Diagnóstico y tratamiento de pacientes COVID-19 en Urgencia Pediátrica. Guía para esta pandemia / Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients with COVID-19 infectious disease at the emergency room. A guideline for this pandemia

Resumen: La emergencia del virus SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2), ha producido nuevos y grandes desafíos para la salud pública y la atención de urgencia desde su aparición en Wuhan, China(1). Los desafíos en urgencia, van desde cambios en los flujos de pacientes, áreas de atención, sistemas de trabajo, equipo de protección personal (EPP) necesarios y una gran capacitación para lograr atender adecuadamente a adultos y niños con la enfermedad producida por este virus (COVID-19)(2-4). En esta publicación, se propone una guía de cómo organizar un servicio de urgencias en tiempos de pandemia y cómo atender al niño sospechoso o con COVID-19 que consulta en urgencias. La información necesaria se obtuvo a través de guías nacionales e internacionales y la literatura científica obtenida a través de PubMed, CDC y NIH y de la autoridad sanitaria nacional.

Abstract: The SARS-CoV-2 emergency has caused major new challenges for both public health and medical clinical practice since the first cases reported in Wuhan, China. The challenges in emergency care ran ge from changes in the flow of patients, care areas, ways of working, personal protective equipment, and intensive training in order to properly care for adults and children with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). In this publication, we propose guidelines on organizing the emergency department in the face of this pandemic, and how to provide medical care for the pediatric patient with either suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who seek care in the emergency room. We obtained the necessary data from national and international guidelines and the scientific literature available from PubMed, CDC, NIH, and the Chilean national health authorities.

[Interactive, semi-automatized and open source computational model applied to respiratory viruses surveillance]. / Modelo computacional interactivo, semi-automatizado y de código abierto aplicado a la vigilancia de virus respiratorios.

Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting mainly children and the elderly. They are associated with a high economic burden, increased number of medical visits and hospitalizations. The surveillance of the circulation of respiratory viruses can reduce the health care associated costs, and to optimize the health response. A platform based on R and its package Shiny was designed, to create an interactive and friendly web interface for gathering, analysis and publication of the data. The data from the Chilean metropolitan respiratory viruses surveillance network, available since 2006, was uploaded into the platform. Using this platform, the researcher spends less than 1 minute to upload the data, and the analysis and publication is immediate, available to be seen by any user with a device connected to Internet, who can choose the variables to be displayed. With a very low cost, in a short time, and using the R programming language, it was possible to create a simple, and interactive platform, considerably decreasing the upload and analysis time, and increasing the impact and availability of this surveillance.

Modelo computacional interactivo, semi-automatizado y de código abierto aplicado a la vigilancia de virus respiratorios / Interactive, semi-automatized and open source computational model applied to respiratory viruses surveillance

Resumen Las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) causadas por virus son una importante causa de morbilidad y mortalidad en el mundo, afectando principalmente a niños y adultos mayores. Se asocian a un alto número de consultas y hospitalizaciones, a una significativa sobrecarga del sistema de salud y a un alto costo económico. La vigilancia de virus respiratorios tiene el potencial de ayudar a optimizar la respuesta sanitaria, garantizar la disponibilidad de recursos humanos, racionalizar los recursos y disminuir los costos asociados a la atención en salud. Con el objetivo de optimizar la recolección y visualización de los datos de nuestro actual sistema de vigilancia de virus respiratorios, se diseñó una plataforma basada en R y sus paquetes Shiny, que permite la creación de una interfase web interactiva y amigable para la recolección, análisis y publicación de los datos. Se ingresaron a esta plataforma los datos de la red de vigilancia metropolitana de virus respiratorios disponibles desde 2006. En esta plataforma, el investigador demora menos de un minuto en registrar los datos. El análisis y publicación es inmediato, llegando a cualquier usuario con un dispositivo conectado a Internet, quien puede elegir las variables a consultar. Con un costo muy bajo, en poco tiempo y utilizando el lenguaje de programación R, se logró crear un sistema simple e interactivo, disminuyendo el tiempo de carga y análisis de datos de forma considerable, posiblemente aumentando el impacto y la disponibilidad de esta vigilancia.

Abstract Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting mainly children and the elderly. They are associated with a high economic burden, increased number of medical visits and hospitalizations. The surveillance of the circulation of respiratory viruses can reduce the health care associated costs, and to optimize the health response. A platform based on R and its package Shiny was designed, to create an interactive and friendly web interface for gathering, analysis and publication of the data. The data from the Chilean metropolitan respiratory viruses surveillance network, available since 2006, was uploaded into the platform. Using this platform, the researcher spends less than 1 minute to upload the data, and the analysis and publication is immediate, available to be seen by any user with a device connected to Internet, who can choose the variables to be displayed. With a very low cost, in a short time, and using the R programming language, it was possible to create a simple, and interactive platform, considerably decreasing the upload and analysis time, and increasing the impact and availability of this surveillance.

[Does a clinical prediction rule anticipate the diagnosis for streptococcal pharyngitis in children aged 2 to 15?] / Una regla de predicción clínica ¿anticipa el diagnóstico de la faringitis estreptocóccica en niños de 2 a 15 años?

BACKGROUND: The etiology of a streptococcal pharyngitis must be documented by laboratory techniques to avoid unnecessary antimicrobial treatment, but this strategy increases cost for the patient. Available scores applied in children or adults are imperfect. AIM: To develop a clinical prediction rule to aid the diagnostic process of streptococcal pharyngitis (SP) in children in a low-resource setting. METHODS: Three hundred and eighteen patients aged 2 to 15 years who were evaluated for suspected SP at the Pediatric Emergency Department and the Pediatric Ambulatory Unit of Red Salud UC-Christus entered the study. A throat culture and a rapid antigen detection test for Streptococcus pyogenes were obtained from each patient. Data were analyzed for possible clinical predictors of SP with univariate and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Seventy-three cases of SP were diagnosed (23.9%). In the univariate analysis, fever was inversely associated with SP (p = 0.002). Odynophagia, palatal petechiae, and season of the year (autumn and winter) were positively associated with SP (p = 0.007, p < 0.001 and p = 0.03 respectively). In multiple regression analysis the models did not have sufficient power to predict streptococcal etiology. CONCLUSION: Clinical predictors, even those systematically included in clinical prediction rules, did not show sufficient predictive power to safely include or exclude SP in this setting, and thus, it is necessary to improve access to confirmatory tests.

Una regla de predicción clínica ¿anticipa el diagnóstico de la faringitis estreptocóccica en niños de 2 a 15 años? / Does a clinical prediction rule anticipate the diagnosis for streptococcal pharyngitis in children aged 2 to 15?

Resumen Introducción: La etiología estreptocóccica de una faringitis debe ser confirmada con métodos de laboratorio para evitar un sobre-tratamiento antimicrobiano, exámenes que agregan costo a la atención del paciente. Los scores diseñados para aplicar en niños y adultos son imperfectos. Objetivo: Desarrollar una regla de predicción clínica para contribuir al diagnóstico de la faringitis estreptocóccica (FE) en niños. Pacientes y Métodos: Se incluyeron 318 pacientes de 2 a 15 años que fueron evaluados por sospecha de FE en el Servicio de Urgencias Pediátricas y la Unidad de Pediatría Ambulatoria de la Red Salud UC-Christus. Se obtuvo un cultivo faríngeo y una prueba rápida de detección de antígeno para Streptococcus pyogenes de cada paciente. Los datos se analizaron para posibles predictores clínicos de FE con análisis de regresión múltiple. Resultados. Setenta y tres casos de FE fueron diagnosticados (23,9%). En el análisis univariado, la fiebre se asoció inversamente con FE (p = 0,002). La odinofagia, las petequias palatinas y la estación del año (otoño e invierno) se asociaron positivamente con FE (p = 0,007, p < 0,001 y p = 0,03 respectivamente). En el análisis de regresión múltiple, los modelos no tuvieron suficiente poder para predecir etiología por S. pyogenes. Conclusión: Los predictores clínicos analizados, incluso los incluidos sistemáticamente en reglas de predicción clínica, no mostraron suficiente poder predictor para incluir o excluir de forma segura la FE en este contexto y, por lo tanto, sería necesario mejorar el acceso a las pruebas de confirmación.

Background: The etiology of a streptococcal pharyngitis must be documented by laboratory techniques to avoid unnecessary antimicrobial treatment, but this strategy increases cost for the patient. Available scores applied in children or adults are imperfect. Aim: To develop a clinical prediction rule to aid the diagnostic process of streptococcal pharyngitis (SP) in children in a low-resource setting. Methods: Three hundred and eighteen patients aged 2 to 15 years who were evaluated for suspected SP at the Pediatric Emergency Department and the Pediatric Ambulatory Unit of Red Salud UC-Christus entered the study. A throat culture and a rapid antigen detection test for Streptococcus pyogenes were obtained from each patient. Data were analyzed for possible clinical predictors of SP with univariate and multiple regression analyses. Results: Seventy-three cases of SP were diagnosed (23.9%). In the univariate analysis, fever was inversely associated with SP (p = 0.002). Odynophagia, palatal petechiae, and season of the year (autumn and winter) were positively associated with SP (p = 0.007, p < 0.001 and p = 0.03 respectively). In multiple regression analysis the models did not have sufficient power to predict streptococcal etiology. Conclusion: Clinical predictors, even those systematically included in clinical prediction rules, did not show sufficient predictive power to safely include or exclude SP in this setting, and thus, it is necessary to improve access to confirmatory tests.

Infection in Health Personnel with High and Low Levels of Exposure in a Hospital Setting during the H1N1 2009 Influenza A Pandemic.

A novel H1N1 influenza A virus caused the first pandemic of the 21st century in 2009. Hospitals had an increased demand of health consultations, that made it difficult to estimate the incidence of infection in hospital personnel due to asymptomatic presentations and the under notification of cases. To estimate and compare the rate of exposure of high versus low risk health personnel to 2009 pandemic H1N1 (H1N1pdm2009) influenza A virus in a University Hospital in Chile, we performed a comparative and prospective study. Serum samples were obtained from 117 individuals that worked in the emergency room (ER) and the operating room (OR) during the peak of the pandemic. Antibody titers were determined by the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Of the samples analyzed, 65% were workers at the ER and 35% at the OR. Of the total number of the subjects tested, 29.1% were seropositive. One out of 3 (36.8%) workers at the ER had positive HI titers, meanwhile only 1 out of 7 (14.6%) workers from the OR was seropositive to the virus. The possibility of being infected in the ER as compared to the OR was 3.4 times greater (OR 3.4; CI 95%, 1.27-9.1), and the individuals of the ER had almost twice as much antibody titers against H1N1pdm2009 than the personnel in the OR, suggesting the potential of more than one exposure to the virus. Of the 34 seropositive subjects, 12 (35.3%) did not develop influenza like illness, including 2 non-clinical personnel involved in direct contact with patients at the ER. Considering the estimated population attack rate in Chile of 13%, both groups presented a higher exposure and seropositive rate than the general population, with ER personnel showing greater risk of infection and a significantly higher level of antibodies. This data provide a strong rationale to design improved control measures aimed at all the hospital personnel, including those coming into contact with the patients prior to triage, to prevent the propagation and transmission of respiratory viruses, particularly during a pandemic outbreak.

Efectividad de la vacuna antivaricela como profilaxis post exposición en niños chilenos / Effectiveness of varicella vaccine as post exposure prophylaxis in Chilean children

Introduction: Efficacy and effectiveness of varicella vaccine (VV) as post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) strategy have shown discordant results for disease risk reduction, and more consistent results in their ability to attenuate the disease. Aim: To assess the effectiveness of VV as PEP among household contacts. Material and Methods: We followed up 33 children after household exposure to a varicella case, of which 15 received VV as PEP and 18 did not received VV. The presence and severity of the disease were clinically determined. Results: Secondary attack rate was 53% among vaccinated and 89% among non-vaccinated children. Overall effectiveness of VV as PEP was 40% (CI95% 1%-64%). The effectiveness for preventing moderate or severe disease was 63% (CI95% 8%-85%) in the entire group and 77% (CI95% 14%-94%) among children vaccinated during the first 3 days post exposure. Vaccine tolerance was acceptable, with a low number of adverse reactions, all of them mild. Conclusion: The results suggest that VV as PEP is effective among household contacts, especially for reducing the severity of the disease.

Introducción: Los estudios de eficacia y efectividad de la vacuna antivaricela (V AV) como profilaxis post exposición (PPE) han mostrado resultados disímiles en cuanto a la reducción del riesgo de enfermar, y algo más consistentes en su capacidad de atenuar la enfermedad. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de la VAV como PPE utilizada en contactos domiciliarios. Material y Métodos: Se realizó el seguimiento post exposición de 33 contactos domiciliarios de casos de varicela, de los cuales 15 recibieron VAV como PPE y 18 no la recibieron. Se determinó clínicamente el desarrollo de enfermedad y la intensidad de la misma. Resultados: La tasa de ataque secundario fue 53% en vacunados y 89% en no-vacunados, siendo la efectividad global de la VAV como PEP 40% (IC95% 1%-64%). La efectividad para prevenir enfermedad moderada o intensa fue 63% (IC95% 8-85%) en el grupo completo y 77% (IC95% 14-94%) en los niños vacunados durante los primeros tres días post exposición. La tolerancia a la vacuna fue aceptable, con un bajo número de reacciones adversas, todas leves. Conclusión: Los resultados sugieren que la VAV es efectiva como PPE en contactos domiciliarios, especialmente para reducir la intensidad de la enfermedad.

[Effectiveness of varicella vaccine as post exposure prophylaxis in Chilean children]. / Efectividad de la vacuna antivaricela como profilaxis post exposición en niños chilenos.

INTRODUCTION: Efficacy and effectiveness of varicella vaccine (VV) as post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) strategy have shown discordant results for disease risk reduction, and more consistent results in their ability to attenuate the disease. AIM: To assess the effectiveness of VV as PEP among household contacts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We followed up 33 children after household exposure to a varicella case, of which 15 received VV as PEP and 18 did not received VV. The presence and severity of the disease were clinically determined. RESULTS: Secondary attack rate was 53% among vaccinated and 89% among non-vaccinated children. Overall effectiveness of VV as PEP was 40% (CI95% 1%-64%). The effectiveness for preventing moderate or severe disease was 63% (CI95% 8%-85%) in the entire group and 77% (CI95% 14%-94%) among children vaccinated during the first 3 days post exposure. Vaccine tolerance was acceptable, with a low number of adverse reactions, all of them mild. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that VV as PEP is effective among household contacts, especially for reducing the severity of the disease.

Ausencia de correlación de variables clínicas con estudio etiológico en faringoamigdalitis aguda: estudio prospectivo de casos y controles / Absence of correlation between clinical variables and etiology of acute pharyngotonsillitis: prospective study of cases and controls

Introducción: La faringoamigdalitis aguda (FAA) es un cuadro infeccioso producido por numerosos agentes etiológicos, siendo Streptococcus pyogenes (SP) el más frecuentemente involucrado y el principal responsable de potenciales complicaciones. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la prevalencia de éste y otros microorganismos en una muestra de población pediátrica y adulta. Material y método: Se diseñó un estudio prospectivo de casos y controles en pacientes que consultaron en forma consecutiva por odinofagia con signos de inflamación faringoamigdalina. Resultados: Se obtuvo un examen completo incluyendo un cultivo faríngeo en 159 pacientes entre 3 y 55 años. Entre los síntomas relevantes destacaron: cefalea, fiebre, adenopatíasy exudado. En adultos, 29 por ciento de las FAA fueron causadas por SP, mientras que en niños sólo 17 por ciento. En ningún paciente control se objetivó la presencia de SP. Conclusión: No existió correlación entre las características clínicas y la presencia de SP. De acuerdo a estos resultados se sugiere la realización rutinaria de un estudio etiológico al enfrentarse a una FAA.

Acute pharyngotonsillitis (APT) is an infectious disease that can be caused by numerous etiologic agents, with Streptococcus pyogenes (SP) being the most frequently involved and the main cause of potential complications. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of this and other microorganisms in a sample of a pediatric and adult population. A prospective study of cases and controls was designed in patients that presented consecutively with odynophagia and pharyngotonsilar inflammation. A complete exam was performed, including pharyngeal culture in 159 patients between 3 and 55 years of age. Among relevant symptoms we found: headache, fever, lymphadenopathy and tonsilar exúdate. 29 percentofAPTs were caused by SP in adults, and only 17 percent In children. Conclusions: There was no correlation between clinical characteristics and SP presence. According to these results, a routine etiologic study is suggested when facing an APT.

Urine microscopy as screen for urinary tract infections in a pediatric emergency unit in Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of urine microscopy as a predictor of urinary tract infections (UTIs), taking the urine culture as a criterion standard in a pediatric emergency unit. METHODS: Retrospective study in which all medical charts were analyzed for children younger than 15 years who underwent urine culture and sediment tests. Urine microscopy test was considered positive for leukocyturia when there were more than 10 leukocytes per microliter, and bacteriuria test was considered positive when any presence of bacteria was detected at x40 magnification. The method of sample taking was also recorded. RESULTS: Of 18,302 consultations of children younger than 15 years, 1173 (6.4%) needed both a urine culture and a urine microscopy. Urine cultures demonstrated that 20.9% of the samples were consistent with the diagnosis of UTI. Bacteriuria and leukocyturia tests had a sensitivity of 87.4% (95% CI, 82.7%-91.0%), a specificity of 94.8% (95% CI, 93.2%-96.1%), a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 16.7 (95% CI, 16.18-17.61), and a likelihood ratio for a negative test of 0.13 (95% CI, 0.12-0.14). Samples taken by sterile methods (suprapubic aspiration and bladder catheterization) had a better positive predictive value than those taken by nonsterile methods (urine bag and midstream clean-catch) without having an adverse impact on the negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: Urine microscopy without Gram stain is a good test for predicting the presence of UTIs in children, which supports the use of this screening method in pediatric emergency units.

Tratamiento medicamentoso de las enfermedades enteroparasitarias infantiles / Drug treatment of the enteroparasitary diseases in children

La infección por parásitos intestinales es un problema que el médico enfrenta frecuentemente. Muchas veces ocurre por más de un parásito, siendo útil tener alternativas de tratamiento único para dos o más agentes. Se revisarán los parásitos más frecuentes en el niño y su tratamiento

Estudio serologico citomegalovirus, virus del herpes simple y de la rubiola, hepatitis B y toxoplasma gondii en dos poblaciones de gestantes en Santiago, Chile / Serological study for cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus rubeolla virus, hepatitis B virus and Toxoplasma gondii in 2 populations of pregnant women in Chile

Se llevó a cabo una encuesta serológica de gestantes de estratos socieconómicos mediano (372) y bajo (461) de Santiago, Chile, durante su primera o segunda consulta prenatal, con el fin de determinar la prevalencia de infección por citomegalovirus (CMV), virus de rubéola, herpes simple (HSV) y hepatitis B (HBV), y Toxoplasma gondii en las primeras fases de la gestación. Las muestras se analizaron por ELISA utilizando reactivos comerciales. En la cohorte de bajos ingresos, la tasa de seropositividad fue del 96,5% para CMV, del 97,2% para HSV, del 94,8% para rubéola, del 68,2% para T. gondii y del 1,4% para HBV. En el grupo de medianos ingresos, la tasa de seropositividad fue del 86,8% para CMV, del 87,9% para HVS, del 94,4% para rubéola, del 48,4% para T. gondii y del 1,4% para HBV. Solo las diferencias en la prevalencia de CMV, HSV y T gondii fueron significativas. Los resultados revelan que, en Santiago, las infecciones por CMV, HSV, rubéola y T. gondii se contraen en edad temprana en ambos grupos analizados. A pesar del alto grado de inmunidad resultante, es posible que el riesgo de infecciones congénitas y perinatales por esos agentes sea alto, debido a la constante oportunidad de reactivación y reinfección que se producen con frecuencia en el caso de CMV y HSV. Además, las gestantes susceptibles, aunque son relativamente pocas, están en constante riesgo de contraer esas infecciones tan difundidas en la comunidad. La prevalencia de la hepatitis B, por otra parte, es mucho menor en Chile que en otros países con un grado de desarollo económico similar. Esto parecería indicar que los casos de infección por HBV en neonatos deben ser infrecuentes