Sepsis in Children in Latin America: Gaps, Inequities, and Improvement Strategies.

ABSTRACT: Pediatric sepsis is a worldwide public health issue because of its high mortality rate, which increases even more in low-income countries. In this article, we review the Latin American background, the burdens of pediatric sepsis in Latin America, and the Caribbean, as well as some strategies that could help improve the outcomes of sepsis in these regions from a public health view.

P-COSCA (Pediatric Core Outcome Set for Cardiac Arrest) in Children: An Advisory Statement From the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation.

Studies of pediatric cardiac arrest use inconsistent outcomes, including return of spontaneous circulation and short-term survival, and basic assessments of functional and neurological status. In 2018, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation sponsored the COSCA initiative (Core Outcome Set After Cardiac Arrest) to improve consistency in reported outcomes of clinical trials of adult cardiac arrest survivors and supported this P-COSCA initiative (Pediatric COSCA). The P-COSCA Steering Committee generated a list of potential survival, life impact, and economic impact outcomes and assessment time points that were prioritized by a multidisciplinary group of healthcare providers, researchers, and parents/caregivers of children who survived cardiac arrest. Then expert panel discussions achieved consensus on the core outcomes, the methods to measure those core outcomes, and the timing of the measurements. The P-COSCA includes assessment of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills. Survival and brain function are assessed at discharge or 30 days (or both if possible) and between 6 and 12 months after arrest. Cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed between 6 and 12 months after cardiac arrest. Because many children have prearrest comorbidities, the P-COSCA also includes documentation of baseline (ie, prearrest) brain function and calculation of changes after cardiac arrest. Supplementary outcomes of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed at 3 months and beyond 1 year after cardiac arrest if resources are available.

[Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: first case report in Peru]. / Linfangiectasia intestinal primaria: primer reporte de caso en Perú.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare clinical condition of unknown etiology. The common age of presentation is during the first 3 years of life, but cases in adults have also been reported. It has a variable symptomatology, but the main clinical manifestation is edema, also diarrhea and weight loss can occur. The loss of lymph fluid into the gastrointestinal tract also leads to hypoproteinemia and lymphopenia. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, laboratory and endoscopic findings, and is confirmed on histopathological examination of biopsy. The main treatment is a protein rich, low in fat and medium chain triglyceride diet. We present the case of a 1-year-old male patient who presents with generalized edema, predominantly in lower limbs, and diarrhea. Laboratory findings show the presence of marked hypoproteinemia. Then an endoscopy and a duodenal biopsy are performed, and the histopathological study confirms the diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. The patient is treated and after a satisfactory evolution, is discharged.

Predicting mortality in pulmonary tuberculosis: A systematic review of prognostic models.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary tuberculosis is a highly prevalent disease in low-income countries; clinical prediction tools allow healthcare personnel to catalog patients with a higher risk of death in order to prioritize medical attention. METHODOLOGY: We conducted a literature search on prognostic models aimed to predict mortality in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. We included prospective and retrospective studies where prognostic models predicting mortality were either developed or validated in patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Three reviewers independently assessed the quality of the included studies using the PROBAST tool (Prediction model study Risk of Bias Assessment Tool). A narrative review of the characteristics of each model was conducted. RESULTS: Six articles (n = 3553 patients) containing six prediction models were included in the review. Most studies (5 out of 6) were retrospective cohorts, only one study was a prospective case-control study. All the studies had a high risk of bias according to the PROBAST tool in the overall assessment. Regarding the applicability of the prediction models, three studies had a low concern of applicability, two high concern and one unclear concern. Five studies developed new prediction rules. In general, the presented models had a good discriminatory ability, with areas under the curve fluctuating between 0.65 up to 0.91. CONCLUSION: None of the prognostic models included in the review accurately predict mortality in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, due to great heterogeneity in the population and a high risk of bias.

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: How to protect the lungs during mechanical ventilation?

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is a frequent diagnosis in critical care. This inflammatory process has different stages characterized by mild-to-severe hypoxia, and the management will vary according to the severity. New definitions for pediatric patients were published in 2015; new epidemiological evidence revising those definitions has helped understand the mortality associated with PARDS and the impact on ventilation. The strategies to protect the lungs during mechanical ventilation have been successful in reducing mortality and complications. In clinical situations where high levels of critical support are limited, other therapies with a lower level of evidence can be attempted to gain time without worsening the ongoing pulmonary injury. We offer a complete narrative revision of this syndrome, with the critical management of these patients as a priority.

El síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda pediátrica (SDRAP) es un diagnóstico frecuente en cuidados intensivos. Este proceso inflamatorio se caracteriza por diferentes grados de hipoxia, de leve a grave, y el manejo varía de acuerdo con la gravedad. En 2015 se publicaron nuevas definiciones para pacientes pediátricos, así como nueva evidencia epidemiológica, que toma como punto de partida dichas definiciones, lo cual ha ayudado a entender la mortalidad asociada y el impacto del manejo ventilatorio con respecto a la morbilidad en este síndrome. Las estrategias que protegen los pulmones durante la ventilación mecánica han sido exitosas en reducir la mortalidad y las complicaciones subsecuentes. En situaciones en las que existen limitaciones que impiden suministrar altos niveles de soporte crítico se pueden implementar otras medidas de menor evidencia para ganar tiempo e impedir que se extiendan las lesiones pulmonares. A continuación, se ofrece una revisión narrativa completa de este síndrome, con un enfoque que prioriza el manejo crítico de estos pacientes.

[Latin American Consensus on Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. An Executive Summary from the CPR Committee, Latin American Society of Pediatric Intensive Care (SLACIP)]. / Consenso de Reanimación Cardiopulmonar Pediátrica del Comité de RCP de la Sociedad Latinoamericana de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos (SLACIP). Resumen Ejecutivo.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a critical procedure with potential consequences over futu re vitality and functionality in survivors. In this document, we present a pragmatic and regional point of view on diagnosis, management, and prognostication in pediatric CPR developed by the Com mittee on CPR of the Latin American Society of Pediatric Intensive Care (SLACIP). We have chosen the main CPR topics with the aim of contribute for a better prevention and management of CPR, standardize the management of the post-cardiac arrest syndrome and neuro-prognostication, and identify opportunities for regional research. We have followed the Executive Summary published in 2020 by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, ILCOR, adapted it to our reality, and developed this narrative review of pediatric CPR with the contribution of Latin American experts.

P-COSCA (Pediatric Core Outcome Set for Cardiac Arrest) in Children: An Advisory Statement From the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation.

Studies of pediatric cardiac arrest use inconsistent outcomes, including return of spontaneous circulation and short-term survival, and basic assessments of functional and neurological status. In 2018, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation sponsored the COSCA initiative (Core Outcome Set After Cardiac Arrest) to improve consistency in reported outcomes of clinical trials of adult cardiac arrest survivors and supported this P-COSCA initiative (Pediatric COSCA). The P-COSCA Steering Committee generated a list of potential survival, life impact, and economic impact outcomes and assessment time points that were prioritized by a multidisciplinary group of healthcare providers, researchers, and parents/caregivers of children who survived cardiac arrest. Then expert panel discussions achieved consensus on the core outcomes, the methods to measure those core outcomes, and the timing of the measurements. The P-COSCA includes assessment of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills. Survival and brain function are assessed at discharge or 30 days (or both if possible) and between 6 and 12 months after arrest. Cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed between 6 and 12 months after cardiac arrest. Because many children have prearrest comorbidities, the P-COSCA also includes documentation of baseline (ie, prearrest) brain function and calculation of changes after cardiac arrest. Supplementary outcomes of survival, brain function, cognitive function, physical function, and basic daily life skills are assessed at 3 months and beyond 1 year after cardiac arrest if resources are available.

Chest compression components (rate, depth, chest wall recoil and leaning): A scoping review.

AIM: To understand whether the science to date has focused on single or multiple chest compression components and identify the evidence related to chest compression components to determine the need for a full systematic review. METHODS: This review was undertaken by members of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation and guided by a specific methodological framework and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were peer-reviewed human studies that examined the effect of different chest compression depths or rates, or chest wall or leaning, on physiological or clinical outcomes. The databases searched were MEDLINE complete, Embase, and Cochrane. RESULTS: Twenty-two clinical studies were included in this review: five observational studies involving 879 patients examined both chest compression rate and depth; eight studies involving 14,285 patients examined chest compression rate only; seven studies involving 12001 patients examined chest compression depth only, and two studies involving 1848 patients examined chest wall recoil. No studies were identified that examined chest wall leaning. Three studies reported an inverse relationship between chest compression rate and depth. CONCLUSION: This scoping review did not identify sufficient new evidence that would justify conducting new systematic reviews or reconsideration of current resuscitation guidelines. This scoping review does highlight significant gaps in the research evidence related to chest compression components, namely a lack of high-level evidence, paucity of studies of in-hospital cardiac arrest, and failure to account for the possibility of interactions between chest compression components.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of whooping cough in hospitalized patients of a tertiary care hospital in Peru. / Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de tos ferina en pacientes hospitalizados en un hospital de tercer nivel de Perú.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients under 2 years of age hospitalized with whooping cough in a tertiary care children's hospital in Peru. METHODS: This was a case series of patients under 2 years of age who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of whooping cough in 2012. RESULTS: A total of 121 patients were hospitalized. Diagnostic testing (direct immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction, culture) was carried out in 53.72% of patients. Overall, 23.15% (n = 28) were confirmed cases, all of whom were patients less than 10 months old, and none of whom had received 3 doses of whooping cough vaccine. A total of 96.43% (n = 27) of cases were under 6 months of age, 42.86% (n = 12) were younger than 3 months, and 10.71% (n = 3) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Of these cases, all were younger than 2 months old, and one patient died. The most common symptoms in the confirmed cases were coughing (96.43%), facial redness (96.43%), paroxysmal coughing (92.86%), and coughing-related cyanosis (78.57%). The most frequent probable epidemiological contact was the mother (17.86%), and the majority of cases occurred in the summer (46.43%). CONCLUSION: Whooping cough is a cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in those younger than 6 months of age and in those who are not immunized or only partially immunized. Vaccination rates should be improved and case confirmation encouraged to prevent the underdiagnosis of this disease.

OBJETIVO: Describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes menores de 2 años hospitalizados con el diagnóstico de tos ferina en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel de Perú. MÉTODOS: Serie de casos de pacientes menores de 2 años hospitalizados con diagnóstico de tos ferina durante el año 2012. RESULTADOS: Fueron hospitalizados 121 pacientes. Se realizaron pruebas para confirmar el diagnóstico (inmunofluorescencia directa, reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, cultivo) al 53,72%. El 23,15% (n = 28) fueron casos confirmados, todos menores de 10 meses, ninguno había recibido 3 dosis de la vacuna contra pertussis, el 96,43% (n = 27) de ellos fueron menores de 6 meses y 42,86% (n = 12) menores de 3 meses; un 10,71% (n = 3) ingresaron a unidad de cuidados intensivos, todos menores de 2 meses, uno de los cuales falleció. Los síntomas más frecuentes en los casos confirmados fueron tos (96,43%), rubicundez facial (96,43%), tos paroxística (92,86%) y cianosis asociada a la tos (78,57%); el contacto epidemiológico probable más frecuente fue la madre (17,86%) y la mayoría de casos se presentaron en verano (46,43%). CONCLUSIÓN: La tos ferina es causa de morbimortalidad sobre todo en los menores de 6 meses de edad y en los no inmunizados o parcialmente inmunizados. Se deben mejorar las tasas de vacunación y fomentar la confirmación de casos para no contribuir al infradiagnóstico de esta enfermedad.

Risk factors for extubation failure in the intensive care unit. / Factores de riesgo para fracaso en la extubación en la unidad de cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors for extubation failure in the intensive care unit. METHODS: The present case-control study was conducted in an intensive care unit. Failed extubations were used as cases, while successful extubations were used as controls. Extubation failure was defined as reintubation being required within the first 48 hours of extubation. RESULTS: Out of a total of 956 patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit, 826 were subjected to mechanical ventilation (86%). There were 30 failed extubations and 120 successful extubations. The proportion of failed extubations was 5.32%. The risk factors found for failed extubations were a prolonged length of mechanical ventilation of greater than 7 days (OR = 3.84, 95%CI = 1.01 - 14.56, p = 0.04), time in the intensive care unit (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.00 - 1.09, p = 0.03) and the use of sedatives for longer than 5 days (OR = 4.81, 95%CI = 1.28 - 18.02; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients on mechanical ventilation were at greater risk of failed extubation if they spent more time in the intensive care unit and if they were subjected to prolonged mechanical ventilation (longer than 7 days) or greater amounts of sedative use.

OBJETIVO: Determinar los factores de riesgo para fracaso en la extubación en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. MÉTODOS: El presente estudio de casos y controles se llevó a cabo en la unidad de cuidados intensivos. Se tomó como casos a las extubaciones fallidas y como controles a las extubaciones exitosas. El fracaso de la extubación se definió como la reintubación dentro de las primeras 48 horas. RESULTADOS: De un total de 956 pacientes que fueron admitidos en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, 826 fueron sometidos a ventilación mecánica (86%). Se presentaron 30 extubaciones fallidas y 120 extubaciones exitosas. La proporción de extubaciones fallidas fue de 5,32%. Los factores de riesgo encontrados para extubaciones fallidas fueron la estancia prolongada de ventilación mecánica mayor a 7 días (OR = 3,84; IC95% = 1,01 - 14,56; p = 0,04), el tiempo en unidad de cuidados intensivos (OR = 1,04; IC95% = 1,00 - 1,09; p = 0,03) y el uso de sedantes mayor a 5 días (OR = 4,81; IC95% = 1,28 - 18,02; p = 0,02). CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes pediátricos en ventilación mecánica tienen más riesgo de presentar extubaciones fallidas si permanecen mayor tiempo en unidad de cuidados intensivos, si están sometidos a tiempo prolongado de ventilación mecánica mayor de 7 días y al uso de sedantes.

Factors associated with hemoglobin levels in children under 6 months of age hospitalized in a pediatric center in Peru / Factores asociados a los niveles de hemoglobina en niños menores de 6 meses de edad hospitalizados en un centro pediátrico de Perú

Introduction: Anemia is a condition in which there is a low concentration of hemoglobin (Hb) levels. Although many causes of anemia have been identified, there are few studies in which they are related to epidemiological factors in the first months of life.  Objective: To determine the factors associated with hemoglobin levels in children under 6 months of age hospitalized in a specialized pediatric center in Peru. Methods: To determine the factors associated with hemoglobin levels in children under 6 months of age hospitalized in a specialized pediatric center in Peru. Results: 61.4% of the infants were women, and only 6.7% of the proportion of the studied population was less than 1 month old. 6.7% had a low birth weight, and 53.2% had a normal delivery. The level of anemia in hospitalized children under 6 months of age is 66.7%. Conclusions: The factors associated with hemoglobin levels were age, nutritional status, weight for length, and hospital causes. Likewise, an association was found between age and the median Hb in boys and girls aged 0 to 5 months.

Introducción: La anemia es una condición en la cual hay una baja concentración de los niveles de hemoglobina (Hb). Si bien se ha identificado muchas causas de la anemia, existen pocos estudios en los cuales se relacionan con factores epidemiológicos en los primeros meses de vida. Objetivo: Determinar los factores asociados a los niveles de hemoglobina en niños menores de 6 meses de edad hospitalizados en un centro pediátrico especializado de Perú. Métodos: Estudio analítico, transversal en niños menores de 6 meses de edad hospitalizados en los servicios de medicina de un centro pediátrico durante el año 2017, se revisaron 267 historias clínicas dándose énfasis en características clínicas y epidemiológicas. Resultados: El 61,4% de los lactantes eran mujeres, y solo un 6,7% de la proporción de la población estudiada presentaba menos de 1 mes. El 6,7% tuvieron baso peso al nacer, y el 53,2% tuvo un parto eutócico. El nivel de anemia en niños menores de 6 meses de edad hospitalizados es del 66,7%. Conclusion: Los factores asociados a los niveles de hemoglobina fueron  edad, estado nutricional de peso para la longitud y causas hospitalarias. Asimismo, se encontró asociación entre la edad con la mediana de Hb en los niños y niñas de 0 a 5 meses.

Glycemia upon admission and mortality in a pediatric intensive care unit. / Glicemia na admissão e mortalidade em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association between glycemia levels upon pediatric intensive care unit admission and mortality in patients hospitalized. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of pediatric intensive care unit patients admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño between 2012 and 2013. A Poisson regression model with robust variance was used to quantify the association. Diagnostic test performance evaluation was used to describe the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratios for each range of glycemia. RESULTS: In total, 552 patients were included (median age 23 months, age range 5 months to 79.8 months). The mean glycemia level upon admission was 121.3mg/dL (6.73mmol/L). Ninety-two (16.6%) patients died during hospitalization. In multivariable analyses, significant associations were found between glycemia < 65mg/dL (3.61mmol/L) (RR: 2.01, 95%CI 1.14 - 3.53), glycemia > 200mg/dL (> 11.1mmol/L) (RR: 2.91, 95%CI 1.71 - 4.55), malnutrition (RR: 1.53, 95%CI 1.04 - 2.25), mechanical ventilation (RR: 3.71, 95%CI 1.17 - 11.76) and mortality at discharge. There was low sensitivity (between 17.39% and 39.13%) and high specificity (between 49.13% and 91.74%) for different glucose cut-off levels. CONCLUSION: There was an increased risk of death at discharge in patients who developed hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia upon admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. Certain glucose ranges (> 200mg/dL (> 11.1mmol/L) and < 65mg/dL (3.61mmol/L)) have high specificity as predictors of death at discharge.

OBJETIVOS: Analisar a associação entre os níveis glicêmicos quando da admissão dos pacientes à unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica e a mortalidade entre pacientes hospitalizados. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de coorte conduzido em pacientes de uma unidade de terapia intensiva, admitidos ao Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño entre 2012 e 2013. Utilizou-se um modelo de regressão de Poisson com variância robusta para qualificar a associação. Foi feita avaliação do desempenho do exame diagnóstico, para descrever sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo positivo, valor preditivo negativo e razão de verossimilhança para cada faixa de glicemia. RESULTADOS: Incluíram-se no total 552 pacientes (idade mediana de 23 meses; faixa de variação entre 5 meses e 79,8 meses). O nível glicêmico médio quando da admissão foi de 121,3mg/dL (6,73mmol/L). Faleceram durante a hospitalização 92 (16,6%) pacientes. Na análise multivariada, encontraram-se associações significantes entre glicemia < 65mg/dL (3,61mmol/L) (RR: 2,01; IC95% 1,14 - 3,53), glicemia > 200mg/dL (> 11,1mmol/L) (RR: 2,91; IC95% 1,71 - 4,55), desnutrição (RR: 1,53, IC95% 1,04 - 2,25), ventilação mecânica (RR: 3,71, IC95% 1,17 - 11,76) e mortalidade durante a hospitalização. Ocorreram baixa sensibilidade (entre 17,39% e 39,13%) e alta especificidade (entre 49,13% e 91,74%) para diferentes níveis glicêmicos de corte. CONCLUSÃO: Ocorreu maior risco de óbito entre os pacientes que desenvolveram hipoglicemia e hiperglicemia por ocasião da admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica. Certas faixas de glicemia (> 200mg/dL (> 11,1mmol/L) e < 65mg/dL (3,61mmol/L)) tiveram uma alta especificidade como preditores de óbito.

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome: How to protect the lungs during mechanical ventilation? / Síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda pediátrica: ¿cómo proteger los pulmones durante la ventilación mecánica?

Abstract Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is a frequent diagnosis in critical care. This inflammatory process has different stages characterized by mild-to-severe hypoxia, and the management will vary according to the severity. New definitions for pediatric patients were published in 2015; new epidemiological evidence revising those definitions has helped understand the mortality associated with PARDS and the impact on ventilation. The strategies to protect the lungs during mechanical ventilation have been successful in reducing mortality and complications. In clinical situations where high levels of critical support are limited, other therapies with a lower level of evidence can be attempted to gain time without worsening the ongoing pulmonary injury. We offer a complete narrative revision of this syndrome, with the critical management of these patients as a priority.

Resumen El síndrome de dificultad respiratoria aguda pediátrica (SDRAP) es un diagnóstico frecuente en cuidados intensivos. Este proceso inflamatorio se caracteriza por diferentes grados de hipoxia, de leve a grave, y el manejo varía de acuerdo con la gravedad. En 2015 se publicaron nuevas definiciones para pacientes pediátricos, así como nueva evidencia epidemiológica, que toma como punto de partida dichas definiciones, lo cual ha ayudado a entender la mortalidad asociada y el impacto del manejo ventilatorio con respecto a la morbilidad en este síndrome. Las estrategias que protegen los pulmones durante la ventilación mecánica han sido exitosas en reducir la mortalidad y las complicaciones subsecuentes. En situaciones en las que existen limitaciones que impiden suministrar altos niveles de soporte crítico se pueden implementar otras medidas de menor evidencia para ganar tiempo e impedir que se extiendan las lesiones pulmonares. A continuación, se ofrece una revisión narrativa completa de este síndrome, con un enfoque que prioriza el manejo crítico de estos pacientes.

Possible vertical transmission of Bartonella bacilliformis in Peru.

A 22-day-old male was admitted with a 2-day history of irritability, dyspnea, jaundice, fever, and gastrointestinal bleeding. A thin blood smear was performed, which showed the presence of intraerythrocyte bacteria identified as Bartonella bacilliformis, and subsequently, the child was diagnosed with Carrion's disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by specific polymerase chain reaction. The child was born in a non-endemic B. bacilliformis area and had not traveled to such an area before hospitalization. However, the mother was from an endemic B. bacilliformis area, and posterior physical examination showed the presence of a wart compatible with B. bacilliformis in semi-immune subjects. These data support vertical transmission of B. bacilliformis.

Características clínicas y epidemiológicas de tos ferina en pacientes hospitalizados en un hospital de tercer nivel de Perú / Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of whooping cough in hospitalized patients of a tertiary care hospital in Peru

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas y epidemiológicas de los pacientes menores de 2 años hospitalizados con el diagnóstico de tos ferina en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel de Perú. Métodos: Serie de casos de pacientes menores de 2 años hospitalizados con diagnóstico de tos ferina durante el año 2012. Resultados: Fueron hospitalizados 121 pacientes. Se realizaron pruebas para confirmar el diagnóstico (inmunofluorescencia directa, reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, cultivo) al 53,72%. El 23,15% (n = 28) fueron casos confirmados, todos menores de 10 meses, ninguno había recibido 3 dosis de la vacuna contra pertussis, el 96,43% (n = 27) de ellos fueron menores de 6 meses y 42,86% (n = 12) menores de 3 meses; un 10,71% (n = 3) ingresaron a unidad de cuidados intensivos, todos menores de 2 meses, uno de los cuales falleció. Los síntomas más frecuentes en los casos confirmados fueron tos (96,43%), rubicundez facial (96,43%), tos paroxística (92,86%) y cianosis asociada a la tos (78,57%); el contacto epidemiológico probable más frecuente fue la madre (17,86%) y la mayoría de casos se presentaron en verano (46,43%). Conclusión: La tos ferina es causa de morbimortalidad sobre todo en los menores de 6 meses de edad y en los no inmunizados o parcialmente inmunizados. Se deben mejorar las tasas de vacunación y fomentar la confirmación de casos para no contribuir al infradiagnóstico de esta enfermedad.

ABSTRACT Objective: Describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients under 2 years of age hospitalized with whooping cough in a tertiary care children's hospital in Peru. Methods: This was a case series of patients under 2 years of age who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of whooping cough in 2012. Results: A total of 121 patients were hospitalized. Diagnostic testing (direct immunofluorescence, polymerase chain reaction, culture) was carried out in 53.72% of patients. Overall, 23.15% (n = 28) were confirmed cases, all of whom were patients less than 10 months old, and none of whom had received 3 doses of whooping cough vaccine. A total of 96.43% (n = 27) of cases were under 6 months of age, 42.86% (n = 12) were younger than 3 months, and 10.71% (n = 3) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Of these cases, all were younger than 2 months old, and one patient died. The most common symptoms in the confirmed cases were coughing (96.43%), facial redness (96.43%), paroxysmal coughing (92.86%), and coughing-related cyanosis (78.57%). The most frequent probable epidemiological contact was the mother (17.86%), and the majority of cases occurred in the summer (46.43%). Conclusion: Whooping cough is a cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in those younger than 6 months of age and in those who are not immunized or only partially immunized. Vaccination rates should be improved and case confirmation encouraged to prevent the underdiagnosis of this disease.

Linfangiectasia intestinal primaria: primer reporte de caso en Perú / Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: first case report in Peru

La linfangiectasia intestinal primaria es una entidad clínica poco común de etiología desconocida. La edad típica de presentación de esta enfermedad es durante los 3 primeros años de vida, pero también se han reportado casos en adultos. Posee sintomatología variable, pero la manifestación clínica principal es el edema, puede presentarse también diarrea y pérdida de peso. La pérdida de fluido linfático en el tracto gastointestinal conlleva también a hipoproteinemia y linfopenia. El diagnóstico se establece en base a la clínica, a los estudios de laboratorio, al estudio endoscópico y se confirma con la evaluación histológica de la biopsia realizada. El manejo se da mediante una dieta rica en proteínas, baja en grasas y triglicéridos de cadena media. A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 1 año de edad que presenta edema generalizado, con predominio de miembros inferiores, y diarrea. Los exámenes de laboratorio muestran la presencia de hipoproteinemia marcada. Posteriormente, se realiza una endoscopía digestiva alta y una biopsia duodenal. El estudio histológico confirma el diagnóstico de linfangiectasia intestinal primaria. El paciente recibe el tratamiento establecido para esta enfermedad y, finalmente es dado de alta.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare clinical condition of unknown etiology. The common age of presentation is during the first 3 years of life, but cases in adults have also been reported. It has a variable symptomatology, but the main clinical manifestation is edema, also diarrhea and weight loss can occur. The loss of lymph fluid into the gastrointestinal tract also leads to hypoproteinemia and lymphopenia. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, laboratory and endoscopic findings, and is confirmed on histopathological examination of biopsy. The main treatment is a protein rich, low in fat and medium chain triglyceride diet. We present the case of a 1-year-old male patient who presents with generalized edema, predominantly in lower limbs, and diarrhea. Laboratory findings show the presence of marked hypoproteinemia. Then an endoscopy and a duodenal biopsy are performed, and the histopathological study confirms the diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. The patient is treated and after a satisfactory evolution, is discharged.