Alcohol and drug intoxications in adolescents admitted to paediatric wards in the Czech Republic: 5-year retrospective study 2006-2010.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to establish frequency, severity and circumstances of alcohol and drug intoxications in adolescents admitted to inpatient wards in the Czech Republic. METHODS: Chief physician of each participating ward (or their designated deputy) searched the patient records for required information. The data was then statistically processed. RESULTS: Thirty inpatient paediatric wards participated in the study (27 district wards and 3 university hospital wards), amounting to more than a third of all paediatric wards in the country. The total number of intoxications reported was 2,176, the majority of which were alcohol-related (84.5%), followed by cannabinoids and, to a lesser degree, amphetamines. The number of alcohol intoxications increased by 22% during the 5-year observation period, whilst the frequency of illegal drugs intoxications remained the same. We also observed an increase in the percentage of alcohol intoxications in girls - from 42% to 45.5%. The mean age at intoxication was low - 15.5 years. The Glasgow Coma Scale in individual episodes of intoxication increased during the study duration/follow up period. The proportion of alcohol intoxications originating in pubs, clubs or other public institutions was 25%. CONCLUSION: The number of alcohol intoxications has risen during the observation period. The age at which these intoxications occurred is very low. Of serious concern is the fact, that 25% of alcohol intoxications originated in places where alcohol is sold, despite the fact that majority of the adolescents were under the legal drinking age limit of 18 years.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) in 5-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a rare complication of nephrotic syndrome in children. This clinical condition is caused by localized brain angioedema mostly in parieto-occipital region and results in dramatic and acute features as sudden loss of consciousness, epileptic paroxysms, strong headache or visual disturbances. Uncontrolled hypertension often participates in PRES development. CASE: We present the case of a 5-year-old girl treated for relapse of nephrotic syndrome. RESULTS: At the time of edema regression and weight reduction, a sudden loss of consciousness and worsening of hypertension occurred. Brain MRI demonstrated extended multifocal changes strongly suspicious of encephalitis. After exclusion of herpetic encephalitis, the clinical picture was classified as PRES. Successful antihypertensive treatment led to general improvement of the girl's health within 48 hours and resolution of MRI brain hyperintensities occurred within the next three months. CONCLUSIONS: The aim of our case report is to us remind of possible development of PRES at the time of edema regression in nephrotic syndrome.

Demography of adolescent health care delivery and training in Europe.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the status of and factors associated with adolescent health care delivery and training in Europe on behalf of the European Paediatric Association-UNEPSA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was mailed to the presidents of 48 national paediatric societies in Europe. For statistical analyses, non-parametric tests were used as appropriate. RESULTS: Six of the countries had a paediatric (PSPCA), 14 had a combined and nine had a general practitioner/family doctor system for the primary care of adolescents (GP/FDSA). Paediatricians served children 17 years of age or older in 15 and 17, up to 16 years of age in three and six, and up to 14 years of age in six and six countries in outpatient and inpatient settings, respectively. Fifteen and 18 of the countries had some kind of special inpatient wards and outpatient clinics for adolescents, respectively. Twenty-eight of the countries had some kind of national/governmental screening or/and preventive health programmes for adolescents. In countries with a PSPCA, the gross national income (GNI) per capita was significantly lower than in those with a GP/FDSA, and the mean upper age limit of adolescents was significantly higher than in those with the other systems. In the eastern part of Europe, the mortality rate of 10-14 year olds was significantly higher than that in the western part (p=0.008). Training in adolescent medicine was offered in pre-graduate education in 14 countries in the paediatric curriculum and in the context of paediatric residency and GP/family physician residency programmes in 18 and nine countries, respectively. Adolescent medicine was reported as a recognised subspecialty in 15 countries and as a certified subspecialty of paediatrics in one country. In countries with a PSPCA, paediatric residents were more likely to be educated in adolescent medicine than paediatric residents in countries with a GP/FDSA. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study show that there is a need for the reconstruction and standardisation of adolescent health care delivery and training in European countries. The European Paediatric Association-UNEPSA could play a key role in the implementation of the proposals suggested in this paper.

Anti-IL6 Autoantibodies in an Infant With CRP-Less Septic Shock.

Background: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with a multitude of pro-inflammatory effects. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase protein induced mainly by IL-6 in response to inflammatory conditions, particularly infection. The biological functions of CRP include opsonisation, induction of phagocytosis, complement activation, or chemotaxis enhancement. Factors interfering with IL-6-mediated recruitment of innate immune responses, such as the presence of anti-IL6 antibodies, may therefore compromise the host resistance to microbial pathogens. This has major implications for the use of IL-6-targeting biologics, such as tocilizumab or sarilumab in rheumatologic, immune dysregulation diseases, and cancer. Case presentation: 20-month-old Czech female developed severe septic shock with clinical and laboratory signs of systemic inflammation but no increase of CRP or IL-6. The offending pathogen was most likely Staphylococcus aureus, detected in a throat swab; the response to antibiotic treatment was prompt. A defect in the integrity of IL-6/CRP axis was suspected and verified by the detection of neutralizing IL-6 antibodies in the serum of the child. Conclusion: We report a first case of systemic bacterial infection in a patient with anti-IL6 autoantibodies. Disturbed IL-6 signaling, whether iatrogenic by targeted IL-6 blockade or endogenous due to the presence of autoantibodies against IL-6, represents a risk factor for increased infectious susceptibility. Patients with severe bacterial infection without elevation of CRP should be examined for the presence of anti-IL6 autoantibodies.