Pragmatic language impairments are common in neurodevelopmental disorders, especially in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The relationship between structural language skills and pragmatic competence in children with autistic symptoms, however, is largely unknown. We investigated this relationship based on the Children’s Communication Checklist-2 and early language delay among children (N = 177, 19% females) clinically evaluated for ASD, differentiated into ASD (n = 148) and non-ASD (n = 29). Structural language deficits were common and associated with reduced pragmatic competence in both groups. Pragmatic language impairments were most profound in children with ASD. Early language delay and structural language deficits were less common in females. Our findings suggest that assessment of structural language skills should be included in the evaluation of children with suspected ASD.

Background: In Mali, the national health facility-based prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) was 4.5% (105/2,343) and the age of rst medical visit for autistic children was around 7 years old in 2018. Parental recognition of developmental abnormalities initiates the early autism detection and diagnosis. Our aim was to investigate if parental concerns were associated with early rst medical visits and subsequent ASD diagnostic in Mali. Methods: We conducted a pilot study from November 2017 to July 2019. We surveyed parents of 57 out of 60 available autistic children aged 3-14 years old. Results: Parents were concerned over verbal communication in 54.1% and reciprocal social interaction in 43.8%. Children with ASD had their rst medical visit after 18 months old in 66.7%, ≥ two medical visits in 87.7%, and were identi ed after 36 months old in 76.8%. Conclusion: Parental concerns were not signi cantly associated with early rst medical visit and ASD identi cation. Our results will guide future full scale studies on parental concerns in ASD in Mali. Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) affect 1 in 59 children aged 8 years old in the United States of America (U.S.A.) [1]. ASD are recognized as an emerging global public health concern due to the increasing worldwide prevalence and awareness along the need for early diagnostic and lifelong care [2,3]. Almost everything we know about ASD still comes from the World Bank high-income countries mainly. In sub-Sahara Africa, the stigma and unmet needs of parents and children with ASD are considerable while the prevalence of ASD is still unknown [4-6]. In Mali, the health facility-based prevalence of ASD was 4.5% (105/2,343) in 2018 [7]. Early ASD diagnosis is very important because it helps to ensure appropriate services are offered and because this may improve prognosis [8,9]. Early intervention in ASD requires early detection, which depends on early screening. Various early autism screening tools have been developed in the U.S. to promote early autism risk detection [10]. In developed countries, the online version of the Modi ed checklist for autism in toddlers-Revised/follow up (M-CHAT-R/F) and the social communication questionnaire (SCQ) are available to parents who suspect their children at risk of ASD [11]. In Mali, we have validated the M-CHAT-R and SCQ in 2017-2018 to screen ASD in toddlers aged 18-24 months old and people aged 4-20 years old suspected with ASD, respectively [12]. Timely ASD diagnostic requires early detection, which greatly depends on parental recognition of developmental abnormalities [13]. In the U.S.A, parental concerns of childhood developmental abnormalities have been associated with early or late ASD screening and diagnostic as well as the overall well-being of autistic children [14,15]. In general, initial concerns about the autistic child's development come rst from their parents in up to 80% [16]. Developmental motor delays during early childhood may represent an important predictor for ASD diagnostic [17,18]. In high risk child...

Hospital admission rates for asthma and wheezing are still high, especially in younger children. We performed a prospective study of children admitted for asthma or wheezing to Stavanger University Hospital during one year. Prehospital emergency treatment, prophylactic asthma treatment, and possible risk factors for hospital admission were registered. A total of 337 admissions for 288 children were included. Recommended inhaled emergency treatment was administered prior to only 33% of the admissions. Inhaled steroids had been prescribed before 43% of admissions for asthma, and symptomatic treatment with a beta2-agonist prior to 74% of admissions. Parental smoking was frequent. There seems to be a high potential to prevent admissions for asthma and wheezing by improving prophylactic asthma care and prehospital emergency treatment, as well as avoiding parental smoking. An increased focus should be on education and implementation of guidelines.

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