Entamoeba species infect humans and non-human primates, raising concerns associated with potential zoonotic transmission. Therefore, the prevalence of human Entamoeba infections is crucial for its management in areas, where macaques exhibit high infection rates. Previously, we demonstrated prevalent E. nuttalli infections in rhesus macaques in Kathmandu, Nepal. In this study, we surveyed Entamoeba infection among 185 schoolchildren from two schools visited by wild rhesus macaques to assess the risk of transmission. PCR-based screening for Entamoeba species identified E. coli in 13 % and E. dispar in 0.5 % of the human stool samples. However, E. nuttalli and E. chattoni infections, prevalent in macaques, were not detected in human samples. This suggests that Entamoeba spp. are not transmitted through macaques in the school environment. We surveyed the rhesus macaques living in the temple near schools as well as the rhesus and Assam macaques inhabiting Shivapri Nagarjun National Park, Kathmandu. Among the 49 macaque stool samples, E. chattoni, E. coli, E. nuttalli, and E. dispar were detected in 92 %, 86 %, 41 %, and 18 % of the samples, respectively. Notably, E. dispar infections in macaques were mostly prevalent in the temple. A sample isolated from Nagarujun showed an identical genotype at two tRNA-linked short tandem repeat loci to that of E. dispar isolated from humans, suggesting potential transmission from humans to macaques. Genotypic analysis of cultured E. nuttalli strains obtained from the macaques colonizing three locations demonstrated that the geographical distance rather than differences in macaque species played a crucial role in the genetic diversity of the parasites. The phylogenetic tree of E. nuttalli strains, including the previously isolated strains, reflected the geographical distribution of the isolation sites. This study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of Entamoeba transmission and genetic diversity in macaques and humans.

BACKGROUND: Long COVID is a recognized condition that can follow SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has been primarily observed and studied in adults. Evidence on long COVID among children is scarce. We aimed to estimate its prevalence and symptom profile among schoolchildren, and its effects on studying, daily activities, and quality of life.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among caregivers of 2226 schoolchildren aged 12-17 in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, from 11 April to 16 May 2023 using WHO definitions and a validated quality of life questionnaire.
RESULTS: Among 1507 children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection ≥ 5 months prior, 85 (5.6%) had long COVID. Memory loss (85.9%), poor concentration capacity (58.8%), and fatigue (57.6%) were their most common symptoms. They reported more frequent interference with their studies, observed differences in school absence rates, reduced daily activities, worsened overall health status, and relatively higher utilization of health services compared with children who only suffered from acute COVID-19 symptoms after infection.
CONCLUSIONS: Given the near-ubiquitous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among children at this stage of the pandemic, our findings contribute invaluable evidence of an emerging public health burden among the pediatric population in Vietnam and globally. Concerted public health measures are needed to reduce long-term impacts on health, education, and wellbeing.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood and adolescence are important stages of life for acquiring healthy habits. There is a high prevalence of sedentary lifestyles worldwide during these ages, which negatively impacts health. This is attributed, in part, to excessive time spent engaging in sedentary behaviors. The aim of this study was to assess the time spent on sedentary behaviors and their relationship with physical activity levels in children and adolescents in the Community of Madrid.
METHODS: A total of 26,729 participants aged 10-17 from various schools and institutes took part in this study. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF) was used, and they were asked about the time they spent on different leisure time habits (specific sedentary behaviors and organized physical activity). A generalized linear model was used to analyze the association between the time spent in sedentary activities and the time spent in physical activity.
RESULTS: The results revealed that children and adolescents engage in low levels of physical activity and most of them spend considerable time in sedentary behaviors such as studying, watching television, or using social media. Completing school homework (Coef: 1.23, 95% CI: -0.51 to 2.97, p = 0.167) or using social media for more than 2 h (Coef: 1.29, 95% CI: -2.98 to 0.40, p = 0.133) compared to not dedicating time to them did not show a significant association with daily physical activity time. Watching television for more than 2 h was associated with a decrease of 2.60 min (95% CI: -4.41 to -0.78, p = 0.005). Thus, no or only irrelevant associations were found between time spent in sedentary activities and physical activity time.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the drawbacks of spending time engaging in sedentary behaviors, they seem to be compatible with physical activity levels. Therefore, it is important to continue research on physical activity adherence strategies to promote overall health and well-being.

OBJECTIVE: As research on yoga with school children is growing, this study investigated the effects a semester of yoga versus physical education on children\'s physical activity and psychosocial indicators.
METHODS: Physical activity and psychosocial variables were assessed at Time 1 (January/February) and Time 2 (April/May) through self-report surveys (n = 157; 63% female, age: m = 10.38, sd = 0.81 years) for the intervention (Hatha yoga classes) and control groups (standard physical education classes). The intervention group was also observed regarding pedometer and System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time data.
RESULTS: The results revealed a trend towards an increase for the control and a decrease for the intervention group in stress levels. The pedometer results showed a trend towards an increasing number of steps/min. Skill practice had the greatest increase with time dedicated to that activity. The observation results revealed a significant difference in activity from Time 1 to Time 2. The major differences were decreases in sitting and being very active, and an increase in walking.
CONCLUSIONS: Given the observation data and our study design limitations, the study results showed similarities between Hatha yoga and physical education in terms of increasing physical activity levels and psychosocial variables; thus, yoga may be a viable alternative to children\'s physical education in this regard.

Dental caries is a global oral health issue, especially critical in children, affecting their growth, nutrition, and education due to school absences or distractions from dental pain. The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between school types (indicative of socioeconomic conditions) and dental caries prevalence among primary school children in Riyadh, alongside assessing the overall caries prevalence among schoolchildren in Riyadh. Retrospective study on 28,343 first and fourth-grade students from 960 public and private schools in Riyadh, using data from the Saudi Ministry of Health (Feb-April 2019). Utilized the DMFT/dmft index for assessment and collected demographic data. Most of the schools were public (76.1%), private national (17.1%), and private international (6.8%). Overall, the mean DMFT index for permanent teeth and the dmft index for primary teeth were 1.78 and 1.94, respectively. 58% of school children had no dental caries, 25% had mild caries, and 17% had moderate to severe caries. Public school children showed a higher caries prevalence than private schools. Oral disease rates were higher in girls than in boys, and grade four students had a higher prevalence than grade one students. Saudi Arabia, a developing nation, faces challenges in addressing oral health, especially in public schools. Targeted initiatives are crucial for awareness, preventive measures, and meeting oral health needs.

UNASSIGNED: Head louse infestation, pediculosis, is a serious health problem worldwide. Infected children usually suffer from itching, allergies, and secondary infections besides psychological disorders such as depression and lack of self-confidence leading to school failure. This study aimed to investigate the status of pediculosis and its determinant factors among schoolchildren in Amol City, Northern Iran.
UNASSIGNED: This study included 228 schools frequented by about 20017 students. Pediculosis was determined by careful examination of students\' hair on the scalp, back of the neck, and around the ears. The diagnosis was based on observation of live adults, nymphs, and nits. A questionnaire was used to record the personal and demographic characteristics of participants.
UNASSIGNED: This study revealed that the prevalence of pediculosis among schoolchildren during all schooling seasons (autumn, winter, and spring) correlated with sex: the prevalence being higher among girls than boys (p= 0.00). In addition, the highest rates of pediculosis occurred during the autumn season (p= 0.00). The public schools accommodated higher numbers of louse-infected students than the private ones (p= 0.00). While head louse occurred at higher frequencies in long hair over the schooling year, dandruff had anti-louse effects (p= 0.00) during cold seasons, autumn, and winter. Socioeconomic status and educational level of parents played determinant roles in head louse prevalence (p= 0.00). Schoolchildren coming from socioeconomically well-situated families had lower rates of head louse infestation.
UNASSIGNED: Our results showed that head pediculosis was a serious health problem among schoolchildren in Amol city and its prevalence and severity tended to be multifactorial.

OBJECTIVE: Intestinal protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren are a subject of concern due to their prevalence and potential health impact. Understanding and addressing this issue is crucial for public health in the region.
METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive search for articles published up to December 2023 across four databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, and Web of Science. To estimate the combined prevalence, a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied, and the statistical analysis was performed using meta-analysis packages in R version (3.6.1). This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023481146).
RESULTS: Among 131 eligible articles, the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites was 0.208 (95% CI = 0.180-0.238). Lebanon and Tajikistan had the highest country-level prevalence at 0.851 and 0.836, respectively, with Giardia duodenalis being the most prevalent species at 0.082.
CONCLUSIONS: In summary, our study highlights the urgent public health issue of protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren due to poor sanitation and water quality. Immediate interventions are essential, considering climate and socioeconomic factors, to combat these infections and improve overall health.

Bothersome gastrointestinal (GI) signs/symptoms, including abdominal pain, distension, nausea, and flatulence, are common in children. A diet low in fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAPs) is frequently recommended for children with GI symptoms. Currently, there are no studies on the effect of FODMAPs in healthy schoolchildren. In this cross-sectional study, schoolchildren reported an association between FODMAPs and GI symptoms through a standardized questionnaire and images of 20 common staples known to be rich in FODMAPs. A total of 208 schoolchildren aged 8-18 years old participated. A proportion of 38.0% of children reported GI symptoms, with abdominal pain (33%) being the most common complaint followed by abdominal distension (24%) and nausea (23%). The majority of children who reported intolerances to FODMAP-containing foods were intolerant to less than two food groups (76%). While vegetables and legumes (26%), particularly black beans (11%) and onions (7%), emerged as the most common group of triggers, milk (12%) stood out as the single food most frequently associated with GI symptoms. In conclusion, there was a high prevalence of FODMAPs intolerance among schoolchildren. Larger studies are recommended to confirm these findings and to inform possible dietary interventions to reduce the effect of FODMAPs on schoolchildren.

We examined the prevalence of obesity in two types of schools-a comprehensive school and a grammar school-in a rural German region of Brandenburg.
METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, BMI values were measured in 114 students in grades 5, 7, and 10. In addition to the demographic data, data on nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being were collected using a questionnaire.
RESULTS: A total of 44% (11/25) of the comprehensive school students and 15% (13/89) of the high school students are overweight, and 24% (6/25) of the comprehensive school pupils and 6% (5/89) of the grammar school pupils (p = 0.009) are obese. In addition, 91% (10/11) of the students with obesity, 36% (4/11) of the students with pre-obesity, and 31% (26/84) of the normal-weight students (p = 0.001) are concerned about their weight. Among the children with obesity, 82% (9/11) are afraid of gaining weight. In addition, 6% (5/82) of the normal-weight students, 25% (3/12) of the students with pre-obesity, and 70% (7/10) of the students with obesity feel restricted by their weight when exercising.
CONCLUSIONS: School attendance and parental socioeconomic status appear to correlate with students\' weight statuses. There is a high level of suffering, and they feel uncomfortable with their bodies and worry about weight regulation.

It is recognized that the time adolescents spend on physical activity, and the corresponding physical fitness indicators, have diminished over time. However, the exact impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restriction period on physical activity and health-related physical fitness indicators remains unclear. This study sought to determine if and to what degree the primary indicators of physical activity (exercise frequency, exercise intensity, and outdoor physical activity) and health-related physical fitness (strength and endurance) among schoolchildren have shifted, by comparing data from before and after the coronavirus pandemic period. Students aged 12-17 years took part in the study. The physical activity questionnaire and fitness tests were conducted in the autumn of 2017 and spring of 2022. The main results show that moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity time and time spent actively outdoors have decreased among adolescents (p < 0.05). There were no significant changes in exercise frequency (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant decline in strength (standing broad jump, bent arm hang) (p < 0.05) and endurance (20 m shuttle run, curl-up) (p < 0.01) when comparing results from before and after the COVID-19 pandemic restriction period. In conclusion, restricted mobility had the greatest impact on the time spent outdoors and, in turn, on physical fitness.