43% of Children Under Five at Risk of Poor Development.
What Can We Do?
“An estimated 43 percent—249 million—of children under five in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) are at an elevated risk of poor development due to extreme poverty and stunting.
Lancet – Advancing Early Childhood Development: from Science to Scale
Recommendations to help reverse this trend include implementing low-cost interventions that promote nurturing care such as health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, security and safety, and early learning. Reaching more pregnant women and young children with preventative and promotive services has the potential to drastically improve developmental outcomes for children as well as their adult health, wellbeing, and economic productivity.
“Historically, early childhood interventions have focused on children of preschool age. But we now know that interventions encompassing the period before conception through the first two years of life can greatly reduce adverse growth and health outcomes, and help ensure young children reach their full developmental potential.”
Professor Stephen Lye, Ph.D
Test Your Knowledge Of Children’s Health
In which years of a child’s life does the brain develop the fastest?
A. 0-3 years B. 3-6 years C. 7-10 years
What is the loss in adult productivity in countries where children do not reach their full potential?
A. 10% B. 15% C. 20% D. 25%
The number of worldwide deaths in 2015 of children under-five has been declining over the last two decades. How many children’s lives has this saved since 2000?
A. 28 million B. 38 million C. 48 million
Quiz Answer: 1=A; 2=C; 3=C
Helping Improve Children’s Health
Influenza A/B
Influenza occurs all over the world, with an annual global attack rate estimated at 5 – 10% in adults and 20 – 30% in children.
CTK’s Influenza A/B Rapid Test is a single test that reliably detects the most common types of influenza – type A and B virus, including H1N1 (swine flu) and H5N1 (bird flu) CTK also produces Positivia External Control kits for Influenza A/B Rapid Test increasing diagnostic clinical lab standards and meeting certain ISO requirements worldwide.
Rotavirus and Adenovirus
Each year, at least four million children under five years of age die from diarrhea. Rotavirus, enteric adenovirus and some bacterial species are the most common identified infectious agents responsible for diarrhea in young children worldwide.
CTK’s Rota/Adeno Rapid Test differentiates between rotavirus and adenovirus in a single test ensuring correct treatment and reducing the chance of antibiotic resistance built up from improper diagnosis and treatment of childhood diarrheal diseases.
Strep A
There are estimated to be several million cases of non-invasive group A strep illnesses, like strep throat and impetigo. Available in either a cassette or strip format, CTK’s Strep A Rapid Test includes built in controls and demonstrates no cross reactivity with over 20 common organisms.
Tuberculosis (TB)
In 2014, approximately 1 million children became ill with TB and 140,000 children died worldwide.
This test is designed to differentiate IgG/IgM infections, detects both pulmonary and non-pulmonary TB, and still meets resource limited demands of a low cost, fast result, easy to use test.
ToRCH (Toxoplasma, Rubella, CMV, HSV 1/2)
HSV-1
Studies show there may be a link between HSV-1 infection and Alzheimer’s disease.
CTK’s HSV-1 IgG/IgM Rapid Test is a single test that detects and differentiates IgG and IgM anti-HSV-1.
HSV-2
Without treatment, 80% of infants with disseminated HSV-2 disease die, and those who do survive are often brain damaged.
CTK’s HSV-2 IgG/IgM Rapid Test is a single test that detects and differentiates IgG and IgM anti-HSV-2; infection increases risk of contracting HIV.
Rubella
Rubella infection in pregnant women may cause fetal death or congenital defects known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). Worldwide, over 100 000 babies are born with CRS every year.
Designed as a semi-quantitative rapid test, Rubella IgG/IgM Rapid Test is the first to discriminate between patients at risk for, protected from or currently experiencing rubella infection.
Please click here to download CTK’s official newsletter, Volume 11, Issue 1, 2016