Infants 1-90 days old hospitalized with human rhinovirus infection.

BACKGROUND: Human rhinovirus (HRV) is a common cause of respiratory illness in children. The impact of HRV infection on 1- to 90-day-old infants is unclear. We hypothesized that HRV infection would be clinically similar to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in the hospitalized infants. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of hospitalized infants, who were 1-90 days old, with HRV or RSV within the Southern California Kaiser Permanente network over a 1-year period (August 2010 to October 2011). RESULTS: We identified 245 hospitalized infants who underwent respiratory virus testing. HRV was found in 52 infants (21%) compared to 79 infants (32%) with RSV (P = 0.008). Infants with HRV infection experienced longer hospital stays compared to those with RSV (median length of stay 4 days vs. 3 days, P = 0.009) and had fewer short hospital stays ≤3 days (P = 0.029). There was a trend in infants with HRV infection to be younger (P = 0.071) and have more fevers (P = 0.052). CONCLUSIONS: Recent advances in diagnostics allow for identification of a broad range of viral pathogens in infants. Compared to RSV, HRV was associated with longer hospital stays. Additional studies and improved, more specific testing, methods are needed to further define the effects of HRV infection in infants 1-90 days old.

The iBreastExam versus clinical breast examination for breast evaluation in high risk and symptomatic Nigerian women: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The iBreastExam electronically palpates the breast to identify possible abnormalities. We assessed the iBreastExam performance compared with clinical breast examination for breast lesion detection in high risk and symptomatic Nigerian women. METHODS: This prospective study was done at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) in Nigeria. Participants were Nigerian women aged 40 years or older who were symptomatic and presented with breast cancer symptoms or those at high risk with a first-degree relative who had a history of breast cancer. Participants underwent four breast examinations: clinical breast examination (by an experienced surgeon), the iBreastExam (performed by recent nursing school graduates, who finished nursing school within the previous year), ultrasound, and mammography. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of the iBreastExam and clinical breast examination for detecting any breast lesion and suspicious breast lesions were calculated, using mammography and ultrasound as the reference standard. FINDINGS: Between June 19 and Dec 5, 2019, 424 Nigerian women were enrolled (151 [36%] at high risk of breast cancer and 273 [64%] symptomatic women). The median age of participants was 46 years (IQR 42-52). 419 (99%) women had a breast imaging-reporting and data system (BI-RADS) assessment and were included in the analysis. For any breast finding, the iBreastExam showed significantly better sensitivity than clinical breast examination (63%, 95% CI 57-69 vs 31%, 25-37; p<0·0001), and clinical breast examination showed significantly better specificity (94%, 90-97 vs 59%, 52-66; p<0·0001). For suspicious breast findings, the iBreastExam showed similar sensitivity to clinical breast examination (86%, 95% CI 70-95 vs 83%, 67-94; p=0·65), and clinical breast examination showed significantly better specificity (50%, 45-55 vs 86%, 83-90; p<0·0001). The iBreastExam and clinical breast examination showed similar NPVs for any breast finding (56%, 49-63 vs 52%, 46-57; p=0·080) and suspicious findings (98%, 94-99 vs 98%, 96-99; p=0·42), whereas the PPV was significantly higher for clinical breast examination in any breast finding (87%, 77-93 vs 66%, 59-72; p<0·0001) and suspicious findings (37%, 26-48 vs 14%, 10-19; p=0·0020). Of 15 biopsy-confirmed cancers, clinical breast examination and the iBreastExam detected an ipsilateral breast abnormality in 13 (87%) women and missed the same two cancers (both <2 cm). INTERPRETATION: The iBreastExam by nurses showed a high sensitivity and NPV, but lower specificity than surgeon's clinical breast examination for identifying suspicious breast lesions. In locations with few experienced practitioners, the iBreastExam might provide a high sensitivity breast evaluation tool. Further research into improved specificity with device updates and cost feasibility in low-resource settings is warranted. FUNDING: Prevent Cancer Foundation Global Community Grant Award with additional support from the P30 Cancer Center Support Grant (P30 CA008748).

Wheezing in children with pertussis associated with delayed pertussis diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: The classic clinical features of paroxysmal pertussis are often absent in older children and adults and after vaccination. The California pertussis epidemic of 2010 occurred in a highly vaccinated population. METHODS: All pediatric patients (0-18 years) with positive pertussis polymerase chain reaction from July to December 2010 were identified retrospectively from the Kaiser SCAL database. Information extracted by chart review included age at diagnosis, vaccine history, race, cough duration, number of clinic visits before diagnosis, presence of paroxysms, post-tussive emesis or wheezing, treatment for asthma during the course of illness and exposure to confirmed or suspected pertussis cases. RESULTS: Overall 501 pediatric patients (mean age = 8.4 years) with positive pertussis nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction were identified. Complete DTaP series and Tdap vaccine had been received by 93% and 38% of eligible patients, respectively. Paroxysms, post-tussive emesis and wheezing on physical examination were present in 34%, 30% and 8% of patients, respectively. Each was associated with a longer duration of symptoms at diagnosis. Wheezing was associated with a delay in diagnosis (60% requiring >1 clinic visit for diagnosis vs. 29% in the overall population, P < 0.0001). Documented exposures were associated with a more timely pertussis diagnosis (after 9.4 days vs. 14.5 days; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Wheezing is present on examination of some patients with pertussis in a highly vaccinated pediatric population and appears to delay the diagnosis of pertussis. The presence of wheezing should not be used to exclude this diagnosis in children with chronic cough or other reasons to suspect pertussis.

Pediatric chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Little information is available concerning the natural history and optimal treatment of chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO). We conducted a retrospective review to assess the clinical characteristics and treatment responses of a large cohort of pediatric CNO patients. METHODS: Children diagnosed with CNO at 3 tertiary care centers in the United States between 1985 and 2009 were identified. Their charts were reviewed, and clinical, laboratory, histopathologic, and radiologic data were extracted. RESULTS: Seventy children with CNO (67% female patients) were identified. Median age at onset was 9.6 years (range 3-17), and median follow-up was 1.8 years (range 0-13). Half of the patients had comorbid autoimmune diseases, and 49% had a family history of autoimmunity. Patients with comorbid autoimmune diseases had more bone lesions (P < .001), higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P < .05), and higher use of second line therapy (P = .02). Treatment response to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), sulfasalazine, methotrexate, tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors, and corticosteroids was evaluated. The only significant predictor of a positive treatment response was the agent used (P < .0001). Estimated probability of response was 57% for NSAIDs, 66% for sulfasalazine, 91% for methotrexate, 91% for tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors, and 95% for corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS: In a US cohort of 70 children with CNO, coexisting autoimmunity was a risk factor for multifocal involvement and treatment with immunosuppressive agents. Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and biologics were more likely to lead to clinical improvement than NSAIDs.

Medical and surgical interventions for hearing loss associated with congenital cytomegalovirus: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Hearing loss associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurs in 0.2 to 0.6 per 1000 neonates. OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of this systemic review was to test the following null hypotheses: (1) antiviral therapy has no impact on congenital CMV-related sensorineural hearing loss and (2) surgical therapy has no impact on congenital CMV-related sensorineural hearing loss. DATA SOURCES: Computerized searches of MEDLINE and EMBASE databases through September 2010 were performed, supplemented with manual searches and inquiries to topic experts. REVIEW METHODS: Studies were included based on review of 387 studies according to criteria developed a priori. Data extraction was performed by independent reviewers and focused on relevant audiologic measurements, study designs, and potential confounders. RESULTS: Criterion-meeting studies (n = 19) included a total of 446 participants. The largest randomized controlled trial (RCT) suggested a significant protective effect of intravenous ganciclovir against deterioration of hearing in neonates with central nervous system manifestations of CMV infection. It also, however, suggested a 3-fold increase in neutropenia. The second RCT suggested that there may be no significant benefit of intravenous ganciclovir for normal-hearing infants with asymptomatic congenital CMV. Additional prospective and retrospective data evaluated the impact of oral therapy and cochlear implantation in affected patients. CONCLUSION: Although results are mixed, the highest level of evidence suggests that antiviral therapy confers a protective benefit on neonates with hearing loss and symptomatic CMV. Cochlear implantation can result in advancement of speech and language skills, but there are mixed results compared with non­CMV-infected patients.