Abnormal Nailfold Capillaroscopy in a Patient With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an emerging entity during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Medium- and large-vessel changes are present in MIS-C; however, microcirculatory impairment has not been documented. We report a case of MIS-C in a toddler that presented with persistent fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and rash. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was abnormal, suggesting microcirculatory disease in the setting of MIS-C.

Development and validation of the CAREGIVERS questionnaire: multi-assessing the impact of juvenile idiopathic arthritis on caregivers.

BACKGROUND: The primary caregiver is an important person in the life of patients with JIA. Their reactions depend on social, emotional and economic factors that affect the therapeutic alliance. Some generic instruments have been used to evaluate burden, anxiety, or quality of life of caregivers. This study aims to develop a specific instrument to measure the psychosocial and economic impacts on primary caregivers of patients with JIA. METHODOLOGY: This is a mixed methods research, that includes qualitative and quantitative data, and was carried out in two phases. First phase: a pragmatic qualitative study (questionnaire construction) was conducted in two parts, a non-systematic literature review followed by interviews with primary caregivers. Second phase: a cross-sectional study (questionnaire validation) to complete validation and estimate Cronbach's alphas based on tetrachoric correlation coefficients, correlation matrix and Cohen's kappa coefficient test. RESULTS: There were 38 articles found related to the experience of caregivers. 15 primary caregivers were interviewed (female 93%, median age 45 years). Thematic analysis identified 9 important topics from the perspective of participants (economic impact, coping, family roles, impact of diagnosis, mental health, couple/mate relationships, impact at work, religion, and knowledge of the disease). These topics were combined to create the interview questionnaire (56 items). Later, it was modified to 62 items that were divided into five dimensions: impact of the disease (psychosocial, economic, family, and relationships), knowledge of the disease, alternative medicine, future, and religion. The interview questionnaire was applied to 32 primary caregivers (female 93%, median age 37 years), results identify depression on 29 (90%), 18 (56%) feel sadness at diagnosis, 20 (63%) mentioned that JIA has influenced in their financial situation, 23 (72%) feel anxiety about the future, and 11 (37%) considered that their family relationships have changed. Statistical analysis identified inconsistencies during convergent and divergent validity of the construct. Consequently, 11 items were eliminated, 3 relocated, 6 modified, and 39 compacted obtaining the "Impact of Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases on Caregivers Multi-assessment Questionnaire" (CAREGIVERS questionnaire). This final version resulted on an eight-dimension (28 items) instrument. CONCLUSIONS: The CAREGIVERS questionnaire captures perspectives of both the participants and clinicians. It will be helpful to measure the impact of the disease and thus, to improve the quality of care of children with JIA and their families.

Severe meningoencephalitis co-infection due to Cryptococcus neoformans and Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus.

The incidences of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Cryptococcus neoformans in immunocompromised patients have increased, but there are few documented cases of their coexistence. We present the case of a 9-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), treated with prednisone and cyclophosphamide, who was admitted to the emergency department with a 2-week history of fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, and diplopia 3 years after diagnosis. Physical examination showed limitation of abduction of the right eye, Kernig and Brudzinski signs, and hyporeflexia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperdense lesions located in the caudate nucleus, and lumbar puncture showed pleocytosis, a low glucose level, and increased protein level. Cerebrospinal fluid culture identified C. neoformans and PCR detect M. tuberculosis. Treatment was started with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol, and amphotericin B. We found two similar reports in adults, but no data were found for either pediatric or SLE patients.