Favipiravir in early symptomatic COVID-19, a randomised placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Well tolerated antivirals administered early in the course of COVID-19 infection when the viremia is highest could prevent progression to severe disease. Favipiravir inhibits SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in vitro with evidence of clinical benefit in open label trials. Placebo controlled studies of people with early symptomatic COVID-19 with regular assessments of SARS-CoV-2 viral load can determine if it has an antiviral effect and improves clinical outcomes. Methods: People with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 and 5 days or less of symptoms were randomised 1:1 to favipiravir 1800 mg on day 1, then 800 mg twice daily or matched placebo for 14 days. SARS-CoV-2 viral load was quantitated from second daily self-collected nose-throat swabs while receiving study drug. The primary endpoint was time to virological cure defined as 2 successive swabs negative for SARS-CoV-2 by PCR and secondary outcomes were progression of disease severity, symptom resolution and safety. Findings: Between 31 July 2020 and 19 September 2021, 200 people were enrolled (199 in the community, 1 in hospital) with 190 receiving one or more doses of drug (modified intention to treat [mITT] population). There was no difference in time to virological cure (Log-rank p=0.6 comparing Kaplan Meier curves), progression to hospitalisation (14 favipiravir, 9 placebo; p=0.38), time to symptom resolution (cough, fever, sore throat) and there were no deaths. 51 people related an adverse event that was possibly drug related, but these were evenly distributed (n=24 favipiravir, n=27 placebo). Sensitivity analyses where the definition of virological cure was changed to: a single negative PCR, exclude datapoints based on the presence or absence of human DNA in the swab, a SARS-CoV-2 viral load < 300 copies/mL being considered negative all demonstrated no difference between arms. Interpretation: Favipiravir does not improve the time to virological cure or clinical outcomes and shows no evidence of an antiviral effect when treating early symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Funding: The study was supported in part by grants from the Commonwealth Bank Australia, the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Melbourne Australia and the Orloff Family Charitable Trust, Melbourne, Australia. JHM is supported by the Medical Research Future Fund, AYP, JT are supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Management strategies for children with COVID-19: ESPR practical recommendations.

During the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines have been issued by international, national and local authorities to address management and the need for preparedness. Children with COVID-19 differ from adults in that they are less often and less severely affected. Additional precautions required in the management of children address their increased radiosensitivity, need for accompanying carers, and methods for dealing with children in a mixed adult-paediatric institution. In this guidance document, our aim is to define a pragmatic strategy for imaging children with an emphasis on proven or suspected COVID-19 cases. Children suspected of COVID-19 should not be imaged routinely. Imaging should be performed only when expected to alter patient management, depending on symptoms, preexisting conditions and clinical evolution. In order to prevent disease transmission, it is important to manage the inpatient caseload effectively by triaging children and carers outside the hospital, re-scheduling nonurgent elective procedures and managing symptomatic children and carers as COVID-19 positive until proven otherwise. Within the imaging department one should consider conducting portable examinations with COVID-19 machines or arranging dedicated COVID-19 paediatric imaging sessions and performing routine nasopharyngeal swab testing before imaging under general anaesthesia. Finally, regular personal hygiene, appropriate usage of personal protective equipment, awareness of which procedures are considered aerosol generating and information on how to best disinfect imaging machinery after examinations should be highlighted to all staff members.

The prevalence of thanatophoric dysplasia and lethal osteogenesis imperfecta type II in Northern Ireland - a complete population study.

The minimum prevalence of lethal Osteogenesis imperfecta type II, thanatophoric dysplasia and achondroplasia were derived following detailed case note review of all perinatal lethal skeletal dysplasias (SD) in Northern Ireland over a 12 year period. Multiple sources of ascertainment, including genetic notes, radiological reports and post mortem findings, were used. 39 cases were identified. Thanatophoric dysplasia was the commonest diagnosis made (22), followed by osteogenesis imperfecta type II (four children) and achondroplasia (two children). Eleven other diagnoses each occurred once in the 12 year period. The minimum prevalence range, per live births, of each of the common skeletal dysplasias in Northern Ireland has been calculated; thanatophoric dysplasia 0.80/10,000, osteogenesis imperfecta type II 0.15/10,000 and achondroplasia 0.07/10,000. The prevalence range for thanatophoric dysplasia is much higher than reported in previous studies. We discuss reasons for the prevalence figures obtained.

Soccer injuries in children.

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, with FIFA recognising more than 265 million amateur players. Despite the fact that soccer is a contact sport, it is perceived to be relatively safe to play, a factor that has contributed to its status as the fastest growing team sport in the USA. Acute and minor injuries predominate in the statistics, with contusions and abrasions being the most commonly recorded. As would be expected, the majority of soccer injuries are to the lower limbs, with serious truncal and spinal trauma being rare. This article examines the type and anatomic location of injuries sustained by children and adolescents who play soccer, and the main mechanisms whereby such injuries occur. The risk factors underpinning injury occurrence are considered, along with injury avoidance tactics.

Total Jejunoileal Intussusception: A Case Report and Literature review.

Small bowel intussusceptions are much less common than the ileocolic type, with jejunoileal intussusceptions being amongst the most rare1. We review the literature on small bowel intussuception, using a case of an 11-year-old girl with a jejunoileal intussusception involving the whole of the small bowel, from the level of the duodenojejunal flexure to the ileocaecal valve, as an illustrative history. The typical CT features of an intussusception and value of CT with regard to identification of complications are highlighted.

Optic nerve sheath ultrasound in the assessment of paediatric hydrocephalus.

OBJECTS: Optic nerve sheath diameter has been linked with intracranial pressure in previous studies. Measurement of sheath diameter using transorbital ultrasound is proposed as a clinical assessment indicator of developing hydrocephalus in the paediatric population. METHODS: A retrospective review of optic nerve sheath ultrasound examinations performed in a clinical setting between 2000 and 2006 for assessment of hydrocephalus in a single institution. RESULTS: A total of 331 examinations were performed in 160 patients over the study period. A satisfactory image was possible in all cases. Sheath diameters were correlated with clinical case data from concurrent case records. CONCLUSION: Transorbital ultrasound is a reproducible, non-invasive technique for the assessment of optic nerve sheath diameter and is well tolerated in children. Our series revealed asymptomatic baseline value higher than in previous reports. Variation from individual case asymptomatic baseline was the most sensitive variable in the series in determining development of hydrocephalus. This technique is felt to be a useful adjunct in the assessment of hydrocephalus in the paediatric neurosurgical population.

Imaging evaluation of congenital lung abnormalities in infants and children.

Congenital lung abnormalities include a wide spectrum of conditions and are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and children. This article discusses focal lung abnormalities and the dysmorphic lung. Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations have been included at the end of the article. Anomalies affecting the pulmonary parenchyma, its arterial supply, and venous drainage are thus discussed.

Multidetector-row computed tomography three-dimensional volume reformatted 'transparency' images to define an upper pouch fistula in oesophageal atresia.

Oesophageal atresia (OA) is an important congenital malformation in which prompt diagnosis and appropriate management can significantly improve outcome. The surgical approach to repair of OA and associated tracheo-oesophageal fistulae (TOF) depends upon correct evaluation of the tracheobronchial tree. Three-dimensional imaging of the tracheobronchial tree using CT data to produce shaded surface displays and virtual bronchoscopy has been reported in paediatric and neonatal patients with OA and TOF and is described as accurate and helpful, non-invasively facilitating the appreciation of complex anatomy prior to surgery. We describe the technique of reconstructing 3D volume-reformatted 'transparency' images using insufflated air as a negative contrast medium. This technique is fast, accurate and produces high-quality images that are easy to reproduce.

Urinary tract infection: an update on imaging strategies.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common cause of morbidity in children. The distinction between upper and lower tract UTI is clinically difficult but important, as permanent renal damage can occur when the UTI involves the kidneys. Children with a history of UTI need investigated promptly and thoroughly. The goal of imaging in UTI is to aid in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis, to identify those children who are at high risk of developing permanent renal damage, and to confirm and monitor the presence of renal scarring. This article reviews the role of radiology in each of these aims.

Adrenal pathology in childhood: a spectrum of disease.

Adrenal lesions in children may present with an asymptomatic adrenal mass lesion, an endocrinopathy, a hypertensive or metabolic crisis or a paraneoplastic syndrome. Some of the underlying disease processes remain localised within the adrenal gland or may develop into disseminated disease. The role of the radiologist is to confirm the adrenal location of a lesion and to document any other foci of disease. Ultrasound, CT, MR imaging and metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy are the most commonly utilised imaging modalities for examining the adrenal glands and their pathologies in children. This paper reviews the spectrum of adrenal disease in childhood and presents the information as a series of radiological appearances: anomalies of adrenal shape, location, number and size, cystic adrenal masses, solid adrenal mass lesions, and adrenal calcifications are all examined. The radiological findings must always be interpreted in conjunction with the patient's age, the clinical history, the findings on physical examination and the available biochemical data.