[Value of routine identification of respiratory infectious agents in children hospitalized with an acute asthma exacerbation]. / Intérêt de l'identification en routine des agents pathogènes respiratoires chez les enfants hospitalisés pour une exacerbation d'asthme.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. With its high economic burden, it is considered a disease of major public health importance by the World Health Organization. The link between respiratory tract infections and acute exacerbation has been recognized for a long time. The aim of this retrospective study in routine care was to evaluate our practices concerning microbiological prescriptions in children hospitalized for asthma exacerbation. STUDY DESIGN: All children aged from 2 to 15 years hospitalized for asthma exacerbation between January 2010 and December 2011 in our unit were included in the study. Microbiological prescriptions, their indications, their results, and their cost were studied. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-seven children were included in the study. A potential causative agent was sought in 79.7% of the children (n=157) by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and/or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The main indications were upper airway infections, hypoxemia, and pneumonia. Viruses were detected in 23.8% of them (30/126). Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected by PCR in only 3.2% of these patients (4/125). No other bacterial agent was identified. There was no correlation between the severity of asthma exacerbation and the microbiological diagnosis of infection. The results did not influence the therapy given. These prescriptions represented a substantial cost for each child. CONCLUSION: These analyses do not seem to have a real advantage for the patient except for epidemiology. It would be important to conduct a new study analyzing the role of rhinovirus, and of other viruses such as coronavirus, bocavirus, and enterovirus, not routinely investigated in our hospital, and to question the value of these costly microbiological tests.

[Inhalation therapy: inhaled generics, inhaled antidotes, the future of anti-infectives and the indications of inhaled pentamidine. GAT aerosolstorming, Paris 2012]. / Aérosolthérapie : les génériques par voie inhalée, les antidotes en aérosol, le futur des anti-infectieux et les indications de la pentamidine en aérosol. Aérosolstorming du GAT, Paris 2012.

The working group on aerosol therapy (GAT) of the Société de pneumologie de langue française (SPLF) organized its third "Aerosolstorming" in 2012. During the course of one day, different aspects of inhaled therapy were discussed, and these will be treated separately in two articles, this one being the first. Inhaled products represent a large volume of prescriptions both in the community and in hospital settings and they involve various specialties particularly ENT and respiratory care. Technical aspects of the development of these products, their mode of administration and compliance with their indications are key elements for the effective therapeutic use of inhaled treatments. In this first article, we will review issues concerning generic inhaled products, the existence of inhaled antidotes, new anti-infective agents and indications for inhaled pentamidine.

[Medium-term outcome, follow-up, and quality of life in children treated for type III esophageal atresia]. / État de santé, suivi et qualité de vie à moyen terme d'enfants opérés d'une atrésie de l'œsophage de type III.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the medium-term outcome (health status, medical and surgical French National Health Authority-recommended follow-up, and quality of life) of children born with type III esophageal atresia (EA). Previous events (during the perinatal period, associated abnormalities, respiratory and digestive complications) of children treated for type III EA at the Marseille university hospitals between 1999 and 2009 were noted. Parents completed a standardized questionnaire concerning the health of their children during the previous year, and a quality-of-life questionnaire (PedsQL 4.0) was also completed by children aged more than 8 years. Among the 68 children treated, 44 responded to our solicitation (mean age, 7.6 years; range, 3-12.8 years). Previous important events were : pneumonia(s) (65%), asthma before the age of 3 years (66%), hospitalization for a respiratory event (45%), fundoplication (20%), and esophageal dilatation (45%). We noted current chronic cough (16%), asthma (30%), dysphagia (39%), and symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux (9%). National guidelines were not respected, except for the surgical indications in children aged less than 6 years. The quality-of-life scores (n=43 children) were similar to healthy controls but were negatively influenced by a gastrostomy procedure (P=0.020), pneumonia (P=0.013), and hospitalization due to a respiratory event (P=0.006) or a digestive event (P=0.010), and also by current asthma (P=0.004). In conclusion, despite recurrent respiratory or digestive symptoms and inadequate recommended follow-up, the quality of life of children treated for type III of EA is good.

[Inhaled medication in pediatrics]. / Traitements inhalés en pédiatrie.

Three different devices are available for inhaled medications in children: the pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs, breath-actuator synchronized pMDI, and valved holding spacers), the dry powder inhalers, and the nebulizers. To choose the better device for a particular patient, a perfect knowledge of the available devices, of their mode of use, of their advantages and inconvenient is required. The use of a pMDI coupled to a valved holding spacer is the first mode of delivery to propose in children aged less than 6 years. After 6 years old, the DPIs may be proposed depending on the child's competences. At last, the nebulizations are indicated in some particular and severe indications, but new indications are appearing because of recent progresses.

[Vitamin K deficiency bleeding: a case secondary to transient neonatal cholestasis]. / Maladie hémorragique par déficit en vitamine K : à propos d'un cas secondaire à une cholestase néonatale transitoire.

We report the case of late vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VLDB), with appropriate but insufficient prophylaxis, secondary to extrahepatic cholestasis. Late VKDB is rare today but serious, with a risk of intracranial hemorrhage in more than half of the cases. The diagnosis, causes and prevention of this disease are discussed.

[Chest radiographs in infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis: real information or just irradiation?]. / La radiographie de thorax chez le nourrisson hospitalisé pour bronchiolite aiguë : réelle information ou simple irradiation ?

OBJECTIVE: To describe the chest radiographs of infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis and to assess whether patient management changed after radiography. STUDY DESIGN: All infants hospitalized in our pediatric unit with a first episode of acute bronchiolitis from October 2010 to March 2012 were included in the study. Infants with chronic disease or transferred from a pediatric intensive care unit were excluded. The following data were collected: sex, age, neonatal history, atopy, tobacco exposure, admission criteria, treatment, laboratory parameters, ultrasonography and its outcome, results of chest radiography on admittance, the reason for a second chest radiograph, change in management as a result of the radiograph. RESULTS: The study comprised 232 infants (median age 2.2 months, boys 56%, positive respiratory syncytial virus 73.4%). Among them, 227 children had a routine chest radiograph revealing distension and/or bronchial wall thickening (n=141, 62.4%), focal opacity (19.9%), or atelectasis (17.7%). This radiograph led to the prescription of antibiotics in six patients (2.6%) and allowed the diagnosis of vascular abnormality to be made in one case (0.4%). Thirty-five patients (15.4%) had a second chest radiograph during their hospitalization owing to oxygen dependency (n=21), respiratory distress (n=11), persistent fever (n=2), or no reason specified (n=1). Pneumonia (n=7) and/or atelectasis (n=15) were then found in 62.9%. Patient management (antibiotics, postural maneuvers) was modified in six patients (17.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Routine chest radiographs contribute only partially to the treatment of infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis. However, radiography is useful when the hospitalized child does not improve at the expected rate or if the disease is severe. The indication of chest radiography in infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis should be discussed on a case by a case basis.

[Use of pentamidine nebulization in children]. / Enquête sur l'utilisation des nébulisations de pentamidine en pédiatrie.

AIM: Pentamidine is a drug generally used for the prophylactic treatment of Pneumocystis pneumonia in immunocompromised patients. The Respirgard II® jet nebulizer has been recommended for pentamidine administration, but this device is no longer available. The aim of our study was to review current clinical practice for pentamidine nebulisation in paediatric hospitals. METHODS: A survey was sent to the departments of Haematology and Pneumology of university hospitals all over France. We collected information about treatment indications, the number of treated children in 2010, side effects and delivery devices used for nebulization. RESULTS: Out of the 62 interviewed departments, 36 responses were obtained (58 %). Half the respondents, mostly Haematology departments (n=15/18), used nebulized pentamidine in immunocompromised patients aged 5 to 15 years old who were unable to tolerate sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Sixty-three percent of them treated less than ten children per year, with monthly 150 to 300mg doses administered over a period of 9 to 12 months. Few side effects were reported. In 61 % of the cases, the nebulizer used was unknown or not adapted (1 ultrasonic and 1 mesh nebulizer). In the remaining cases, pentamidine was nebulized with approved jet nebulizers (Isoneb®, Respiromed CR01®, and Microcirrus®). CONCLUSION: Nebulized pentamidine is not used frequently in children. Better information about the appropriateness of nebulizer usage is needed.

[Hemothorax and hereditary multiple exostosis in a 9-year-old boy]. / Hémothorax et maladie exostosante multiple héréditaire chez un enfant de 9 ans.

We report a case of spontaneous hemothorax in a 9-year-old boy due to costal exostosis in the context of hereditary multiple exostosis disease. This is an unusual complication, whose pathophysiology remains unclear.