Document is current

Article History

Received: 20 October 2025

Accepted: 25 January 2026

First Online: 13 February 2026

Declarations

:

: The Institutional Ethics Committee of Goa Medical College reviewed and approved the study protocol on 10 December 2021 (Ref: GMC/EC/2021/349/2819). In accordance with institutional guidelines, written informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians for all participants, and assent was obtained from children aged 7 years and above.

: Written informed consent was obtained from the parents or legal guardians of all participating children and adolescents before enrollment in the study. Age-appropriate assent was also obtained from participants aged 7 years and above after explaining the study objectives and procedures in a language they understood. The participants and their guardians were assured that participation was voluntary, confidentiality would be maintained, and that refusal to participate would not affect their clinical care.

: The authors declare no competing interests.