Diagnostic value of respiratory virus detection in symptomatic children using real-time PCR.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory tract infections are an important public health problem. Sensitive and rapid diagnostic techniques have been developed and are used in daily clinical practice. Here we evaluate the clinical relevance of detecting 20 common respiratory pathogens by molecular methods in a general pediatric clinic. METHODS: Nasopharynx samples of children < 18 years of age with respiratory symptoms referred to a general pediatric clinic were tested for the presence of 19 viruses and Mycoplasma pneumoniae, using real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Of 177 patients included in this retrospective study, 73% were positive for at least one virus. Respiratory syncytial virus (36.6%) and human rhinovirus (24%) were most frequently detected. Patients in whom a respiratory virus or Mycoplasma pneumoniae was detected, were younger (6 versus 24 months; p < 0.001) and more often hospitalized (116 versus 34; p = 0.001) than patients in whom no respiratory pathogen was detected. Also they were more likely to present with feeding problems, dyspnea, rhinorrhea and wheezing (all p < 0.05) than patients without a respiratory pathogen.In the majority of cases, clinicians did not change their antibiotic management after detecting a viral respiratory pathogen. No difference in mean Ct value was found between patients with one respiratory pathogen and those with >1 respiratory pathogen (30.5 versus 31.2; p = 0.573). CONCLUSION: Routine testing of common respiratory pathogens could lead to a better understanding of their role in disease in children with respiratory symptoms.

Characteristics of pediatric patients with enterovirus meningitis and no cerebral fluid pleocytosis.

UNLABELLED: Human non-polio enterovirus (EV) is the most important cause of aseptic meningitis in children. Only a few studies report the lack of cerobrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis in children with confirmed EV meningitis; however, the characteristics of these children have not been well defined. This paper describes the clinical and laboratory features of EV meningitis in children with no CSF pleocytosis. Clinical, laboratory, and virological data of Dutch patients <16 years diagnosed with EV meningitis, between 2003 and 2008, were analyzed retrospectively. Data of children with and without CSF pleocytosis were compared. A total of 149 children were infected with EV. Patients presented mainly with fever (n = 113), malaise (n = 43), abdominal pain (n = 47), and irritability (n = 61). Of the 60 patients with EV meningitis, 23 had no pleocytosis. Those who lacked CSF pleocytosis were younger [odds ratio (OR) 1.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.000-1.002; p = 0.001], had experienced drowsiness more (OR 9.60; 95% CI 2.24-41.15; p = 0.002), had lower white blood cell counts (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.61-0.89; p = 0.001), and had higher C-reactive protein (OR 1.13; 95% CI 1.03-1.23; p = 0.006) than those with pleocytosis. CONCLUSION: These findings show that EV meningitis occurs in the absence of CSF pleocytosis, particularly in young infants, meaning that EV meningitis in this age group cannot be solely excluded by the absence of CSF pleocytosis. They also confirm the importance of genome detection in the diagnosis of EV meningitis in young infants.

[Neonatal outcomes of prevention of vertical HIV transmission; 15 years of experience in a non-university HIV centre]. / Neonatale uitkomsten van preventie van verticale hiv-besmetting; 15 jaar ervaring in een niet-universitair hiv-centrum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the neonatal outcomes of the policy for the prevention of vertical HIV transmission in a non-university HIV centre. DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive study. METHOD: We analysed the HIV status of newborns of HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy in the period between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2010 in St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands and compared these results with the Dutch HIV monitoring foundation (SHM) registration data. RESULTS: Eighty-seven children from 84 pregnancies and their 71 HIV-positive mothers were included. Compared with SHM data, more women were African, younger at HIV diagnosis and had less resistance to the usual combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). In line with SHM data, the percentage of elective caesarean sections declined in the study period. There were fewer preterm births than in SHM data. There were no significant differences between preterm birth (p = 0.18), SGA (p = 0.25) or congenital abnormality (p = 0.45) and detectable HIV-RNA or cART use during pregnancy. During 10 (12%) pregnancies the mother presented to the HIV centre too late. At the age of 18 months, all 72 tested children were HIV negative. Of the 15 children lost to follow-up, 8 (9%) left to an unknown destination. CONCLUSION: All newborns of HIV-positive mothers were HIV negative, 12% of the HIV-positive mothers presented too late and 9% of the children disappeared from medical control. These results emphasize the importance of better communication between HIV centres, medical services of asylum centres and first-line obstetric care for female asylum seekers and their children.

[A child with convulsions of unknown origin: posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome]. / Een kind met onbegrepen convulsies: posterieur reversibel encefalopathiesyndroom.

BACKGROUND: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare complication in children with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN). CASE DESCRIPTION: An 8-year-old boy was brought to the emergency department with seizures preceded by acute headache attacks and vomiting. On examination the boy was hypertensive with periorbital edema. Further investigation showed proteinuria, haematuria and intra-cerebral abnormalities. Recent history indicated streptococcal tonsillitis for which oral amoxicillin was prescribed in the preceding week. The diagnosis 'PRES consequent to PSGN' was made, following which the patient was treated successfully with anticonvulsants and antihypertensives and he recovered without remaining problems. CONCLUSION: PRES is a rare syndrome which can occur in children as a complication of PSGN. By early recognition and adequate treatment, permanent neurological damage and possible death can be prevented.

MRI diagnosis of occipital cephalohematoma mimicking an encephalocele.

A 4-day old neonate presented with a midline swelling located on the back of its head. The two most likely causes of the swelling were cephalohematoma, which is self-limiting and carries a benign prognosis, and encephalocele, often associated with central nervous system malformations. Evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a subperiosteal blood collection with intact underlying structures, establishing the diagnosis of a cephalohematoma. This is the first report to show the value of MRI in distinguishing between an occipital cephalohematoma and an encephalocele.

The potential of Mycobacterium to protect against allergy and asthma.

The increase in the global incidence of atopic disease and asthma during the past few decades has been ascribed to environmental factors, including the reduction in exposure to serious infections. The hypothetical framework to explain the inverse relationship between infections and atopic disease and asthma has been called the "hygiene hypothesis." Animal and experimental models have identified Mycobacteria as important potential candidates in the hygiene hypothesis by demonstrating that exposure to Mycobacteria or mycobacterial proteins led to subsequent reduction in different atopic manifestations. Although there are epidemiological studies in support, they have not always been consistent. In this review we appraise epidemiologic evidence on the inverse relationship between mycobacterial exposure and atopic disease, explore the immunological mechanisms involved and evidence that this effect may be dose-dependent, and discuss the challenges facing the use of Mycobacteria as vaccine for prevention of atopic disease.

Mycobacterial infection and atopy in childhood: a systematic review.

The epidemiological relation between mycobacterial infection and the prevalence of atopic disease in humans is still unclear. This is in contrast to studies in murine models in which a clear suppression of atopic symptoms was observed after exposure to mycobacteria or mycobacterial products. We therefore wanted to provide a systematic overview of the published literature on the relationship between mycobacterial infection and atopic disease and to evaluate the causal relationship in a meta-analysis. The EMBASE and MEDLINE databases were searched systematically for papers published in the English literature (1966-2005) on the relation between mycobacterial infection and atopic disease. Original observational or interventional studies involving the paediatric population were included. Two authors independently reviewed articles for data on mycobacterial exposure and atopic disease outcome. Any differences were resolved by discussion. Of a total of 1201 hits, 23 studies (19 cross-sectionals, three case-controls and one prospective cohort) met the inclusion criteria. Only a minority of studies (40%) observed an association between mycobacterial infection and the prevalence of atopic disease outcome. In the meta-analysis, only studies containing data on mycobacterial exposure and atopic disease outcome variables were included. Only cross-sectional studies, in which the relation between a positive tuberculin skin test and allergic symptoms was studied, observed statistically significant negative correlation (odds ratio 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.51-0.79). The results of this review show that the evidence of the relationship of mycobacterial infection and atopic disease is based on observations of cross-sectional studies. In a meta-analysis, calculations showed a high level of heterogeneity (I(2)) within studies with similar design making it difficult to pool effects. This may partly be explained by differences in the type and definition of mycobacterial infection and lack of uniformity in the definition of atopy. The results show that only a minority of studies in the literature shows any evidence of inverse relationship between mycobacterial exposure and atopic disease outcome. The fact that the present epidemiological evidence on the relationship between mycobacterial infection and the development of atopic disease is based mainly on cross-sectional observational studies indicates the need for population-based prospective studies to address this issue. This issue needs to be addressed in view of recent suggestions to developing mycobacterial-based vaccines against atopic disease in the future.