Rotavirus gastroenteritis hospitalizations in provinces with different vaccination coverage rates in Spain, 2013-2018.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus (RV) vaccines are available in Spain since 2006 but are not included in the National Immunization Program. RV vaccination has reached an intermediate vaccination coverage rate (VCR) but with substantial differences between provinces. The aim of this study was to assess the ratio of RV gastroenteritis (RVGE) admissions to all-cause hospitalizations in children under 5 years of age in areas with different VCR. METHODS: Observational, multicenter, cross-sectional, medical record-based study. All children admitted to the study hospitals with a RVGE confirmed diagnosis during a 5-year period were selected. The annual ratio of RVGE to the total number of all-cause hospitalizations in children < 5 years of age were calculated. The proportion of RVGE hospitalizations were compared in areas with low (< 30%), intermediate (31-59%) and high (> 60%) VCR. RESULTS: From June 2013 to May 2018, data from 1731 RVGE hospitalizations (16.47% of which were nosocomial) were collected from the 12 study hospitals. RVGE hospital admissions accounted for 2.82% (95 CI 2.72-3.00) and 43.84% (95% CI 40.53-47.21) of all-cause and Acute Gastroenteritis (AGE) hospitalizations in children under 5 years of age, respectively. The likelihood of hospitalization due to RVGE was 56% (IC95%, 51-61%) and 27% (IC95%, 18-35%) lower in areas with high and intermediate VCR, respectively, compared to the low VCR areas. CONCLUSIONS: RVGE hospitalization ratios are highly dependent on the RV VCR. Increasing VCR in areas with intermediate and low coverage rates would significantly reduce the severe burden of RVGE that requires hospital management in Spain. Clinical trial registration Not applicable.

Clinical practice update of antifungal prophylaxis in immunocompromised children.

Due to the rise in the number and types of immunosuppressed patients, invasive fungal infections (IFI) are an increasing and major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised adults and children. There is a broad group of pediatric patients at risk for IFI in whom primary and/or secondary antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) should be considered despite scant evidence. Pediatric groups at risk for IFI includes extremely premature infants in some settings, while in high-risk children with cancer receiving chemotherapy or undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT), AFP against yeast and moulds is usually recommended. For solid organ transplanted, children, prophylaxis depends on the type of transplant and associated risk factors. In children with primary or acquired immunodeficiency such as HIV or long-term immunosuppressive treatment, AFP depends on the type of immunodeficiency and the degree of immunosuppression. Chronic granulomatous disease is associated with a particular high-risk of IFI and anti-mould prophylaxis is always indicated. In contrast, AFP is not generally recommended in children with long stay in intensive care units. The choice of AFP is limited by the approval of antifungal agents in different age groups and by their pharmacokinetics characteristics. This document aims to review current available information on AFP in children and to provide a comprehensive proposal for each type of patient.

Longitudinal analysis of immune function in the first 3 years of life in thymectomized neonates during cardiac surgery.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of neonatal thymectomy in the functional capacity of the immune system. We selected a group of 23 subjects, who had undergone thymectomy in their first 30 days of life, during an intervention for congenital heart disease. Several parameters of the immune system were evaluated during their first 3 years of life. Lymphocyte populations and subpopulations (including naive, memory and effector subpopulations), T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta repertoire, response of T cells following in vitro stimulation by mitogen, quantification of immunoglobulins, TCR excision circles (TRECS) and interleukin (IL)-7 were measured. We found that neonatal thymectomy produces long-term diminution in total lymphocyte counts, especially in naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Additionally, TRECS were decreased, and plasma IL-7 levels increased. A statistically significant negative correlation was found between absolute CD4+ T cells and IL-7 (r = -0.470, P = 0.02). The patients did not suffer more infectious events than healthy control children, but thymectomy in neonates resulted in a significant decrease in T lymphocyte levels and TRECS, consistent with cessation of thymopoiesis. This could produce a compromise in immune function later in life, especially if the patients suffer T cell depletion and need a reconstitution of immune function.

[Family impact of rotavirus gastroenteritis in children under two years]. / Impacto familiar de la gastroenteritis por rotavirus en menores de dos años.

INTRODUCTION: Acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in infants has a significant impact on the quality of life of their parents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study on the sociological family impact related to rotavirus AGE in children under 2 years. The study was carried out in 25 hospitals and 5 primary care centres in Spain. Sociodemographic, epidemiological and clinical data were recorded, as well as the symptomatology of AGE and its severity measured by the Clark scale. Stool samples were tested to determine rotavirus positive (RV+) or negative (RV-). The parents were asked to complete a a family impact questionnaire. RESULTS: Stool specimens were tested in 1087 AGE cases (584 RV+ vs 503 RV-). The 99.5 % of parents whose children were RV+ reported more worries vs. the 97.7 % of RV-, and RV+ had a higher importance score (p < 0.05). A higher percentage of RV+ parents and those with a high importance score reported more time dedicated to dehydration treatment (p < 0.05). The 82.5 % vs. 73.9 % had disruption of their household tasks, with more importance scores (p < 0.05). RV+ had a higher percentage and importance score than RV- ones in all aspects of their child's AGE symptoms, except loss of appetite. CONCLUSION: AGE produces important dysfunctional experiences in daily family life. According to parental perceptions, RV+ produces greater worries and dysfunctions in child behaviour.

[Immunisation schedule of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics: 2016 recommendations]. / Calendario de vacunaciones de la Asociación Española de Pediatría (CAV-AEP): recomendaciones 2016.

The Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics (CAV-AEP) annually publishes the immunisation schedule which, in our opinion, estimates optimal for children resident in Spain, considering available evidence on current vaccines. We acknowledge the effort of the Ministry of Health during the last year in order to optimize the funded unified Spanish vaccination schedule, with the recent inclusion of pneumococcal and varicella vaccination in early infancy. Regarding the funded vaccines included in the official unified immunization schedule, taking into account available data, CAV-AEP recommends 2+1 strategy (2, 4 and 12 months) with hexavalent (DTPa-IPV-Hib-HB) vaccines and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Administration of Tdap and poliomyelitis booster dose at the age of 6 is recommended, as well as Tdap vaccine for adolescents and pregnant women, between 27-36 weeks gestation. The two-dose scheme should be used for MMR (12 months and 2-4 years) and varicella (15 months and 2-4 years). Coverage of human papillomavirus vaccination in girls aged 11-12 with a two dose scheme (0, 6 months) should be improved. Information for male adolescents about potential beneficial effects of this immunisation should be provided as well. Regarding recommended unfunded immunisations, CAV-AEP recommends the administration of meningococcal B vaccine, due to the current availability in Spanish communitary pharmacies, with a 3+1 scheme (3, 5, 7 and 13-15 months). CAV-AEP requests the incorporation of this vaccine in the funded unified schedule. Vaccination against rotavirus is recommended in all infants. Annual influenza immunisation and vaccination against hepatitis A are indicated in population groups considered at risk.

[Antipyretic effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol]. / Eficacia de ibuprofeno y paracetamol como antitérmicos.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the antipyretic effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol and to evaluate the possible influence of patients' sex, weight, height and underlying disease on effectiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 166 children with fever, defined as a temperature equal to or above 38 degrees C, were enrolled. Of these, 80 were given paracetamol at a dose of 15 mg per kg and 86 were given 7 mg of ibuprofen per kg. Temperature was recorded at 60, 120,180 and 240 minutes after drug administration. Data were statistically analyzed, including analysis of paired data. RESULTS: Ninety percent of the children became afebrile at some time during the study with both paracetamol and ibuprofen. Seventy-four percent of the patients remained afebrile 4 hours after drug administration. The mean temperatures obtained with ibuprofen versus paracetamol were 37.66 +/- 0.73 vs 37.8 +/- 0.65, p = 0.22 one hour after drug administration; 37.09 +/- 0.83 vs 37.29 +/- 0.71, p = 0.14 two hours after drug administration; 37.12 +/- 1.05 vs 37.28 +/- 0.87, p = 0.64 three hours after drug administration; and 37.40 +/- 1.12 vs 37.46 +/- 1.00, p = 0.72 four hours after drug administration. The maximum rate of temperature decrease was achieved during the first 60 minutes after drug administration (-1.32 +- 0.83 with ibuprofen vs -1.09 +/- 0.77 with paracetamol, p = 0.10). In children aged between 5 and 12 years, ibuprofen achieved significantly lower temperatures than paracetamol (38.00 +/- 0.65 vs 37.45 +/- 0.43, p = 0.02 at 1 hour; 36.71 +/- 0.66 vs 37.60 +/- 0.93, p = 0.01 at 2 hours; 36.80 +/- 0.79 vs 37.67 +/- 1.12, p = 0.03 at 3 hours). Analysis by weight, height or underlying disease revealed no significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Both ibuprofen and paracetamol proved to be successful in reducing temperature. The effectiveness of ibuprofen and paracetamol was similar, except in children aged more than 5 years old, in whom ibuprofen was more effective. Weight, sex and underlying disease had no influence on effectiveness.

[Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: report of five cases]. / Osteomielitis crónica multifocal recurrente.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis is a rare disease of unknown etiology that mainly affects children. We present a retrospective review of the medical records of five patients with a diagnosis of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis in an infectious diseases clinic at a tertiary center. We describe the epidemiological, clinical and radiological features, laboratory, microbiological and histological findings, treatment, course and prognosis in these patients. There is no specific treatment for chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. There are new treatment options such the combination of azithromycin and calcitonin in children without clinical improvement with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

[Trends in perinatal HIV transmission and possible related factors]. / Evolución de la transmisión vertical del VIH y posibles factores involucrados.

INTRODUCTION: Since the introduction of zidovudine, perinatal transmission (PT) of HIV-1 has markedly decreased, although a transmission rate of zero has still not been achieved. The present study describes the trend in PT over 13 years, as well as changes in medical-surgical management and their influence on PT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study of all HIV-1-infected mother-infant pairs born between January 1987 and December 1999 in Hospital 12 Octubre in Madrid. Univariate analysis was performed to determine the relationship between possible risk factors and PT. RESULTS: A total of 290 mothers and 291 children were included. Thirty-eight children were infected, 28 of these before 1994 (PT rate: 13 %). There were no cases of infection when the full ACTG 076 protocol was implemented. Factors significantly associated with a higher transmission rate were prolonged rupture of membranes and nonelective caesarean section. The main protective factor was antiretroviral therapy. CONCLUSIONS: PT markedly decreased after the introduction of the ACTG 076 protocol. In the last 13 years, maternal age and maternal infection due to heterosexual transmission have increased. Other changes observed were modifications in obstetric interventions and the generalized use of zidovudine and antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy.

[Effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 infected children. A cross-sectional study]. / Efectividad de la terapia antirretroviral en niños con infección por VIH-1. Corte transversal.

INTRODUCTION: There are few cross-sectional studies describing the current situation of HIV-1-infected children. Such studies would be useful to determine patients' clinical and immunologic and virologic status, currently prescribed therapies and their associated toxicity. OBJECTIVES: To perform a descriptive analysis of the clinical, immunological and virological status of HIV-1-infected children followed-up in the pediatric unit of a tertiary hospital and describe the current antiretroviral therapies used to treat them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. Data were collected from all HIV-1-infected children followed-up until January 2002 in a large pediatric referral hospital (Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid). Clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were scheduled to be performed every 3 months. The most recent CD4 and plasma viral loads were evaluated. Viral loads were considered undetectable when there were less than 300 copies/ml at the last evaluation. RESULTS: Sixty-six HIV-1-infected children who were followed-up to January 2002 were analyzed. All the children acquired the infection through vertical transmission except one, in whom the mode of transmission was unknown. The median age was 111 months (18-216). Twenty children were category C. The median CD4 cell count was 953 cells/mm3 (276-3137), 28 % +/- 8 (12.42). One child was receiving no therapy, four were on combination therapy with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and 61 were receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Twenty-seven children (44 %) were receiving the first HAART regimen, 23 the second, and 11 had already been switched more than twice. Overall, 37 of the 61 patients receiving HAART had an undetectable plasma viral load. CONCLUSIONS: Most children in our study had gone through several antiretroviral regimens, although not all children were being treated with HAART. Fifty-six percent of the patients with HAART had an undetectable plasma viral load. However, new complications associated with this therapy have begun to appear.

[Respiratory syncitial virus in immunocompromised patients in a pediatric hospital: 5 years experience]. / Infección por virus respiratorio sincitial en los pacientes inmunodeprimidos en un hospital pediátrico: experiencia de 5 años.

INTRODUCTION: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts. METHODS: A description is presented of all cases of RSV infection in immunocompromised pediatric patients in Hematology and Oncology and Immunodeficiency Units between 2008 and 2012. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were diagnosed with RSV infection. Nine patients required in-patient care and 2 required Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Five patients were treated with specific therapy (ribavirin ± palivizumab). No deaths occurred in the study period. CONCLUSION: RSV infection may be severe in immunocompromised pediatric patients.

[Community acquired pneumonia in children: Outpatient treatment and prevention]. / Neumonía adquirida en la comunidad: tratamiento ambulatorio y prevención.

There have been significant changes in community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children in the last decade. These changes relate to epidemiology and clinical presentation. Resistance to antibiotics is also a changing issue. These all have to be considered when treating CAP. In this document, two of the main Spanish pediatric societies involved in the treatment of CAP in children, propose a consensus concerning therapeutic approach. These societies are the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Chest Diseases. The Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics (CAV-AEP) has also been involved in the prevention of CAP. An attempt is made to provide up-to-date guidelines to all paediatricians. The first part of the statement presents the approach to ambulatory, previously healthy children. We also review the prevention with currently available vaccines. In a next second part, special situations and complicated forms will be addressed.

[Vaccination against meningococcal B disease. Public statement of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics (CAV-AEP)]. / Vacunación frente al meningococo B. Posicionamiento del Comité Asesor de Vacunas de la Asociación Española de Pediatría.

Meningococcal invasive disease, including the main clinical presentation forms (sepsis and meningitis), is a severe and potentially lethal infection caused by different serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal serogroup B is the most prevalent in Europe. Most cases occur in children, with a mortality rate of 10% and a risk of permanent sequelae of 20-30% among survivors. The highest incidence and case fatality rates are observed in healthy children under 2-3 years old, followed by adolescents, although it can occur at any age. With the arrival in Spain of the only available vaccine against meningococcus B, the Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics has analysed its preventive potential in detail, as well as its peculiar administrative situation in Spain. The purpose of this document is to publish the statement of the Committee as regards this vaccination and the access to it by the Spanish population, taking into account that it has been only authorized for people at risk. The vaccine is available free in the rest of Europe for those who want to acquire it, and in some countries and regions it has been introduced into the systematic immunisation schedules. The Committee considers that Bexsero® has a profile of a vaccine to be included in the official schedules of all the Spanish autonomous communities and insists on the need for it to be available in pharmacies for its administration in all children older than 2 months.

[Immunisation schedule of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics: 2015 recommendations]. / Calendario de vacunaciones de la Asociación Española de Pediatría: recomendaciones 2015.

The Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics updates the immunisation schedule every year, taking into account epidemiological data as well as evidence on the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of current vaccines, including levels of recommendation. In our opinion, this is the optimal vaccination calendar for all children resident in Spain. Regarding the vaccines included in the official unified immunization schedule, the Committee emphasizes the administration of the first dose of hepatitis B either at birth or at 2 months of life; the recommendation of the first dose of MMR and varicella vaccine at the age of 12 months, with the second dose at the age of 2-3 years; DTaP or Tdap vaccine at the age of 6 years, followed by another Tdap booster dose at 11-12 years old; Tdap strategies for pregnant women and household contacts of the newborn, and immunization against human papillomavirus in girls aged 11-12 years old with a 2 dose scheme (0, 6 months). The Committee reasserts its recommendation to include vaccination against pneumococcal disease in the routine immunisation schedule, the same as it is being conducted in Western European countries. The recently authorised meningococcal B vaccine, currently blocked in Spain, exhibits the profile of a universal vaccine. The Committe insists on the need of having the vaccine available in communitary pharmacies. It has also proposed the free availability of varicella vaccines. Their efectiveness and safety have been confirmed when they are administred from the second year of life. Vaccination against rotavirus is recommended in all infants. The Committee stresses the need to vaccinate population groups considered at risk against influenza and hepatitis A.

Higher incidence of autoantibodies in X-linked chronic granulomatous disease carriers: random X-chromosome inactivation may be related to autoimmunity.

The presence of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases was tested in all available members of five families with at least one member affected with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease. Patients and carriers relatives possess autoantibodies more frequently than non-carriers relatives (95% vs 10%, p < 1.0 x 10(-5), Fisher test). Further, a survey of the literature revealed that in X-linked immunodeficiencies with X-chromosome random inactivation, clear features of autoimmunity are observed, not found in those with non-random inactivation. It appears then as if random inactivation of the X-chromosome in these pathologies, may favor the expression of an autoimmune phenotype in patients and carriers.

Sepsis in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection. The Madrid HIV Pediatric Infection Collaborative Study Group.

The aims of this retrospective study were to review the frequency and patterns of bacterial sepsis in children infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The charts of 233 human immunodeficiency virus-infected children cared for during a 10-year period in 4 tertiary hospitals in Madrid were reviewed. There were 43 episodes of sepsis in 31 (13%) children. Twenty of them had acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, 10 were class PA2 and 1 was class P1B. The most common organisms recovered were: nontyphoidal Salmonella, 10 cases (23%); Streptococcus pneumoniae, 9 cases (21%); Staphylococcus epidermidis, 6 cases (14%); Escherichia coli, 5 cases (12%); Enterococcus faecalis, 4 cases (9%); Campylobacter jejuni, 2 cases (5%). In 28 episodes of bacteremia there were other sites of associated infection: pneumonia, 6 cases; urinary tract infection (UTI), 5 cases; gastrointestinal disease, 4 cases; catheter-related bacteremia, 12 cases. Eight patients had more than 1 episode of bacteremia. The rate of complications was high: 6 children had septic shock; and 2 of them developed disseminated intravascular coagulation. There was 1 death directly related to sepsis.

Oesophageal narrowing in chronic granulomatous disease.

A 14 year-old boy with X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) developed a long smooth narrowing at the mid oesophagus with severe dysphagia. Endoscopy revealed a normal mucosa and biopsy showed non-specific acute inflammatory changes. Bacterial cultures of the biopsy specimens were sterile. Combined treatment with antibiotics and steroids resulted in a transitory remission, but symptoms recurred after 2.5 months. One second course of steroids and antibiotics lead to a long-term remission. Oesophagogram was more useful than endoscopy to evaluate the severity of the stricture.

[Prognostic markers of progression to AIDS in infants vertically infected by human immunodeficiency virus type-1]. / Marcadores predictivos de progresión a sida en niños infectados por transmisión vertical por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 1.

BACKGROUND: To study the prognostic AIDS progression value of the percentage of CD4+, CD8+, and plasma viral load (VL) (copies/ml) in HIV-1-vertically infected children. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We study a cohort of 115 HIV-1 infected children older than 12 months of age. The VL was quantified using standard molecular assay. CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The children with a median of VL > 4.5 log10 (p < 0.001) and percentage of CD8+ < 25% (p = 0.05) during follow-up, progressed faster to AIDS than children with a median of VL < 4.5 log10 and CD8 > 25%. The relative risk (RR) of AIDS progression was 7-fold higher in children with median VL above 4.5 log10. When considering VL as a continuous variable, risk of progression to AIDS is 3.5-fold higher for each increase of one log10 of VL. The percentage of CD8+ T-cells had a RR of AIDS progression of 0.95/% CD8+ at entry to the study and of 0. 19/% CD8+ during follow-up, indicating protection against progression to AIDS. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that each basal values at entry in the study and during the follow-up of the percentage of CD8+ and VL helps to determine the risk of AIDS progression in HIV-1-infected children. More interestingly, the use of the two predictive markers together had higher predictive value.

[Respiratory infection due to Chlamydia trachomatis in infants. Clinical presentation and outcome in 18 patients]. / Infección respiratoria por Chlamydia trachomatis en lactantes. Presentación clínica y evolución de 18 casos.

BACKGROUND: Among other diseases, Chlamydia trachomatis causes epididymitis and prostatitis in men and urethritis, cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease in women. In children, it most usually causes conjunctivitis and is also responsible for lower respiratory tract disease, occasionally requiring hospital admission. OBJECTIVE: To draw attention to this disease, which is usually overlooked and which can be potentially serious. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of infants aged less than 6 months with symptoms of lower respiratory tract disease in whom C. trachomatis antigen was detected by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: We identified 18 patients with C. trachomatis between 1993 and 2002. Of these, 17 patients required hospital admission and five required monitoring in the pediatric intensive care unit. The mean length of hospital stay was 9.6 days. Three patients were immigrants. The mean age at admission was 6.6 weeks. Apnea occurred in five infants. Chest x-ray showed interstitial infiltrates in five infants. Sixteen patients were treated with erythromycin and all made a complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Although lower respiratory tract disease caused by C. trachomatis is usually managed on an outpatient basis, it sometimes requires hospital admission or even management in the intensive care unit. Therefore, C. trachomatis infection should be ruled out in infants aged less than 6 months with clinical symptoms of lower respiratory tract disease for which no other pathogen can be found.

[Decreased bone mineral density in HIV-infected children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy]. / Disminución de la mineralización ósea en el niño con VIH en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad.

BACKGROUND: In developed countries, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved survival and quality of life in HIV-infected children. Nevertheless, worrisome metabolic and bone alterations are beginning to be observed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of alterations in bone mineral density and possible associated factors in a cohort of HIV-infected children receiving HAART. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bone dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed in 50 HIV-infected children in a tertiary hospital in Madrid after a median length of HAART of 54 months. Subsequently, the group with bone mineral loss was compared with the group without bone mineral loss. RESULTS: Forty percent of the children studied had decreased bone mineral density, of which 36 % had osteopenia (18/50) and 4 % had osteoporosis (2/50). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the factors analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of decreased bone mineral density in our cohort of HIV-infected children receiving HAART is high. The etiology and factors associated with this alteration are still not well known.