in physical activity were significant, Mäori children and Pacific children were more active than New Zealand European/Other (NZEO) children. Pacific children and Mäori children were significantly more likely to skip meals than NZEO children. Pacific children and Mäori children were significantly more likely to buy some/most of the food they consumed at school from the tuckshop or dairy while NZEO children were more likely to bring their school food only from home. Likewise, Pacific children and Mäori children were significantly more likely to be high consumers of some fatty and sugary foods than NZEO children. Conclusions and Implications:Meal skipping and purchasing food away from home were common for Mäori children and Pacific children; school-based programs that aim to improve access to and subsidise the price of healthy foods, including breakfast, could greatly benefit Mäori and Pacific students. Efforts to improve fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity should be more universally applied and made culturally appropriate for all children. [source]


Serum selenium concentration in healthy children living in Tehran

BIOFACTORS, Issue 2 2007
Reza Safaralizadeh
Abstract Introduction: Selenium is one of the essential trace elements which is more notifed in children in recent years. Reliable age-specifc reference values for selenium in children in Iran are not clear and are important for the identifcation of selenium defciency and some other researches that is the aim of this study. Methods: Serum samples of 216 healthy children were analyzed by using hydride generation and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy to measured selenium level. Results: The mean and standard deviation of serum selenium level in children 0,16 years old (mean: 39.83 months) was 72.14 ± 16.80 ,g/l. There was signifcant difference in serum selenium concentration between two sexes which was 76.78 ± 15.24 ,g/l and 69.56 ± 17.09 ,g/l in girls and boys respectively (P value = 0.002 ). There was also a positive correlation between higher selenium serum concentration and age in both sexes. Conclusion: Essential trace element's normal ranges are fundamental data which could use in many studies. Serum selenium concentration in healthy Iranian children that found in this study is very close to serum concentration of European children. Our fndings may reveal nutritional culture's similarity. [source]


Handgrip strength in English schoolchildren

ACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 7 2010
DD Cohen
Abstract Aims:, The aims of this study were to evaluate patterns of handgrip (HG) strength in relation to gender and age in English schoolchildren and to compare this with existing data and produce reference data for this population. Methods:, The HG of 7147 English schoolchildren (3773 boys and 3374 girls) aged 10,15.9 years was measured using a portable Takei handgrip dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan). Centile data were produced using the Generalized Additive Models for Location, Scale and Shape. Z -scores were generated using existing data for European children. Age and gender interactions were analysed using analysis of covariance. Results:, In boys and girls, significant increases in HG were found between every age-group (p < 0.001). Boys were significantly stronger than girls at every age (p < 0.001) and the boys' age-related increase was significantly greater than the girls' (p < 0.001). Conclusion:, This study provides reference data for handgrip strength in English schoolchildren. Handgrip strength in English children is broadly similar to existing European data, after adjusting for mass and stature. These data could be used for clinical or athletic screening of low and high strength in this population. [source]


Burden of disease attributable to selected environmental factors and injury among children and adolescents in Europe

CHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2004
Richard Reading
Burden of disease attributable to selected environmental factors and injury among children and adolescents in Europe . ValentF, LittleD, BertolliniR, NemerLE, BarboneF & TamburliniG . ( 2004 ) Lancet , 363 , 2032 , 2039 . Background Environmental exposures contribute to the global burden of disease. We have estimated the burden of disease attributable to outdoor and indoor air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation, lead exposure, and injury among European children and adolescents. Methods Published studies and reports from international agencies were reviewed for calculation of risk-factor exposure in Europe. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) or deaths attributable to each factor, or both, were estimated by application of the potential impact fraction to the estimates of mortality and burden of disease from the WHO global database of burden of disease. Findings Among children aged 0,4 years, between 1.8% and 6.4% of deaths from all causes were attributable to outdoor air pollution; acute lower-respiratory-tract infections attributable to indoor air pollution accounted for 4.6% of all deaths and 3.1% of DALYs; and mild mental retardation resulting from lead exposure accounted for 4.4% of DALYs. In the age-group 0,14 years, diarrhoea attributable to inadequate water and sanitation accounted for 5.3% of deaths and 3.5% of DALYs. In the age-group 0,19 years, injuries were the cause of 22.6% of all deaths and 19.0% of DALYs. The burden of disease was much higher in European subregions B and C than subregion A. There was substantial uncertainty around some of the estimates, especially for outdoor air pollution. Interpretation Large proportions of deaths and DALYs in European children are attributable to outdoor and indoor air pollution, inadequate water and sanitation, lead exposure, and injuries. Interventions aimed at reducing children's exposure to environmental factors and injuries could result in substantial gains. The pronounced differences by subregion and age indicate the need for targeted action. [source]


Insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in obese French children

CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 6 2006
Céline Druet
Summary Objective, To estimate the frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and of the insulin resistance syndrome (IRS) in overweight or obese French children and to determine the risk factors. Design, patients and methods, A total of 308 overweight and obese children [166 girls, 142 boys, aged 7,17 years; median body mass index (BMI) 4·7 standard deviation (SD) (Q1,Q3: 3·9,5·8) adjusted for age and sex] were included. The frequency of the MS was assessed with the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria and the frequency of the IRS with World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Results, The overall frequency of MS and IRS was 15·9% and 42·5%, respectively. The most common component, after abdominal obesity (95·8%) and IR (71·8%), was elevated systolic blood pressure (28·6%). The frequency of glucose tolerance disorders was low (3·6%). The frequency of MS was independently influenced by homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) (P = 0·06) and waist-to-hip ratio (P = 0·09), whereas the frequency of IRS was influenced by adiposity (degree of obesity: P = 0·02; waist-to-hip ratio: P = 0·05), puberty (P = 0·05) and mother's BMI (P = 0·01). Ethnicity had no effect on either MS or IRS. Conclusions, Metabolic complications and IR are frequent in overweight and obese children whereas the frequency of glucose tolerance disorders is very low. IRS is more prevalent than MS, indicating a major role of IR, which could precede the other metabolic complications in obese children. IRS is a relevant marker for the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular complications in obese European children. [source]