[Baby on board - recommendations for pediatric travel consultation]. / Baby on board ­ ein Beratungsleitfaden für Reisen mit Kindern.

Traveling with babies and children is challenging for parents and the doctor providing travel medicine advice. Especially pediatric VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travelers have a higher risk for infectious diseases due to lower risk perception and higher exposure. Being well prepared helps in exploring the world while staying healthy. Topics to be discussed in pediatric travel consultation are travel vaccinations, mosquito repellents, malaria prophylaxis, thorough sun protection, rehydration for gastroentritis, avoidance of rabies exposure, an agetailored travel pharmacy and more. We provide a guide to the most important topics for pediatric travel consultations.

Acute Malaria in Malawian Children and Adults is Characterized by Thrombocytopenia That Normalizes in Convalescence.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum malaria has been linked with significant perturbations of the peripheral cell-mediated immune system during acute phase. Some of these changes include lower than normal platelet counts. Although the exact mechanisms that drive thrombocytopenia in P. falciparum malaria are not fully known, a number of hypotheses have been proposed. We conducted two sets of studies with one aimed at determining platelet counts in Malawian children, and the other in adults during acute P. falciparum malaria and a month post treatment. Materials and Methods: We recruited a total of 113 HIV-uninfected children with acute malaria [n=54 with uncomplicated malaria (UCM), n=30 with severe malarial anemia (SMA), n=29 presenting with cerebral malaria (CM)]. We also recruited 42 HIV-uninfected healthy controls. Out of the 113 participants with malaria, 73 (65%) [n=34 (63%) UCM, n=21 (70%) SMA and n=18 (62%) CM] were successfully followed-up one month after treatment. A 5mL peripheral blood sample was collected for platelet count using HMX Haematological Analyzer analysis both at baseline (acute malaria) and at follow-up a month later. Platelet counts were also determined in blood samples of 106 HIV-uninfected adults, 47 of whom presented with UCM and 29 with severe malaria (SM) and these counts were compared to those of 30 healthy controls. Of the malaria cases, platelet counts for 44 UCM and 21 SM were determined again during follow-up a month after treatment. Results: In both children and adults, platelet counts were significantly lower during acute disease compared to the levels in the healthy controls with the lowest levels observed in CM (children) or SM (adults). These lower than normal levels increased close to normal levels a month post treatment. Conclusion: P. falciparum malaria in Malawian children and adults was characterized by profound thrombocytopenia which recovered during convalescence.

Invasive Streptococcus agalactiae ST283 infection after fish consumption in two sisters, Lao PDR.

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae is a normal commensal of the human gastro-intestinal and female genital tracts. It causes serious disease in neonates and pregnant women, as well as non-pregnant adults. Food-borne outbreaks have also been described. A link between invasive Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in humans caused by S. agalactiae serotype III-4, sequence type 283 (ST283) and the consumption of raw fresh-water fish was first described in Singapore in 2015. Case presentation: We report the simultaneous occurrence of acute fever and myalgia in two sisters who were visiting Laos. Both were found to have invasive GBS ST283 infection, confirmed by blood culture. Infection was temporally linked to fish consumption. They responded well to intravenous antibiotics within 48 hours. Conclusions: Food-borne transmission of Streptococcus agalactiae is an important and under-recognised source of serious human disease throughout Southeast Asia and possibly beyond.

The Effect of Frequent Exposure to P. falciparum, HIV-Infection and Other Co-Morbidities on Development of Severe Malaria in Malawian Adults.

AIM: Plasmodium falciparum malaria predominantly affects children residing in endemic areas. However, recently a significant number of Malawian adults, who otherwise should have attained some malaria-specific immunity, have been observed to succumb to either uncomplicated malaria (UM) or severe malaria (SM). In addition, it is still unknown whether HIV is a contributing factor to SM in Malawian non-pregnant adults. We conducted this study to determine clinical and demographic features that characterize Malawian adults presenting with UM or SM. METHODS: Study participants were recruited when they presented at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH), Blantyre, Malawi with UM or SM and had their demographic details recorded after consenting to participate in the study. Malaria infection was confirmed by Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test (MRDT) and malaria slide microscopy. A venous blood sample was collected before treatment for various analyses. RESULTS: Both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected participants were at risk of presenting with either UM or SM although there were more (37%) SM cases among those who were HIV-infected compared to those who were HIV-uninfected (28%) but the difference was not significant but similar numbers of UM cases (61% for HIV-uninfected and 60% for HIV-infected). Previous visit to areas of high malaria transmission was not associated with presenting with either UM or SM. HIV/malaria co-infected participants were more likely to be found with a positive blood culture result (Diphtheriods, Stenotophomonas maltophilia, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus) and were at a higher risk of dying compared to HIV-uninfected malaria patients. CONCLUSION: Although HIV-infection was associated with high mortality in those co-infected with HIV and malaria, recurrent malaria episodes and having other diseases co-existing with malaria infection were the main factors associated with the development of SM in this study cohort. Further studies need to be done to determine how the host immunity is affected in those co-infected with HIV and malaria.

HIV infection has a profound effect on hematological factors but not on electrolyte profile of Malawian adults presenting with uncomplicated malaria and severe malaria.

AIM: Although malaria and HIV infections independently affect the electrolyte and hematologic profiles, little is known of how these profiles are affected in individuals coinfected with malaria and HIV. We therefore conducted this study to investigate the electrolyte and hematologic profiles of Malawian adults presenting with either uncomplicated malaria (UM), severe malaria (SM), and those presenting with HIV and UM or HIV and SM. METHODS: Study participants were recruited at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, and malaria infection was confirmed by rapid diagnostic test and malaria slides, and full blood count, HIV, and wet chemistries were analyzed. RESULTS: Sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride levels of all 4 study groups were similar to those of healthy controls. Both HIV-infected groups (UM and SM) had lower red blood cell counts and lower hemoglobin concentration than the reference range. Platelet counts were lower in both HIV-uninfected SM cases (64×109/L) and in the HIV-infected SM cases (66×109/L) compared to the reference range (115-290×109/L). HIV- UM cases had higher proportion and absolute counts of neutrophils and white blood cell counts compared to the HIV+ UM cases. CONCLUSION: HIV infection did not affect the electrolyte profile of Malawian adults presenting with UM or SM but had an effect on red blood cells, Hb concentration, neutrophils, and platelet counts.