Tag: newborns

Categories : PaediatricsTags :

WHO Prequalifies First-ever Malaria Treatment for Infants

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Ekamelev on Unsplash

Ahead of World Malaria Day on 25 April, the World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a significant step forward in the fight against malaria with the prequalification of the first treatment developed specifically for newborns and young infants weighing between two and five kilograms. The prequalification designation indicates that the medicine meets international standards of quality, safety and efficacy, and will help to expand access to quality-assured treatment for one of the most underserved patient groups.

The newly prequalified treatment, artemether-lumefantrine, is the first antimalarial formulation designed specifically for the youngest malaria patients. Until now, infants with malaria have been treated with formulations intended for older children, which increase the risk of dosing errors, side effects and toxicity. WHO prequalification will enable public sector procurement, contributing to closing a long-standing treatment gap for some 30 million babies born each year in malaria-endemic areas of Africa.

“For centuries, malaria has stolen children from their parents, and health, wealth and hope from communities,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “But today, the story is changing. New vaccines, diagnostic tests, next-generation mosquito nets and effective medicines, including those adapted for the youngest, are helping to turn the tide. Ending malaria in our lifetime is no longer a dream – it is a real possibility, but only with sustained political and financial commitment. Now we can. Now we must.”

New prequalified tests

On 14 April 2026, WHO also prequalified three new rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) designed to address emerging diagnostic challenges for malaria. The most common malaria RDTs for P. falciparum parasite work by detecting the protein, known as HRP2. But based on reported studies and surveys in 46 countries, some strains of the malaria parasite have lost the gene that makes this protein – so they become “invisible” to HRP2-based RDTs, leading to false-negative results. In countries in the Horn of Africa, up to 80% of cases were missed, leading to delayed treatment, severe illness, and even death.

The new tests address this issue by targeting a different parasite protein (pf-LDH) that the malaria parasite cannot easily shed. They provide a reliable, quality-assured alternative where HRP2-based tests are failing. WHO now recommends that countries switch to these alternative RDTs when more than 5% of cases are missed due to pf-hrp2 deletions. This ensures accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and protects hard-won malaria control gains – especially for the most vulnerable communities.

Source: World Health Organization

Categories : Paediatrics Pain ManagementTags :

Sugar Comforts Newborn Babies During Painful Procedures

On By ModernMedia

Researchers have found that sucrose can relieve newborn babies’ pain during common hospital procedures

Photo by Christian Bowen on Unsplash

A new Cochrane review has found that sucrose can help with pain relief in newborn babies during common hospital procedures, such as venepuncture. This involves drawing blood with a needle, typically for testing. 

Newborns, especially preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), undergo numerous painful procedures. Because of their immature pain regulation, they can experience these procedures intensely. Preventing and treating procedural pain in hospitalized newborns is important, as repeated untreated pain has been associated with poorer physical growth and potential effects on brain development.

Accessible, low-cost solutions such as sucrose – a sweet sugar solution placed in a baby’s mouth shortly before needle procedures – have been used for decades. However, evidence specific to some procedures, such as venepuncture, has been limited.

Despite sucrose being recommended in multiple guidelines for procedural pain relief in infants, its use in clinical settings remains inconsistent.

Low-cost, safe intervention

The new review examined 29 clinical trials involving more than 2700 preterm and full-term babies undergoing venepuncture in hospital. It found that sucrose probably reduces pain during and immediately after the needle procedure when compared to no treatment, water or standard care. The findings also suggest that sucrose works especially well when combined with non-nutritive sucking, such as a pacifier or dummy. 
 

“Newborn babies undergo frequent needle procedures in hospital without any pain relief or comforting measures, even though older children and adults rarely have these procedures done without pain care.

The evidence shows that a small amount of sucrose given just before the procedure is a simple, fast and effective way to reduce that pain. Our review helps clinicians use this evidence more confidently and consistently in practice.”

— Mariana Bueno, University of Toronto


None of the studies included in the review reported immediate side effects from sucrose when used in the small amounts required for pain relief. However, the studies focused on short-term effects, and more research is needed to understand any potential long-term effects of repeated use in babies who spend extended time in neonatal care.
 

“Parents may be surprised to learn that something as simple as a few drops of sugar solution can make a real difference to their baby’s comfort during blood tests. 

This is a low-cost, safe intervention that works within minutes, and it can be especially helpful when other comforting methods like skin-to-skin contact or breastfeeding aren’t possible.”

— Ligyana Candido, University of Ottawa

Treated like other medications

Although sucrose is already widely used in neonatal units, the researchers found considerable variation in how it is given, including differences in dose and timing. 

Bueno added:
 

“What stood out to me when doing this review was the wide variation in how sucrose was given to newborns.”


The authors suggest the findings can help inform clearer clinical protocols and more consistent practice.

They also highlight that sucrose should be used purposefully for painful procedures and documented appropriately, rather than being given routinely to settle a crying baby. 


“To ensure safety and clinical consistency, sucrose must be administered under formal medication protocols that define specific timing and dosage for painful procedures.”

— Jiale Hu, Virginia Commonwealth University


The review authors say future research should focus on comparing effective comfort measures such as skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding and sucrose with each other, rather than continuing to compare them to no treatment, and on understanding any potential long-term effects of repeated use in babies who spend extended time in neonatal care. 

By Mia Parkinson

Read the review

Source: Cochrane