Medication use in Indian children with asthma: the user's perspective.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite the high prevalence of asthma in children, there has been limited research into patient perception of medication use, particularly in the developing world. This study therefore aimed to carry out an in-depth exploration of the views of carers and children with asthma on asthma medication use. METHODS: Grounded theory approach was used to conduct semistructured qualitative interviews in a purposive convenience sample of parents and children with asthma. The participants were recruited from two specialty hospitals in New Delhi, India. Interviews were tape-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. RESULTS: Twenty children (7-12 years old) with asthma and their parent or carer were interviewed in July 2011. Major reported issues included poor parent and child understanding of disease and medications. Fears, misinformed beliefs and lack of self-management skills were apparent. Child self-image, resistance to medication use and lack of responsibility in medication taking were themes that emerged from child interviews. CONCLUSIONS: This is one of the first research studies exploring the viewpoint of children with asthma about their medications. Resource constraints dictate a pragmatic paternalistic approach by physicians which, in contrast to patients in westernized nations, seems to be acceptable and satisfactory to Indian patients (carers).

Diagnosis of bacterial ventilator-associated pneumonia in children: reproducibility of blind bronchial sampling.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of blind bronchial sampling in patients with suspected diagnosis of bacterial ventilator-associated pneumonia. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care, multidisciplinary, teaching hospital in Northern India. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients on mechanical ventilation for >48 hrs were evaluated clinically for ventilator-associated pneumonia. INTERVENTIONS: Children with clinical ventilator-associated pneumonia were subjected to blind bronchial sampling twice. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sixty-eight blind bronchial sampling samples from 34 patients were analyzed for polymorphonuclear cells, the presence, type, and number of bacteria. Acinetobacter baumannii was the most common organism grown from distal respiratory secretions. For polymorphonuclear cells, the concordance between two blind bronchial samples was 85.3% and kappa coefficient was 0.65. The concordance for the presence and type of bacteria in Gram staining in two samples was 85.3% and kappa coefficient was 0.68. The intraclass coefficients for bacterial index and predominant species index were 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.65-0.91) and 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.78-0.94), respectively. The use of prior antibiotics did not adversely affect the reproducibility of blind bronchial sampling. No major complications were recorded during the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Blind bronchial sampling of lower respiratory tract secretions in mechanically ventilated patients generates reproducible results of quantitative and qualitative cultures. We suggest that blind bronchial sampling may provide valuable clue to the bacterial etiology in ventilated child with suspected clinical ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Pediatric Lung Ultrasound (PLUS) in the diagnosis of Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) requiring hospitalization.

Background: In childhood pneumonia, pediatric lung ultrasound (PLUS) is a very sensitive and specific diagnostic alternative to chest X-ray (CXR). However, there is a paucity of literature on this in India. We set out to compare the diagnostic accuracy of PLUS and CXR in hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Setting and Design: Prospective, observational study (June 2017-September 2019) at a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Hospitalized children of CAP (3 months-18 years) were included after taking informed, written consent. Hemodynamic instability, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital heart disease, immunodeficiency, and malignancy cases were excluded. CXR (frontal view) and PLUS were done within 6 h of each other and within 24 h of hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 25. Results: Out of 612 consecutive, hospitalized respiratory cases, 261 were recruited. CAP was diagnosed clinically in 148 (56.7%) patients [95 boys (64.19%), mean age in years ± SD: 4.31 ± 4.41]. Abnormal PLUS was present in 141 (95.27%) and abnormal CXR in 128 (86.48%) patients. In radiologically diagnosed pneumonia, PLUS was detected in 123 [123/128 (96.09%)] children, and when CXR was normal, PLUS was abnormal in 18 [18/20 (90%)]. PLUS showed a sensitivity of 95.27% (95%CI: 90.50-98.08) and a specificity of 92.90% (95%CI: 86.53-96.89). CXR showed a sensitivity of 86.49% (95%CI: 79.9-91.55) and a specificity of 90.27% (95%CI: 83.25-95.04). Conclusions: PLUS is a sensitive, specific test and can be considered as the preferred investigation before CXR in children hospitalized with CAP.

Severity and Cardiac Involvement in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) occurs secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. A retrospective study, involving 6 tertiary-care centers in Haryana, was conducted to evaluate the clinical features, severity, laboratory findings, and outcomes of patients with MIS-C. Disease severity was graded (mild/moderate/severe) and presence of cardiac abnormalities noted. Patients with and without cardiac abnormalities and with and without severe disease were compared. Forty-eight children with MIS-C were included (median age - 9.5 y). Fever (100%), gastrointestinal (83.3%) and mucocutaneous (50%) symptoms were common. Only 16.7% patients had previous history of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection/contact. Severe disease and cardiac abnormalities were seen in 47.9% and 54.2% patients, respectively. NT-proBNP > 1286.5 pg/mL and thrombocytopenia (≤ 119500/µL) were significant risk factors for severe MIS-C. Forty-five patients (93.8%) recovered and 3 died. Median hospitalization duration was 7 d (5-9.5). MIS-C must be considered as a possibility in any febrile child, even if a positive epidemiological history is absent. High NT-proBNP and thrombocytopenia are significant risk factors for severe MIS-C. (Trial Registration: The study was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI/2021/09/036491)).

Congenital tracheobiliary fistula: a case report with review of literature.

Congenital tracheo-or-bronchobiliary fistula is a rare anomaly. Here, we present a malnourished child with persistent and recurrent respiratory symptoms. Flexible bronchoscopy and imaging studies were carried out to ascertain the diagnosis, anatomy and associated anomalies prior to surgery. Patient underwent successful corrective surgery with complete resolution of symptoms.

Diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in children in resource-limited setting: a comparative study of bronchoscopic and nonbronchoscopic methods.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the available methods for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intubated pediatric patients and to suggest less costly diagnostic method for developing countries. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care, multidisciplinary teaching hospital located in northern India. PATIENTS: All consecutive patients on mechanical ventilation for >48 hrs were evaluated clinically for ventilator-associated pneumonia. INTERVENTIONS: Four diagnostic procedures (tracheal aspiration, blind bronchial sampling, blind bronchoalveolar lavage, and bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage) were performed in the same sequence within 12 hrs of clinical suspicion of ventilator-associated pneumonia. The bacterial density > or =104 colony-forming units/mL in a bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage sample was taken as reference standard. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty patients with 40 episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia were included in the study. Tracheal aspirate at the cutoff of > or =105 colony-forming units/mL was found to have sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 84%, 77%, 87.5%, 73%, and 80%, respectively. For blind bronchial sampling at > or =104 colony-forming units/mL cutoff, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 88%, 82%, 88%, 83%, and 87%, respectively; the most reliable results were obtained with blind bronchoalveolar lavage at the cutoff of > or =103 cfu/mL (sensitivity 96%, specificity 80%, positive predictive value 88%, negative predictive value 92%, and accuracy 90%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of tracheal aspiration, blind bronchial sampling, and blind bronchoalveolar lavage was 0.87 +/- 0.06, 0.89 +/- 0.06, and 0.89 +/- 0.05, respectively. The cost of balloon-tip pressure catheter used for blind bronchoalveolar lavage was INR 1600.00 (US$40) whereas that for blind bronchial sampling was only INR 35.00 (<1 US$). CONCLUSIONS: Blind bronchoalveolar lavage was the most reliable method followed closely by blind bronchial sampling for the diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Considering the difference of the cost in the two procedures, blind bronchial sampling may be the preferred method in the pediatric intensive care unit of a developing country.

Platelet counts and outcome in the pediatric intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Thrombocytopenia is commonly observed in critically ill patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the variation in platelet counts and the risk factors associated with thrombocytopenia and mortality in pediatric intensive care patients. In addition, prognostic value of platelet counts for outcome in pediatric intensive care unit was studied. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort analysis. SETTING: 8- bedded pediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary care teaching hospital. PATIENTS: All consecutively admitted patients (n=138) staying in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for at least 48h over a 7 months period were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thrombocytopenia was defined as platelet counts <150.0/nL. Median 1(st) day Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score (PRISM) was 5 (range 0-30) and median ICU stay was 4 days (range 2-98 days). Twenty five percent patients had at least one episode of thrombocytopenia during the stay. Twenty percent of these patients had thrombocytopenia on admission and rest (80%) developed it during the PICU stay. Seventy one percent (19) of the patients developed thrombocytopenia by fourth day of admission. Patients with PICU acquired thrombocytopenia had statistically significant lower baseline, nadir and 4th day platelet counts and a significantly higher drop in platelet counts (56% vs. 6% P<0.001) as compared to non thrombocytopenic patients. PRISM score, long PICU stay, sepsis, coagulopathy, and creatinine levels were significantly associated with occurrence of thrombocytopenia. Patients with thrombocytopenia had higher probability of bleeding (34% vs. 15%, P=0.01). Higher platelet counts on admission were associated with significantly reduced risk of thrombocytopenia (P=0.00) Baseline, nadir and day-4 platelet counts, presence of thrombocytopenia on admission, sepsis, coagulopathy and a higher mean PRISM score on univariate analysis were significantly associated with mortality. Leucopenia or leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy were found to significantly affect outcome. Drop in platelet counts was found to have slightly higher discriminative value for mortality prediction than PRISM on the ROC curve. The survivors had higher platelet counts throughout the PICU stay and after an initial fall in platelet counts in the PICU showed a significantly higher rise in the platelet counts in the following days than the non-survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombocytopenia is common in PICU. Patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation or with circulatory shock, coagulopathy, sepsis and with more severe disease have higher risk of developing thrombocytopenia. Thrombocytopenic patients have a higher risk of bleeding. Drop in platelet counts >27% and thrombocytopenia were independently related to mortality. Serial measurements of platelet counts are better predictors of pediatric intensive care outcome than one-time values. Any drop in platelet counts even without thrombocytopenia needs an urgent and extensive evaluation.

Advances in Pediatric Critical Care Research in India.

Over last 2 decades, there has been a significant progress made in the field of pediatric critical care in India. There has been complementary and parallel growth in the pediatric critical care services in India and the number of pediatric critical care providers who are either formally trained in India or who have returned to India after their formal training abroad. The pediatric critical care community in India has recognized obvious differences in profiles of critical illnesses and patients between Indian subcontinent and the West. Therefore there is a growing interest in generating scientific evidence through local research which would be applicable to critically ill children in Indian subcontinent. This article focuses on advances in pediatric critical care research in India and its future directions.

Under diagnosis of asthma in school children and its related factors.

A cross-sectional study was carried out on one thousand school children studying in three public schools of Delhi and Haryana between 10 to 17 year age group over the period of one year (2001-02). It aimed in studying under diagnosis of asthma in school children and its related factors. Questionnaires including details of medical, social, environmental factors precipitating asthma were filled by the parents and class teachers. Pulmonary function test (PFT) was performed. Based on questionnaires and PFT results, children were grouped as labeled and unlabeled asthmatics. Cough was found to be equally prevalent in both the groups while wheezing and shortness of breath were independent and significant factors associated with getting a physician diagnosis.

Acute asthma in emergency room.

Acute asthmatic exacerbation is one of the commonest emergencies seen in the pediatric age group. Viral infections are the most important triggers which set up the inflammatory reaction in the bronchial mucosa. GINA 2002 guidelines for assessing the severity and management are very useful for day to day practice. There is evidence to support the view that metered dose inhaler alongwith spaceor with or without mask is as effective as the standard doses of beta-2 agonists given by nebulizer. Ipratrpium bromide adds to the benefits of short acting beta-2 agonists. Systemic steroids should be started early. Early introduction of l/v beta-2 agonists and trial of l/v magnesium sulfate in non-responders have been recently recommended. Intravenous aminophylline can be tried in addition to full dose beta-2 agonists in those who reach the PICU. A close watch on the patient by monitoring clinical parameters, pulse oximeter, arterial blood gases and peak flow rate help in deciding whether there is need to further step up the therapy. Non-conventional measures like ketamine should be tried only under constant monitoring.

Cefpodoxime: pharmacokinetics and therapeutic uses.

Cefpodoxime is a semi-synthetic, third generation cephalosporin. The drug is available for use as a prodrug-Cefpodoxime proxetil, which is absorbed readily from the gut. It reaches adequate levels exceeding the MIC in most of the body fluids. It is excreted by kidneys, unchanged. Dose needs adjustment in compromised renal function. The drug is active against common gram-positive cocci like staphylococci including penicillinase producing strains, streptococci and gram negative bacteria like Hemophilus, E. coli, Klebsiella, Moraxella, Meningococci, Gonococci etc. The drug is useful in common upper and lower respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, and otitis media. The drug is also used in skin and soft tissue infections, urinary tract infection and respiratory tract infection. Cefpodoxime is being used as a step down from parenteral cephalosporin. The recommended dose is 8-10 mg/kg/d in a single or two doses. Different schedules have been given for different infections. The drug is safe, effective as a short course (5 vs. 10 days). With a low incidence of side effects, and twice a day dosing, it proves to be a useful drug.

Endobronchial leiomyoma in an immunocompetent four-year-old female child.

Pulmonary leiomyoma are uncommonly encountered benign mesenchymal neoplasms in children, usually found in immunosuppressed individuals in association with human immunodeficiency virus or Ebstein-Barr virus infection. We describe an interesting case of a 4-year-old immunocompetent girl who presented with pleural effusion and lung collapse secondary to endobronchial leiomyoma. She underwent a left thoracotomy and a left pneumonectomy for excision of the bronchial mass.

Thoracoscopic ligation of thoracic duct for spontaneous chylothorax.

Spontaneous chylothorax, without a predisposing factor is an uncommon cause of pleural effusion beyond the neonatal period. We present a case of left sided spontaneous chylothorax in a 20-month-old boy. We report successful management of this difficult problem with thoracoscopic ligation of thoracic duct after a failed trial with conservative management.

Pediatric Sepsis Guidelines: Summary for resource-limited countries.

JUSTIFICATION: Pediatric sepsis is a commonly encountered global issue. Existing guidelines for sepsis seem to be applicable to the developed countries, and only few articles are published regarding application of these guidelines in the developing countries, especially in resource-limited countries such as India and Africa. PROCESS: An expert representative panel drawn from all over India, under aegis of Intensive Care Chapter of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) met to discuss and draw guidelines for clinical practice and feasibility of delivery of care in the early hours in pediatric patient with sepsis, keeping in view unique patient population and limited availability of equipment and resources. Discussion included issues such as sepsis definitions, rapid cardiopulmonary assessment, feasibility of early aggressive fluid therapy, inotropic support, corticosteriod therapy, early endotracheal intubation and use of positive end expiratory pressure/mechanical ventilation, initial empirical antibiotic therapy, glycemic control, and role of immunoglobulin, blood, and blood products. OBJECTIVE: To achieve a reasonable evidence-based consensus on the basis of published literature and expert opinion to formulating clinical practice guidelines applicable to resource-limited countries such as India. RECOMMENDATIONS: Pediatric sepsis guidelines are presented in text and flow chart format keeping resource limitations in mind for countries such as India and Africa. Levels of evidence are indicated wherever applicable. It is anticipated that once the guidelines are used and outcomes data evaluated, further modifications will be necessary. It is planned to periodically review and revise these guidelines every 3-5 years as new body of evidence accumulates.