Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections and re-infections in children: a multicentre retrospective study.

PURPOSE: Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most common treatment modality for hydrocephalus. However, VPS infection is a common and serious complication with high rates of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to investigate causative agents and the management of VPS infections and to identify risk factors for re-infection in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre study on patients with VPS infection at paediatric and neurosurgery departments in four tertiary medical centres in Turkey between January 2011 and September 2014. RESULTS: A total of 290 patients with VPS infections were identified during the study period. The aetiology of hydrocephalus was congenital malformations in 190 patients (65.5%). The most common symptom of shunt infection was fever in 108 (37.2%) cases. At least one pathogen was identified in 148 VPS infections (51%). The most commonly isolated pathogen was coagulase-negative staphylococci, which grew in 63 cases (42.5%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 22 cases (14.9%), Klebsiella pneumoniae in 15 cases (10.1%), and Staphylococcus aureus in 15 cases (10.1). The median duration of VPS infection was 2 months (range, 15 days to 60 months) after insertion of the shunt, with half (49.8%) occurring during the first month. VPS infection was treated by antibiotics and shunt removal in 211 cases (76.4%) and antibiotics alone without shunt removal in 65 patients (23.5%). Among the risk factors, CSF protein level greater than 100 mg/dL prior to VPS insertion was associated with a potential risk of re-infection (OR, 1.65; p =.01). CONCLUSION: High protein levels (>100 mg/dL) before the re-insertion of a VPS may be a risk factor for VPS re-infection.

Clinical Characteristics of and Cancer Incidence in Children Evaluated for Lymphadenoapthy Referred to Pediatric Oncology Clinics.

OBJECTIVES: In our study, we aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and cancer frequency in patients referred to our pediatric oncology outpatient clinic for lymphadenopathy. METHODS: The charts of patients admitted to our pediatric oncology outpatient clinics for lymphadenopathy between January 2014, and December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Age, gender, duration of complaints, previous therapies, systemic signs and symptoms, lymph node characteristics and laboratory findings were recorded. The frequency of malignancy was calculated. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-four patients (34 girls) with a median age of six years (range four months-17 years) were included in our study. The majority of the patients (98%) had localized lymphadenopathy and the head and neck region was the most common site of involvement (87%). The median long-axis diameter of lymph nodes ranged between 0.5 cm and 5 cm (median 2 cm) by physical examination. Twenty-one patients (15.6%) had lymph node biopsy. Four patients had ruptured epidermal cyst, lymphangioma, pilomatricoma and ectopic thymus. Of the other biopsies, nine patients were diagnosed with reactive LAP, four with lymphadenitis, and four with Hodgkin's disease. The lymphoma patients had lymph node size greater than 2.5 cm and the duration of lymphadenopathy was longer than four weeks. Three out of four patients had systemic clinical findings accompanying lymph node enlargement. CONCLUSION: Three percent of the patients with lymphadenopathy who were referred for suspected malignancy received a cancer diagnosis. This rate, which is too low for a reference center, suggested that the patients might be referred to the pediatric oncology outpatient clinic without a thorough evaluation in primary health care.

Does Food Allergy Require Any Change in Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccination?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the allergic reactions that develop after Measles and Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccination, and whether any delay in the timing of vaccination occurs in children with food allergy. METHODS: Children with food allergy who were admitted to the Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital Healthy Child Clinic between 1st January 2015 and 30th June 2018 for Measles or MMR vaccination were studied retrospectively. Their age, delayed days of vaccination, the types of allergic food, the results of the specific IgE and skin tests, and any reaction after the vaccination were recorded. RESULTS: During the study period, 159 patients were vaccinated and 170 doses of Measles or MMR vaccine were administered. Children allergic to egg were 50.3%, allergic to egg and milk were 25.8%, and 13.2% had multiple food allergy including egg. The rate of post-vaccination reactions in the patients with food allergy was 1.76%. Minor reaction was observed in three patients and no anaphylaxis was seen in any patient. Delayed days of vaccination in the patients referred by another center were greater than followed-up by present clinic (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Any serious allergic reaction was not observed in this study. Food allergy does not necessitate modification of routine vaccination. Anaphylaxis may develop in any vaccinated child regardless of whether he/she has food allergy or not. Therefore, vaccines should be administered in a healthcare facility that can treat anaphylaxis.