Coexistence of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis and diffuse midline glioma in the brainstem in an adolescent boy with acute flaccid paralysis.

We present the case of a previously healthy 13-year-old boy who was admitted to the emergency department with acute flaccid paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed radiological evidence of longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis. Additionally, homogeneous T2 signal increase was observed in the pons and medulla oblongata, initially indicating brainstem encephalitis. Subsequent evaluations confirmed a coexistence of diffuse midline glioma (DMG) in the brain stem alongside acute transverse myelitis (ATM). Children with ATM generally have a more favorable prognosis than adults. However, despite the implementation of advanced treatment methods, the patient's quadriplegia did not improve and resulted in spinal cord sequela atrophy. DMG exhibits an aggressive growth pattern and lacks a known curative treatment. This case represents an exceedingly rare synchronous occurrence of aggressive conditions, underscoring the importance of raising awareness among physicians. Furthermore, we aim to discuss the radiologic differential diagnosis, as this is the first documented instance in the literature.

Mortality risk factors among critically ill children with MIS-C in PICUs: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated of clinical characteristics, outcomes, and mortality risk factors of a severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children admitted to a the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: A retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted between March 2020 and April 2021 at 41 PICUs in Turkey. The study population comprised 322 children diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome. RESULTS: The organ systems most commonly involved were the cardiovascular and hematological systems. Intravenous immunoglobulin was used in 294 (91.3%) patients and corticosteroids in 266 (82.6%). Seventy-five (23.3%) children received therapeutic plasma exchange treatment. Patients with a longer duration of the PICU stay had more frequent respiratory, hematological, or renal involvement, and also had higher D-dimer, CK-MB, and procalcitonin levels. A total of 16 patients died, with mortality higher in patients with renal, respiratory, or neurological involvement, with severe cardiac impairment or shock. The non-surviving group also had higher leukocyte counts, lactate and ferritin levels, and a need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: In cases of MIS-C, high levels of D-dimer and CK-MB are associated with a longer duration of PICU stay. Non-survival correlates with elevated leukocyte counts and lactate and ferritin levels. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality. IMPACT: MIS-C is a life-threatening condition. Patients need to be followed up in the intensive care unit. Early detection of factors associated with mortality can improve outcomes. Determining the factors associated with mortality and length of stay will help clinicians in patient management. High D-dimer and CK-MB levels were associated with longer PICU stay, and higher leukocyte counts, ferritin and lactate levels, and mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality in MIS-C patients. We were unable to show any positive effect of therapeutic plasma exchange therapy on mortality.

Influenza A (H1N1)-Associated Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy with Unusual Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in a Child.

Other than respiratory symptoms, influenza A (H1N1) can rarely cause neurological complications in children and adults. In this article, we aimed to present H1N1-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) and asymmetrical involvement of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a 30-month-old male patient with clinical and radiological imaging findings. The patient who presented to the hospital with febrile convulsion and lethargy had elevated liver enzymes and coagulopathy. The magnetic resonance (MR) examination revealed diffusion restriction in bilateral cerebellar white matter, thalami, and periventricular white matter which was consistent with ANE. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) sequence showed hemorrhage in bilateral thalami and cerebellar white matter. There was high signal on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences in right temporooccipital cortical, subcortical, and periventricular white matter suggestive of PRES. MR angiography showed vasculopathy which is supportive for PRES. This is the second case of H1N1-associated pediatric PRES reported in the literature.

Comprehensive Analysis of Severe Viral Infections of Respiratory Tract admitted to PICUs during the Winter Season in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the course of seasonal viral infections of respiratory tract in patients hospitalized in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) of 16 centers in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective, observational, and multicenter study conducted in 16 tertiary PICUs in Turkey includes a total of 302 children with viral cause in the nasal swab which required PICU admission with no interventions. RESULTS: Median age of patients was 12 months. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was more common in patients over one year of age whereas influenza, human Bocavirus in patients above a year of age was more common (p <0.05). Clinical presentations influencing mortality were neurologic symptoms, tachycardia, hypoxia, hypotension, elevated lactate, and acidosis. The critical pH value related with mortality was ≤7.10, and critical PCO2 ≥60 mm Hg. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that patients with neurological symptoms, tachycardia, hypoxia, hypotension, acidosis, impaired liver, and renal function at the time of admission exhibit more severe mortal progressions. Presence of acidosis and multiorgan failure was found to be predictor for mortality. Knowledge of clinical presentation and age-related variations among seasonal viruses may give a clue about severe course and prognosis. By presenting the analyzed data of 302 PICU admissions, current study reveals severity of viral respiratory tract infections and release tips for handling them. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kockuzu E, Bayrakci B, Kesici S, Citak A, Karapinar K, Emeksiz S, et al. Comprehensive Analysis of Severe Viral Infections of Respiratory Tract admitted to PICUs During the Winter Season in Turkey. Indian J Crit Care Med 2019;23(6):263-269.

Association Between Rapid Antigen Testing and Antibiotic Use and Accuracy of Peripheral Blood Parameters in Detecting Group A Streptococcus in Children With Tonsillopharyngitis.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of rapid antigen testing (RAT) on the practice of antibiotic prescription as well as the accuracy of peripheral blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) values in detecting group A beta-hemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) in children with tonsillopharyngitis. Methods: In a multicenter study performed in Turkey, we retrospectively analyzed data from 668 consecutive pediatric patients under 17 years of age, who presented with signs and symptoms of tonsillopharyngitis and underwent RAT. The rates of positive and negative RAT results were determined and patients' antibiotic prescriptions were examined in relation to RAT results. In addition, the accuracy of peripheral blood NLR and CRP values was examined for 212 patients whose laboratory data were available, with RAT as the reference standard. Results: Positive RAT results were observed in 190 of 668 (28.4%) patients. Antibiotics were prescribed to all 190 patients with positive RAT results and to 8 of 478 patients with negative RAT results. Overall, the rate of antibiotic prescription was 29.6%. Patients with positive and negative RAT results did not differ significantly with regard to NLR and CRP values. In ROC analysis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of NLR and CRP were 0.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.64), and 0.55 (95% CI 0.45-0.65), respectively. Conclusion: RAT results proved highly associated with antibiotic prescribing, suggesting that RATs could be of great value in preventing unnecessary antibiotic use. Our findings also suggest that NLR and CRP are poorly accurate to identify GABHS in children with tonsillopharyngitis.

Thyroid function in healthy and unhealthy preterm newborns.

BACKGROUND: The thyroid gland and hormonal regulation are among the most important systems to be investigated in pre-term infants. This study sought to investigate thyroid hormone levels of healthy and unhealthy pre-term infants. METHODS: The prospective study included 53 consecutive premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit within a duration of one year. Of these preterm babies, 20 were healthy, while 33 had problems such as asphyxia or RDS. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline 0-24 hours, 7 and 14 days and FT3, FT4, and TSH levels were determined. Other data recorded included demographic characteristics of the patients and clinical variables. RESULTS: The most frequent health problems were RDS (87.9%), sepsis (30.3%), and retinopathy of prematurity (24.2%). The mean TSH levels showed a consistent decline at three consequent measurements in both groups, which were always significantly lower in unhealthy pre-terms. In both groups, TSH levels showed significant decreases on Day 7 and Day 14 compared to the baseline levels (p<005). The levels of FT3 and FT4 consistently showed significant correlations with gestational week and birth weight at each of the three measurements. CONCLUSION: Pre-term infants, especially those having problems, have significant hypothyroxinemia that may require thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

The role of plasmapheresis in organophosphate poisoning: Case reports of three pediatric patients.

Yükselmis U, Özçetin M, Çag Y, Yildizdas D, Yilmaz HL. The role of plasmapheresis in organophosphate poisoning: Case reports of three pediatric patients. Turk J Pediatr 2017; 59: 491-496. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of plasmapheresis treatment in the management of three pediatric patients with organophosphate poisoning who did not respond to standard treatment. The treatment of signs and symptoms, and supportive treatment has been evaluated in this paper. Patients were initially given atropine infusion and 0.05 mg/kg atropine with five-minute intervals. Despite pralidoxime loading and three consecutively infusions clinical symptoms did not respond to the treatment and plasma pseudocholinesterase levels did not decrease. At this point, plasmapheresis was used on three consecutive days. Accordingly, the clinical signs improved and mechanical ventilation was no longer necessary. Patients were discharged on the sixteenth day after their admission to the hospital. Plasmapheresis may be an option for the patients who do not respond to atropine and pralidoxime treatment in organophosphate poisoning.

Our patients followed up with a diagnosis of neurogenic pulmonary edema.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a clinical situation which developes as a result of central nervous system injury. It is rare in the childhood. Neurogenic pulmonary edema is a clinical diagnosis. Although the pathogenesis is not elucidated well, there is increase in pulmonary interstitial and alveolar fluid. The main principle in treatment of neurogenic pulmonary edema is supportive treatment and decreasing intracranial pressure as in acute respiratory distress syndrome. In this article, clinical properties of our two patients diagnosed with neurogenic pulmonary edema developed as a result of central nervous system injury are presented.