Contribution of ultrasound scans in the first episode of urinary tract infection in children.

Background - Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common pediatric urologic disorder. After the first urinary tract infection (UTI), imaging studies are recommended, starting with a renal ultrasound (US) and voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). We propose to determine whether abnormalities found on US can help indicate the necessity of VCUG in children after the first urinary tract infection. Methods - A retrospective study included all children admitted with their first episode of urinary tract infection from January 2007 to December 2012. Results - A total of 311 children were included. The median age was 2.5 years, 72.3% were female. VUR Prevalence was 14%.  Forty-four patients were found to have VUR on VCUG, giving a prevalence of 14%. Of these 44 patients, 11 had grade I reflux, 6 had grade II reflux, 3 had grade III reflux, 15had grade IV reflux, and 9 had grade V reflux. Ultrasound findings were positive for VUR in 43 patients, 19 of them had RVU. Twenty five patients had a normal ultrasound but showed VUR on VCUG (11 had grade I reflux, six grade II reflux, three grade III reflux and five grade IV reflux).  The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in suggesting VUR were 43% and 91%, respectively. The positive predictive value of ultrasound in suggesting VUR was 44%; the negative predictive value was 91%. Conclusion - Renal ultrasound findings are specific for VUR in children with a first UTI, but no sensitive. Clinicians should consider renal ultrasound results to take decision on whether or not to proceed with a VCUG in the investigation of a first episode UTI in young children.

Congenital hypothyroidism presenting with reversible renal impairment: an under-recognised problem?

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism with impairment of renal function and raised creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) is described in adults and children with acquired hypothyroidism, but not in congenital hypothyroidism. CASE PRESENTATION: A male infant born at term weighing 3390 g was seen aged 2 months with prolonged jaundice. Examination showed somnolence, umbilical hernia, enlarged fontanelles and lower limb edema; length 55 cm (-1.5 SD), weight 5.4 kg (-0.13 SD). Biochemistry showed fT4 < 1 pmol/L, TSH = 1044.36 µUI/mL, creatinine 77 µmol/L(normal <35 µmol/L), estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 26 ml/min/1.73 m2, CPK 3952.5 IU/L (normal<400 IU/L). Ultrasound showed no thyroid tissue in the neck. In view of the renal impairment, peritoneal dialysis was initially contemplated but postponed and the child received levothyroxine 10 µg/kg/day. Two months later thyroid function tests, CPK and renal function had all normalized with creatinine 19 µmol/L and GFR 116 ml/min/1.73m2. DISCUSSION: Reversible renal impairment is attributable to severe congenital hypothyroidism causing decreased myocardial contractility and cardiac output and to a direct effect on the kidneys. Thyroid function should be checked in infants with renal impairment of unknown cause. Cautious fluid management is indicated in hypothyroid infants. Hypothyroidism may also be associated with elevated serum CPK levels but resolves with thyroxin therapy.

Validation of the Arabic and Tunisian Arabic version of the KINDL questionnaires for children with diabetes type 1.

AIM: We aimed to validate the Arabic and Tunisian Arabic versions of diabetes- specific quality of life (QOL) instrument KINDL-R Diabetes Module for Tunisian children population with type 1 diabetes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This a cross-sectional study to validate Arabic and Tunisian KINDL QOL instrument that we translate in literary and dialectal Arabic. Both forward and backward translations from the German version of KINDL QOL into Arabic version were performed. Our project received a GPED grant in August 2014. After the face validity of the Arabic version was established, it was then pilot-tested. Finally, the validity and reliability of the final version of the Arabic KINDL questionnaire were evaluated. RESULTS: The KINDL-R Diabetes Module (DM) questionnaire of QOL was given to 212 persons : 108 children (aged 3-17 years) with T1DM and 104 parents. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients of the overall items and the main domains was about 0.7. The mean total score of the KINDL-R DM was 69,56  ± 14,01 in children aged 7-13 years, 59.93± 15.17 in children aged 13-17 years and 56.6± 9.9 in parents (higher scores indicate better QOL). The parents reported lower diabetes-specific HRQOL than the children themselves (p < 0.01).Emotional score was correlated to environment (p = 0,03). Self-esteem was reported to environment (p = 0,02) and mother's instruction level's (p = 0,014). CONCLUSIONS: The KINDL-R Diabetes Module (DM) of QOL in literary and dialectal Arabic have sufficient acceptability, reliability and validity so as to be used for the purposes of a comparative in Tunisian and Arabic populations.