Epidemiology, clinical features and outcomes of incident tuberculosis in children in Canada in 2013-2016: results of a national surveillance study.

PURPOSE: Childhood tuberculosis disease is difficult to diagnose and manage and is an under-recognised cause of morbidity and mortality. Reported data from Canada do not focus on childhood tuberculosis or capture key epidemiologic, clinical and microbiologic details. The purpose of this study was to assess demographics, presentation and clinical features of childhood tuberculosis in Canada. METHODS: We conducted prospective surveillance from 2013 to 2016 of over 2700 paediatricians plus vertical tuberculosis programmes for incident tuberculosis disease in children younger than 15 years in Canada using the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP). RESULTS: In total, 200 cases are included in this study. Tuberculosis was intrathoracic in 183 patients of whom 86% had exclusively intrathoracic involvement. Central nervous system tuberculosis occurred in 16 cases (8%). Fifty-one per cent of cases were hospitalised and 11 (5.5%) admitted to an intensive care unit. Adverse drug reactions were reported in 9% of cases. The source case, most often a first-degree relative, was known in 73% of cases. Fifty-eight per cent of reported cases were Canadian-born Indigenous children. Estimated study rates of reported cases (per 100 000 children per year) were 1.2 overall, 8.6 for all Indigenous children and 54.3 for Inuit children. CONCLUSION: Childhood tuberculosis may cause significant morbidity and resource utilisation. Key geographies and groups have very high incidence rates. Elimination of childhood tuberculosis in Canada will require well-resourced community-based efforts that focus on these highest risk groups.

Housing need in Canada: Healthy lives start at home.

Housing affects the health of children and youth. One-third of households in Canada live in substandard conditions or in housing need. The present statement reviews the literature documenting the impacts of housing on personal health and the health care system. Types of housing need are defined, including unsuitable or crowded housing, unaffordable housing and inadequate housing, or housing in need of major repairs. The health effects of each type of housing need, as well as of unsafe neighbourhoods, infestations and other environmental exposures are outlined. Paediatricians and other physicians caring for children need to understand the housing status of patients to fully determine their health issues and ability to access and engage in health care. Recommendations and sample tools to assess and address housing need at the patient, family, community and policy levels are described. Canada is the only G8 country without a national housing strategy. Recommendations also include advocating for enhanced action at all levels of government and for housing-supportive policies, including a national housing strategy.

Le logement a une incidence sur la santé des enfants et des adolescents. Le tiers des ménages canadiens habite dans des conditions déplorables ou éprouve des besoins en matière de logement. Le présent document contient une analyse bibliographique des répercussions du logement sur la santé personnelle et le système de santé. Les types de besoins en matière de logement sont définis, y compris les logements de taille inadéquate ou surpeuplés, les logements inabordables ou en mauvais état et ceux qui ont besoin de réparations majeures. Les effets de chaque type de besoins en matière de logement sur la santé, de même que les quartiers mal famés, les infestations et les autres expositions environnementales, sont présentés. Les pédiatres et les autres médecins qui s'occupent d'enfants doivent connaître les conditions de logement de leurs patients pour cerner leurs problèmes de santé ainsi que leur capacité d'obtenir des soins et de s'y conformer. Sont présentés des recommandations et des modèles d'outils pour évaluer les besoins en matière de logement et de politiques de la santé pour le patient, la famille et la collectivité, ainsi que pour y répondre. Le Canada est le seul pays du G8 à ne pas être doté d'une stratégie nationale en matière de logement. Les recommandations incluent également la nécessité de préconiser des mesures plus énergiques à tous les ordres de gouvernement et d'adopter des politiques en appui au logement, y compris une stratégie nationale en matière de logement.

Weaning from the breast.

Exclusive breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition for infants until they are six months of age. After six months, infants require complementary foods to meet their nutritional needs. This is when weaning begins. Weaning is the gradual process of introducing complementary foods to an infant's diet while continuing to breastfeed. There is no universally accepted or scientifically proven time when all breastfeeding must stop. The timing and process of weaning need to be individualized by mother and child. Weaning might be abrupt or gradual, take weeks or several months, be child-led or mother-led. Physicians need to guide and support mothers through the weaning process. This document replaces a previous Canadian Paediatric Society position statement on weaning published in 2004.