COVID-19 pandemic. What have we learned?

Since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, we have learned a lot about the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, and its role in pediatric pathology. Children are infected in a rate quite similar to adults, although in most cases they suffer mild or asymptomatic symptoms. Around 1% of those infected require hospitalization, less than 0.02% require intensive care, and mortality is very low and generally in children with comorbidities. The most common clinical diagnoses are upper or lower respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infection and, more seriously, multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). Most episodes do not require treatment, except for MIS-C. Remdesivir has been widely used as a compassionate treatment and its role has yet to be defined. The newborn can become infected, although vertical transmission is very low (<1%) and it has been shown that the baby can safely cohabit with its mother and be breastfed. In general, neonatal infections have been mild. Primary care has supported a very important part of the management of the pandemic in pediatrics. There has been numerous collateral damage derived from the difficulty of access to care and the isolation suffered by children. The mental health of the pediatric population has been seriously affected. Although it has been shown that schooling has not led to an increase in infections, but rather the opposite. It is essential to continue maintaining the security measures that make schools a safe place, so necessary not only for children's education, but for their health in general.

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Aspectos psicosociales en una cohorte de adolescentes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana por transmisión vertical. NeuroCoRISpeS / Psychosocial aspects in a cohort of vertically transmitted human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los avances en el tratamiento antirretroviral han mejorado la esperanza de vida de niños con infección por VIH por transmisión vertical. Sin embargo, han aparecido nuevos retos. Planteamos este estudio con el objetivo de determinar los aspectos psicosociales y el conocimiento sobre su enfermedad en una cohorte de adolescentes con infección por VIH por transmisión vertical. MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron pacientes con infección por VIH por transmisión vertical con edades comprendidas entre 12-19 años. Los datos se obtuvieron mediante entrevista semiestructurada y el Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire para cribado de trastornos emocionales y de conducta. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 96 pacientes (58% mujeres) con mediana de edad de 15 años (11-19,1) y mediana de edad del diagnóstico de 1,70 años (0-12,2). La mediana de CD4 en el momento del corte fue 626 céls/mm3 (132-998); el 72% de los pacientes presentaban una carga viral < 50 cop/ml. El 90% asistía al colegio; de ellos, el 60% había repetido algún curso. Conocían su diagnóstico el 81%. Solo el 30% conocía bien su enfermedad y el 18,2% había compartido el diagnóstico con sus amistades. Se detectaron 6 embarazos durante el periodo de estudio. El Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire mostró riesgo de hiperactividad en el 33%. CONCLUSIÓN: Se objetivan dificultades psicosociales en un elevado porcentaje de pacientes (conocimiento de la enfermedad, relación con pares, fracaso escolar...) que podrían tener impacto en su incorporación a la vida adulta. Son necesarios más estudios para profundizar en el origen y evolución de las dificultades observadas, así como intervenir para prevenir y modificar esta situación

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to advances in antiretroviral treatment, children with HIV infections through vertical transmission have improved their life expectancy. However, new challenges have emerged. We propose this study in order to determine the psychosocial aspects and knowledge of infections in a cohort of adolescents with vertically transmitted HIV infections. METHODS: Patients with vertically-acquired HIV infection between 12 and 19 years old were included. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for emotional and behavioral disorders screening. RESULTS: We evaluated 96 patients (58% females) with a median age of 15 years (11-19.1) and a median age at diagnosis of 1.70 years (0-12.2). The median CD4 count was 626 cells/mm3 (132-998), and the viral load was < 50 cp/ml in 72% of patients. Among them, 90% attended school and 60% repeated at least one course. Although 81% of them knew of their diagnosis, only 30% understood their disease, with 18.2% having discussed it with friends. Six unwanted pregnancies occurred during the study period. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire showed hyperactivity risk in 33%. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of adolescents show difficulties in several areas (disease knowledge, peer relationship, school failure...) that can have an impact on their adult lives. Further studies are needed to evaluate their origin and development in depth, as well as interventions to modify this situation

Once-daily antiretroviral therapy in a cohort of HIV-infected children and adolescents.

We evaluated the evolution over time of once-daily antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected children and its relationship with adherence. An increase on the prevalence of once-daily antiretroviral therapy was observed over time (from 0.9% in 2002 to 44.2% in 2011). There was no difference in adherence regarding once-daily or BID regimens in 2011. Adherence was related to age and pill burden.

[Psychosocial aspects in a cohort of vertically transmitted human immunodeficiency virus-infected adolescents]. / Aspectos psicosociales en una cohorte de adolescentes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana por transmisión vertical. NeuroCoRISpeS.

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to advances in antiretroviral treatment, children with HIV infections through vertical transmission have improved their life expectancy. However, new challenges have emerged. We propose this study in order to determine the psychosocial aspects and knowledge of infections in a cohort of adolescents with vertically transmitted HIV infections. METHODS: Patients with vertically-acquired HIV infection between 12 and 19 years old were included. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for emotional and behavioral disorders screening. RESULTS: We evaluated 96 patients (58% females) with a median age of 15 years (11-19.1) and a median age at diagnosis of 1.70 years (0-12.2). The median CD4 count was 626cells/mm(3) (132-998), and the viral load was<50cp/ml in 72% of patients. Among them, 90% attended school and 60% repeated at least one course. Although 81% of them knew of their diagnosis, only 30% understood their disease, with 18.2% having discussed it with friends. Six unwanted pregnancies occurred during the study period. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire showed hyperactivity risk in 33%. CONCLUSION: A high percentage of adolescents show difficulties in several areas (disease knowledge, peer relationship, school failure...) that can have an impact on their adult lives. Further studies are needed to evaluate their origin and development in depth, as well as interventions to modify this situation.

Successful response to cidofovir of adenovirus hepatitis during chemotherapy in a child with hepatoblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Adenoviral infections are endemic in the pediatric population. Most of these infections are mild and self-limited in immunocompetent individuals. Although in profoundly immunocompromised hosts after solid organ or stem cell transplantation, adenovirus may cause fulminant hepatitis or other life-threatening infections, this is a rare complication in patients receiving standard chemotherapy. OBSERVATION: We report a case of severe adenovirus hepatitis in a 7-month-old child receiving induction chemotherapy for hepatoblastoma who fully recovered after treatment with cidofovir. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting recovering of severe adenoviral hepatitis in a nontransplanted immunocompromised host.

Outcome of protease inhibitor substitution with nevirapine in HIV-1 infected children.

BACKGROUND: Protease inhibitors (PIs) have been associated with metabolic complications. There is a trend to switch to simpler therapy to improve these disturbances. We report a case-series describing the effects in metabolic abnormalities in seven HIV-infected children, previously treated with protease inhibitor (PI) after switching to nevirapine. METHODS: Seven children with stable PI-containing regimen and a long lasting HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/ml were switched to nevirapine. All patients were naïve to non nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. PIs were switched to nevirapine. Preentry nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were maintained. The substitution of PIs with nevirapine was made when the patient showed hyperlipidemia or lipodystrophy or the physician and/or the patient's willingness to simplify. Clinical, laboratory data and anthropometric parameters were assessed every 3 months. Dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry scans (DXA) was performed at baseline and at 12 months. RESULTS: Seven HIV-infected children were enrolled. Median age: 130 months (99,177). Median baseline CD4%: 32%. All had HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/ml. Median length of preentry PI-therapy was 47 months (28, 91). Median age at the beginning of nevirapine was 120 months (99,177). Median decrease in cholesterol in 7.2 mmol/L was observed (P = 0.09), from baseline to 12 months. HDL-cholesterol increased in 5.1 mmol/L (P = 0.03) throughout the study period. No significant changes were observed in DXA with regard to body fat, but changes in total body bone mineral content and lean body content were significant. CD4% remained stable. All patients but one maintained viral load < 50 copies/ml at 12 months. The patient with virologic failure referred bad adherence. Children referred to take medication more easily. CONCLUSION: PI substitution with nevirapine improved lipid profile in our patients, although this strategy did not show significant changes in body fat or lipodystrophy.

Influence of mannose-binding lectin on HIV infection and tuberculosis in a Western-European population.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a serum lectin that mediates phagocytosis and activates complement. Its deficiency has been associated with increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, mainly in childhood. However, non-producer mbl-2 alleles are common in most populations, suggesting a selective advantage of these alleles. We have analysed the association of mbl-2 structural and promoter polymorphisms with HIV infection and tuberculosis (TBC) in a white Spanish population, including 615 HIV patients with and without TBC, 127 no-HIV TBC patients, 142 TBC household contacts and 344 controls. The frequency of low or non-producer mbl-2 genotypes was lower in HIV patients than in controls. HIV-TBC patients presented lower frequencies of low or non-producer alleles and genotypes than HIV no-TBC patients and controls. Additionally, we found a significantly positive correlation between the incidence of TBC and the frequency of non-producer mbl-2 alleles in Western Europe. Therefore, MBL deficiency may be associated with a lower risk of HIV infection, and also of active TBC, at least in HIV patients. The protective role of low-producer mbl-2 genotypes against TBC together with the positive correlation observed between non-producer mbl-2 alleles and TBC incidence, suggest a balancing selection: in spite of an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections associated with MBL deficiency, mbl-2 deficient alleles would have been selected along different populations as a consequence of its selective advantage against intracellular pathogens, such as M. tuberculosis.