Disparities in HIV continuum of care in the paediatric population: A real-life study in Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric HIV follow-up is challenging, and treatment indicators are markedly far from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) goals. In this study, we describe the 2019 Brazilian HIV cascade according to age categories and sociodemographic variables and address temporal trends between 2009 and 2019. METHODS: We obtained data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health monitoring database. Cascade outcomes included retention in care, antiretroviral use, and viral suppression. We assessed the effect of age on timely initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART; initiation with CD4+ T-cell count ≥350 cells/mm3 or a first ART dispensation ≤30 days after the first CD4+ T-cell measurement) and detectable HIV viral load (>50 copies/mL) in univariable and multivariable analysis adjusted for sex, race, and social vulnerability index (SVI). Temporal trends in timely ART initiation and viral suppression were evaluated graphically. RESULTS: Among 771 774 people living with HIV, those in the youngest age categories had poorer indicators in the care cascade. Those in younger age groups, those with higher SVI, and those declaring Black and native Brazilian race/ethnicity had higher odds of having detectable viral load and delayed ART initiation. Although children living with HIV tend to start ART with higher CD4+ T-cell counts, time-series analysis suggests that improvements in treatment indicators seen in the adult population are not observed in the paediatric population. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the challenges faced by children and adolescents living with HIV in achieving UNAIDS goals. Lower access to ART among children is a central barrier to improved paediatric care.

Crise álgica em crianças portadoras de doença falciforme / Painful crises in children with sickle cell disease

Introdução: a doença falciforme é causa frequente de internações em Pediatria, especialmente devido à sua complicação aguda mais frequente, a crise álgica. Objetivos: avaliar o manejo dos casos de crise álgica em crianças com doença falciforme internadas na enfermaria de Pediatria de um hospital universitário, contribuindo para a melhoria do atendimento aos pacientes na unidade. Métodos: foi utilizada metodologia descritiva, exploratória e retrospectiva, a partir da revisão de prontuários dos pacientes com diagnóstico de doença falciforme internados na enfermaria de Pediatria de um hospital universitário entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2014, com crise álgica. Foram coletados dados sobre o tratamento domiciliar, em pronto-atendimento e hospitalar. Resultados: no período estudado, foram observadas 38 internações de 24 crianças com crise álgica. A idade média foi de seis anos e sete meses e as internaçõesduraram, em média, 12,07 dias. Predominaram quadros de dor moderada ou grave e as infecções foram os principais desencadeantes das crises. A maioria dos pais providenciou tratamento com analgesia domiciliar logo após o início da dor, mas o tempo para o primeiro atendimento frente à não melhora foi elevado. Em geral, houve demora em tratar adequadamente a crise, atraso na internação no controle efetivo da dor. Conclusões:as crises álgicas são complicações agudas frequentes na doença falciforme e seu tratamento efetivo e imediato é essencial para o não prolongamento dos sintomas. No entanto, foi frequente a demora na procura do atendimento médico, uso inapropriado de medicamentos e controle da dor pouco eficiente.

Introduction: Sickle cell disease is a frequent cause of hospitalization in pediatric services, especially due to its more frequent acute complication, pain crisis. Objective: To evaluate the management of painful crises in children with sickle cell disease admitted to the Pediatric ward in a university hospital, aiming to improve these patients care. Methods: A descriptive, exploratory and retrospective study, by chart review of all patients with sickle cell disease admitted in Pediatric Ward in a university hospital from January 2013 to December 2014, with a diagnosis of painful crisis. Data about home, emergency and inpatient care were collected. Results: 38 admissions of 24 children with the diagnosis of painful crises were observed during the study period. The average age was 6 yearsand 7 months, and hospitalizations lasted an average of 12.07 days. Most of children had moderate or severe pain, and infections were the main trigger of the crisis. Most parents started treatment at home after the onset of pain, but they delayed to go to medical attendance when there was not improvement. Overall, there was a delay in properly handlethe crisis, in hospitalization, and for effective pain control. Conclusions: Painful crises are the most frequent acute complications in sickle cell disease, and its effective and prompt treatment is essential for the non-extension of symptoms. However, it was often the delay in medical care demand, inappropriate medication use, and inefficient control of pain.

Risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S aureus colonization among health care workers in pediatrics departments.

Risk factors for Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) were evaluated for 178 health care workers from a public hospital pediatrics department in Brazil. Colonization rates were 33.1% for S aureus and 5.1% for MRSA. Risk factors for S aureus colonization differed from those for MRSA. Results suggest nurses with prolonged pediatric patient contact in inpatient units are at higher risk for MRSA colonization.

Os três líquens: escleroso, plano e plano erosivo / The three lichens: sclerosus, planus and erosive

Líquen escleroso (LE) e líquen plano (LP) são doenças de natureza inflamatória que atacam a pele e a região anogenital e que, por vezes, podem ser de difícil diferenciação clínica em seus respectivos estágios iniciais. O LE teve sua incidência demonstrada em 1,7% dos atendimentos ginecológicos, em todas as faixas etárias. Já o LP ataca cerca de 1% das mulheres, mas sua incidência real é difícil de avaliar. LE e LP são doenças cuja patogênese é multifatorial. Fatores genéticos e hormonais e infecções e trauma foram associados ao desenvolvimento de LE, enquanto que LP tem seu desenvolvimento menos compreendido; no entanto, também é associado a fatores genéticos, a infecções e ao uso de certos medicamentos. As duas doenças causam bastante desconforto às pacientes, pois podem se apresentar com dor, ardência, prurido e também há a possibilidade de estenose do introito vaginal e consequente dispareunia. Na suspeita de LE e LP, deve ser feito diagnóstico diferencial com outras doenças de pele e com neoplasia intraepitelial vulvar (NIV). O risco de transformação maligna justifica o acompanhamento que as pacientes devem ter pelo resto da vida. O tratamento de primeira linha para LE e LP consiste em corticosteroides tópicos superpotentes. O diagnóstico requer frequente biópsia para sua confirmação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi revisar a fisiopatologia, complicações e tratamento dessas duas doenças, as quais são muito importantes, pois não possuem cura e podem comprometer seriamente a qualidade de vida das pacientes.(AU)

Lichen sclerosus (LS) and lichen planus (LP) are diseases of an inflammatory nature that attack the skin and anogenital region, and sometimes they might have a difficult clinical differentiation in their early stages. LE has its incidence demonstrated in 1.7% of gynecological consultations in all age groups. LP attacks about 1% of women, but its true incidence is difficult to assess. LE and LP are diseases whose pathogenesis is multifactorial. Genetic and hormonal factors, infections and trauma were associated with the development of LE, while LP has its development less understood; however, it is also associated with genetic factors, infections and the use of certain medications. Both diseases cause much discomfort to the patient, because they may present with pain, burning, itching and there is also the possibility of stenosis of the vaginal opening and consequent dyspareunia. On suspicion of LE and LP should be done differential diagnosis with other skin diseases and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). The risk of malignant transformation justifies the monitoring that patients should have in the rest of their life. The first-line treatment for LE and LP consists of topical corticosteroids super powerful. The diagnosis often requires biopsy for confirmation. The aim of this study was to review the pathophysiology, complications and treatment of these diseases, which are very important because they have no cure and can seriously compromise the quality of life of patients.(AU)