Leptospirosis in febrile men ingesting Agouti paca in South America.

To explore the relationship between the ingestion of Agouti paca (AP) and human leptospirosis in Guyana, 19 febrile men who said they had hunted and eaten A. paca were screened for malaria, using bloodsmears, and for leptospirosis, using an enzyme immuno-assay that detects Leptospira -specific IgM. Those found positive for anti-Leptospira IgM were then evaluated further, with a microscopical agglutination test based on a limited panel of serovars from three pathogenic species of Leptospira. Although six of the 18 patients who provided suitable samples for the serology were found seropositive for acute leptospirosis, only three of the 19 patients were found smear-positive for malaria. A clinical-decision model, based on medical histories, the results of physical examinations, and the use of routine urine dipsticks, and enabling prediction of the serological results, was developed. This model, which had 83% sensitivity and 100% specificity for leptospirosis, indicated that, in the absence of serology, most febrile patients reporting AP ingestion could be correctly treated if each was checked for malaria using traditional bloodsmears. The smear-positives should be treated with antimalarial drugs whereas the smear-negatives should be treated for leptospirosis if they had any of the following: a skin rash; lymphadenopathy; abnormal urine sediment (proteinuria or haematuria); and/or no previous history of malaria. In the present study, the relative risk of leptospirosis among the patients who were smear-negative for malaria and fulfilled at least one of these four criteria was 13 (P = 0.0007). In Guyana at least, leptospirosis appears to be common among men who hunt, prepare and ingest AP. Vaccines may be the best, practical form of protection among such men.

Efficacy of a targeted, oral penicillin-based yaws control program among children living in rural South America.

Yaws is endemic in rural Guyana. An observational study was conducted to determine the efficacy of oral penicillin V therapy in treating skin lesions of yaws in children. In 1999, inhabitants of 7 rural villages near Bartica, Guyana, were screened for skin lesions of yaws. Cases were confirmed by serological testing. A control program was implemented in 2000: children < or =14 years old were screened, and those with active lesions were treated with oral penicillin V for 7-10 days. In 2001, children were rescreened and active cases were treated. Prevalence of yaws skin lesions fell from 5.1% (52 of 1020 children screened in 2000) to 1.6% (8 of 516 in 2001), a 71% drop. Sixteen (94%) of 17 children treated in 2000 and reassessed in 2001 had complete resolution of lesions. A targeted, oral penicillin-based treatment regimen can successfully treat dermatologic yaws in individual children and can decrease the prevalence of skin yaws in a community in which it is endemic. This information may aid in the implementation of additional control efforts.

Lack of efficacy of humidification in the treatment of croup: Why do physicians persist in using an unproven modality?

BACKGROUND: Humidification is a time-honoured therapy for childhood croup (acute laryngotracheobronchitis). Despite a paucity of evidence supporting its use, many physicians, nurses and parents still apply this treatment. Our objective was to summarize available evidence and assess the rationale for the ongoing use of humidity to treat childhood croup. METHODS: Searches of both MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database were conducted for English-language original or review literature on the treatment of croup with humidity, for the years 1966-1999. RESULTS: Only 2 published studies have attempted to evaluate humidification therapy for croup, and none has been published since 1984. There is no published evidence to support the commonly held empirical view that humidity helps alleviate the symptoms of childhood croup, and no understanding of which factors of moisture or temperature affect patient outcomes. Risks may include scalding and unnecessary discomfort. INTERPRETATION: There is no strong evidence supporting the use of humidity in the treatment of croup. Although such treatment is still widely used, it is not without risk, and further trials are required to address its efficacy.

Findings in children exposed in utero to phenytoin and carbamazepine monotherapy: independent effects of epilepsy and medications.

Our objective was to evaluate the patterns of malformations in children exposed in utero to phenytoin (DPH) and carbamazepine (CBZ) monotherapy, and to compare them prospectively with matched mother-child pairs exposed to nonteratogens, and to separate the effects of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) from those of epilepsy by collecting groups of untreated epileptics and those treated with DPH and CBZ for conditions other than epilepsy. This was a prospective, controlled, and blinded observational study. Thirty-six mother-child pairs exposed to CBZ monotherapy, 34 pairs exposed to DPH monotherapy, and 9 nonmedicated epileptic women and their children were compared with matched mother-child pairs exposed to nonteratogens. The control mothers were matched for maternal age, time of consultation, obstetric history, and socioeconomic status (SES). One main outcome measures a "blinded" morphological assessment of the offspring. We found that minor anomalies were significantly more common among children of epileptics on either drug (P = 0.01) and among DPH-treated nonepileptic offspring (P = 0.03). Among epileptics, the relative risk for minor anomalies following DPH (2.1) was similar to that after exposure to either DPH (P = 0.006) or CBZ (P = 0.01). Increased rates of hypertelorism were detected among DPH-exposed offspring. High forehead, frontal bossing, malar hypoplasia, epicanthus and micrognathia were associated with untreated epilepsy, as well as with DPH and CBZ treatment.

A crossover comparison of extended release felodipine with prolonged action nifedipine in hypertension.

In a crossover design, control of blood pressure by extended release felodipine was compared with control by prolonged action nifedipine in 21 children with renal hypertension. Compliance with once daily felodipine was higher than with nifedipine, at 95.6 (SEM 2.7)% v 78.9 (6.0)% (p = 0.02). Mean diastolic blood pressure was lower during the day with felodipine than with nifedipine, at 77.6 (2.4) v 84.4 (2.8) mm Hg (p = 0.05). Similarly, blood pressure load (the percentage of the day during which the child had blood pressure exceeding the upper limits of normal for age) was lower for felodipine than for nifedipine: 43.5 (5.5)% v 61.3 (6.3)%. There was an opposite trend during the night, though this did not reach statistical significance. These data suggest that once a day felodipine is effective in children with hypertension. This may be because of improved compliance.

Neurodevelopment of children exposed in utero to phenytoin and carbamazepine monotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare pregnancy outcome prospectively after phenytoin and carbamazepine monotherapy with outcome in matched mother-child pairs exposed to nonteratogens to evaluate the relative fetal safety of these drugs. DESIGN: A prospective, controlled, and blinded observational study. PATIENTS: Thirty-six mother-child pairs exposed to carbamazepine monotherapy and 34 pairs exposed to phenytoin monotherapy, all prospectively studied, were compared with mother-child pairs exposed to nonteratogens. The controls were matched for maternal age, time of consultation, obstetric history, and socioeconomic status. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The primary end point of interest was the children's global IQ measured by either the Bayley or the McCarthy scale according to their ages. SETTING: A teratology consultation program and two neurology services in Toronto, Ontario. RESULTS: Children exposed to phenytoin in utero had a mean (+/- SD) global IQ 10 points lower (95% confidence interval, 4.9 to 15.8 points) than their matched controls (113.4 +/- 13.1 and 103.1 +/- 25.1; P = .038). The Reynell language development scores followed a similar trend, with children exposed to phenytoin scoring significantly lower than their controls. Phenytoin-exposed children had a global IQ of 84 or less significantly more often than the control group (P < .01). Children exposed in utero to carbamazepine did not differ from their controls on any of the neurobehavioral tests. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests a clinically important negative effect of phenytoin on neurobehavioral development, independent of maternal or environmental factors, causing a substantial number of children to achieve a lower score than expected on cognitive tests. No similar effects could be shown after gestational use of carbamazepine.

Initial hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia persist during chronic peritoneal dialysis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To document serum lipid values in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, particularly the very young, and investigate relationships with serum albumin levels. DESIGN: Retrospective review of all PD patients seen in the first 11 years of the PD program at our institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Any pediatric PD patient was eligible for inclusion if at least four simultaneous measurements of serum lipids and albumin were recorded over a minimum of 90 days of PD. RESULTS: Thirty-nine continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients (9, aged < 5 years) and 14 continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) patients (7, aged < 5 years) were followed for 90-1200 days. Hypoalbuminemia, present in 43% of initial recordings, did not alter significantly during PD in any group; it was most marked in the CAPD < 5 year (mean 30.7 g/L) and CCPD > 5 year groups (mean 31.4 g/L). Average serum cholesterol levels were 27% higher, and triglyceride 122% higher, than the maximum accepted 18-year-old level and did not change significantly during PD. Similarly, 33% of high-density lipid recordings were below normal and remained unaltered during PD. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the high incidence of hypoalbuminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia and associated low levels of high-density lipids, even in young PD patients, and demonstrate that these remain unchanged during PD. Such results have not previously been reported in PD patients as young as ours. Abnormal lipid profiles are a neglected cardiovascular risk factor in children with renal failure; therapeutic interventions should therefore be seriously considered.

Renal potassium wasting in the absence of aldosterone. Insights into the mechanism for the secretion of potassium.

This report focuses on the possible pathophysiology of a renal lesion that led to hypokalemia and the excessive excretion of potassium (K+) in a 2.5-year-old child. The rate of excretion of K+ was high, largely the result of forces leading to a very high concentration of K+ in the lumen of the terminal cortical collecting duct as revealed by very high values for the transtubular K+ concentration gradient (TTKG was 25 +/- 3). The TTKG was high despite undetectable levels of aldosterone in plasma and the absence of bicarbonaturia. The level of renin in plasma was not low and there was a tendency to contraction of the ECF volume when dietary intake was curtailed. These findings provided the basis to speculate that the underlying lesion might be a lower than normal 'permeability' of the cortical collecting duct for chloride.

Changing trends in the treatment of asthma in a tertiary Canadian pediatric hospital.

During the last few years there has been a major change in the perception of childhood asthma management, with more focus on the anti-inflammatory aspects of therapy, the use of inhaled ipratroprium bromide, and decreased home usage of theophylline. Our clinical impression that the management of asthma at our institution has altered in response to these trends prompted us to review our experience with childhood asthma. A random sample of approximately 70 cases was reviewed from admissions to The Hospital for Sick Children during the first 6 months of 1987 and 1990. There was a major reduction in theophylline usage in 1990 accompanied by increased use of ipratroprium and oral corticosteroids. Significantly fewer cases of potentially toxic theophylline serum levels were observed in 1990, suggesting increased awareness of the this drug's narrow therapeutic margin of safety. In 1990, patients tended to be pyrexial and were treated with antibiotics more often. They were also younger, which may explain the higher pulse and respiratory rates observed. Despite these trends toward younger, sicker patients being admitted to the hospital, the length of stay did not increase, and similar numbers needed intensive care. This suggests that the shift in therapeutic modality did not affect hospitalized asthmatic children adversely.

Gastric-outlet obstruction induced by prostaglandin therapy in neonates.

BACKGROUND: An infusion of prostaglandin E1 is widely used to maintain patency of the ductus arteriosus in neonates with congenital heart disease. After gastric-outlet obstruction was recognized in several infants who received prostaglandin E1, we studied the association between the drug and this complication. METHODS: We evaluated all neonates who received prostaglandin E1 in our hospital between October 1, 1989, and September 30, 1991, for clinical, radiologic, or pathological evidence of acute gastric-outlet obstruction. RESULTS: Of the 74 neonates evaluated, 65 had no signs of gastric obstruction and were considered normal; 5 had clinical and radiologic or pathological evidence of gastric obstruction consistent with the presence of antral mucosal hyperplasia. The remaining four neonates had clinical signs of gastric obstruction, but no radiologic or pathological examinations were performed. The 5 neonates with antral hyperplasia had received prostaglandin E1 for longer periods (mean [+/- SD] duration, 569 +/- 341 hours) than the 65 normal neonates (54 +/- 58 hours, P less than 0.001) or the 4 neonates with clinical signs of gastric obstruction (119 +/- 60 hours, P less than 0.05). The cumulative dose of prostaglandin E1 was higher in the neonates with antral hyperplasia (2982 +/- 1392 micrograms per kilogram of body weight) than in the normal neonates (279 +/- 270 micrograms per kilogram, P less than 0.001) or the neonates with signs of gastric obstruction (528 +/- 306 micrograms per kilogram, P less than 0.01). In two neonates with antral hyperplasia, the cessation of therapy lessened the gastric-outlet obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of prostaglandin E1 to neonates can cause gastric-outlet obstruction due to antral hyperplasia. Neonates who receive prostaglandin E1 at recommended doses for more than 120 hours should be closely monitored for evidence of antral hyperplasia.

Non-interaction of ketotifen and theophylline in children with asthma--an acute study.

Six asthmatic children participated in an acute crossover randomized study. They received a single dose of aminophylline syrup 6 mg/kg after having received ketotifen syrup 1 mg b.i.d. or placebo for 8 days. Ketotifen did not significantly affect the heart rate, pulse pressure or such pharmacokinetic parameters of theophylline as peak serum level, time to peak, half life and AUC. Thus, ketotifen had no significant effect on the disposition of theophylline.