Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Temporally Related to COVID-19 in Children From Latin America and the Caribbean Region: A Systematic Review With a Meta-Analysis of Data From Regional Surveillance Systems.

Background: With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing numbers of cases of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) have been reported worldwide; however, it is unclear whether this syndrome has a differential pattern in children from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the epidemiological, clinical, and outcome characteristics of patients with MIS-C in LAC countries. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the main electronic databases and scientific meetings from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Available reports on epidemiological surveillance of countries in the region during the same period were analyzed. Results: Of the 464 relevant studies identified, 23 were included with 592 patients with MIS-C from LAC. Mean age was 6.6 years (IQR, 6-7.4 years); 60% were male. The most common clinical manifestations were fever, rash, and conjunctival injection; 59% showed Kawasaki disease. Pool proportion of shock was 52%. A total of 47% of patients were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), 23% required mechanical ventilation, and 74% required vasoactive drugs. Intravenous gamma globulin alone was administered in 87% of patients, and in combination with steroids in 60% of cases. Length of hospital stay was 10 days (IQR, 9-10) and PICU stay 5.75 (IQR, 5-6). Overall case fatality ratio was 4% and for those hospitalized in the PICU it was 7%. Conclusion: Limited information was available on the clinical outcomes. Improvements in the surveillance system are required to obtain a better epidemiologic overview in the region.

Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Associated With SARS-CoV-2: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differential characteristics of SARS-COV-2 associated inflammatory multisystem syndrome (MIS-C) in children. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted.  The definition of MIS- C was based on WHO criteria. Temporally related COVID-19 patients were included as controls. RESULTS: 25 patients with MIS-C and 75 controls were included. Multivariate multiple logistic regression model of variables that showed to be significant in univariate analysis revealed that age ≥2 years (OR 24.7; 95% CI 1.03 -592.4; P=0.048), lymphopenia (OR 9.03, 95%CI 2.05-39.7; P=0.004), and platelet count <150x109/L (OR 11.7; 95% CI 1.88-75.22; P=0.009) were significantly associated with MIS-C. Presence of underlying disease seemed to reduce the risk of MIS-C (OR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01-0.3). CONCLUSIONS: MIS-C was more common in patients older than 2 years and in those with lymphopenia or thrombocytopenia. Underlying disease appears to reduce the risk of MIS-C.

Endocarditis por Streptococcus pneumoniae en pediatría. Presentación de un caso clínico / Streptococcus pneumoniae endocarditis in a child: a case report

Resumen Introducción: la incidencia de infecciones invasivas por neumococo ha disminuido desde la genera lización de la vacuna neumocóccica conjugada, aunque el neumococo continúa siendo un patógeno prevalente en niños. De las infecciones invasivas por neumococo, la EI (endocarditis infecciosa) es una forma de presentación rara con una incidencia de 1 a 7%. Caso clínico: Presentamos el caso de un niño de 4 años previamente sano, con una única dosis de vacuna 10 valente conjugada para neu mococo, que consulta con fiebre, la aparición de un nuevo soplo cardíaco e insuficiencia cardíaca. Presentó desarrollo de S. pneumoniae en hemocultivos, sensible a penicilina. En el ecocardiograma transtorácico se observaron vegetaciones en válvula tricuspídea y pulmonar. Recibió 4 semanas de tratamiento antibiótico con diagnóstico de EI por neumococo. Evolucionó con daño valvular secun dario que requirió tratamiento quirúrgico. Conclusiones: Debe considerarse la EI como diagnóstico diferencial ante todo niño febril con la aparición de un nuevo soplo cardíaco, y al neumococo agente etiológico en los pacientes febriles con infecciones graves provenientes de la comunidad.

Abstract Introduction: the incidence of invasive infections caused by pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) has declined since generalized vaccination with pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, but it is still a prevalent pathogen in children. Amongst pneumococcal invasive infections, IE (infectious endocarditis) is rare, with an incidence between 1 and 7%. Case report: We describe the case of a previously healthy 4 year old boy, who had received one dose of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine who presents with fever, a new heart murmur and heart failure. Blood cultures were posi tive for penicillin susceptible pneumococcus. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed tricuspid and pulmonary valve vegetations. The patient received 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment for pneumo-coccal IE. He presented secondary valve damage that needed surgical treatment. Conclusions: IE should be considered as a differential diagnosis of children presenting with fever and a newly diag nosed heart murmur, and pneumococcus as an etiologic agent in non hospitalized febrile patients with severe infections.

[Streptococcus pneumoniae endocarditis in a child: a case report]. / Endocarditis por Streptococcus pneumoniae en pediatría. Presentación de un caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: the incidence of invasive infections caused by pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumoniae) has declined since generalized vaccination with pneumococcal conjugated vaccine, but it is still a prevalent pathogen in children. Amongst pneumococcal invasive infections, IE (infectious endocarditis) is rare, with an incidence between 1 and 7%. CASE REPORT: We describe the case of a previously healthy 4 year old boy, who had received one dose of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine who presents with fever, a new heart murmur and heart failure. Blood cultures were posi tive for penicillin susceptible pneumococcus. The transthoracic echocardiogram showed tricuspid and pulmonary valve vegetations. The patient received 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment for pneumo-coccal IE. He presented secondary valve damage that needed surgical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: IE should be considered as a differential diagnosis of children presenting with fever and a newly diag nosed heart murmur, and pneumococcus as an etiologic agent in non hospitalized febrile patients with severe infections.