Ascertaining infectious disease burden through primary care clinic attendance among young Aboriginal children living in four remote communities in Western Australia

PloS One
David HendrickxRoz Walker

Abstract

Infectious diseases contribute a substantial burden of ill-health in Australia's Aboriginal children. Skin infections have been shown to be common in remote Aboriginal communities, particularly in the Northern Territory, Australia. However, primary care data on skin and other infectious diseases among Aboriginal children living in remote areas of Western Australia are limited. We conducted a retrospective review of clinic presentations of all children aged 0 to 5 years presenting to four clinics located in the Western Desert region of Western Australia between 2007 and 2012 to determine this burden at a local level. Infectious diseases accounted for almost 50% of all clinic presentations. Skin infections (sores, scabies and fungal infections) were the largest proportion (16%), with ear infections (15%) and upper respiratory infections (13%) also high. Skin infections remained high in all age groups; 72% of children presented at least once with skin infections. Scabies accounted for only 2% of all presentations, although one-quarter of children presented during the study for management of scabies. Skin sores accounted for 75% of the overall burden of skin infections. Improved public health measures targeting bacterial skin infec...Continue Reading

References

Aug 23, 2003·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Deborah LehmannFiona J Stanley
May 21, 2004·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·C Jeffries-StokesK Wood
Dec 1, 2004·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·S R Mordekar, P S Baxter
Oct 29, 2005·The Lancet Infectious Diseases·Jonathan R CarapetisMartin Weber
Jun 17, 2008·The Medical Journal of Australia·Elizabeth L McDonaldBarbara A Paterson
Apr 29, 2008·Bulletin of the World Health Organization·Danielle B ClucasRoss M Andrews
Sep 12, 2008·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Tony Jewell
Jan 24, 2009·The Australian Journal of Rural Health·John R BeardGeoff Morgan
Dec 8, 2009·Pediatric Clinics of North America·Ross M AndrewsBart J Currie
Oct 7, 2011·The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene·Catherine S MarshallBart J Currie
Nov 11, 2011·The Australasian Journal of Dermatology·Erin McMenimanRoss M Andrews
Mar 16, 2012·Health & Place·Lisa BourkeJudy Taylor
May 18, 2016·The Journal of Infection·Daniel K YeohJonathan R Carapetis
Jun 9, 2016·International Journal of Environmental Health Research·S M MelodyG R Zosky
Jul 22, 2016·Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health·Maina KariukiVaughan J Carr
Oct 8, 2016·International Journal for Equity in Health·Carol DavyAlex Brown

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 13, 2019·The Medical Journal of Australia·Joseph V MohanEmma K Griffiths
Oct 21, 2019·The Medical Journal of Australia·Lucy DavidsonAsha C Bowen
Feb 6, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·David HendrickxRoz Walker
Oct 30, 2019·The Australian Journal of Rural Health·James Dowler, Angela Wilson
Jun 23, 2020·Emerging Infectious Diseases·Eva L SudburyKeshan Satharasinghe
Jun 4, 2019·The Medical Journal of Australia·Asha C BowenSteven Yc Tong
Dec 18, 2020·Autoimmunity Reviews·Leanne M DooleyMichael Kotiw
Nov 16, 2020·The Medical Journal of Australia·Rosemary WyberUNKNOWN END RHD CRE Investigators Collaborators
May 25, 2021·Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health·Rosemary WyberUNKNOWN END RHD Communities Investigator and Advisory Group

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

CARPA
R

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.