Cold Vibration (Buzzy) Versus Anesthetic Patch (EMLA) for Pain Prevention During Cannulation in Children: A Randomized Trial.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to assess differences in observed pain-related behaviors during cannulation between a device combining cold and vibration (Buzzy) and the standard care (EMLA patch). METHODS: Patients 18 months to 6 years old, requiring venous access in a pediatric emergency department, received either the Buzzy device or the EMLA patch. Predefined week randomization ensured equal allocation to the 2 intervention groups. Pain during cannulation was measured using the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Pain Scale. Parent and nurse reports, cannulation success, and venous access times were also assessed. RESULTS: In total, 607 included patients were randomized into the Buzzy group (n = 302) or the EMLA group (n = 305). Observed pain-related behaviors scores, parent-assessed pain scores, and nurse-reported pain ratings were higher with Buzzy. CONCLUSIONS: Pain relief by a combination of cold and vibration during cannulation is not as effective as the standard-care method in children 18 months to 6 years old.

Fascial Hydrodissection for Chronic Hamstring Injury.

Hamstring muscle injuries (HMI) are common among athletes. HMI can take many months to years to resolve. Often, athletes do not report complete resolution with typical conservative therapy. We present several cases of athletes who presented with chronic hamstring injuries that resolved immediately after being treated with an ultrasound-guided fascial hydrodissection procedure. Following the procedure and graded rehabilitation protocol, athletes reported resolution of pain and tightness in addition to increased performance and a quicker return to play.

RSV-hRV co-infection is a risk factor for recurrent bronchial obstruction and early sensitization 3 years after bronchiolitis.

To assess risk factors of recurrent bronchial obstruction and allergic sensitization 3 years after an episode of acute bronchiolitis, whether after ambulatory care treatment or hospitalization. A monocentric prospective longitudinal study including infants aged under 1 year with acute bronchiolitis was performed, with clinical (severity score), biological (serum Krebs von den Lungen 6 antigen), and viral (14 virus by naso-pharyngeal suction detection) assessments. Follow-up included a quaterly telephone interview, and a final clinical examination at 3 years. Biological markers of atopy were also measured in peripheral blood, including specific IgEs towards aero- and food allergens. Complete data were available for 154 children. 46.8% of them had recurrent wheezing (RW). No difference was found according to initial severity, care at home or in the hospital, respiratory virus involved, or existence of co-infection. A familial history of atopy was identified as a risk factor for recurrent bronchial obstruction (60% for RW infants versus 39%, P = 0.02), as living in an apartment (35% versus 15%, P = 0.002). 18.6% of the infants were sensitized, with 48.1% of them sensitized to aeroallergens and 81.5% to food allergens. Multivariate analysis confirmed that a familial history of atopy (P = 0.02) and initial co-infection RSV-hRV (P = 0.02) were correlated with the risk of sensitization to aeroallergens at 3 years. Familial history of atopy and RSV-hRV co-infection are risk factors for recurrent bronchial obstruction and sensitization.

Metabolic disturbances of the vitamin A pathway in human diaphragmatic hernia.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a common life-threatening congenital anomaly resulting in high rates of perinatal death and neonatal respiratory distress. Some of the nonisolated forms are related to single-gene mutations or genomic rearrangements, but the genetics of the isolated forms (60% of cases) still remains a challenging issue. Retinoid signaling (RA) is critical for both diaphragm and lung development, and it has been hypothesized that subtle disruptions of this pathway could contribute to isolated CDH etiology. Here we used time series of normal and CDH lungs in humans, in nitrofen-exposed rats, and in surgically induced hernia in rabbits to perform a systematic transcriptional analysis of the RA pathway key components. The results point to CRPBP2, CY26B1, and ALDH1A2 as deregulated RA signaling genes in human CDH. Furthermore, the expression profile comparisons suggest that ALDH1A2 overexpression is not a primary event, but rather a consequence of the CDH-induced lung injury. Taken together, these data show that RA signaling disruption is part of CDH pathogenesis, and also that dysregulation of this pathway should be considered organ specifically.

Predicting the severity of acute bronchiolitis in infants: should we use a clinical score or a biomarker?

Krebs von den Lungen 6 antigen (KL-6) has been shown to be a useful biomarker of the severity of Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis. To assess the correlation between the clinical severity of acute bronchiolitis, serum KL-6, and the causative viruses, 222 infants with acute bronchiolitis presenting at the Pediatric Emergency Department of Estaing University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France, were prospectively enrolled from October 2011 to May 2012. Disease severity was assessed with a score calculated from oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, and respiratory effort. A nasopharyngeal aspirate was collected to screen for a panel of 20 respiratory viruses. Serum was assessed and compared with a control group of 38 bronchiolitis-free infants. No significant difference in KL-6 levels was found between the children with bronchiolitis (mean 231 IU/mL ± 106) and those without (230 IU/mL ± 102), or between children who were hospitalized or not, or between the types of virus. No correlation was found between serum KL-6 levels and the disease severity score. The absence of Human Rhinovirus was a predictive factor for hospitalization (OR 3.4 [1.4-7.9]; P = 0.006). Older age and a higher oxygen saturation were protective factors (OR 0.65[0.55-0.77]; P < 0.0001 and OR 0.67 [0.54-0.85] P < 0.001, respectively). These results suggest that in infants presenting with bronchiolitis for the first time, clinical outcome depends more on the adaptive capacities of the host than on epithelial dysfunction intensity. Many of the features of bronchiolitis are affected by underlying disease and by treatment.

Serum S100B determination in the management of pediatric mild traumatic brain injury.

BACKGROUND: The place of serum S100B measurement in mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) management is still controversial. Our prospective study aimed to evaluate its utility in the largest child cohort described to date. METHODS: Children younger than 16 years presenting at a pediatric emergency department within 3 h after TBI were enrolled prospectively for blood sampling to determine serum S100B concentrations. The following information was collected: TBI severity determined by using the Masters classification [1: minimal or Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 15, 2: mild or GCS 13-15, and 3: severe or GCS <13]; whether hospitalized or not; good or bad clinical evolution (CE); whether cranial computed tomography (CCT) was prescribed; and related presence (CCT+) or absence (CCT-) of lesions. RESULTS: For the 446 children enrolled, the median concentrations of S100B were 0.21, 0.31, and 0.44 µg/L in Masters groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, with a statistically significant difference between these groups (P < 0.05). In Masters group 2, 65 CCT scans were carried out. Measurement of S100B identified patients as CCT+ with 100% (95% CI 85-100) sensitivity and 33% (95% CI 20-50) specificity. Of the 424 children scored Masters 1 or 2, 21 presented "bad CE." S100B identified bad CE patients with 100% (95% CI 84-100) sensitivity and 36% (95% CI 31-41) specificity. Of the 242 children hospitalized, 81 presented an S100B concentration within the reference interval. CONCLUSIONS: Serum S100B determination during the first 3 h of management of children with mTBI has the potential to reduce the number of CCT scans, thereby avoiding unnecessary irradiation, and to save hospitalization costs.

A simple tool to identify infants at high risk of mild to severe childhood asthma: the persistent asthma predictive score.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent wheezing in infants is a recognized risk factor for the development of childhood asthma. We sought to develop an easy-to-use persistent asthma predictive score (PAPS) in a population of young recurrent wheezers. METHODS: We retrospectively studied clinical and biological data of infants under 2 years of age presenting recurrent wheezing and evaluated current asthma at 6 years of age using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire. Multivariate analysis was performed to select predictive variables to generate a PAPS. The score was then tested on another cohort for independent validation. RESULTS: Two hundred infants were included in the cohort used to create the PAPS, and 227 in the validation cohort. In the first population, 47% of the children had developed asthma at 6 years of age, including 33% with mild to severe persistent asthma. Three parameters independently predicted persistent asthma: family history of asthma, personal atopic dermatitis, and multiple allergen sensitizations. Based on these variables, the PAPS showed 42% sensitivity, 90% specificity, 67% positive predictive value, and 76% negative predictive value for the prediction of persistent asthma. It was able to discriminate future persistent asthmatic from nonfuture persistent asthmatic children, with an accuracy of 74% in the initial population and 67% in the validation population. CONCLUSIONS: The PAPS, based on three easy-to-obtain variables, could help the physician in clinical practice to identify infants at high risk for persistent childhood asthma, and thus better evaluate the need for secondary preventive measures.

Urinary club cell protein 16 (CC16): Utility of its assay during acute bronchiolitis.

Acute bronchiolitis is responsible for high morbidity in infants. Club cell protein 16 kDa (CC16) is a major pneumoprotein secreted by club cells of the bronchial epithelium and eliminated by the renal pathway. CC16 seems to be a biomarker of epithelial damage in asthma. However, its value as a marker of acute bronchiolitis severity and later recurrent wheezing are uncertain, especially the value of its urinary assay for this purpose. A prospective, observational, analytical study was conducted at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital to correlate serum CC16 level with clinical severity of bronchiolitis in hospitalized infants aged less than 1 year. We analyzed correlations between serum and urinary CC16, CC16 levels and Wainwright score, immediate morbidity due to bronchiolitis, causal viruses, and recurrent wheezing 1 year after inclusion. In 166 infants, serum CC16 did not correlate with acute bronchiolitis severity (P = .49), but urinary CC16 did (P < .001). In multivariate analysis, urinary CC16 correlated mainly with urinary retinol binding protein (RBP; r = 0.70; P < .001). The logCC16u/logRBPu ratio correlated significantly with severity (P = .02). CC16 levels were not correlated with recurrent wheezing at 1 year. Urinary CC16 could be a useful biomarker in acute bronchiolitis for specific indications. This noninvasive assay would be particularly useful in the young infant population. Several factors must be taken into account in its interpretation, mainly tubular function. Further studies are needed to assess these factors.

Idiopathic central precocious puberty in a Klinefelter patient: highlights on gonadotropin levels and pathophysiology.

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) is supposed to be non-existent in a context of testicular destruction that is typically present in Klinefelter syndrome (KS). Herein, we describe a rare case of ICPP in a Klinefelter patient (47,XXY) with 2 maternal X chromosomes. Moreover, we highlight the differences in gonadotropin levels in comparison to males with ICPP and a normal karyotype. CASE PRESENTATION: An 8 years old boy with a history of cryptorchidism was evaluated for precocious puberty (Tanner staging: P2/G3). Both testes measured 25x35mm. His hormonal profile confirmed a central origin of precocious puberty with high serum testosterone (4.3 ng/ml), luteinizing hormone [LH (3.5 UI/l)] and follicle stimulating hormone [FSH (7.7 UI/l)] levels. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) test amplified LH and FSH secretion to 24 and 14 UI/l respectively. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal. No MKRN3 mutation was detected. He was treated for ICPP for two years. During puberty, he suffered from hypergonadotropic hypogonadism leading to the diagnosis of KS (47,XXY karyotype). Chromosomal analysis by fluorescent multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using X chromosome microsatellite markers identified 2 maternal X chromosomes. Analysing 8 cases of KS developing ICPP (our reported case and 7 other published cases) revealed that these KS patients with ICPP have higher LH and FSH levels during ICPP episode than in ICPP patients with a normal karyotype (ICPP with KS vs ICPP with a normal karyotype: LH levels 9.4 ± 12 vs 1.1 ± 0.6 UI/l; FSH levels 23.1 ± 38.5 vs 2.7 ± 1.5 UI/l). Furthermore, their response to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation is characterized by excessive LH and FSH secretion (LH levels post-GnRH: 58 ± 48 vs 15.5 ± 0.8 UI/l; FSH levels post-GnRH: 49.1 ± 62.1 vs 5.7 ± 3.9 UI/l). CONCLUSIONS: ICPP in boys is extremely rare. The pathophysiology of ICPP in KS is unknown. However, maternal X supplementary chromosome and early testicular destruction may play a significant role in the initiation of ICPP, in part explaining the relative "overrepresentation of ICPP in KS. Thus, karyotype analysis could be considered for boys suffering from ICPP, especially if testicular size is smaller or gonadotropins are significantly elevated.

Hyperechoic congenital lung lesions in a non-selected population: from prenatal detection till perinatal management.

OBJECTIVE: To present longitudinal observations of hyperechoic lung lesions (HLL) in a non-selected population from the time of prenatal diagnosis by ultrasound (US) until postnatal surgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all fetuses diagnosed with an HLL between 1990 and 2005 in our Fetal Medicine Unit. RESULTS: We observed 21 cases of HLL. Among the 17 fetuses with unilateral lesion, two cyst punctures were attempted on fetuses with signs of fetal compromise. Termination of pregnancy (TOP) was performed on seven fetuses. Fourteen fetuses were followed till birth. First Chest X-ray was abnormal in ten cases, while delayed CT scans revealed a lung lesion in 12 cases. Two neonates required emergency surgery and died post operatively. Surgery was successfully performed in all other cases (n = 10). Pathological examination revealed congenital high airway obstruction syndrome, CHAOS (n = 4), lower airway stenosis (n = 2), bronchogenic cyst (n = 1), congenital lobar emphysema (n = 1), and congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, CCAM (n = 11) including two cases associated with a sequestration. CONCLUSION: HLL cover a wide spectrum of lung abnormalities of various severities. Post natal management should always include an early chest X-ray and CT scan to allow appropriate selection for surgery.

Biomarkers for severe allergic asthma in children: could they be useful to guide disease control and use of omalizumab?

INTRODUCTION: Although symptom controls in asthmatic children can be achieved through compliant use of conventional medication, some children have uncontrolled severe persistent asthma, especially if they are allergic. For these children, omalizumab (approved by the EMA and FDA in children aged > 6 years) could be a therapeutic option. However, response to omalizumab varies from one child to another. Predictive biomarkers of omalizumab effectiveness could be useful to monitor response to treatment. Area covered: The authors searched in the PubMed database for publications related to the use of biomarkers in allergic asthma. Supported by their own experience in phenotyping asthma in children, they analyzed whether these biomarkers could be useful in assessing response to omalizumab. Expert commentary: Th2 inflammation in children with allergic asthma can be assessed by measuring several biomarkers (blood eosinophil, serum ECP or periostin, FeNO). While a single measurement may be insufficient, a combination of biomarkers assessments may improve the follow-up of children treated by omalizumab.

Laryngotracheoesophageal cleft, a rare differential diagnosis of esophageal atresia.

A laryngotracheoesophageal cleft, commonly called laryngeal cleft (LC), is a congenital malformation of the posterior part of the larynx creating an abnormal communication between the laryngotracheal axis and the pharyngoesophageal axis. The prenatal ultrasonographic features associating absent stomach, polyhydramnios and mediastinal "pouch sign" are usually considered pathognomonic for esophageal atresia. This observation demonstrates that they can also correspond to a severe form of laryngotracheoesophageal cleft extending to the carina.

Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products during acute bronchiolitis in infant: Prospective study in 93 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Acute bronchiolitis is a major cause of acute respiratory distress in infants. The soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (sRAGE) is a biomarker of pulmonary damage processes, with a diagnostic and a prognostic value in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The RAGE pathway is also implicated in the pathogenesis of other respiratory diseases like asthma, but the value of sRAGE levels in acute bronchiolitis remains under-investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective, observational, and analytical study was conducted at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. The main objective was to evaluate the correlation between serum sRAGE and clinical severity of bronchiolitis in hospitalized infants aged <1 year. We analyzed correlations between serum sRAGE and Wainwright score, short-term morbidity attributable to bronchiolitis, causal viruses and risk for recurrent wheezing at 1 year. RESULTS: The study included 93 infants. sRAGE levels were significantly lower in acute bronchiolitis patients (mean 1101 pg/mL) than in controls (2203 pg/mL, P < 0.001) but did not correlate with clinical severity. No correlation was found between serum sRAGE and severity score, respiratory viruses, and recurrent wheezing at 1 year. Serum sRAGE levels were negatively correlated with age (r = -0.45, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum sRAGE levels are decreased in acute bronchiolitis but not correlated with disease severity. sRAGE levels should be age-adjusted in infants. Serum sRAGE levels measured in the setting of acute bronchiolitis were not predictive of recurrent wheezing.

International Adoption of Children Surviving the Haitian Earthquake.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate resilience and frequency of behavioral symptoms in Haitian children internationally adopted before and after the earthquake of January 12, 2010. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective quantitative study in 40 Haitian children. Families were also asked to participate in a qualitative study (individual interview at 18-24 months after the earthquake) and to complete State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and STAI for children (STAI-C) questionnaires. RESULTS: Demographic and clinical characteristics were similar in the group who experienced the earthquake (n=22) and in the group who did not (n=18). The families of 30 adoptees were interviewed. There was no statistical difference between the two groups for the STAI (P=0.53) and STAI-C (P=0.75) or for the frequency of behavioral problems. Plenary adoption was pronounced for 84.6% and 33.3% of the children adopted in the pre- and post-earthquake group, respectively (P=0.02). Children rarely talked about the experience of the earthquake, which, by contrast, was a stressful experience for the adoptive families. CONCLUSIONS: Haitian children adopted after the earthquake did not express more stress or behavioral problems than those adopted before it. However, the possibility of a resurgence of mental disorders after age 10 should be borne in mind. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:450-454).

Assessment of blood enterovirus PCR testing in paediatric populations with fever without source, sepsis-like disease, or suspected meningitis: a prospective, multicentre, observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses are the most frequent cause of acute meningitis and are seen increasingly in sepsis-like disease and fever without source in the paediatric population. Detection of enterovirus in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens by PCR is the gold standard diagnostic test. Our aim was to assess a method of detecting enterovirus in blood specimens by PCR. METHODS: We did a prospective, multicentre, observational study at 35 French paediatric and emergency departments in 16 hospitals. We recruited newborn babies (aged ≤28 days) and infants (aged >28 days to ≤2 years) with fever without source, sepsis-like disease, or suspected meningitis, and children (aged >2 years to ≤16 years) with suspected meningitis, who were admitted to a participating hospital. We used a standardised form to obtain demographic, clinical, and laboratory data, which were anonymised. Enterovirus PCR testing was done in blood and CSF specimens. FINDINGS: Between June 1, 2015, and Oct 31, 2015, and between June 1, 2016, and Oct 31, 2016, we enrolled 822 patients, of whom 672 had enterovirus PCR testing done in blood and CSF specimens. Enterovirus was detected in 317 (47%) patients in either blood or CSF, or both (71 newborn babies, 83 infants, and 163 children). Detection of enterovirus was more frequent in blood samples than in CSF specimens of newborn babies (70 [99%] of 71 vs 62 [87%] of 71; p=0·011) and infants (76 [92%] of 83 vs 62 [75%] of 83; p=0·008), and was less frequent in blood samples than in CSF specimens of children (90 [55%] of 163 vs 148 [91%] of 163; p<0·0001). Detection of enterovirus was more frequent in blood samples than in CSF specimens of infants aged 2 years or younger with fever without source (55 [100%] of 55 vs 41 [75%] of 55; p=0·0002) or with sepsis-like disease (16 [100%] of 16 vs nine [56%] of 16; p=0·008). Detection of enterovirus was less frequent in blood than in CSF of patients with suspected meningitis (165 [67%] of 246 vs 222 [90%] of 246; p<0·0001). INTERPRETATION: Testing for enterovirus in blood by PCR should be an integral part of clinical practice guidelines for infants aged 2 years or younger. This testing could decrease the length of hospital stay and reduce exposure to antibiotics for low-risk patients admitted to the emergency department with febrile illness. FUNDING: University Hospital Clermont-Ferrand.

Respiratory Morbidity in Infants Born With a Congenital Lung Malformation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The actual frequency of respiratory symptoms related to congenital pulmonary malformations (CPMs) remains undetermined. The goal of this study was to prospectively evaluate the respiratory symptoms occurring in infants with prenatally diagnosed CPMs, identify factors associated with the occurrence of these symptoms, and evaluate their resolution after surgery. METHODS: Infectious and noninfectious respiratory symptoms were prospectively collected in a French multicenter cohort of children with CPMs. RESULTS: Eighty-five children were followed up to the mean age of 2.1 ± 0.4 years. Six children (7%) underwent surgery during the first 28 days of life. Of the 79 remaining children, 33 (42%) had respiratory symptoms during infancy before any surgery. Wheezing was the dominant symptom (24 of 79 [30%]), and only 1 infant had documented infection of the cystic lobe. Symptoms were more frequent in children with noncystic CPMs, prenatally (P = .01) or postnatally (P < .03), and with postnatally hyperlucent CPMs (P < .01). Sixty-six children underwent surgery during the follow-up period, and 40% of them displayed symptoms after the intervention. Six children had documented pneumonia during the postoperative period. At the end of the follow-up, pectus excavatum was observed in 10 children, significantly associated with thoracotomy (P < .02) or with surgery before the age of 6 months (P < .002). CONCLUSIONS: CPMs are frequently associated with wheezing episodes. Surgery had no significant impact on these symptoms but was associated with a paradoxical increase in pulmonary infections, as well as an increased risk of pectus excavatum after thoracotomy.

Antenatal detection and impact on outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a 12-year experience in Auvergne, France.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the detection rate of prenatal diagnosis and its impact on outcome in congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively studied 51 cases of CDH registered in the Auvergne area from January 1992 to December 2003 (Birth Defect Registry of Auvergne, Institut Européen des Génomutations). Our main outcome measurements were the detection rate of prenatal diagnosis, the incidence and types of associated anomalies and outcome (termination of pregnancy, in utero fetal demise, neonatal death, survival at the time of registration). RESULTS: Twenty-nine cases of isolated CDH were identified of which 13 were detected prenatally (45%) at a mean gestational age of 26.1 weeks and 22 cases of CDH with associated anomalies with prenatal diagnosis of CDH or any associated anomaly in 16 (73%; p=0.03) at a mean gestational age of 23.9 weeks. In the prenatally detected group (29 cases), there was 1 (3%) in utero fetal death (IUFD), 17 (59%) terminations of pregnancy (TOP) and 11 (38%) live births with early neonatal death in 7 (24%) cases despite delivery in a tertiary care centre in 10/11 cases (four survivors=14%). Most of the undetected cases were isolated CDH (16/22=73%) of which 1 (5%) was a stillborn and 21 (95%) live births with 17 survivors (77%) although 15/21 (71%) were not born at the tertiary care centre (p=0.001). The overall survival rate was 41% with a large variability depending on associated anomalies and prenatal diagnosis (p<0.0001) (prenatally detected cases: 3/13 (23%) isolated CDH and 1/16 (6%) CDH with associated anomalies; undetected cases: 13/16 (81%) isolated CDH and 4/6 (67%) CDH with associated anomalies). CONCLUSION: Prenatal diagnosis of CDH leads to the delivery of affected babies in tertiary care centres but it remains a challenge in particular for isolated CDH cases and it is associated with a lower survival rate. Associated anomalies contribute to prenatal detection, are related to a higher TOP rate but do not facilitate the detection of diaphragmatic defect per se.

Functional Benefits of Bilateral Emphysema Reduction Surgery in an Adolescent.

Acquired emphysema is a rare pathology in pediatrics. We report the case of a patient born at term with a neonatal respiratory distress, which had required mechanical ventilation. She developed gradually chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with severe emphysematous lesions, respiratory failure and functional impairments. Bilateral emphysema resection, performed at 16 years old, allowed major functional benefits at rest and during exercise. We present the results of respiratory functional evaluations, walk tests and maximal exercise tests (including measure of dynamic hyperinflation) before and after surgery, which highlights that surgery is a successful option in the treatment of compressive emphysema in childhood.

Skin diseases in internationally adopted children.

Internationally adopted children often present diseases contracted in the country of origin. Skin diseases are common in new arrivals, and diagnosis may prove challenging for GPs or even dermatologists if they are inexperienced in the extensive geographic and ethnic diversity of international adoptees. To analyse the frequency and characteristics of skin diseases in international adoptees. In total, 142 adoptees were evaluated for a cross-sectional cohort study. The most frequent diseases observed at arrival were dermatological conditions. Of the adoptees, 70% presented at least one skin disease, of which 57.5% were infectious; Tinea capitis being the most frequent (n = 42). The recovery rate of Tinea capitis was 89% (n = 32/36). Ten cases of scabies were diagnosed. Other diseases included viral skin infection (n = 22), with 16 cases of Molluscum contagiosum and bacterial infection. Skin diseases are very common in internationally adopted children. There is a need for close collaboration between dermatologists and paediatricians to diagnose such infections, as well as clear guidelines to treat them.