Screening for infection in unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people.

We aimed to evaluate a screening programme for infection in unaccompanied asylum seeking children and young people against national guidance and to described the rates of identified infection in the cohort. The audit was conducted by retrospective case note review of routinely collected, anonymised patient data from all UASC referred between January 2016 and December 2018 in two paediatric infectious diseases clinics.There were 252 individuals from 19 countries included in the study, of these 88% were male, and the median age was 17 years (range 11-18). Individuals from Afghanistan, Eritrea and Albania constituted the majority of those seen. Median time between arriving in the UK and infection screening was 6 months (IQR 4-10 months, data available on 197 UASC). There were 94% (238/252) of cases tested for tuberculosis (TB), of whom 23% (55/238) were positive, including three young people with TB disease. Of those tested for hepatitis B, 4.8% (10/210) were positive, 0.5% (1/121) were positive for hepatitis C and of 252 tested, none were positive for HIV. Of the 163 individuals who were tested for schistosomiasis, 27 were positive (16%).The majority of patients were appropriately tested for infections with a high rate of identification of treatable asymptomatic infection. Infections were of both individual and public health significance. Our findings of clinically significant rates of treatable infections in UASC highlight the importance of infection screening for all in this vulnerable patient group.

A pre-test post-test assessment of non-invasive keratograph break up time and corneal epithelial thickness after vaping.

BACKGROUND: The effects of electronic cigarettes on the ocular surface has yet to be shown. The purpose of the study was to assess the impact of e-cigarette use on the anterior corneal surface integrity. METHODS: Forty three males and 21 females with an average of 21years were required to vape 0.05ml of e-liquid of 8mg nicotine concentration. Corneal epithelial thickness (CET) and Non Invasive Keratograph Tear Break up Time (NIKBUT) measurements were obtained prior to and post vaping. The Optovue iVue optical coherence topographer was used to measure central; superior; inferior; nasal and temporal CET and NIKBUT was assessed using the Oculus Keratograph 5M. RESULTS: There was a mean increase for central corneal epithelial thickness of 0.3448 microns. The superior CET increased by 0.2414 microns. The inferior CET increased by 0.2931microns. The nasal CET increased by 0.2069 microns. The temporal CET increased by 0.2759 microns. The mean change in NIKBUT post-vaping was an increase of 1.40 seconds. All observations occurred at p > 0.05. CONCLUSION: The acute effect of e-cigarette use does not impact corneal epithelial thickness and non-invasive keratography tear break up time after 10 puffs mild exposure but more research is needed to assess if this remains the case with more frequent, higher exposure.

Not every cough in bronchiolitis season is bronchiolitis.

A 2-month-old male infant presented to hospital for the third time in late autumn with a 4 week history of cough and respiratory distress. He had presented to hospital on two occasions during the previous two weeks, and had twice been discharged with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis, based on clinical findings and the season. That the nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) was negative for respiratory viruses did not alter the diagnosis as this was felt to be a common false negative finding. However his cough worsened and on his third presentation he had respiratory distress with bilateral crackles and wheeze. The C reactive protein was 121 mg/l but the NPA was again negative for viruses. He was investigated for atypical causes of lower respiratory tract infection and the NPA was positive for Chlamydia trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction. He was treated with a 5 day course of azithromycin and made a full recovery.