[Extreme reactive thrombocytosis in a healthy 6 year-old child]. / Trombocitosis extrema reactiva en un niño sano de 6 años.

Thrombocytosis is usually a casual finding in children. Reactive or secondary thrombocytosis is the more common form, being the infections diseases the most prevalent cause of it. Regarding the number of platelets there are four degrees of thrombocytosis; in its extreme degree the number of platelets exceeds 1,000,000/mm(3). We describe a case of extreme reactive thrombocytosis in a healthy 6-year-old child. He required critical care admission for diagnosis and treatment (maximum number of platelets 7,283,000/mm(3)). We review the different causes of thrombocytosis in childhood, the differential diagnosis, and the available treatments in case of extreme thrombocytosis.

Extreme reactive thrombocytosis in a healthy 6 year-old child.

Thrombocytosis is usually found by chance in children. Reactive or secondary thrombocytosis is the more common form, with infectious diseases being the most prevalent cause of it. Regarding the number of platelets there are four degrees of thrombocytosis; in its extreme degree the number of platelets exceeds 1,000,000/mm3. We describe a case of extreme reactive thrombocytosis in a healthy 6-year-old child. He required critical care admission for diagnosis and treatment (maximum number of platelets 7,283,000/mm3). We review the different causes of thrombocytosis in childhood, the differential diagnosis, and the available treatments in case of extreme thrombocytosis.

La trombocitosis es un hallazgo casual frecuente en pediatría. En niños, predominan las formas secundarias, siendo las infecciones su causa más prevalente. Se distinguen 4 grados de trombocitosis en función del número de plaquetas; en la forma extrema, se supera el 1.000.000/mm3. Se presenta un caso de trombocitosis extrema reactiva en un niño sano de 6 años, que requirió ingreso en cuidados intensivos para tratamiento y diagnóstico (cifra máxima de plaquetas de 7.283.000/mm3). Se revisan las diferentes causas de trombocitosis en la infancia, se describe el diagnóstico diferencial y se discute sobre los diferentes tratamientos disponibles ante un caso como el descrito.

Home enteral nutrition in children: a 10 year experience with 304 pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Home enteral nutrition is used increasingly in pediatric populations. Our objective was to describe the profile of pediatric patients requiring this treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients under 18 years old requiring treatment with home enteral nutrition between January 1995 and December 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: 304 patients were studied (157 boys). The mean age at the start of treatment was 4.02 ± 4.09 years, median of 2.5 years; 28% of all patients were under 1 year. The main indications were oncological disease in 91 patients (29.9%) and digestive diseases in 84 (27.6%). There were significant differences depending on the clinical diagnosis for the start age, type of access, infusion regime and formula prescribed. Nutrients were delivered by nasogastric tube in 218 patients (71.7%). Overnight enteral nutrition was the preferred infusion regime in 155 patients (51%). Adult or pediatric polymeric formulas were mostly prescribed in 190 patients (62.5%). The mean treatment duration was 306 ± 544 days. CONCLUSION: In our series, enteral support usually begins at an early age. Its characteristics varied depending on patient pathology. Knowledge of the pediatric patient profile is important to design the most effective strategy for home enteral nutrition.

[Vitamin D intoxication in infants born from Latin-American immigrants. Series of 3 cases]. / Intoxicación por vitamina D en hijos de inmigrantes latinoamericanos. Serie de 3 casos.

Vitamin D intoxication is a well-known cause of hypercalcemia in children and can have serious consequences (renal, cardiac and neurologic mainly). The use of the so-called over-the-counter (OTC) supplements involves a high risk in this taking place. The clinical expression of hypercalcaemia is unspecific, and, together with the fact that the administration of such supplements is frequently denied, the diagnosis of vitamin D intoxication is often delayed and the number of complementary tests performed is high. We here-for expose a series of 3 cases all of which are infants born from Latin-American immigrants who were receiving supplements that came from their parents originary countries. All 3 cases were admitted in our hospital within a period of 5 months. After the first preceding case, the diagnosis of the 2 latter ones was performed promptly and so was the instauration of the treatment for hypercalcemia. The initial levels of serum calcium and of 25-hydroxy vitamin D where, respectively for each case: 17.9 mg/dl and 504 ng/ml; 14.46 mg/dl and 505 ng/ml; 14.2mg/dl and 530 ng/ml. All 3 patients received intravenous treatment with serum, furosemide and corticoids and in one case with subcutaneous calcitonine as well. The clinical outcome was optimal for them all, with normalization of the calcium levels and of the renal function.