Evolution of incidence of chilblain-like lesions in children during the first year of COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought innumerable reports of chilblains. The relation between pernio-like acral eruptions and COVID-19 has not been fully elucidated because most reported cases have occurred in patients with negative microbiological tests for SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A retrospective study of 49 cases of chilblains seen during the first year of the pandemic in a children's hospital in Madrid, Spain. The incidence of these skin lesions was correlated with the number of COVID-19 admissions and environmental temperatures. Patients were separated into two groups depending on the day of onset (strict lockdown period vs. outside the lockdown period). RESULTS: Most chilblains cases presented during the first and third waves of the pandemic, paralleling the number of COVID-19 admissions. The first wave coincided with a strict lockdown, and the third wave coincided with the lowest ambient seasonal temperatures of the year. Systemic symptoms preceding chilblains were more frequent in the first wave (45.8% vs. 8.0%, p = .002), as was the co-occurrence with erythema multiforme-like lesions (16.7% vs. 0%, p = .033). Laboratory test and skin biopsies were performed more frequently in the first wave (75.0% vs. 12.0%, p < .001; and 25.0% vs. 0%, p = .007; respectively). Five patients developed recurrent cutaneous symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: An increased incidence of chilblains coincided not only with the two major waves of the pandemic, but also with the strict lockdown period in the first wave and low seasonal temperatures during the third wave. Both increased sedentary behaviors and cold environmental temperatures may have played an additive role in the development of COVID-19-related chilblains.

Chilblains in children in the setting of COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Different skin manifestations of COVID-19 are being reported. Acral lesions on the hands and feet, closely resembling chilblains, have been recognized during the peak incidence of the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review of 22 children and adolescents with chilblain-like lesions seen over a short period of time in the Emergency Department of a children's hospital during the peak incidence of COVID-19 in Madrid, Spain. RESULTS: All patients had lesions clinically consistent with chilblains of the toes or feet, with three also having lesions of the fingers. Pruritus and mild pain were the only skin symptoms elicited, and only 10 had mild respiratory and/or GI symptoms. None had fever. Coagulation tests, hemogram, serum chemistry, and lupus anticoagulant were normal in all patients tested. One out of 16 tested cases had elevated D-dimer results, but without systemic symptoms or other laboratory anomalies. SARS-CoV-2 PCR tested in 19 cases was positive in just one case. Skin biopsies obtained in six patients were consistent with chilblains. On follow-up, all cases showed spontaneous marked improvement or complete healing. CONCLUSION: Acute chilblains were observed during COVID-19 pandemic in children and teenagers. It is a mildly symptomatic condition with an excellent prognosis, usually requiring no therapy. Etiopathogenesis remains unknown.

Erythema multiforme-like lesions in children and COVID-19.

During examination of cases of chilblains in children and adolescents, we identified four patients who also showed skin lesions similar to erythema multiforme (EM). They had no other known triggers for EM. One of them had a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2, while the other three were negative. Skin biopsies from two patients showed features not typical of EM, such as deep perivascular and perieccrine infiltrate and absence of necrosis of keratinocytes. Immunohistochemistry for SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2 spike protein showed granular positivity in endothelial cells and epithelial cells of eccrine glands in both biopsies. All patients had an excellent outcome, and had minimal or no systemic symptoms. The coincidence of EM, a condition commonly related to viruses, and chilblains in the setting of COVID-19, and the positivity for SARS-CoV/SARS-CoV-2 spike protein by immunohistochemistry strongly suggest a link between EM-like lesions and SARS-CoV-2.

Endocrine Sequelae in 157 Pediatric Survivors of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT).

Context: Successful rates of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) face paralleled escalation of late endocrine and metabolic effects. Objective: This work aimed to characterize these sequelae distinguishing between the underlying pathologies and treatments received. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 157 children post-HSCT (hematopoietic pathology [N = 106], solid tumors [N = 40], and rare entities [N = 11]) followed at a single endocrine department between 2009 and 2019. Regression analysis was used to ascertain association. Results: Of all patients, 58.7% presented with at least one endocrine abnormality. Endocrinopathies post HSCT were most frequently developed in lymphoblastic leukemia (60.5% of them), whereas myeloid leukemias had the fewest. A total of 64% of patients presented with primary hypogonadism, 52% short stature, and 20% obesity. Endocrinopathy was associated with older age at HSCT (9.78 years [6.25-12.25] vs 6.78 years [4.06-9.75]) (P < .005), pubertal Tanner stage V (P < .001), chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) (P = .022), and direct gonadal therapy (P = .026). The incidence of endocrinopathies was higher in girls (15% more common; P < .02) and in patients who received radiotherapy (18% higher), steroids (17.4% increase), allogenic HSCT (7% higher), thymoglobulin, or cyclophosphamide. Those on busulfan presented with a 27.5% higher rate of primary hypogonadism (P = .003). Conclusion: More than half of children surviving HSCT will develop endocrinopathies. Strikingly, obesity has risen to the third most frequent endocrine disruption, mainly due to steroids, and partly adhering to the general population tendency. Lymphoblastic leukemia was the condition with a higher rate of endocrine abnormalities. Female sex, older age at HSCT, pubertal stage, allogenic transplant, radiotherapy, alkylating drugs, and GVHD pose risk factors for endocrine disturbances.

Variability in the management and imaging use in paediatric minor head trauma in European emergency departments. A Research in European Pediatric Emergency Medicine study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the variability in the management of paediatric MHT in European emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: This was a multicentre retrospective study of children ≤18 years old with minor head trauma (MHT) (Glasgow Coma Scale ≥14) who presented to 15 European EDs between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 31. Data on clinical characteristics, imaging tests, and disposition of included patients were collected at each hospital over a 3-year period. RESULTS: We included 11 212 patients. Skull radiography was performed in 3416 (30.5%) patients, range 0.4-92.3%. A computed tomography (CT) was obtained in 696 (6.2%) patients, range 1.6-42.8%. The rate of admission varied from 0 to 48.2%. CONCLUSION: We found great variability in terms of the type of imaging and rate of CT scan obtained. Our study suggests opportunity for improvement in the area of paediatric head injury and the need for targeted individualised ED interventions to improve management of MHT.

Phenotype of haptoglobin and presence of subclinical vascular disease: Population study. / Fenotipo de la haptoglobina y presencia de enfermedad vascular subclínica: estudio poblacional.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Haptoglobin is a protein involved in the protection against oxidative damage caused by iron in haemoglobin. This protein is polymorphic, with 3 isomorphs prevalent in the population. The carriers of the Hp2-2 isoform have a lower antioxidant capacity and, in the population with diabetes, an increased risk of subclinical vascular disease and cardiovascular complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether this isomorphy is associated with an increased risk of carotid arteriosclerosis in subjects with and without diabetes, and free of cardiovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study was conducted in a population between 45 and 74years of age, randomly selected from the northwest area of Madrid. The participants were characterised in terms of their glycaemic status by oral glucose overload and the determination of the concentration of Hb1Ac. The haptoglobin phenotypes in all of them were determined by means of an immunoenzymatic assay, and the presence of carotid arteriosclerosis by ultrasound. RESULTS: Of the 1,256 participants included in the present analysis (mean age 61.6±6years, 41.8% males), the distribution of the isoforms of haptoglobin was as follows: Hp1-1: 13.3%, Hp1-2: 48.5%, and Hp2-2: 38.2%. In comparison with subjects Hp1-1 and Hp1-2, those with the Hp2-2 phenotype had a higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia (53.3% vs 43%; P<.0001) and arterial hypertension (39.2% vs. 32.2%, P=.012), and they more frequently received treatment with statins (31.5% vs 21.6%, P<.0001), and with antihypertensive agents (38.4% vs 30.8%, P=.006). The carriers of the Hp2-2 isoform had a higher prevalence of carotid plaques (OR: 1.35, 95%CI: 1.07-1.69, P=.011), with no differences in that prevalence as regards the glycaemic status. There were no differences in the intima-media thickness between the different phenotypes. The relationship of the Hp2-2 phenotype with the presence of plaques in the carotid was independent of age, gender, presence of risk factors (dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes), the concentration of LDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and uric acid, blood pressure, and treatment with statins, and hypertensive drugs (OR: 1.31, 95%CI 1.01-1.70, P=.044). CONCLUSION: Subjects with the Hp2-2 phenotype of haptoglobin have a higher prevalence of carotid arteriosclerosis, which is independent of the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors and their glycaemic status.

¿Neumonía redonda o hallazgo casual? / Round pneumonia or incidental finding?

El diagnóstico diferencial de las neumonías redondas es amplio y engloba enfermedades infecciosas, neoplásicas y congénitas. La paciente que se presenta a continuación fue diagnosticada de una neumonía redonda con una clínica e imagen radiológica compatible. Sin embargo, el diagnóstico definitivo fue una malformación vascular. Este caso permite reflexionar sobre la importancia de valorar distintitos diagnósticos ante una condensación redondeada y sobre la necesidad o no de realizar una radiografía de control en estos casos. Además, lo más original del caso radica en el tratamiento que recibió para la malformación vascular, que no estaba descrito previamente: el propranolol (AU)

The differential diagnosis of round pneumonia is broad and includes infectious, malignant, and congenital diseases. The patient presented below received a diagnosis of round pneumonia based on compatible clinical and radiological findings; however, the definitive diagnosis was a vascular malformation. This case allows us to reflect on the importance of considering alternative diagnoses in the presence of round opacities in the lung and when performance of a follow-up X-ray is or not required in such cases. In addition, the most original aspect of this case lies in the treatment provided for the vascular malformation, which has not been previously described: propranolol. (AU)

Organización y valoración de la atención telefónica urgente hospitalaria pediátrica ante la pandemia COVID-19 / Organisation and assessment of urgent paediatric telephonic hospital care during the COVID-19 pandemic

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Taquicardia como factor pronóstico de morbimortalidad en pacientes sin enfermedad previa con fiebre en urgencias pediátricas / Tachycardia as a prognostic factor for morbidity and mortality in patients without previous pathology with fever in pediatric emergencies

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Infección por adenovirus que requiere ingreso hospitalario: epidemiología, datos analíticos y manejo / Adenovirus infections that require hospital admission: epidemiology, laboratory findings and approach

Introducción: las infecciones por adenovirus tienen una presentación clínica variable y son una importante causa de morbilidad en la infancia. Frecuentemente reciben tratamiento antibiótico de forma innecesaria. Este estudio busca analizar las características de los pacientes con infección por adenovirus y ver si difieren de aquellos con infección bacteriana. Pacientes y métodos: se estudiaron 174 pacientes ingresados en un hospital terciario desde enero de 2009 hasta agosto de 2017 a los que se les detectó adenovirus. Se analizaron las variables clínicas y analíticas y se compararon con las de una muestra de pacientes diagnosticados de infección bacteriana confirmada en el mismo centro en 2016. Resultados: la tasa de pacientes con infección por adenovirus fue de 1,58/100 ingresos. El 64% eran varones, siendo la edad media de 17 meses. Los que solo presentaban síntomas gastrointestinales tenían una menor edad y resultados analíticos más favorables que los que solo mostraban síntomas respiratorios. Un 24,5% presentaban coinfección por otro virus, observándose en este grupo una mayor estancia hospitalaria (7,93 frente a 6,17 días, p = 0,006). Los criterios analíticos de infección bacteriana grave no mostraron diferencias significativas al comparar entre los pacientes infectados por adenovirus y los que tenían una infección bacteriana confirmada, excepto una diferencia mínima, aunque estadísticamente significativa, al comparar las cifras de proteína C reactiva. Conclusiones: las variables analíticas y clínicas estudiadas no son suficientes para discriminar entre infección bacteriana y por adenovirus. Sería adecuado descartar infección por adenovirus sistemáticamente antes de instaurar tratamiento antibiótico

Introduction: adenovirus infections have a heterogeneous clinical presentation and are an important cause of childhood morbidity. They are frequently and unnecessarily treated with antibiotics. In this study, we analysed the characteristic of patients with adenovirus infections in order to determine whether they differed from those of patients with bacterial infection. Patients and methods: the study included 174 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital between January 2009 and August 2017 who tested positive for adenovirus. We analysed the clinical and laboratory findings in these patients and compared them to those of a group of patients that received a diagnosis of confirmed bacterial infection in the same hospital in 2016. Results: the incidence of adenovirus was of 1.58 cases per 100 admissions. Sixty-four percent of the sample was male, and the mean age was 17 months. Patients that presented with gastrointestinal symptoms alone were younger and had more favourable laboratory findings compared to patients with respiratory symptoms alone. Coinfection with another virus was found in 24.5%, and this group had a longer length of stay (7.93 versus 6.17 days, p = 0.006). We found no significant differences in the laboratory criteria indicative of severe bacterial infection between the patients with adenovirus infection and the controls with a confirmed bacterial infection except for a very small, although statistically significant, difference in the levels of C-reactive protein. Conclusions: the clinical and laboratory parameters analysed in our study are not sufficient to discriminate between bacterial infection and adenovirus infection. Thus, it would be appropriate to rule out adenovirus infection before initiating antibiotic treatment

Síndrome del abdomen en ciruela pasa / Prune belly syndrome

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Fenotipo de la haptoglobina y presencia de enfermedad vascular subclínica: estudio poblacional / Phenotype of haptoglobin and presence of subclinical vascular disease: Population study

Introducción y objetivos: La haptoglobina es una proteína implicada en la protección frente al daño oxidativo producido por el hierro de la hemoglobina. Esta proteína es polimórfica, con 3 isomorfas prevalentes en la población. Los portadores de la isoforma Hp2-2 tienen una menor capacidad antioxidante, y en la población con diabetes, un mayor riesgo de enfermedad vascular subclínica y de complicaciones cardiovasculares. Nuestro objetivo fue evaluar si dicha isomorfa se asocia con un mayor riesgo de arteriosclerosis carotídea en sujetos con y sin diabetes, libres de enfermedad cardiovascular. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio realizado en una población de entre 45 y 74años de edad seleccionada aleatoriamente del área noroeste de Madrid. Los participantes fueron caracterizados en cuanto a su estatus glucémico mediante una sobrecarga oral de glucosa y la determinación de la concentración de Hb1Ac. A todos ellos se les determinó el fenotipo de la haptoglobina mediante un ensayo inmunoenzimático y la presencia de arteriosclerosis carotídea mediante ecografía. Resultados: De los 1.256 participantes incluidos en el presente análisis (edad media 61,6 ± 6 años, 41,8% varones), la distribución de las isoformas de la haptoglobina fue la siguiente: Hp1-1: 13,3%, Hp1-2: 48,5% y Hp2-2: 38,2%. En comparación con los sujetos Hp1-1 y Hp1-2, aquellos con el fenotipo Hp2-2 tuvieron una mayor prevalencia de dislipemia (53,3% vs 43%, p < 0,0001) e hipertensión arterial (39,2% vs 32,2%, p = 0,012), y recibieron con más frecuencia tratamiento con estatinas (31,5% vs 21,6%, p < 0,0001) y con antihipertensivos (38,4% vs 30,8%, p = 0,006). Los portadores de la isoforma Hp2-2 tuvieron una mayor prevalencia de placas carotídeas (OR: 1,35; IC 95%: 1,07-1,69; p = 0,011), sin diferencias en dicha prevalencia en función del estatus glucémico. No existieron diferencias en el grosor íntima-media entre los diferentes fenotipos. La relación del fenotipo Hp2-2 con la presencia de placas en carótida fue independiente de la edad, del sexo, de la presencia de factores de riesgo (dislipemia, hipertensión y diabetes), de la concentración de colesterol LDL, proteína C reactiva y ácido úrico, de la presión arterial y del tratamiento con estatinas y antihipertensivos (OR: 1,31; IC 95%: 1,01-1,70; p = 0,044). Conclusión: Los sujetos con el fenotipo Hp2-2 de la haptoglobina tienen una mayor prevalencia de arteriosclerosis carotídea, que es independiente de la presencia de otros factores de riesgo cardiovascular y de su estatus glucémico

Introduction and objectives: Haptoglobin is a protein involved in the protection against oxidative damage caused by iron in haemoglobin. This protein is polymorphic, with 3 isomorphs prevalent in the population. The carriers of the Hp2-2 isoform have a lower antioxidant capacity and, in the population with diabetes, an increased risk of subclinical vascular disease and cardiovascular complications. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether this isomorphy is associated with an increased risk of carotid arteriosclerosis in subjects with and without diabetes, and free of cardiovascular disease. Patients and methods: A study was conducted in a population between 45 and 74years of age, randomly selected from the northwest area of Madrid. The participants were characterised in terms of their glycaemic status by oral glucose overload and the determination of the concentration of Hb1Ac. The haptoglobin phenotypes in all of them were determined by means of an immunoenzymatic assay, and the presence of carotid arteriosclerosis by ultrasound. Results: Of the 1,256 participants included in the present analysis (mean age 61.6 ± 6 years, 41.8% males), the distribution of the isoforms of haptoglobin was as follows: Hp1-1: 13.3%, Hp1-2: 48.5%, and Hp2-2: 38.2%. In comparison with subjects Hp1-1 and Hp1-2, those with the Hp2-2 phenotype had a higher prevalence of dyslipidaemia (53.3% vs 43%; P < .0001) and arterial hypertension (39.2% vs. 32.2%, P = .012), and they more frequently received treatment with statins (31.5% vs 21.6%, P < .0001), and with antihypertensive agents (38.4% vs 30.8%, P = .006). The carriers of the Hp2-2 isoform had a higher prevalence of carotid plaques (OR: 1.35, 95%CI: 1.07-1.69, P = .011), with no differences in that prevalence as regards the glycaemic status. There were no differences in the intima-media thickness between the different phenotypes. The relationship of the Hp2-2 phenotype with the presence of plaques in the carotid was independent of age, gender, presence of risk factors (dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes), the concentration of LDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein and uric acid, blood pressure, and treatment with statins, and hypertensive drugs (OR: 1.31, 95% CI 1.01-1.70, P = .044). Conclusion: Subjects with the Hp2-2 phenotype of haptoglobin have a higher prevalence of carotid arteriosclerosis, which is independent of the presence of other cardiovascular risk factors and their glycaemic status