Decreased Human Leukocyte Antigen DR on Circulating Monocytes Expression After Severe Pediatric Trauma: An Exploratory Report.

OBJECTIVES: Major trauma in adults induces immune dysfunction, with diminished expression of human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes. No pediatric data are available. This study described the kinetics of human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes following major pediatric trauma and relationships between human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes and outcomes. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: PICU and trauma unit at a tertiary-care university hospital in South Africa. PATIENTS: Children between 1 month and 13 years hospitalized for severe brain trauma or trauma with an Injury Severity Score greater than or equal to 16, from November 2016 to March 2017. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We included 36 children. Median (interquartile range) age and Injury Severity Score were 7 years (4.9-10.5 yr) and 25 years (22.7-30 yr), respectively. Blood samples (n = 83) for standardized human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes measurement were collected at days 1-2, 3-4, and 8-9 after injury (D1, D3, and D8, respectively). On D1, median (interquartile range) human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes was markedly reduced relative to normal values (7,031 [5,204-11,201] antibodies per cell). There was a significant increase in human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes from D1 to D8. Although all patients with secondary infections (n = 8; 22%) had human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes less than 15,000 antibodies per cell at D3, human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes levels were not associated with the occurrence of secondary infections (p = 0.22). At D3, human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes was significantly higher in patients discharged home (n = 21) by Day 30 after trauma compared with those who died or were still hospitalized (n = 14) (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric severe trauma induced an early and dramatic decrease in human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes expression. This alteration of innate immunity was not associated with the occurrence of secondary infection, possibly due to a lack of statistical power. However, human leukocyte antigen-DR on circulating monocytes at Day 3 is a potential indicator of those at high risk of secondary infection and worse outcomes.

Overloaded and Unrestrained: A Qualitative Study with Local Experts Exploring Factors Affecting Child Car Restraint Use in Cape Town, South Africa.

(1) Background: Children in South Africa experience significant impacts from road injury due to the high frequency of road crashes and the low uptake of road safety measures (including the use of appropriate child restraints). The current study aimed to assess the feasibility of a child restraint program and to describe factors influencing child restraint use from the perspectives of clinicians, representatives of non-government agencies, and academics in Cape Town, South Africa. (2) Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with 13 experts from government, academic and clinical backgrounds. Findings were analyzed using the COM-B component of the Behaviour Change Wheel and were grouped by the layers of the social-ecological model (individual, relational, community and societal). (COM-B is a framework to explain behaviour change which has three key components; capability, opportunity and motivation), (3) Results: Experts believed that there was a need for a child restraint program that should be staged and multifactorial. Participants described knowledge gaps, perceptions of risk, mixed motivations and limited enforcement of child restraint legislation as key influences of restraint use. (4) Conclusions: The results demonstrate potential areas on which to focus interventions to increase child restraint use in Cape Town, South Africa. However, this will require a coordinated and consistent response across stakeholder groups.

Children Listening to Music or Watching Cartoons During ER Procedures: A RCT.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine if listening to music and watching cartoons are effective to distract children from pain and distress during procedures in the emergency room (ER). METHODS: This study is a single-center, 3-armed, superiority randomized controlled trial comparing listening to music, watching cartoons, and standard care during ER procedures in children aged 3-13 years. The primary outcome was pain measured from video footage with the Alder Hey Triage Pain Score (AHTPS). Children older than 4 years self-reported pain with the Faces Pain Scale-Revised (FPS-R). The secondary outcome was distress measured with the Observational Scale of Behavioral Distress-revised (OSBD-r). Another indicator of distress was heart rate. RESULTS: Data of 191 participants were analyzed for the 3 groups: music (n = 75), cartoon (n = 62), and control (n = 54). The median age was 7.3 years (4.9-9.7). In multivariable analysis, pain assessed with the AHTPS was significantly lower (B = -1.173, 95% confidence interval -1.953, -0.394, p = .003) in the music group than in the control groups. Across the 3 groups, 108 children self-reported pain with the FPS-R after the procedure. The scores were lowest in the music group, but the differences between groups were not significant (p = .077). OSBD-r distress scores assigned during the procedures were not significantly different between the 3 groups (p = .55). Heart rate directly after the procedure was not statistically significantly different between the 3 groups (p = .83). CONCLUSIONS: Listening to recorded music is a beneficial distraction for children experiencing pain during ER procedures, whereas watching cartoons did not seem to reduce pain or distress.

International Study of the Epidemiology of Paediatric Trauma: PAPSA Research Study.

OBJECTIVES: Trauma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The literature on paediatric trauma epidemiology in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is limited. This study aims to gather epidemiological data on paediatric trauma. METHODS: This is a multicentre prospective cohort study of paediatric trauma admissions, over 1 month, from 15 paediatric surgery centres in 11 countries. Epidemiology, mechanism of injury, injuries sustained, management, morbidity and mortality data were recorded. Statistical analysis compared LMICs and high-income countries (HICs). RESULTS: There were 1377 paediatric trauma admissions over 31 days; 1295 admissions across ten LMIC centres and 84 admissions across five HIC centres. Median number of admissions per centre was 15 in HICs and 43 in LMICs. Mean age was 7 years, and 62% were boys. Common mechanisms included road traffic accidents (41%), falls (41%) and interpersonal violence (11%). Frequent injuries were lacerations, fractures, head injuries and burns. Intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic injuries accounted for 3 and 2% of injuries. The mechanisms and injuries sustained differed significantly between HICs and LMICs. Median length of stay was 1 day and 19% required an operative intervention; this did not differ significantly between HICs and LMICs. No mortality and morbidity was reported from HICs. In LMICs, in-hospital morbidity was 4.0% and mortality was 0.8%. CONCLUSION: The spectrum of paediatric trauma varies significantly, with different injury mechanisms and patterns in LMICs. Healthcare structure, access to paediatric surgery and trauma prevention strategies may account for these differences. Trauma registries are needed in LMICs for future research and to inform local policy.

Foreign bodies in a pediatric emergency department in South Africa.

OBJECTIVES: Foreign body-related pediatric trauma has a high incidence, but studies with large data sets are rare and typically stem from Western settings. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of foreign body-related trauma in children treated at our trauma unit in South Africa. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed all foreign body-related trauma admissions from 1991 to 2009. We collected detailed data including age, sex, type of foreign body, injury severity, and anatomical location of the foreign body. RESULTS: We analysed 8149 cases. Marginally more boys (54.9%) than girls were involved. The overall median age was 3 years (interquartile range, 2-6 years); 78.8% were younger than 7 years. The predominant anatomical sites were the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract (39.1%); ears (23.9%); nose (19.4%); and extremities (8.8%). The commonest objects were coins (20.8 %), (parts of) jewelry (9.5%), and food (8.7%). Three quarters (74.5%) of patients presented between 1 and 2 hours after the injury (median, 1 hour). A total of 164 cases (2.0%) were marked as possible child abuse; 17 cases were filed as confirmed child abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive parent education programs targeting foreign body-related injury should mainly focus on both sexes younger than 7 years. Parents should be taught to keep small objects out of reach of young children, especially coins, because these most often result in a trauma unit visit.