[Severe forms of chikungunya virus infection in a pediatric intensive care unit on Reunion Island]. / Infections graves a virus chikungunya en réanimation pédiatrique a l'ile de La Réunion.

UNLABELLED: In 2005-2006, an unexpected, massive outbreak of chikungunya occurred on Reunion Island, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean. This arboviral infection transmitted by a mosquito of the Aedes genus is usually benign. A surprising feature of the Reunion Island epidemic was the occurrence of rare severe forms involving adults as well as children. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this report is to describe severe forms of chikungunya observed in children hospitalized in a pediatric intensive care unit. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective single-center study was conducted from January 1st to April 30th, 2006. Children between 1 month and 15 years admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit with proven chikungunya infection were included. RESULTS: A total of 9 children were included. The main manifestations were extensive skin blisters in 5 cases, neurological symptoms (encephalopathy) in 4, cardiac complications (myocarditis, hemodynamic disorders) in 5 and bleeding in 1. Two children died. The causes of death were circulatory failure associated with coma and massive hemorrhage in one case and post-infectious encephalitis in the other. Three survivors present long-term neurologic or dermatologic sequels. DISCUSSION: Severe cases of chikungunya in children provide a stark reminder of the cardiac and neurological tropism of the virus and its hemorrhagic forms with high potential mortality and morbidity. These cases underline the need for personal protection measures and for research to develop specific antiviral therapy and vaccines to prevent potentially lethal forms of the disease.

[Evaluation of analgesic protocol with nitrous oxide and EMLA cream during botulinum toxin injections in children]. / Evaluation d'une procédure antalgique associant protoxyde d'azote et crème EMLA lors des injections de toxine botulique chez l'enfant.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficiency and tolerance of analgesic treatment with nitrous oxide and topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) in children undergoing botulinum toxin injections for focal spasticity. METHODS: Prospective study including 40 consecutive patients aged 2 to 17 years, most with cerebral palsy, undergoing botulinum toxin injections. Ten had severe cerebral palsy with cognitive deficiency. For most patients the treatment involved several muscles, with several injections per muscle. The total number of injections varied from 1 to 25. The procedure was performed with topical anesthesia with EMLA and inhalation of nitrous oxide (50% nitrous oxide, 50% oxygen). Reactions were recorded by the staff (a practician, a nurse, an auxiliary staff member and an internist) and whether they related to the injection or were nonspecific. RESULTS: A total of 45% of patients showed no clinical manifestation of pain; for 30%, reactions were crying and withdrawal directly related to the injections; and for 25%, manifestations seemed nonspecific and mainly related to overall anxiety and discomfort. In 3 patients, moderate side effects were observed (visual hallucinations and euphoria). DISCUSSION: Nitrous oxide analgesic with topical EMLA was efficient for children undergoing botulinum toxin injections but remained insufficient for half of our patients, and modification of the protocol is needed in some cases. Precise evaluation of acute pain is difficult in children with major cognitive deficits. Clinical manifestations are related to pain but also to overall anxiety and stress.