[Formoterol-budesonide combination for maintenance and relief in children and adolescents with asthma]. / Association fixe formotérol-budésonide comme traitement de fond et de secours dans l'asthme de l'enfant et de l'adolescent.

International guidelines have been edited to standardize asthma management. These guidelines are often difficult to translate to clinical practice because of gaps in the knowledge of clinical practitioners but also because of compliance issues, particularly in children and adolescents. A new approach named SIT (for Single Inhaler Therapy) or SMART (for Symbicort Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) has demonstrated its safety and efficacy in numerous studies of adults with asthma summarized in two Cochrane reviews. We present here three clinical cases from our clinic where this approach was applied to children and adolescents with a clear clinical and functional response for two of them. We suggest that the SIT regimen can be used in some children and adolescents with asthma and has the potential to reduce compliance issues. Moreover asthma phenotypes have been described and it is possible that only some of these phenotypes respond to this regimen. However to confirm the efficacy and safety of the SIT regimen in children and adolescents more studies are needed.

La prise en charge de l'asthme se base sur des schémas résumés dans des recommandations internationales. En pratique, la mise en place de ces recommandations se heurte à de nombreux problèmes dont la méconnaissance du milieu médical, mais aussi l'observance, en particulier chez l'enfant et l'adolescent. Une nouvelle approche, appelée SIT (pour Single Inhaler Therapy) ou SMART (pour Symbicort Maintenance And Reliever Therapy) a démontré son efficacité chez l'adulte sur base de plusieurs études, résumées dans deux revues Cochrane. Nous présentons trois cas cliniques où ce traitement a été appliqué à des enfants et adolescents avec une efficacité certaine dans deux cas et une mauvaise réponse dans l'autre. Nous suggérons que ce schéma pourrait être efficace chez l'enfant et l'adolescent, notamment vu les problèmes de compliance dans cette tranche d'âge. En outre, il est possible que certains phénotypes d'asthme soient plus à même de répondre à ce schéma. Afin de confirmer l'efficacité et la sécurité de ce type de schéma dans cette tranche d'âge, des études complémentaires sont cependant indispensables.

Montelukast does not prevent reactive airway disease in young children hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis.

AIM: To evaluate the long-term effect of montelukast on symptoms of cough and wheeze following RSV bronchiolitis. METHODS: Fifty eight patients (aged < or = 24 months) hospitalized with a first episode of RSV bronchiolitis were enrolled in this double blind prospective randomized trial comparing montelukast (n = 31) vs placebo (n = 27). RESULTS: During the 3-month treatment period, there were no statistical significant differences between the two groups for symptom-free days and nights (48.5 [interquartile range 33.0.0-66.0] for montelukast vs 57.0 [29.0-71.0] for placebo p = 0.415) nor disease-free days and nights (44.5 days [26.0-54.0] vs 53.0 [22.3-71.0]; p = 0.266). During the 1 year follow-up, there were 41 exacerbations in the montelukast group vs 54 exacerbations in the placebo group (p = 0.57). Time to first exacerbation was not different. Number of unscheduled visits and need to start inhaled steroids were comparable in the two groups. CONCLUSION: Treatment with montelukast after hospital admission for RSV bronchiolitis in children younger than 2 years of age did not reduce symptoms of cough and wheeze. We cannot exclude that a subgroup of children may, however, benefit from this treatment.

Early skin sensitization to aeroallergens.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of aeroallergen sensitization is important as a prognosis factor but may be more difficult in young children. OBJECTIVE: We sought to demonstrate that skin sensitization to aeroallergens was present in a selected group of 0-2-year-old children and that it was associated with environmental exposure and a family history of allergic disease. METHODS: Data on exposure and history were extracted from the files of 824 children seen in the asthma clinic and who were skin tested to a panel of aero- and food allergens. RESULTS: Forty percent of our children demonstrated atopy, 28% were sensitized to aeroallergens, the majority of which to house dust mite. Higher sensitization rates were found in children with large weals to histamine (P<0.001) and in those who slept with soft toys [odds ratio (OR) 1.45, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-2.08]. With a definition of sensitization including the size of the weal to histamine, there was a negative association with a personal history of eczema only (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.99). There was no gender-dependent effect and no association with day-care attendance. CONCLUSION: This is one of the largest studies to evaluate skin testing in a selected population of young children. We found a high prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens, which was associated with exposure to soft toys. Further follow-up of this population will allow assessment of the predictive value of this sensitization.

Optimal assessment of the ability of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections to produce anti-polysaccharide antibodies.

Specific anti-polysaccharide antibody deficiency (SPAD) is an immune disorder. Diagnostic criteria have not yet been defined clearly. One hundred and seventy-six children evaluated for recurrent respiratory tract infections were analysed retrospectively. For each subject, specific anti-pneumococcal antibodies had been measured with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), one overall assay (OA) using the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23-PPSV) as detecting antigen and the other purified pneumococcal polysaccharide serotypes (serotype-specific assay, SSA) (serotypes 14, 19F and 23F). Antibody levels were measured before (n = 176) and after (n = 93) immunization with the 23-PPSV. Before immunization, low titres were found for 138 of 176 patients (78%) with OA, compared to 20 of 176 patients (11%) with the SSA. We found a significant correlation between OA and SSA results. After immunization, 88% (71 of 81) of the patients considered as responders in the OA test were also responders in the SSA; 93% (71 of 76) of the patients classified as responders according to the SSA were also responders in the OA. SPAD was diagnosed in 8% (seven of 93) of patients on the basis of the absence of response in both tests. Thus, we propose to use OA as a screening test for SPAD before 23-PPSV immunization. After immunization, SSA should be used only in case of a low response in OA. Only the absence of or a very low antibody response detected by both tests should be used as a diagnostic criterion for SPAD.

[Necrotizing pneumonia in children: apropos of 4 cases]. / Pneumonie nécrosante de l'enfant: à propos de 4 cas.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the necrotizing pneumonia in children, a severe affection which prevalence seems to increase; to review literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 4 cases of necrotizing pneumonia: symptoms, agents, diagnostic tools, treatment and long term evolution. RESULTS: In 2 cases, pneumatoceles could be seen at chest X-ray. Two patients presented a deficiency of anti-pneumococcal antibodies. Three needed insertion of a pleural chest tube of whom 1 had a resection of a small piece of necrotic lung. Duration of hospitalisation is longer than in uncomplicated pneumonias. CONCLUSION: Necrotizing pneumonia is a severe affection. Diagnosis has to be made by lung CT. Long term evolution is excellent in pediatric population with serious management at hospital.

[Pleural effusion in childhood: management algorithm]. / Epanchement pleural de l'enfant: Proposition d'un algorithme de prise en charge.

Based on an increased prevalence of empyema in children,we reviewed the literature on the diagnosis and management of this affection. A retrospective study of 11 children admitted to our hospital in 2003 shows a prolonged hospitalisation (median 18 days) even with adequate treatment. Based on our experience and data from the literature, we propose a management algorithm to allow treatment of children admitted ith pleural effusion.

Bronchiolitis management by the Belgian paediatrician: discrepancies between evidence-based medicine and practice.

UNLABELLED: There is no therapy with proven effect on bronchiolitis outcome. This leads to large variations in its management between different countries. In order to evaluate how this disease was managed in our country, a questionnaire was sent to all Belgian paediatricians. With a response rate above 40% of active paediatricians, we found that bronchodilators (74.7% vs. 77.2%), physiotherapy (76.2% vs. 85.6%) and antibiotics (63.8% vs. 74.4%) were still largely prescribed in in- and outpatient settings respectively, corticosteroids (orally or intravenously) being prescribed more often in hospitals (54.3% vs. 17.0%). There were also some variations in admission criteria (minimal age 2 months (75%) to 6 months (8.2%), lower limit for oxygen saturation: 90% (21.5%) to 95% (26.5%)) and 1/3 of the respondents did not use pulse oxymetry to evaluate hypoxaemia in infants with bronchiolitis. Logistic regression analyses allowed us to identify patterns of prescription based on age, type and level of activity and language. CONCLUSION: Many therapies with no proven effect are still used by Belgian paediatricians to treat children with bronchiolitis. Based on these results, we believe that publishing national guidelines will allow a reduction in the cost associated with this disease.

Cutaneous lesions of disseminated cryptococcosis as the presenting manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus infection in a twenty-two-month-old child.

We report the case of a 22-month-old African boy with cutaneous lesions as the predominant feature of disseminated cryptococcosis (positive blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures) and as the presenting manifestation of severe vertically acquired HIV infection (CDC C3 category). To our knowledge these cutaneous lesions have never been reported as the initial manifestation of AIDS in children.

[Laryngitis revealing bacterial tracheitis in a five-year-old child]. / Laryngite révélatrice d'une trachéite bactérienne chez un enfant âgé de cinq ans.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a five-year-old boy with clinical features of croup and left lower lobe pneumonia. Response to inhaled adrenaline and dexamethasone was incomplete and he developed respiratory distress. Direct laryngoscopy performed in the operating room showed mild glottic and subglottic inflammation. On bronchoscopy, there was thick pus coming from the left lower lobe. He was intubated for three days and regular toilet brought back thick pus. Tracheal fluid culture grew Haemophilius influenzae. COMMENTS: We suggest that he had bacterial tracheitis but that the tracheal involvement was not prominent at the time of diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy in specialized surroundings should be considered for each child with croup unresponsive to conventional treatment, especially in case of lower respiratory tract involvement.

[Asthma in the young child: when should inhaled foreign body be suspected?]. / Asthme du jeune enfant: quand évoquer un corps étranger endobronchique?

Many young children and infants wheeze during viral infections of the respiratory tract. The differential diagnosis of those children includes the inhalation of a foreign body. This diagnosis is overlooked in about 20% of cases, which leads to subacute and chronic complications. Two clinical observations are reported, involving young children with clinical asthma exacerbations but where the absence of response to usual treatment and/or the absence of evidence for atopy and/or the acute onset brought us to suspect the inhalation of a foreign body. These cases allow us to remind the usual signs and symptoms associated with the inhalation of a foreign body. Amongst these signs, unilateral hypoventilation on chest auscultation associated with localized emphysema on chest x-ray has a very high positive predictive value. Aggressive management in a specialized surrounding is advocated when an inhaled foreign body is suspected. Algorithms based on the level of suspicion have been designed to allow the pediatric respiratory physician to choose between rigid and fiberoptic bronchoscopy. It is only by systematization of these procedures and development of preventive measures that we will be able to reduce the prevalence of complications secondary to the inhalation of a foreign body.

[Urinary infection in the child: diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis]. / Infection urinaire de l'enfant: diagnostic, traitement et pronostic.

Urinary tract infection is a common paediatric disease. Pyelonephritis may lead to severe renal damage (renal scarring), with possible arterial hypertension and renal insufficiency. Treatment and prognosis are closely related to a number of risk factors such as clinical, biological, radiological and scintigraphic data. The aim of the management is to give the most appropriate treatment and follow-up to avoid renal scarring.

Foreign body aspiration in childhood: management algorithm.

Foreign body inhalation is still a major cause of morbidity and even mortality in the under-fives. To reduce its frequency, more severe preventative measures must be imposed and to allow for early diagnosis, a low threshold for bronchoscopy is necessary. This retrospective study is based on 33 children referred to us for suspicion of inhaled foreign body. Symptomatology, clinical and paraclinical data are reviewed. Based on our practice and on the experience gained from the literature, we propose a management algorithm which will need to be further assessed by a prospective study.

[Spontaneous pneumomediastinum in an adolescent: an underestimated cause of chest pain]. / Pneumomédiastin spontané chez un adolescent: une cause sous-estimée de douleurs thoraciques.

CASE REPORT: A case of mediastinal emphysema occurring without etiologic factor except a Valsalva's manoeuvre a few hours before admission in a 15-year-old boy is reported. Symptoms were cervical and chest pain with moderate dysphagia. Diagnosis was confirmed by palpating subcutaneous air in the neck region and mediastinal air on a chest roentgenogram. A CT scan was performed to exclude a concurrent pneumothorax. The patient recovered with bed rest. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum results from nontraumatic, mediastinal air leakage without underlying lung disease. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chest pain, especially in healthy adolescents and young adults; it is certainly underdiagnosed in this population.