Systematic review finds that fever phobia is a worldwide issue among caregivers and healthcare providers.

AIM: Fever phobia describes exaggerated concerns about the consequences of childhood fever and broader awareness is needed in everyday clinical practice. We investigated the factors associated with fever phobia in caregivers and healthcare providers and the geographical distribution of the issue. METHODS: The National Library of Medicine, Excerpta Medica and Google Scholar databases were searched. RESULTS: We retrieved 76 papers, published in English from 1985 to 2018, which covered wide areas of Asia, Europe, America, Africa and Australia. The occurrence of fever phobia was confirmed in 65 papers covering 26 521 caregivers. A number of factors were significantly associated with fever phobia, including low educational or socioeconomic levels, a history of febrile seizures in the child and young maternal age. Fever phobia was also more common in Bedouins and in people from Latin America, Southern Italy and Turkey. There were also 15 papers that addressed fever phobia among 4566 healthcare providers. All the reports suggested that a fear of fever and a tendency to over treat was common among physicians and nurses. CONCLUSION: Fever phobia was a common world phenomena that affected caregivers and healthcare providers.

Bioimpedance Spectroscopy Imprecisely Assesses Lean Body Mass in Pediatric Dialysis Patients.

OBJECTIVES: Alterations in body compositions are strongly associated with poor outcomes in end-stage renal disease patients. Hence, assessment of lean body mass is crucial for clinically monitoring these patients. The use of multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy measurements has also been advocated, but their usefulness in children is questioned. We investigated whether their application is appropriate for lean body mass measurement in pediatric patients receiving chronic dialysis. METHODS: Lean body mass estimates as assessed by multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy and by deuterium dilution were obtained for 15 patients (mean age 10.9 ±â€Š3.6 years). RESULTS: Lean body mass (mean ±â€Šstandard deviation) determined by bioimpedance was 24.2 ±â€Š10.7 and 24.4 ±â€Š10.3 kg by deuterium technique. Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean (±standard deviation) difference between the 2 methods of -0.25 ±â€Š2.30 kg with 95% limits of agreement of -4.80 to 4.25 kg. In a multiple linear regression model, the hydration status was associated with measurement bias after adjusting for age, sex, weight, and body surface area. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show a high level of agreement between measurements by bioimpedance and deuterium technique, but the limits of agreement were wide. These findings do not support the use of bioimpedance to individually assess lean body mass in pediatric dialysis patients with and without overhydration.

D-lactic acidosis in humans: systematic literature review.

BACKGROUND: D-lactic acidosis is an uncommon and challenging form of metabolic acidosis that may develop in short bowel syndrome. It has been documented exclusively in case reports and small case series. METHODS: We performed a review of the literature in the National Library of Medicine and Excerpta Medica databases. RESULTS: We identified 84 original reports published between 1977 and 2017. D-lactic acidosis was observed in 98 individuals ranging in age from 7 months to 86 years with short bowel syndrome. The clinical presentation included Kussmaul breathing, confusion, slurred speech, and gait disturbances. Furthermore, among 99 consecutive patients with short bowel syndrome, 21 reported having episodes with symptoms consistent with D-lactic acidosis. In addition, D-lactic acid might also contribute to acidosis in diabetes mellitus. Finally, abnormally high D-lactic acid was documented after administration or ingestion of large amounts of propylene glycol, as paraneoplastic phenomenon and perhaps also in a so far poorly characterized inherited inborn error of metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: In humans with short bowel syndrome (or carbohydrate malabsorption), D-lactic acidosis is likely rather common and under-recognized. This condition should be included in the differential diagnosis of unexplained high-gap metabolic acidosis where the anion causing the acidosis is not known. Furthermore, diabetic acidosis might be caused by accumulation of both ketone bodies and D-lactic acid. Finally, there are endogenous sources of D-lactic acid in subjects with propylene glycol intoxication.

Clinical Practice: Nausea and vomiting in acute gastroenteritis: physiopathology and management.

Currently recommended management of acute gastroenteritis is supportive. Although the affected children habitually have vomiting, recommendations do not focus on the correction of this symptom. In this condition, elevated ketone bodies and stimuli initiated by gut mucosa damage produced by the enteral pathogen likely underlay nausea and vomiting. As compared to 0.9% saline, intravenous administration of a dextrose-containing bolus of 0.9% saline is associated with a greater reduction of circulating ketones and a shorter duration of nausea and vomiting. Nonetheless, this treatment strategy is not followed by a lower rate of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Well-designed investigations suggest that antagonists of the type 3 serotonin receptor, most frequently oral ondansetron, reduce the rate of vomiting, improve the tolerance of oral rehydration, and reduce the need for intravenous rehydration. What is Known: • Although children with gastroenteritis habitually have vomiting, current recommendations do not focus on the correction of this symptom. What is New: • Recently acquired evidence supports the prescription of ondansetron, an antagonist of the type 3 serotonin receptor, to increase the success rate of oral rehydration therapy.

Idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (Clarkson syndrome) in childhood: systematic literature review.

Approximately 500 cases of idiopathic systemic capillary leak syndrome (Clarkson syndrome) have been reported worldwide. This life-threatening condition is characterized by episodes of increase in vascular permeability with loss of fluid into the interstitium and presents with acute onset of edema, signs of tissue hypoperfusion, hemoconcentration, and low blood protein level. It has been diagnosed mainly in middle-aged adults with a monoclonal gammopathy. We performed a systematic review of the literature on Clarkson syndrome in subjects ≤ 18 years of age. We identified 24 reports, published since 1989, providing data on 32 otherwise healthy subjects, who experienced 67 well-documented episodes of Clarkson syndrome. The condition affected more frequently girls (21, 66%) than boys, presented throughout childhood, and was preceded by a mostly viral illness in 75% of cases. A monoclonal gammopathy was never reported. Uncompensated circulatory shock, muscle compartment syndrome, acute kidney injury, pulmonary edema, and either pleural or pericardial effusion were, in decreasing order of frequency, the most common complications. Four patients died.Conclusion: Clarkson syndrome develops not only in adulthood but also in childhood. In this age group, this condition is not linked to a monoclonal gammopathy. What is Known: • Clarkson syndrome is a rare condition that has been diagnosed mainly in middle-aged adults and is mostly linked to a monoclonal gammopathy. What is New: • In subjects ≤ 18 years of age, Clarkson syndrome is not linked to a monoclonal gammopathy.

Bioimpedance and Fluid Status in Children and Adolescents Treated With Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of hydration status in patients with chronic kidney failure treated by dialysis is crucial for clinical management decisions. Dilution techniques are considered the gold standard for measurement of body fluid volumes, but they are unfit for day-to-day care. Multifrequency bioimpedance has been shown to be of help in clinical practice in adults and its use in children and adolescents has been advocated. We investigated whether application of multifrequency bioimpedance is appropriate for total-body water (TBW) and extracellular water (ECW) measurement in children and adolescents on dialysis therapy. STUDY DESIGN: A study of diagnostic test accuracy. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 16 young dialysis patients (before a hemodialysis session or after peritoneal dialysis treatment) from the Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy, and the Emma Children's Hospital-Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. INDEX TEST: TBW and ECW volumes assessed by multifrequency bioimpedance. REFERENCE TESTS: TBW and ECW volumes measured by deuterium and bromide dilution, respectively. RESULTS: Mean TBW volumes determined by multifrequency bioimpedance and deuterium dilution were 19.2±8.7 (SD) and 19.3±8.3L, respectively; Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias between the 2 methods of -0.09 (95% limits of agreement, -2.1 to 1.9) L. Mean ECW volumes were 8.9±4.0 and 8.3±3.3L measured by multifrequency bioimpedance and bromide dilution, respectively; mean bias between the 2 ECW measurements was +0.6 (95% limits of agreement, -2.3 to 3.5). LIMITATIONS: Participants ingested the deuterated water at home without direct supervision by investigators, small number of patients, repeated measurements in individual patients were not performed. CONCLUSIONS: Multifrequency bioimpedance measurements were unbiased but imprecise in comparison to dilution techniques. We conclude that multifrequency bioimpedance measurements cannot precisely estimate TBW and ECW in children receiving dialysis.

Acute pain management: acetaminophen and ibuprofen are often under-dosed.

Most children with pain are managed by either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. However, no study has so far investigated if children are prescribed adequate doses of acetaminophen or ibuprofen in emergency department. Aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of under-dosage of these drugs in children presenting with pain in emergency department. Children initially prescribed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain management were included. The χ 2 automatic interaction detection method was used considering the percentage variation from the minimum of the appropriate dose as dependent variable while prescribed drug, age, gender, body weight, type of hospital (pediatric or general), and availability of internal guidelines on pediatric pain management in the emergency department as independent variables. Data on 1471 children managed for pain were available. Under-dosage was prescribed in 893 subjects (61%), of whom 577 were prescribed acetaminophen and 316 ibuprofen. The use of acetaminophen suppositories, body weight <12 kg or >40 kg, and the use of oral ibuprofen identified clusters of children associated with under-dosage prescription. CONCLUSION: Prescription of acetaminophen and ibuprofen was frequently under-dosed. The use of suppositories, lower and higher body weight, and the use of ibuprofen were associated with under-dosage. Under-dosing may reflect prescription of anti-pyretic doses. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco-Observational Study Register (RSO). Registration code: PIERRE/1 What is Known: • Pain is frequent in children presented to emergency department. • International recommendations on pain management are often not implemented. What is New: • Acetaminophen and ibuprofen were frequently underdosed in children prescribed for pain in the Italian emergency departments. • Under-dosage may be related to the habit of using acetaminophen and ibuprofen in the recommended range for fever treatment.

Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), acid-base or H2O homeostasis in children with urinary tract infections: a narrative review.

Guidelines on the diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections in childhood do not address the issue of abnormalities in Na(+), K(+), Cl(-) and acid-base balance. We have conducted a narrative review of the literature with the aim to describe the underlying mechanisms of these abnormalities and to suggest therapeutic maneuvers. Abnormalities in Na(+), K(+), Cl(-) and acid-base balance are common in newborns and infants and uncommon in children of more than 3 years of age. Such abnormalities may result from factitious laboratory results, from signs and symptoms (such as excessive sweating, poor fluid intake, vomiting and passage of loose stools) of the infection itself, from a renal dysfunction, from improper parenteral fluid management or from the prescribed antimicrobials. In addition, two transient renal tubular dysfunctions may occur in infants with infectious renal parenchymal involvement: a reduced capacity to concentrate urine and pseudohypoaldosteronism secondary to renal tubular unresponsiveness to aldosterone that presents with hyponatremia, hyperkalemia and acidosis. In addition to antimicrobials, volume resuscitation with an isotonic solution is required in these children. In secondary pseudohypoaldosteronism, isotonic solutions (such as 0.9 % saline or lactated Ringer) correct not only the volume depletion but also the hyperkalemia and acidosis. In conclusion, our review suggests that in infants with infectious renal parenchymal involvement, non-renal and renal causes concur to cause fluid volume depletion and abnormalities in electrolyte and acid-base balance, most frequently hyponatremia.

Micro- and macroscopic hematuria caused by renal vein entrapment: systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Hematuria secondary to renal vein entrapment is mentioned only passing in textbooks and reviews. METHODS: We performed a search of the National Library of Medicine database for peer-reviewed publications using the terms "renal vein" or "nutcracker" and "hematuria". RESULTS: We identified 187 published reports/studies that covered 736 patients, of whom 288 had microscopic hematuria and 448 had macroscopic hematuria. The patient cohort comprised 159 patients aged ≤17 years. Abdominal pain was absent in approximately 65% of all patients, and a clinically relevant left-sided varicocele was observed in 29% of the male patients. A normal pre-aortic left renal vein and an anomalous anatomy were noted in 680 and 56 patients, respectively. The body mass index (BMI) was lower in patients with renal vein entrapment than in the controls, with a regression of hematuria correlating with an increase in BMI. A surgical procedure was attempted in 34% of the patients, of which the most common were endovascular stenting and transposition of the renal vein distally into the vena cava. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of unexplained hematuria with or without abdominal pain, clinicians should consider the diagnosis of renal vein congestion, especially in males with varicocele. Ultrasonic Doppler flow scanning is the recommended initial diagnostic modality in these patients. Expectation management is advised in the great majority of cases.

Using a high-flow nasal cannula provided superior results to low-flow oxygen delivery in moderate to severe bronchiolitis.

AIM: An observational study was carried out on infants with moderate to severe bronchiolitis to compare the clinical outcomes following treatment with a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or standard low-flow oxygen. METHODS: We enrolled subjects below 12 months of age who were affected by their first bronchiolitis episode. Non-formal randomisation, based on HFNC availability, was used to assign subjects to either the HFNC or standard oxygen groups. Respiratory rate, respiratory effort and the ability to feed were compared between the two groups at enrolment and at regular time points. The oxygen requirements and the length of hospital stay were also analysed. RESULTS: Overall, 36 of the 40 enrolled infants completed the study: 18 treated with HFNC (mean age 3.2 months, range 1.2-5.4 months) and 18 with low-flow oxygen delivery (mean age 3.6 months, range 1.3-5.0 months). Improvements in the respiratory rate, respiratory effort and ability to feed were significantly faster in the HFNC group than the low-flow oxygen group. The HNFC group needed oxygen supplementation for two days less than the other group and hospital stays were three days shorter. CONCLUSION: HFNC provided superior clinical outcomes for infants under 12 months with moderate-to-severe bronchiolitis compared to low-flow oxygen.

Electrolyte abnormalities in cystic fibrosis: systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis per se can sometimes lead to hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia or hyperbicarbonatemia. This tendency was first documented 60 years ago and has subsequently been confirmed in single case reports or small case series, most of which were retrospective. However, this issue has not been addressed analytically. We have therefore systematically reviewed and analyzed the available literature on this subject. METHODS: This was a systematic review of the literature. RESULTS: The reports included in this review cover 172 subacute and 90 chronic cases of electrolyte imbalances in patients with cystic fibrosis. The male:female ratio was 1.57. Electrolyte abnormalities were mostly associated with clinically inapparent fluid volume depletion, mainly affected patients aged ≤2.5 years, frequently tended to recur and often were found before the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis was established. Subacute presentation often included an history of heat exposure, vomiting, excessive sweating and pulmonary infection. History of chronic presentation, in contrast, was often inconspicuous. The tendency to hypochloremia, hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis was similar between subacute and chronic patients, with hyponatremia being more pronounced (P < 0.02) in subacute compared to chronic presentations. Subacute cases were treated parenterally; chronic ones were usually managed with oral salt supplementation. Retention of urea and creatinine was documented in 38 % of subacute cases. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of our review suggest that physicians should be aware that electrolyte abnormalities can occur both as a presenting and a recurring feature of cystic fibrosis.

Clinical dehydration and glomerular filtration rate in acute paediatric gastroenteritis.

AIM: To evaluate changes in glomerular filtration rate in acute gastroenteritis. METHODS: The correlation between two clinical diagnostic scales and glomerular filtration rate has been investigated in 113 children with acute gastroenteritis in a paediatric emergency setting. RESULTS: A significant reduction of GFR was found in 10% children less than, and 5% children higher than, 2 years of age with acute gastroenteritis. CONCLUSION: The differences observed as for risk of renal hypoperfusion suggests to consider the age of children as an important determinant to consider the dehydration status in acute gastroenteritis.

A Comparative Study of Febrile Seizures and Febrile Convulsions Associated With Mild Gastroenteritis.

BACKGROUND: Children presenting with complex febrile seizures (FS) have an increased risk of developing epilepsy. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of complex seizures in children presenting with FS and those with both convulsions associated with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) and fever. METHODS: Children admitted to our Pediatric Emergency Department between January 2017 and April 2019 with seizures were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients were grouped according to the etiology as FS and febrile CwG. FS classification criteria of simple FS and complex FS was applied to both groups to allow a comparison between them. Prevalence ratios (PRs) of complex seizures, estimated through a log binomial model, were used to compare the occurrence of complex seizures between the two groups, using the FS group as reference category. RESULTS: A total of 294 patients were enrolled: 231 with FS and 63 with febrile CwG. Complex seizures occurred in 31 patients with FS (13.4%) and 21 patients (33.3%) with febrile CwG. The PR of complex seizures was 2.48 (95% confidence interval, 1.54 to 4.01). CONCLUSIONS: Children with febrile CwG showed a higher rate of complex seizures when compared with those with FS.

Renal vein obstruction and orthostatic proteinuria: a review.

OBJECTIVES: The cause of orthostatic proteinuria is not clear but may often relate to obstruction of the left renal vein in the fork between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery (=renal nutcracker). However, reports dealing with proteinuria only marginally refer to this possible cause of orthostatic proteinuria. We analysed the corresponding literature. RESULTS: Five reports addressed the frequency of renal nutcracker in 229 subjects with orthostatic proteinuria. Their age ranged between 5.2 and 17 years (female-to-male ratio: 0.96:1.00). Imaging studies demonstrated renal nutcracker in 156 (68%) subjects. Renal nutcracker was also demonstrated in 9 anecdotal reports for a total of 53 subjects with postural proteinuria. Very recently, 13 Italian subjects with orthostatic proteinuria associated with renal nutcracker were reassessed 6 years after the initial diagnosis: in nine subjects, both orthostatic proteinuria and renal nutcracker had disappeared; in three, both orthostatic proteinuria and renal nutcracker had persisted; and in one, orthostatic proteinuria had persisted unassociated with renal nutcracker. CONCLUSIONS: These data provide substantial support for renal nutcracker as a common cause of orthostatic proteinuria.

Postural proteinuria associated with left renal vein entrapment: a follow-up evaluation.

Imaging studies show entrapment of the left renal vein in the fork between the aorta and proximal superior mesenteric artery in most cases of isolated postural proteinuria. Therefore, it has been postulated that partial obstruction to the flow in the left renal vein in the upright position is a cause of this form of proteinuria. In a girl with isolated postural proteinuria, kidney ultrasonic imaging and Doppler flow scanning showed left renal vein entrapment. Seven years later, a new evaluation showed resolution of both postural proteinuria and left renal vein entrapment. The longitudinal observation provides substantial additional support for entrapment of the left renal vein by the aorta and superior mesenteric artery as a cause of isolated postural proteinuria.

Superior palatability of crushed lercanidipine compared with amlodipine among children.

AIMS: To compare the taste of equivalent doses of pulverized amlodipine and lercanidipine, two calcium channel blockers, among children with kidney disease. METHODS: Each child received a test dose of 1 mg of amlodipine besylate and 2 mg of lercanidipine in a single-blinded fashion. Children indicated their preference by pointing to the appropriate face on a visual analogue scale (VAS) that depicts five degrees of pleasure. RESULTS: The VAS palatability score assigned to lercanidipine was higher than that assigned to amlodipine both in nine children 4-7 years of age (P < 0.005) and in 10 children 8-11 years of age (P < 0.005). The preference for lercanidipine was statistically significant in both girls (P < 0.02) and boys (P < 0.001) and in both children initially presented amlodipine (P < 0.005) and children initially presented lercanidipine (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of appropriate formulations for children prescribed drugs originally designed for adults, such as calcium channel blockers. Parents therefore crush available tablets and administer the medication mixed with solid food or a palatable drink. From the perspective of the child, the taste of pulverized lercanidipine is superior to that of pulverized amlodipine.

Extrarenal Immune-Mediated Disorders Linked with Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis: a Systematic Review.

Streptococcus A infections have been associated with immune-mediated sequelae including acute glomerulonephritis, acute rheumatic fever, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, arthritis, uveitis, guttate psoriasis, and erythema nodosum. Available reviews do not report the occurrence of acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis in association with one of the mentioned conditions. We performed a systematic review of the literature on extrarenal immune-mediated disorders associated with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. The principles recommended by the Economic and Social Research Council guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis and on the Preferred Reporting Items for Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews were used. We identified 41 original articles, published after 1965, which reported on 52 patients (34 males and 18 females aged from 1.7 to 57 years, median 9) affected by acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis associated with a further poststreptococcal disease: 29 cases with rheumatic fever (17 males and 12 females aged 3.0 to 57, median 17 years), 16 with hematologic diseases such as thrombocytopenia or hemolytic anemia (13 males and 3 females aged 1.8 to 13, median 6.0 years) and seven with Henoch-Schönlein syndrome, reactive arthritis or uveitis (4 males and 3 females aged 1.7 to 14, median 7.0 years). Patients affected by acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis associated with acute rheumatic fever were on the average older (P < 0.05) than patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis associated with thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, Henoch-Schönlein syndrome, reactive arthritis or uveitis. Five large case series describing 2058 patients affected by acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis did not mention its occurrence in association with further immune-mediated disorders. This systematic review points out that acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis can be associated, albeit rarely, with rheumatic fever, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, Henoch-Schönlein syndrome, reactive arthritis, or uveitis.