Dermatological manifestations in children with chronic kidney disease: a study from a North Indian tertiary care institute.

BACKGROUND: Dermatological manifestations due to impaired renal function in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are diverse and are an important cause of morbidity. AIM: To determine the prevalence of dermatological manifestations in predialysis children with different stages of CKD and its association with various metabolic parameters. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 200 predialysis children with CKD stages 1-5 and 200 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Detailed dermatological examination was performed to check for any pathological/physiological changes in the skin, mucosa, hair and nails, and changes were recorded in a predesigned proforma. RESULTS: The median age of cases and HCs was 60.50 months (76.5% males) and 62 months (78.5% males) respectively. Skin manifestations were seen in 189 (94.5%) cases and 156 (78%) HCs (P < 0.001). The most common skin manifestation among cases was pallor (75.5%, P < 0.001) followed by xerosis (48.5%, P < 0.001), atopic diathesis (41.5%) and pruritus (13%, P < 0.001), while among HCs, the most common skin manifestation was atopic diathesis (46%), followed by pallor (24%) and xerosis (14%). Xerosis was found to be significantly associated with higher serum creatinine levels (P = 0.04) and hypocalcaemia (P = 0.03). There was no significant association found between pruritus and serum creatinine. CONCLUSION: Xerosis was significantly associated with higher levels of creatinine and hypocalcaemia. Timely recognition of these symptoms and proper management can improve the quality of life in children with CKD.

Risk factors associated with clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding in pediatric ED.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal bleeding is a common problem in pediatric emergency department (PED). Some of these patients can lose significant amount of blood which may lead to shock. The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors predicting clinically significant gastrointestinal (GIS) bleeding in patients presenting to PED. METHODS: This study was performed prospectively from January 1st 2013 to December 31th 2013 in patients with upper or lower GIS bleeding. Clinically significant GIS bleeding was defined as >2g/dL hemoglobin decrease at any time during observation in PED, need for erythrocyte transfusion or need for rapid endoscopic evaluation. RESULTS: 105 patients were enrolled, 81 of which were eligible for the study. Twenty two patients (26,8%) had clinically significant GIS bleeding. These patients have significantly more commonly have upper GI bleeding and symptoms of melena, pallor and tachycardia. Initial laboratory findings revealed lower hemoglobin, RBC and albumin levels with higher WBC and BUN levels. They need significantly more nasogastric tube placement and PPI and H2 blocker treatment. Final diagnosis included more gastritis and peptic ulcers. These patients have less hematochezia, less lower gastrointestinal bleeding and less commonly diagnosed as acute gastroenteritis or Mallory Weiss tear as a final diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric emergency physicians should be aware of clinical and laboratory parameters of patients with clinically significant GIS bleeding to predict which patients are under risk of life threatening blood loss. Patients who have melena, pallor, tachycardia, anemia and uremia at presentation are more prone to have significant GIS bleeding.

Changing Epidemiology: A New Focus of Kala-azar at High-Altitude Garhwal Region of North India.

Adult cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), predominantly males, have been reported in the past decade from natives of high altitude areas of North Indian state of Uttarakhand. We report 14 pediatric cases of VL, who were diagnosed and treated successfully over the past 7 years. All these children were born and brought up in this area and had never visited any of the endemic areas. High prevalence of pallor, splenohepatomegaly, thrombocytopenia and poor association with HIV are cardinal features of VL in this region. Although newer drugs have become available, the protozoan continues to be sensitive to sodium stibogluconate. We conclude that the transmission cycle of VL has been established in this region and VL should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any child presenting with fever and hepatosplenomegaly. However, molecular and epidemiological studies are needed to identify the ancestry, vector and animal reservoir if any in this region.

Visceral Leishmaniasis In Adults.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (also known as Kala Azar) is a parasitic infection caused by Leishmania Donovani in the East and Leishmania Infantum in the west. It is prevalent in many countries including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Africa and part of America. The disease follows chronic course and is usually lethal if left untreated. It has also been reported from different parts of Pakistan, including Northern areas, Districts Mansehra & Abbottabad and Hilly areas of Khyber Pukhtoonkhawah. Most the cases have been reported in paediatric population. Except one case, reported previously from Abbottabad. The present two cases were also seen in adults.

[Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episode after immunization with whole-cell pertussis combination vaccine. Clinical Case Report]. / Episodio Hipotonía-Hiporreactividad posterior a la inmunización con vacuna combinada con pertussis de células enteras. Reporte de un caso.

INTRODUCTION: Hypotonic-Hyporesponsive Episode (HHE) is an adverse event after vaccination, mainly associated with whole-cell pertussis vaccines. It is characterized by a sudden onset of muscle flaccidity, reduced response to stimuli and pallor or cyanosis. Although the HHE is infrequent, it is considered a severe adverse event. OBJECTIVE: To report a case of HHE following the administration of the whole-cell pertussis combination vaccine (DTwP-HB-Hib), which is included in National Im munization Program (PNI) of Chile, and to contributing to the knowledge of this adverse event in the country. CASE REPORT: A 6-month-old infant, 3 hours post-vaccination with the third dose of DTwP-HB-Hib vaccine, presented a decreased level of consciousness that was interpreted as atonic seizure but finally considered as EHH. The infant progressed favorably after 2 hours of clinical observation and was discharged 24 hours later. Parents were suggested to continue the immunization schedule of the infant with acellular pertussis vaccines as a preventive measure. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of knowledge about the EHH may discourage childhood immunization. Therefore, it is important for the medical staff to inform parents of the patients about this benign, self-limited and non-recurrent adverse event. In these cases, it is recommended to continue the immunization schedule of the infant with acellular pertussis vaccines.

Assessment of heart rate variability in breath holding children by 24 hour Holter monitoring.

PURPOSE: Previous studies have shown that the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism in children with breath holding may be generalised autonomic dysregulation. Thus, we performed cardiac rhythm and heart rate variability analyses using 24-hour Holter monitoring to evaluate the cardiac effects of autonomic dysregulation in children with breath-holding spells. METHODS: We performed cardiac rhythm and heart rate analyses using 24-hour Holter monitors to evaluate the cardiac effects of autonomic dysregulation in children during a breath-holding spell. Our study group consisted of 68 children with breath-holding spells - 56 cyanotic type and 12 pallid type - and 39 healthy controls. RESULTS: Clinical and heart rate variability results were compared between each spell type - cyanotic or pallid - and the control group; significant differences (p<0.05) in standard deviation of all NN intervals, mean of the standard deviations of all NN intervals for all 5-minute segments, percentage of differences between adjacent RR intervals >50 ms, and square root of the mean of the sum of squares of the differences between adjacent NN intervals values were found between the pallid and cyanotic groups. CONCLUSIONS: Holter monitoring for 24 hours and heart rate variability parameters, particularly in children with pallid spells, are crucial for evaluation of cardiac rhythm changes.

A Pale Baby With Blue Blood.

A previously healthy 9-month-old boy presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of pallor and reduced activity. A detailed history and initial blood tests revealed the diagnosis of oxidant stress-induced hemolysis caused by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. However, the child also had a second diagnosis that was revealed with additional testing. This case is described to illustrate the dual diagnosis and management guidelines for both potentially serious conditions.

Primary headaches in children under the age of 7 years.

Recurrent headache is increasingly recognised in young children. Migraine and tension-type headache feature commonly amongst the primary headache disorders seen at this age. Headaches at this age are more likely than in older patients to be 'unclassifiable', possibly a reflection of the difficulties in obtaining a detailed headache history from a young child. Together with recent epidemiological data this review highlights the more prevalent primary headache types with advice on making a focussed headache assessment and guidance on management in this age group.

Harlequin color change after abdominal paracentesis in a newborn with neonatal hemochromatosis.

Harlequin color change is a distinctive cutaneous phenomenon presenting as a well-demarcated color change, with half of the body displaying erythema and the other half pallor. Only a few cases have been reported, possibly because of under-recognition. Recognition of this benign, self-limited condition may enable physicians to avoid unnecessary interventions. Herein we describe a neonate with nonimmune hydrops fetalis due to neonatal hemochromatosis who developed Harlequin color change after abdominal paracentesis.

Drugs, muscle pallor, and pyomyositis.

A 33-year-old athletic male was unexpectedly found dead in his bed. For several days prior to his death he complained of tenderness and swelling of his right buttock. The post-mortem examination revealed unilateral pale gluteal muscles and pustular impetiginized skin lesions of the right lower leg. The muscle histology demonstrated pronounced acute inflammation and limited necrosis of muscle fibers confined to the right gluteal muscles. Vascular occlusion and renal abnormalities were excluded by post-mortem angiography and histology respectively, and the diagnosis of non-tropical pyomyositis, possibly originating from the dermatological infection, was made. Toxicological testing revealed a potentially lethal intoxication with fentanyl and morphine. Pyomyositis is etiologically attributed to an infection and predominantly affects large limb or trunk muscles. Males are affected more frequently than females. Histologically, it is dominated by acute inflammatory infiltrates and may lead to sepsis and subsequent death. Although occurring less frequently, pyomyositis must be considered in the differential diagnosis of macroscopic localized muscle pallor, together with vascular occlusion and rhabdomyolysis. In such cases, only the examination of fresh frozen muscle tissue samples from different locations, together with the histological examination of the internal organs, particularly the kidneys, will facilitate the confirmation of the correct diagnosis.

A pale Chinese boy with recurrent painful digital swelling.

Thalassaemia is the most common haemoglobinopathy in the Chinese population. However, recurrent painful digital swelling is not a typical manifestation of this well-known hereditary condition. We describe a case of co-inheritance of beta-thalassaemia and sickle cell trait in a Chinese family and a child who suffered from sickle cell/beta-thalassaemia with recurrent dactylitis. This report highlights awareness of this rare condition in the Chinese population, since acute manifestations can be life-threatening and mimic other emergency conditions. Prompt management can prevent further complications and avoid unnecessary interventions due to delay in diagnosis. A detailed family history and examination of the patient's peripheral blood smear is crucial to reach a correct diagnosis.