Test-Retest Reliability and Construct Validity of the German Translation of the Gait Outcome Assessment List (GOAL) Questionnaire for Children with Ambulatory Cerebral Palsy.

The Gait Outcome Assessment List (GOAL) is a patient or caregiver-reported assessment of gait-related function across different domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) developed for ambulant children with cerebral palsy (CP). So far, the questionnaire is only available in English. The aim of this study was to translate the GOAL into German and to evaluate its reliability and validity by studying the association between GOAL scores and gross motor function as categorized by the gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The GOAL was administered to primary caregivers of n = 91 children and adolescents with CP (n = 32, GMFCS levels I; n = 27, GMFCS level II; and n = 32, GMFCS level III) and n = 15 patients were capable of independently completing the whole questionnaire (GMFCS level I). For assessing test-retest reliability, the questionnaire was completed for a second time 2 weeks after the first by the caregivers of n = 36 patients. Mean total GOAL scores decreased significantly with increasing GMFCS levels with scores of 71 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 66.90-74.77) for GMFCS level I, 56 (95% CI: 50.98-61.86) for GMFCS level II, and 45 (95% CI: 40.58-48.48) for GMFCS level III, respectively. In three out of seven domains, caregivers rated their children significantly lower than children rated themselves. The test-retest reliability was excellent as was internal consistency given the GOAL total score. The German GOAL may serve as a much needed patient-reported outcome measure of gait-related function in ambulant children and adolescents with CP.

Risk for severe outcomes of COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Germany.

Although children and adolescents have a lower burden of SARS-CoV-2-associated disease compared to adults, assessing the risk for severe outcomes among SARS-CoV-2-infected children remains difficult due to a high rate of undetected cases. We combine data from three data sources - a national seroprevalence study (the SARS-CoV-2 KIDS study), the nationwide, state-based reporting system for PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in Germany, and a nationwide registry on children and adolescents hospitalized with either SARS-CoV-2 or pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS-TS, also known as MIS-C) - in order to provide estimates on the risk of hospitalization for COVID-19-related treatment, intensive care admission, and death due to COVID-19 and PIMS-TS in children. The rate of hospitalization for COVID-19-related treatment among all SARS-CoV-2 seropositive children was 7.13 per 10,000, ICU admission 2.21 per 10,000, and case fatality was 0.09 per 10,000. In children without comorbidities, the corresponding rates for severe or fatal disease courses were substantially lower. The lowest risk for the need of COVID-19-specific treatment was observed in children aged 5-11 without comorbidities. In this group, the ICU admission rate was 0.37 per 10,000, and case fatality could not be calculated due to the absence of cases. The overall PIMS-TS rate was 2.47 per 10,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections, the majority being children without comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Overall, the SARS-CoV-2-associated burden of a severe disease course or death in children and adolescents is low. This seems particularly the case for 5-11-year-old children without comorbidities. By contrast, PIMS-TS plays a major role in the overall disease burden among all pediatric age groups. WHAT IS KNOWN: • SARS-CoV-2-associated burden of disease in children is considered to be low, but accurate risk estimates accounting for clinically undiagnosed infections are lacking. • Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections are common in children. WHAT IS NEW: • We provide risk estimates for hospitalization for COVID-19-related treatment, ICU admission, death from COVID-19, and PIMS-TS for children with SARS-CoV-2 infections by pooling different data sources. • The risk for PIMS-TS exceeds the risk for severe COVID-19 in all age groups; the risk for severe COVID-19 is the lowest in 5-11 years old.

Impact of School Closures on the Proportion of Children in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Example from the Winter Lockdown in Germany.

BACKGROUND: In addition to widely used basic hygiene measures in school, school closures are applied to contain SARS-CoV-2 spread, although the effect on the pandemic is unclear. We proposed a simple approach to disentangle the effect of school closures from other lockdown measures on the pandemic course based on publicly available data in Germany. METHODS: We used data on the number of SARS-CoV-2 cases from the onset of the pandemic to 14th April 2021. We compared the proportion of children (5-14 years old) in all cases prior to the lockdown measures, including school closure, to that during a ten-week lockdown in Germany. The total number of paediatric cases occurring during lockdown was compared to the number expected in absence of school closures. The latter was calculated based on the actual weekly number of all cases and the pre-lockdown proportion of paediatric cases. RESULTS: The proportion of children in all cases was 2.3 percentage points lower at the nadir than the proportion before the lockdown. The estimated total number of paediatric cases prevented by school closures was estimated at 13,246 amounting to 24% of the expected cases in absence of school closures. CONCLUSION: School closure during the winter lockdown reduced the number of expected SARS-CoV-2 cases in children in absence of school closures. The contribution of these prevented cases to the total population incidence is small. These data might provide the basis to model the effect of school closures in addition to basic hygiene measures on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incidence and risk factors of cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in infants.

AIM: To describe the incidence of term and preterm neonatal cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT) and identify perinatal risk factors. METHOD: This was a national capture-recapture calculation-corrected surveillance and nested case-control study. Infants born preterm and at term with magnetic resonance imaging-confirmed neonatal CSVT were identified by surveillance in all paediatric hospitals in Germany (2015-2017). Incidence was corrected for underreporting using a capture-recapture method in one federal state and then extrapolated nationwide. We reviewed PubMed for comparisons with previously reported incidence estimators. We used a population-based perinatal database for quality assurance to select four controls per case and applied univariate and multivariable regression for risk factor analysis. RESULTS: Fifty-one newborn infants (34 males, 17 females; 14 born preterm) with neonatal CSVT were reported in the 3-year period. The incidence of term and preterm neonatal CSVT was 6.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.4-8.7) per 100 000 live births. Median age at time of confirmation of the diagnosis was 9.95 days (range 0-39d). In the univariate analysis, male sex, preterm birth, hypoxia and related indicators (umbilical artery pH <7.1; 5-minute Apgar score <7; intubation/mask ventilation; perinatal asphyxia), operative vaginal delivery, emergency Caesarean section, and pathological fetal Doppler sonography were associated (p<0.05) with neonatal CSVT. Multivariable regression yielded hypoxia (odds ratio=20.3; 95% CI 8.1-50.8) as the independent risk factor. INTERPRETATION: Incidence of neonatal CSVT was within the range of other population-based studies. The results suggest that hypoxia is an important perinatal risk factor for the aetiology of neonatal CSVT.

[Decrease in Group B Streptococcal Infections in Neonates: Analysis of Health Insurance Data 2005 to 2017]. / Rückgang von Infektionen durch Streptokokken der Gruppe B bei Neugeborenen: Analyse von Krankenversicherungsdaten 2005 bis 2017.

BACKGROUND: In the German guidelines for prophylaxis of group B streptococcal (GBS) early onset sepsis in neonates (EOS), GBS screening of all pregnant women has been recommended, but is not yet included in the Maternity Directives. Aim of the study was to identify temporal trends in incidence of EOS and their association to GBS Screening. METHODS: The analysis based on health insurance data of the statutory health insurance provider Barmer from 2005 to 2017 of 313,385 mother-child pairs. Annual frequency of GBS infections in newborns was determined by ICD-10 P36.0. The frequency of maternal GBS colonization was indicated by ICD-10 B95.1, which was used as surrogate for GBS screening. Temporal trends of the risk of EOS in neonates were assessed in logistic regression models. Pearson's correlation coefficient of EOS incidence and the surrogate marker for maternal GBS colonization was calculated. RESULTS: The risk of EOS in neonates caused by GBS has decreased annually by 9.3%, resulting in an overall decrease in the observation period of 72.0%. There was no statistical significant change in the risk for LOS (Late Onset Sepsis). The decrease of EOS could not be explained by temporal changes in Caesarian section, risk factors or preterm delivery. The 3.5 fold increase in the proportion of mothers with documented positive GBS colonization in the same period correlated inversely with the incidence of EOS (r=- 0.75; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The decrease of EOS in neonates caused by GBS in Germany and the unchanged risk of LOS in neonates may be explained by the increasing application of the GBS Screening in pregnant women.

Risk factors for perinatal arterial ischaemic stroke: a large case-control study.

AIM: To identify maternal, obstetric, and neonatal risk factors related to perinatal arterial ischaemic stroke (PAIS) diagnosed within 28 days after birth and to understand the underlying pathophysiology. METHOD: For case and control ascertainment, we used active surveillance in 345 paediatric hospitals and a population-based perinatal database for quality assurance of hospital care. We analysed complete cases of PAIS using logistic regression. Multivariate analysis was guided by a directed acyclic graph. RESULTS: After exclusion of records with missing data, we analysed 134 individuals with PAIS and 576 comparison individuals. In univariate analysis, male sex, preterm birth (<37wks gestational age), small for gestational age (SGA), low umbilical artery pH (<7.1), low 5-minute-Apgar score (<7), multiple pregnancies, hypoxia, intubation/mask ventilation, nulliparity, Caesarean section, vaginal-operative delivery, chorioamnionitis, and oligohydramnios were associated with an increased risk. Mutual adjustment yielded male sex (odds ratio [OR] 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-2.73), multiple birth (OR 3.22; 95% CI 1.21-8.58), chorioamnionitis (OR 9.89; 95% CI 2.88-33.94), preterm birth (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.01-3.43), and SGA (OR 3.05; 95% CI 1.76-5.28) as independent risk factors. INTERPRETATION: We confirmed the increased risk in males and the role of chorioamnionitis and SGA for PAIS, pointing to the importance of inflammatory processes and fetal-placental insufficiency. Multiple birth and preterm birth were additional risk factors. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Chorioamnionitis and small for gestational age (SGA) precede perinatal arterial ischaemic stroke (PAIS). Chorioamnionitis and SGA are independent risk factors for PAIS. Inflammatory processes and fetal-placental insufficiency are the likely underlying mechanisms. Multiple birth and preterm birth are additional risk factors.

Cognitive disorders in childhood epilepsy: a comparative longitudinal study using administrative healthcare data.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the risk of cognitive impairment in patients with epilepsy, the impact of age of epilepsy onset on cognition and the temporal relationship of epilepsy onset and intellectual impairment. METHODS: This longitudinal study analyzed birth cohorts and followed-up children born 2005-2007 up to the age of ten using administrative healthcare data of about 8.9 million members insured by the statutory health insurance "BARMER" in Germany. We compared prevalence of cognitive impairment (ICD-code F7*) in children with epilepsy (ICD-code G40) to controls, and calculated relative risks by age groups at onset of epilepsy and assessed differences in relation to the temporal sequence of the diagnoses. RESULTS: Of the 142,563 pre-pubertal children included in the analysis, 2728 (1.9%) had an epilepsy diagnosis within the first 10 years of life. 17.4% (475/2728) of children with epilepsy had a diagnosis of cognitive impairment compared to 1.7% (2309/139835) in controls. The relative risk for cognitive impairment compared to age-matched controls was 10.5 (95% CI 9.6, 11.6) and was highest in epilepsy cases with seizure manifestation within the first 2 years of life compared to older children. The prevalence of cognitive impairment before epilepsy diagnosis was slightly increased compared to controls, while it was increased by a factor of nine in children diagnosed with cognitive impairment in the year of onset of epilepsy or afterwards. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-pubertal children with epilepsy have a ten-fold higher risk for intellectual impairment compared to age-matched controls. This risk inversely correlates with the age of epilepsy manifestation. Cognitive impairment was diagnosed after epilepsy manifestation in the majority of patients.

Administrative data in pediatric critical care research-Potential, challenges, and future directions.

Heterogenous patient populations with small case numbers constitute a relevant barrier to research in pediatric critical care. Prospective studies bring along logistic barriers and-if interventional-ethical concerns. Therefore, retrospective observational investigations, mainly multicenter studies or analyses of registry data, prevail in the field of pediatric critical care research. Administrative health care data represent a possible alternative to overcome small case numbers and logistic barriers. However, their current use is limited by a lack of knowledge among clinicians about the availability and characteristics of these data sets, along with required expertise in the handling of large data sets. Specifically in the field of critical care research, difficulties to assess the severity of the acute disease and estimate organ dysfunction and outcomes pose additional challenges. In contrast, trauma research has shown that classification of injury severity from administrative data can be achieved and chronic disease scores have been developed for pediatric patients, nurturing confidence that the remaining obstacles can be overcome. Despite the undoubted challenges, interdisciplinary collaboration between clinicians and methodologic experts have resulted in impactful publications from across the world. Efforts to enable the estimation of organ dysfunction and measure outcomes after critical illness are the most urgent tasks to promote the use of administrative data in critical care. Clever analysis and linking of different administrative health care data sets carry the potential to advance observational research in pediatric critical care and ultimately improve clinical care for critically ill children.

Burden of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Hospitalizations during the Omicron Wave in Germany.

(1) Background: When the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 first emerged in Germany in January 2022, data on related disease severity among children and adolescents were not yet available. Given Omicron's high transmissibility, the ability to assess its impact on admission and hospitalization rates in children's hospitals is critical for the purpose of understanding the scope of its burden on the German healthcare system. (2) Methods: From 24 January 2022 to 31 July 2022, SARS-CoV-2 cases admitted to German pediatric hospitals were monitored via a national, clinician-led reporting system (CLRS) established by the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (DGPI). Cases treated on general wards and intensive care units, as well as patient age and the need for respiratory support, were recorded. (3) Results: From January to July 2022, a median of 1.7 cases (range 0.4-3) per reporting pediatric hospital per day was hospitalized in general wards, whereas a median of 0.1 cases (range 0-0.4 cases) was admitted to intensive care units. Of all hospitalized patients, 4.2% received respiratory support. (4) Conclusions: Despite the high incidence rates documented in connection with the Omicron variant in early 2022, the number of pediatric hospital admissions, and especially the number of cases with the need for intensive care treatment and respiratory support due to symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, remained relatively low. Higher Omicron incidence rates had only a modest impact on SARS-CoV-2-related admissions and hospitalization in German children's hospitals.

Association of SARS-CoV-2 Seropositivity With Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Among Children and Adolescents in Germany.

Importance: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a reduction in quality of life and physical and mental health among children and adolescents has been reported that may be associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or containment measures. Objective: To assess the association of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity with symptoms that may be related to myalgic encephalomyelitis and/or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) among children and adolescents. Design, Setting, and Participants: This substudy of the cross-sectional SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence surveys in Germany (SARS-CoV-2 KIDS) was performed in 9 pediatric hospitals from May 1 to October 31, 2021. Pediatric patients were recruited during an inpatient or outpatient visit regardless of the purpose of the visit. Parental questionnaires and serum samples were collected during clinically indicated blood draws. The parental questionnaire on demographic and clinical information was extended by items according to the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire, a pediatric screening tool for ME/CFS in epidemiological studies in patients aged 5 to 17 years. Exposures: Seropositivity was determined by SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in serum samples using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Main Outcomes and Measures: Key symptoms of ME/CFS were evaluated separately or as clustered ME/CFS symptoms according to the DePaul Symptom Questionnaire, including fatigue. Results: Among 634 participants (294 male [46.4%] and 340 female [53.6%]; median age, 11.5 [IQR, 8-14] years), 198 (31.2%) reported clustered ME/CFS symptoms, including 40 of 100 SARS-CoV-2-seropositive (40.0%) and 158 of 534 SARS-CoV-2-seronegative (29.6%) children and adolescents. After adjustment for sex, age group, and preexisting disease, the risk ratio for reporting clustered ME/CFS symptoms decreased from 1.35 (95% CI, 1.03-1.78) to 1.18 (95% CI, 0.90-1.53) and for substantial fatigue from 2.45 (95% CI, 1.24-4.84) to 2.08 (95% CI, 1.05-4.13). Confinement to children and adolescents with unknown previous SARS-CoV-2 infection status (n = 610) yielded lower adjusted risks for all symptoms except joint pain ME/CFS-related symptoms. The adjusted risk ratio was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.80-1.46) for reporting clustered ME/CFS symptoms and 1.43 (95% CI, 0.63-3.23) for fatigue. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that the risk of ME/CFS in children and adolescents owing to SARS-CoV-2 infection may be very small. Recall bias may contribute to risk estimates of long COVID-19 symptoms in children. Extensive lockdowns must be considered as an alternative explanation for complex unspecific symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children in Germany, June 2020 to May 2021.

The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children remains unclear due to many asymptomatic cases. We present a study of cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in 10,358 children recruited in paediatric hospitals across Germany from June 2020 to May 2021. Seropositivity increased from 2.0% (95% CI 1.6, 2.5) to 10.8% (95% CI 8.7, 12.9) in March 2021 with little change up to May 2021. Rates increased by migrant background (2.8%, 4.4% and 7.8% for no, one and two parents born outside Germany). Children under three were initially 3.6 (95% CI 2.3, 5.7) times more likely to be seropositive with levels equalising later. The ratio of seropositive cases per recalled infection decreased from 8.6 to 2.8. Since seropositivity exceeds the rate of recalled infections considerably, serologic testing may provide a more valid estimate of infections, which is required to assess both the spread and the risk for severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Incidence trends of parapneumonic pleural effusions/empyema in children 2009 to 2018 from health insurance data: Only temporal reduction after the introduction of PCV13.

BACKGROUND: Recently, emergence of a higher proportion of serotype 3 in children with parapneumonic pleural effusion/empyema (PPE/PE) were observed in Germany despite general immunization with 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) since 2009. The impact of PCV13 on the overall incidence of PPE/PE in children is unclear. METHODS: Annual incidence of PPE/PE in children were determined using secondary health care data for 2009-2018, provided by the Barmer statutory health insurer, serving about 11% of the German population. Temporal trends of the annual incidence were modelled applying generalized additive models. RESULTS: Overall incidence of PPE/PE in children ( ≤18 years) in the ten-year observation period was 18.17 per 100,000. The 0-1 year olds showed the highest incidence (43.09 per 100 000). PPE/PE incidence decreased from 2009 until 2013 (nadir 2013 was 15.36; 95% CI: 13.41-17.31). Since 2013, the data show an annual increase. The nadir of incidence for the 2-5 year olds (15.85; 95% CI: 11.27-20.43) and the 6-18 year olds (12.29; 95% CI: 10.23-14.36) was also in 2013, whereas for the 0-1 year olds it was found in 2014 (32.66; 95% CI: 23.79-41.54). The GAM across all age groups showed a nearly U-shaped curve between time and incidence of PPE/PE by calendar year (p-non-linear = 0.0017). The model confirms the nadir in the year 2013. DISCUSSION: We found a nonlinear temporal trend of PPE/PE incidence in children with a decrease from 2009 to 2013 and a subsequent increase until 2018. The former might be explained by a quasi elimination of serotype 1, the latter by an increase in the proportion of serotype 3 as demonstrated in German surveillance data of pediatric PPE/PE cases generated during the same observation period.

Incidence Estimates of Perinatal Arterial Ischemic Stroke in Preterm- and Term-Born Infants: A National Capture-Recapture Calculation Corrected Surveillance Study.

INTRODUCTION: Data on valid incidence estimates of perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) are scarce. This analysis aims to determine incidence of PAIS in term- and preterm-born infants and to investigate clinical differences related to prematurity. METHODS: This surveillance study (2015-2017) in all German paediatric hospital estimated incidences for MRI-confirmed PAIS in term and preterm infants. To correct for under-reporting, we performed capture-recapture-calculations (CRC) in the most populous federal state and extrapolated nationwide. Differences in clinical presentation in term- and preterm-born infants were assessed. RESULTS: 126 term- and 19 preterm-born infants with PAIS were reported. CRC corrected incidence of PAIS was 22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 17, 27) per 100,000 live births. Stratified by prematurity, the incidence was 32 (95% CI 15, 49) per 100,000 in preterm-born infants and 21 (95% CI 16, 26) per 100,000 term-born infants (significant difference p = 0.001). In symptomatic cases only (n = 120 term born, n = 12 preterm born), incidences did not differ. Risk factor patterns were similar, but number of risk factors in preterm babies was elevated (mean 3.8 vs. 2.9; p = 0.01) and median age at diagnosis was increased (5 vs. 3 days; p = 0.04). Clinical seizures were observed in 88% (106/120) of symptomatic term infants compared to 33% (4/12) in preterm-born infants (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: PAIS incidence rates in Germany, extrapolated from estimates for completeness of reporting in the largest federal state, were within the range of other population-based studies. As a novel finding, we detected symptomatic PAIS in preterm-born infants to be as common as in term-born infants although their symptoms were often unspecific.

Managing infants with craniofacial malformations - Where to go next?

Treatment of infants with craniofacial malformations, e.g. Robin sequence, is characterized by considerable heterogeneity and a lack of randomized trials to identify an optimal approach. We propose to establish an international register using a common minimal dataset that will better allow for a comparison between key determinants and outcomes in these patients. In infants, this should include an assessment of mandibular micrognathia, glossoptosis, upper airway obstruction, weight gain and mode of feeding. Later on, neurocognition, speech development, hearing and quality of life should also be included. Together, these data will help better to advice parents on which treatment to choose for their baby with a craniofacial malformation.

Clinical Diversity of Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis and Arterial Ischaemic Stroke in the Neonate: A Surveillance Study.

INTRODUCTION: Incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, onset of symptoms, and age at diagnosis differ between neonatal arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). A more accurate and earlier discrimination of these two entities can be of eminent importance. METHODS: Active surveillance for AIS and CSVT was performed in 345 German paediatric hospitals. Only MRI confirmed cases were included in our analysis. Patients with AIS were compared to CSVT cases with regard to age at diagnosis, pattern of clinical symptoms, and case characteristics. RESULTS: Data on 144 AIS and 51 CSVT neonatal cases were collected from 2015 to 2017. The frequency of reported AIS cases was 2.8 [95% CI 2.1; 3.9] times higher compared to reported CSVT cases. CSVT patients were more likely to be born premature (CSVT 14/48, 29.2%; AIS 19/140, 13.2%; p = 0.02) and to have signs of perinatal acidosis (30.2% CSVT vs. 13.5% AIS; p = 0.01). Generalized seizures and lethargy were more likely to occur in infants with CSVT (p < 0.0001). Age at onset of symptoms and at time of diagnosis were shifted to older ages in CSVT (p < 0.0001). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: In the neonatal period, AIS is about three times more common than CSVT. A higher proportion of critically ill infants in CSVT and a later onset of symptoms may indicate that perinatal and postnatal complications are more important for CSVT than for AIS.

Recanalization strategies in childhood stroke in Germany.

Childhood arterial ischemic stroke (CAIS) is a rare event. Diverse etiologies, risk factors, symptoms and stroke mimics hamper obtaining a fast diagnosis and implementing immediate recanalization strategies. Over a period of 3 years (2015-2017), the data of 164 pediatric patients (> 28 days of life-18 years) with a first episode of AIS were submitted to a hospital-based nationwide surveillance system for rare disorders (ESPED). We report a subgroup analysis of patients who have undergone recanalization therapy and compare these data with those of the whole group. Twenty-eight patients (17%) with a median age of 12.2 years (range 3.3-16.9) received recanalization therapy. Hemiparesis, facial weakness and speech disturbance were the main presenting symptoms. The time from onset of symptoms to confirmation of diagnosis was significantly shorter in the intervention group (4.1 h vs. 20.4 h, p ≤ 0.0001). Only in one patient occurred a minor bleed. Cardiac disease as predisposing risk factor was more common in the recanalization group. Recanalization therapies are feasible and increasingly applied in children with AIS. High awareness, timely diagnosis and a large amount of expertise may improve time to treatment and make hyperacute therapy an option for more patients.

Arterial ischemic stroke in infants, children, and adolescents: results of a Germany-wide surveillance study 2015-2017.

OBJECTIVE: Childhood arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) is rare, but causes significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate incidence, age-dependent clinical presentation, and risk factors and to discuss the medical care situation in Germany. METHODS: This prospective epidemiological study was conducted via ESPED (Erhebungseinheit für Seltene Pädiatrische Erkrankungen in Deutschland), a hospital-based German nation-wide surveillance unit for rare pediatric diseases. Children aged 28 days-18 years with first AIS between January 2015 and December 2017 were included. RESULTS: In the 3-year period, 164 children were reported. Incidence showed peaks in infants, children < 2 years of age, and adolescents (12-18 years), with a significant male predominance observed in adolescents only. Independent of age, most children (91%) presented with focal symptoms, particularly with acute hemiparesis. The occurrence of seizures in infants (57%) and more nonspecific symptoms in school-children and adolescents (54%) is considered noteworthy. Prothrombotic states (34%), cardiac disorders (29%), and arteriopathies (19%) were the most frequently identified risk factors. The majority of children (72/131, thus 55%) were discharged home after acute care phase. At time of discharge, most common neurological symptoms were hemiparesis (42%), facial palsy (15%), and speech disturbance (12%). CONCLUSION: This study provides population-based data of childhood AIS which may be useful for further research. The improvement of acute stroke management is needed for children, but also the standardization of post-stroke care in the outpatient setting has to be structured. Considering the higher stroke incidence in (male) adolescents, it is advisable to combine research activities in adolescents and young adults.