The Outbreak of Unexplained Acute Hepatitis in Children: The Role of Viral Infections in View of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An increase in the number of cases of acute hepatitis of unknown origin (HUO) in children was observed in 2021. Adenovirus and adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) infections have been suggested as possible triggers. However, the potential etiology is still unclear. We aimed to characterize a cohort of children with HUO in Israel in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: Demographics, clinical data, and laboratory results on the children compatible with the CDC criteria for HUO were collected by the established registry of the Ministry of Health. Available specimens were sent to the Central Virology Laboratory. RESULTS: A total of 39 children were included in the registry. A total of 20 were enrolled prospectively, in which human herpes virus 6 (HHV6) infection or reactivation was identified in 11/19, adenovirus was found in 4/19 of the cases, and AAV2 was detected in 2/16. Past COVID-19 exposure was recorded for 24/39 of the children. A total of 10 children underwent liver biopsy, and 8 were successfully treated with steroids and 2 underwent liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic and the related containment measures combined with reactivation or active infection with other viruses could have been a trigger for the HUO outbreak. In our cohort, HHV6 was the most abundant finding.

Hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children - epidemiological overview of cases reported in Europe, 1 January to 16 June 2022.

Following the report of an excess in paediatric cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology by the United Kingdom (UK) on 5 April 2022, 427 cases were reported from 20 countries in the World Health Organization European Region to the European Surveillance System TESSy from 1 January 2022 to 16 June 2022. Here, we analysed demographic, epidemiological, clinical and microbiological data available in TESSy. Of the reported cases, 77.3% were 5 years or younger and 53.5% had a positive test for adenovirus, 10.4% had a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and 10.3% were coinfected with both pathogens. Cases with adenovirus infections were significantly more likely to be admitted to intensive care or high-dependency units (OR = 2.11; 95% CI: 1.18-3.74) and transplanted (OR = 3.36; 95% CI: 1.19-9.55) than cases with a negative test result for adenovirus, but this was no longer observed when looking at this association separately between the UK and other countries. Aetiological studies are needed to ascertain if adenovirus plays a role in this possible emergence of hepatitis cases in children and, if confirmed, the mechanisms that could be involved.

[PHACOEMULSIFICATION IN EYES WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION (AMD)].

INTRODUCTION: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the western world. The debate continues over the safety of cataract surgery in the setting of neovascular (wet) AMD. This retrospective review aims to describe our experience in treating patients with wet AMD, who underwent cataract surgery by phacoemulsification. METHODS: We prepared a retrospective chart review of patients treated in our clinic between the years 2006 - 2013. RESULTS: Forty-two eyes of 38 patients were included. Visual acuity (VA) improved significantly 1 month after cataract removal, without a significant change in retinal thickness. Twenty-six patients (62%) needed anti-VEGF injections during follow-up after surgery within an average period of 6 months. In eyes that were dry preoperatively, the re-injection rate was lower than those that were still wet (56 % vs. 80%) and the time from surgery to the first injection was longer in dry eyes (7 months and 3 months, respectively). Eyes that were injected with anti-VEGF up to one week before surgery had greater improvement in VA immediately after surgery but the proportion of those receiving injections (78%) was greater and the time to first injection post-surgery was earlier (3 months) compared to eyes that received the last injection 6 months or more prior to surgery ( 53 % and - 7 months). CONCLUSIONS: Cataract removal improves vision in wet AMD patients. It is of great importance to treat these patients and try to reach dry retina prior to surgery and a close followup is needed after surgery. In eyes that were more stable within 6 months before surgery and their retina was dry, the re-injection rate post surgery was lower and the time to first injection was longer.

Health services utilization under Qassam rocket attacks.

BACKGROUND: The Qassam rocket attacks on southern Israel during the years 2000-2007 created a unique situation of life undera continuous threat. The effect of this unique situation on health services utilization has not been previously examined. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate health utilization patterns in two primary care clinics in southern Israel: one under continuous attacks of Qassam rockets as compared with a similar clinic not under a rocket threat. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in two primary care clinics in southern Israel, with 11,630 persons listed in the two clinics during the entire study period. The primary outcome measures were total annual number of visits per person to the clinic and for specific diagnoses, and the number of drug prescriptions issued, emergency room (ER) visits, hospitalization days, cardiac catheterizations and coronary bypass surgeries. RESULTS: In both clinics there was an increase over time in the mean annual number of visits per person. During the years of severe attacks there was an increase in visits with a chief complaint of depression and anxiety and an increase in the number of anxiolytic prescriptions in the study clinic compared with the control. During the same period there was a decrease in the number of ER visits in the study clinic compared with the control. CONCLUSIONS: The population under continuous life-threatening events showed more depression and anxiety problems. Under severe bombardment, the residents prefer not to leave home, unless necessary.