Background: Monkeypox is a global public health concern, given the recent outbreaks in non-endemic countries where little scientific evidence exists on the disease. Specifically, there is a lack of data on asymptomatic monkeypox virus infection. This study aims to evaluate the overall prevalence of asymptomatic monkeypox virus infection. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we performed an extensive literature search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, EMBASE, EBSCOHost, Cochrane, and preprint servers (medRxiv, arXiv, bioRxiv, BioRN, ChiRxiv, ChiRN, and SSRN) and assessed all published articles till September 2022. Primary studies reporting monkeypox infections among asymptomatic participants were included after quality assessment. The characteristics of the study and information on the number of cases and symptomatic status were extracted from the included studies. The heterogeneity between studies was assessed using the I2 statistic. Publication bias was analyzed using funnel plots and Egger regression tests. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of asymptomatic infections within the examined population. Results: A total of 16 studies were included for qualitative synthesis, while five studies, including 645 individuals, were included for quantitative synthesis. There was substantial heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 94.86%; p < 0.01), with a pooled percentage of asymptomatic infections in the studied population of 10.2% (95%CI, 2.5–17.9%). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that many people infected with the monkeypox virus are asymptomatic and difficult to detect. Therefore, prompt detection of these cases of monkeypox virus and appropriate subsequent management is of utmost importance to global public health.
(1) Background: The increasing prevalence and subsequent mortality due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Indian prisoners are often ignored by policymakers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to analyze the rising burden of Noncommunicable Diseases in Indian prisons and estimate the pooled prevalence of depression among Indian prisoners. (2) Methods: A total 9 studies were chosen in accordance with PRISMA guidelines that investigated the burden of NCDs in Indian prisons and were published between January 2010 and August 2022. Statistical analysis was performed in STATA Version 16 software, and the funnel plot was used to identify publication bias. (3) Results: A total of 52 articles were identified, and 9 were included in this analysis. The pooled prevalence of depression among prisoners was 48.78% (95% CI, 27.24–70.55%). According to the review, prisoners showed a significant prevalence of moderate to severe depression, dental caries, poor periodontal condition, and suicide ideation. This study is the first to analyze NCDs prevalence among Indian prisoners. Poor mental and dental health standards and the virtual absence of healthcare facilities necessitate governmental actions to boost inmates’ health. It is essential to develop preventative interventions for this extremely isolated and vulnerable group in addition to diagnosing and treating noncommunicable diseases. (4) Conclusions: Our study findings will enable decision-makers to structure and develop appropriate preventative and curative programs for inmates’ general wellbeing.
Objectives: Despite most childhood infections being self-limiting, children are among the leading consumers of antibiotics. Little is known about parental expectations of antibiotics for childhood infections. A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to explore the nature and extent of parental expectations of antibiotic prescriptions for children with respiratory infections. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: An extensive literature search using six major scientific databases was conducted for all published articles until 7 December 2022. Primary studies reporting parents’ expectations of antibiotics for children with upper respiratory tract infections were included after assessment for quality. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed using the I2 statistic and publication bias was analyzed using funnel plots and Egger regression tests. The primary outcome was a summary estimate of the percentage of parents who expect antibiotics from their physicians when their child presents with an upper respiratory tract infection. Results: From a total of 4510 studies found in the initial searches, a final pool of 19 eligible studies with 15,664 individuals was included in this meta-analysis. Nine of the 19 studies were from the United States or Saudi Arabia. The pooled prevalence of parental expectations of antibiotics in the population reviewed was 55.78% (95% CI = 44.60–66.41). There was significant heterogeneity between the studies, but funnel plot and meta-regression did not detect any publication bias. Conclusion: More than half of parents expect antibiotics for their children during consultation for upper respiratory tract infections. Such practices may cause undue side effects among children, contribute to the growing burden of antibiotic resistance, and lead to treatment failure for many common infections in the future. To optimize efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, shared decision-making and education emphasizing the proper and judicious use of antibiotics are much needed in pediatric healthcare settings. This can also help to manage parents’ expectations when seeking antibiotics for their children. Despite pressure from parents, pediatric healthcare providers should continue to advocate for antibiotic use only when warranted and help improve knowledge and awareness amongst parents. Registration: The protocol has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022364198)
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