Platelet count and risk of severe illness in hospitalised children with Influenza-Like illness.

AIM: To examine the clinical significance of thrombocytosis (platelets > 500 × 109 /L) in admitted children with an influenza-like illness. METHODS: We performed a database analysis consisting of patients evaluated at our medical centers with an influenza-like illness between 2009 and 2013. We included paediatric patients and examined the association between platelet count, respiratory viral infections, and admission outcomes (hospital length of stay and admission to the paediatric intensive care unit) using regression models adjusting for multiple variables. RESULTS: A total of 5171 children were included in the study cohort (median age 0.8 years; interquartile range, 0.2-1.8; 58% male). Younger age, and not the type of viral infection, was associated with a high platelet count (p < 0.001). Elevated platelet count independently predicted admission outcomes (p ≤ 0.05). The presence of thrombocytosis was associated with an increased risk for a prolonged length of stay (odds ratio = 1.2; 95% Confidence interval = 1.1 to 1.4; p = 0.003) and admission to the paediatric intensive care unit (odds ratio = 1.5; 95% Confidence interval = 1.1 to 2.0; p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: In children admitted with an influenza-like illness, a high platelet count is an independent predictor of admission outcomes. Platelet count may be used to improve risk assessment and management decisions in these paediatric patients.

Enterococcal Central Nervous System Infections in Children: A 22 Years' Experience in a Tertiary Center and Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Enterococcal meningitis in children is rare, and its clinical presentation, laboratory characteristics and outcomes are not well defined. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of Enterococcal meningitis cases during 2002-2023 at our tertiary center. RESULTS: We identified 10 cases in children aged 2 weeks to 15 years (median age: 8 months). Seven children were males and 9 had comorbidities, including a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in 5 children. All children with shunt infections presented with nonspecific signs and symptoms. While 8 children presented with fever, only 3 had signs of meningeal irritation and altered consciousness. Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis was evident in almost all children with a median of 173 cells/mL. Nine cases were due to Enterococcus faecalis, and 1 case was due to E. faecium. All 5 children with ventriculoperitoneal shunt underwent shunt removal and replacement. All children recovered without documented sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcal meningitis is rare, especially in healthy neonates. It typically occurs following neurosurgical interventions and may only present with fever and shunt malfunction, without overt meningeal signs and with mild inflammation. The prognosis is favorable.