The Insidious Enemy of the Liver: The Situation in Childhood Acetaminophen Poisoning and Early N-AC Treatment.

METHODS: This study was designed as a cross-sectional, observational, retrospective study. The variables of the study were paracetamol overdose, demographic information, poisoning mechanisms, clinical, laboratory findings, and clinical progression of the cases. The cases compared in whom treatment was initiated within the first 8 hours after poisoning and those in whom it was not. χ 2 , t test, and logistic regression analyses were conducted at appropriate facilities. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-eight cases were included in the study. N-AC treatment was initiated within the first 8 hours after poisoning in 322 cases (92.5%), and 26 cases received N-AC treatment after 8 hours after poisoning. Liver toxicity developed in 6 cases (1.7%), and indications for liver transplantation were met in 36 cases (10.3%). Among the 26 cases for which treatment was not initiated within the first 8 hours, 18 cases (69.2%) had indications for liver transplantation ( P < 0.01). It was found that N-AC within the first 8 hours reduced the risk by 43 times ( P = 0.02) and being older than 6 years, being admitted to the intensive care unit, and having alanine aminotransferase values above 1000 U/L increased the risk significantly ( P = 0.009, P = 0.005, P < 0.001). When a receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted for the 4th-hour blood acetaminophen level to predict liver transplantation, a value of 684.5 µg/mL emerged with 89% sensitivity and 93% specificity (area under the curve, 0.951). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, this study demonstrates the protective effect of early-initiated N-AC therapy on liver toxicity in pediatric acetaminophen poisoning cases. It also highlights a significant impact of gastrointestinal decontamination methods.

Variability of the optic nerve sheath diameter on brain computed tomography in Turkish children based on sex and age.

BACKGROUND: Optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) measurement is a noninvasive method that can be used for intracranial pressure monitoring. Several studies have investigated normal ONSD values in children, but no general consensus has been reached yet. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to reveal normal ONSD, eyeball transverse diameter (ETD), and ONSD/ETD values on brain computed tomography (CT) in healthy children aged 1 month to 18 years. METHODS: Children admitted to the emergency department with minor head trauma and had normal brain CT were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the patients (age and sex) were recorded, and the patients were divided into four age groups: 1 month to 2 years, 2 to 4 years, 4 to 10 years, and 10 to 18 years. RESULTS: The images of 332 patients were analyzed. When the median values of all measurement parameters (right and left ONSD, ETD, and ONSD/ETD) were compared between the right and left eyes, no statistically significant differences were found. When the same parameters were compared according to age group, the ONSD and ETD values differed significantly (values of males were found to be higher), but the ONSD proximal/ETD and ONSD middle/ETD values did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION: In our study, normal ONSD, ETD, and ONSD/ETD values were determined according to age and sex in healthy children. As the ONSD/ETD index did not statistically significantly differ according to age and sex, diagnostic studies for traumatic brain injuries can be performed using the index.

Use of the pleth variability index in children with obstructive respiratory disease.

INTRODUCTION: The phenomenon of pulsus paradoxus (PP) develops at varying rates in relation to the severity of the disease in obstructive respiratory tract disease. The Pleth Variability Index (PVI) is the measurement value of perfusion index changes that occur with ventilation, which are determined during at least one respiratory cycle. Therefore, noninvasive measurement of PVI can help in the measurement of PP. The current study aims to determine the role of PVI measurements before and after bronchodilator therapy during admission to the hospital in children with obstructive respiratory tract disease. METHODS: Age, gender, Pulmonary Index Score (PIS), and PVI data of patients aged 2-18 years who applied to the pediatric emergency department with signs of obstructive respiratory tract disease were recorded in triage. The PVI and PIS scores of the patients, who were divided into three groups according to their clinical severity scores, were recorded before and after bronchodilator treatment, and they were compared to the PVI values according to the disposition results. RESULTS: A total of 133 patients were included in this prospective, single-center study. The PVI values before and after treatment were significantly higher in patients with severe disease compared to the mild and moderate groups (p < 0.001). Post-treatment PVI values were significantly lower than pre-treatment values in all clinical severity groups (p < 0.001). While a total of 95 (71.43%) patients were discharged from the emergency department, 31 (23.31%) patients were admitted to the relevant department, and seven (5.26%) patients were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. The PVI values before and after treatment were significantly higher in the hospitalized group compared to the group discharged from the emergency department (p < 0.001). The areas under the ROCs were 0.940, 0.865, and 0.843 for the PVI measurements in patients with severe disease, moderate disease, and hospitalization (p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Automated PVI measurement can be used as a noninvasive, rapid, and objective tool in the emergency department triage of patients admitted to the pediatric emergency department with signs of asthma attack or reactive respiratory tract disease.

Myocarditis and Early Markers of Cardiac Response Associated with Scorpion Stings in Children.

INTRODUCTION: A clinical course ranging from mild local findings to life-threatening systemic findings may occur after scorpion stings. The purpose of this study was to identify priority markers indicating scorpion sting-related cardiac involvement. METHODS: Our study was performed between July 2014, and September 2015 in the Çukurova University medical faculty pediatric emergency department, in Adana, Turkey. Patients admitted with scorpion sting-related cardiac involvement and a control group consisting of patients with no scorpion sting-related cardiac involvement were included in the study. Troponin I at time of presentation and at 6 and 24 h, N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), ejection fraction as determined by echocardiography at 24 h, and peak and end of T wave (Tp-e) and Tp-e/QTc ratios with echocardiography at 24 h were evaluated. RESULTS: A patient group consisting of 7 cases of scorpion envenomation-related myocarditis and a control group of 30 cases of scorpion intoxication without myocarditis findings were enrolled. Statistically significantly high glucose, white blood cell values, creatine kinase MB, troponin I, and NTproBNP values were identified in the scorpion sting-related myocarditis group (P<0.05). Ejection fractions determined by echocardiography at time of presentation were significantly lower in the patients with myocarditis compared with the control group (P<0.05). A statistically significant difference was identified between Tp-e/corrected QT interval (QTc) ratios investigated in DI and V2 derivations in patient and control group echocardiograms (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We think that use can be made of NTproBNP in addition to echocardiography and troponin I in the early diagnosis of scorpion sting-related myocarditis and that Tp-e and Tp-e/QTc ratios identified via echocardiography can be used as early markers; however, further studies with larger numbers are needed to confirm this.

Is hypoglycemia really observed in pediatric beta-blocker intoxications? A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Beta-blocker (BB) intoxications are common in both childhood and adulthood. In the case of poisoning, bradycardia, hypotension, ventricular dysrhythmias, mental status changes, seizures, hypoglycemia, and bronchospasm may occur. Effects on the cardiovascular system are commonly seen, but hypoglycemia is not frequently observed in clinical practice. In this study, we aimed to answer the question, "Is hypoglycemia more commonly observed in BB intoxications than in other intoxications?" METHOD: This was a case-control study conducted in a pediatric emergency department of a university hospital. The case group (Group 1) consisted of cases with BB poisonings and the control group (Group 2) consisted of cases with selective serotonin receptor inhibitor (SSRI) poisonings. Data were obtained from patient files. We recorded the blood glucose levels (BGLs) of all patients on admission to the emergency department and at the 1-, 6-, and 24-h follow-up. The amounts of BBs received by the cases were compared with the specific toxic doses of each drug. The data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22 (SPSS.22) program. Mean and standard deviation for numerical values and frequency for categorical data are reported; at test, chi-square test, and ANOVA tests were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The study comprised 40 patients (Group 1) and 40 controls (Group 2). The mean serum BGLs of patients in Group 1 at admission and at the 1-, 6-, and 24-h follow-up were 107.2 ± 46.3 mg/dl, 86.3 ± 20.1 mg/dl, 88.6 ± 28.4 mg/dl, and 86.5 ± 23.7 mg/dl, respectively. The mean values of Group 2 cases were 100 ± 39.5 mg/dl, 92.1 ± 30 mg/dl, 91±28 mg/dl, and 127.8 ± 60.7 mg/dl, respectively, at admission and at the 1-, 6-, and 24-h follow-up (p = 0.4, p < 0.001, p = 0.7, and p < 0.001, respectively). The mean BGLs of patients who were exposed to propranolol at admission and at the 1-, 6-, and 24-h follow-up were significantly lower than those of the patients who had taken different BBs in Group 1. No linear correlation was found between the percentage of exposure to BB toxic doses and BGLs. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the BGLs of patients receiving BBs could be lower, but they were not at a level that would have serious consequences. Nevertheless, the BGLs of all cases of intoxication should be monitored closely.

Clinical characteristics of firearm-related injuries in children in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of children are injured by or die from firearm-related incidents every year, although there is a lack of global data on the number of children admitted to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs) and pediatric intensive care units (PICU) with firearm injuries. This study is the most comprehensive analysis of firearm injuries sustained by children in Turkey to date. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, cohort study was conducted between 2010 and 2020 with the contributions of the PEDs, PICUs, intensive care units, and surgery departments of university hospitals and research hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 508 children were admitted to hospital with firearm-related injuries in the research period, although the medical records of only 489 could be obtained. Of the total admissions to hospitals, 55.0% were identified as unintentional, 8.2% as homicide, 4.5% as self-harm, and 32.3% as undetermined. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and ventilation support were found to be the most significant predictors of mortality, while head/neck injury, length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and surgical interventions were found to be the most significant predictors of disability. The overall mortality of firearm-related injuries was 6.3%, and the mortality for children admitted to the PICU was 19.8%. The probability of disability was calculated as 96.0% for children hospitalized with firearm injuries for longer than 75 days. CONCLUSIONS: Head/neck injury, LOS in the hospital, and surgical interventions were found to be the most significant parameters for the prediction of disability. Hospitalization exceeding 6 days was found to be related to disability.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

We describe the demographic, clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings of 422 children (0-18 year-of-age) suspected of having severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection admitted to a pediatric emergency department between March 23, and July 23, 2020. We compared the characteristics of SARS-CoV-2-positive patients to SARS-CoV-2-negative patients. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in 78 (18.4%). Fever (51.2%) and cough (43.5%) were the most commonly reported signs in the SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Isolated rhinorrhea (7.2%) was reported only in the SARS-CoV-2-negative group (p = .0014). Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were classified according to severity, with the percentages of asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, and critical cases determined to be 29.5%, 56.4%, 12.9%, 1.2%, and 0%, respectively. Of the 422 children, 128 (30.3%) underwent nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction testing for other respiratory viral pathogens; 21 (16.4%) were infected with viral pathogens other than SARS-CoV-2. Only one patient (4.7%) with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease was coinfected with respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus. The results indicate lower median white blood cell, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts, lower lactate dehydrogenase, d-dimer, and procalcitonin levels in the SARS-CoV-2-positive group (p ≤ .001). Our findings confirm that COVID-19 in children has a mild presentation. In our cohort, no patient with SARS-CoV-2 infection had isolated rhinorrhea.