Prognostic Factors Analysis of Children with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the risk factors affecting prognosis of children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).@*METHODS@#The clinical manifestations and laboratory data of 143 HLH children who met the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria in Shenzhen Children's Hospital from January 2009 to May 2017 were retrospectively analyzed, and the independent factors affecting prognosis were also analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The median age of 143 HLH children was 1.9 (0.1-14.3) years old, and the median follow-up time was 6.7 years (1 day - 11.9 years). The overall survival rate of 1 month, 1 year, and 10 years was (87.4±5.5)%, (81.1±6.5)%, and (81.1±6.5)%, respectively. The deaths occurred within 1 year after onset. Multivariate analysis showed that central nervous system (CNS) involvement (P=0.047), low hemoglobin (P=0.002), prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) (P<0.001), high triglyceride (P=0.005) were all the independent risk factors affecting survival of the children. Receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that APTT (AUC=0.753, P<0.001) was more valuable than other risk factors in predicting death of the children. The cut-off value of APTT was 56.6 s, and the sensitivity and specificity of which was 55.6% and 89.7%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Hypohemoglobinemia, prolonged APTT, hypertriglyceridemia, and CNS involvement the risk factors affecting prognosis of HLH, and prolonged APTT shows a strong predictive value for death.

Clinical characteristics and drug sensitivity in children with invasive pneumococcal disease: a multicenter study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the clinical characteristics, drug sensitivity of isolated strains, and risk factors of drug resistance in children with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).@*METHODS@#The clinical characteristics and drug sensitivity of the isolated strains of 246 hospitalized children with IPD in nine grade A tertiary children's hospitals from January 2016 to June 2018 were analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Of the 246 children with IPD, there were 122 males and 124 females. Their ages ranged from 1 day to 14 years, and among them, 68 (27.6%) patients were less than 1 year old, 54 (22.0%) patients were 1 to 2 years old, 97 (39.4%) patients were 2 to 5 years old, and 27 (11.0%) patients were 5 to 14 years old. Pneumonia with sepsis was the most common infection type (58.5%, 144/246), followed by bloodstream infection without focus (19.9%, 49/246) and meningitis (15.0%, 37/246). Forty-nine (19.9%) patients had underlying diseases, and 160 (65.0%) had various risk factors for drug resistance. The isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae strains were 100% sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin, 90% sensitive to ertapenem, ofloxacin, and ceftriaxone, but had a low sensitivity to erythromycin (4.2%), clindamycin (7.9%), and tetracycline (6.3%).@*CONCLUSIONS@#IPD is more common in children under 5 years old, especially in those under 2 years old. Some children with IPD have underlying diseases, and most of the patients have various risk factors for drug resistance. Pneumonia with sepsis is the most common infection type. The isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae strains are highly sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, ertapenem, and ceftriaxone in children with IPD.

Pertussis diagnosis: the limitation of the currently used criteria and the suggestion of Global Pertussis Initiative / 中国当代儿科杂志

It has been recognized that pertussis is a disease that affects all age groups. There are obvious limitations in the currently used diagnostic criteria with "one-size-fits-all" definition, which is not advantageous to start individual treatment and perform strategies for preventing the transmission. Therefore, the expert group of Global Pertussis Initiative gives a suggestion for the diagnosis of pertussis. Based on the related published studies, the present article analyzes the limitations of the current criteria, and introduces the GPI's suggestion in detail.

Influencing factors for duration of viral nucleic acid shedding in children with influenza A / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the features and duration of viral nucleic acid shedding in children with influenza A.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 90 children with influenza A with positive influenza A virus nucleic acid in nasopharyngeal swab detected by PCR were collected, and these children were divided into simple influenza A group (n=10), influenza A-pneumonia group (n=61), influenza A-nervous system damage group (n=10), and influenza A-underlying disease group (n=9). A retrospective analysis was performed for clinical features, treatment process, duration of viral nucleic acid shedding, and prognosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most common symptoms in these children were fever (89/90, 99%), cough (89/90, 99%), running nose (69/90, 77%), shortness of breath (26/90, 29%), and myalgia (23/90, 26%). The mean duration of viral nucleic acid shedding in 90 children was 9.4±2.9 days. The simple influenza A group had a significantly shorter duration of viral nucleic acid shedding than the influenza A-pneumonia, influenza A-nervous system damage, and influenza A-underlying disease groups (p<0.05), while there were no significant differences between the influenza A-pneumonia, influenza A-nervous system damage, and influenza A-underlying disease groups (p>0.05). The children who received antiviral therapy within 48 hours after disease onset had significantly shorter duration of viral nucleic acid shedding and time to body temperature recovery than those who received antiviral therapy more than 48 hours after disease onset (p<0.05). Of all the children with body temperature recovery, 83% still tested positive for viral nucleic acid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Complications, underlying diseases, and timing of antiviral therapy are influencing factors for the duration of influenza A virus nucleic acid shedding, and whether body temperature returns to normal cannot be used to decide whether to continue antiviral therapy.</p>

Clinical analysis of 24 children with plastic bronchitis / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of plastic bronchitis (PB) so as to improve the awareness of the disease.Methods Twenty-four children with PB were collected from Jul.2009 to Mar.2012 in Shenzhen Children's Hospital.The clinical manifestation,bronchoscopy,histology of the cast,clinical course and outcome were reviewed retrospectively.Results Of the 24 children with PB,18 cases were male,6 cases were female,and the range of age was 1 year and 2 months to 10 years and 3 months,with the median age of 3 years and 4 months.Three patients had an underlying chronic disease,1 case had asthma,1 case had hydronephrosis,and 1 case had ventricular septal defect repair before 1 year and 8 months.All the cases had fever,cough and sputum,while 10 cases had wheeze,and 5 cases had respiratory distress.All cases were diagnosed as pneumonia or severe pneumonia,of which 14 case had atelectasis,10 cases had parapneumonic effusion,5 cases suspected of foreign body inhalation,3 cases had pneumothorax,and 3 cases had mediastinal hernia.Fourteen cases were admitted to PICU,6 patients developed respiratory failure,and 9 patients required mechanical ventilation.Flexible bronchoscopy and bronchial lavage were performed in all cases and showed bronchial cast.Histological examination of the bronchial cast revealed that fibrinous material containing large quantity of eosinophils,neutrophils,and lymphocytes in 23 patients,and no inflammatory cells in 1 patient.After a bronchial cast was removed,all patients were improved greatly,and no patient dead.Conclusions Plastic bronchitis is a rare pediatric critical disease,which has high mortality.In children with rapid and progressive respiratory distress with lung atelectasis,pleural effusion or consolidation on chest radiograph,PB should be considered.Bronchial endoscopy is the most effective method for treatment of PB.

Clinical analysis of 8 children with plastic bronchitis associated with influenza A virus (H1N1) infection / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical characteristics of plastic bronchitis associated with 2009 influenza A virus (H1N1) infection.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A retrospective investigation of the clinical manifestation, bronchoscopy, and the histology of the cast, clinical course and outcome of 8 children with plastic bronchitis associated with influenza A virus (H1N1) infection during winter of 2009 and 2010 was performed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>All 8 cases were boys, the range of age was 3 to 6 years. Five cases occurred in 2009 winter, accounting for 3.3% (5/150) of hospitalized children with influenza A (H1N1) infection; 3 cases occurred in 2010 winter, accounting for 15.8% (3/19) of hospitalized children with influenza A (H1N1) infection. Two patients had an underlying chronic disease, 1 had asthma, and the other had allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis. All the 8 cases had fever, cough and sputum; 2 had wheezing; 5 had respiratory distress. All 8 cases were diagnosed as influenza A virus (H1N1) infection complicated with pneumonia, of whom 5 patients had atelectasis, 2 had pneumothorax, 1 had pneumomediastinum, 1 had parapneumonic effusion, 2 patients were suspected of foreign body aspiration. Seven cases were admitted to an ICU, 5 patients developed respiratory failure, and 3 patients required mechanical ventilation. Flexible bronchoscopy and bronchial lavage was performed in all cases and showed bronchial cast. Histological examination of the bronchial cast revealed a fibrinous material containing large quantity of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in 7 patients, fibrinous material and necrotic material without inflammatory cells in 1 patient. After the bronchial cast was removed, all patients were improved greatly, no patients died.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Plastic bronchitis is a life-threatening complication associated with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in children. In children with rapid and progressive respiratory distress with lung atelectasis or consolidation on chest radiograph, plastic bronchitis should be considered. Bronchoscopic extraction of casts should be carried out early.</p>

Characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical characteristics of severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) infection.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Clinical data of 150 cases with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection confirmed with the use of a real-time polymerase-chain-reaction assay on nasopharyngeal swab specimens were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Among 150 severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection, 103 were male, 47 were female; the median age was 5 years, 81(55%) were 5 years of age or older; 21 (14%) had underlying chronic diseases. The most common presenting symptoms were fever (95%), cough (89%), vomiting (23%), wheezing (19%), abdominal pain (16%), lethargy (7%), seizures (6%), myalgia (6%), and diarrhea (6%). The common laboratory abnormalities were increased or decreased white blood cells counts (40%), elevated of CRP (33%), LDH (29%), CK (25%) and AST (19%). Clinical complications included pneumonia (65%), encephalopathy (12%), myocarditis (5%), encephalitis (1%) and myositis (1%). All patients had received antibiotics before admission or on admission; 73% of patients had received oseltamivir treatment, 23% of patients had received corticosteroids; 32 (21%) were admitted to an ICU, 13 patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Fourteen patients with dyspnea who were irresponsive to the treatment experienced bronchoalveolar lavage with flexible bronchoscopy, and the branching bronchial casts were removed in 5 patients. Totally 145 (97%) patients were discharged, five (3%) died, three previously healthy patients died from severe encephalopathy, one patient died from ARDS, one previously healthy patient died from secondary fungal meningitis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Severely and critically ill children with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) virus infection may occur mainly in older children without underlying chronic disease. The clinical spectrum and laboratory abnormality of the patients can have a wide range. Neurologic complications may be common and severe encephalopathy can lead to death in previously healthy children. Early use of bronchoalveolar lavage with flexible bronchoscopy may reduce death associated with pulmonary complications.</p>

Changes of immune function in patients with enterovirus 71 infection / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of changes in immune function with enterovirus 71 (EV71) cases with different severity of the disease.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Forty-six EV71-infected patients and 12 age-matched healthy children were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into four groups according to critical degree of enterovirus 71 infection: hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD); central nervous system disease (CNSD); autonomic nervous system dysregulation (ANSD) and pulmonary edema (PE). We analyzed CD14+ monocyte HLA-DR expression, lymphocyte immunophenotypes, the proportion of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3high regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and Th17 cells, cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-10, TGF-beta, IL-6, IL-17A), evaluated the mRNA levels of Foxp3 and ROR-gammat, and serum immunoglobulin and complements.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) Serum concentrations of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha elevated in mild cases, while declined in severe cases, and were lower in PE group (P<0.05). Serum concentrations of IL-10 and IL-10/TNF-alpha ratio gradually raised with the aggravation of the disease, and higher in PE group (P<0.05). (2) Circulating CD14+ monocyte HLA-DR expression, CD3+T cells, CD4+T cells, CD8+T cells, and NK cells gradually decreased, and lower in PE group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in B cells, immunoglobulin and complement among the four groups. (3) The proportion of CD4+CD25+ Foxp3high Treg cells, mRNA level of Foxp, and serum concentrations of TGF-beta gradually decreased with the aggravation of the disease, while the proportion of Th17 cells, serum concentrations of IL-17A, mRNA level of ROR-gammat, and IL-6 gradually increased with the aggravation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Immune function changed with different illness phases. The mild cases presented systemic inflammatory response syndrome status, while critically ill cases presented compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome or mixed antagonist response status. Immunoregulatory treatment of patients with EV71 infection should emphasize different methods at different stage and individualization.</p>

Bacterial etiology of pneumonia in hospitalized children: combined detection with culture and polymerase chain reaction / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Bacterial cultures from respiratory aspirate or sputum have been the conventional diagnostic method for pneumonia, but the results of culture was often affected by early extensive use of antibiotics, sample collection and delivery. The objective of this study was to explore application of the combined detection of culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in hospitalized children with pneumonia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 187 hospitalized children with pneumonia were enrolled. The age of the patients ranged from 1 month to 10 years, 124 were male, 63 female; 175 of the patients received antibiotics treatment before admission. Deep respiratory aspirate sample from patients was cultured by Streptococcus pneumoniae selective plate, Hemophilus influenzae selective plate and conventional plate. The aspirate samples were also amplified for DNA of 14 bacteria with target enriched multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Tem-PCR) and detected with Luminex xMAP technology platform.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total positive rate by bacterial culture was 40.1% (75/187), of which 17.1% (24/187) were Hemophilus influenzae b, 8.6% (16/187) were Escherichia coli, 6.4% (12/187) were Klebsiella pneumoniae, 4.8% (9/187) were Staphylococcus aureus, 3.7% (7/187) were Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1.6% (3/187) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 1.1% (2/187) were Acinetobacter baumannii, and 1.1% (2/187) were Enterobacter cloacae. The total positive rate by combined detection of culture and Tem-PCR assay were 78.6% (147/187), of which 28.9% (54/187) were Hemophilus influenzae b, 19.3% (36/187) were Streptococcus pneumoniae, 8.6% (16/187) were Escherichia coli, 6.4% (12/187) were Klebsiella pneumoniae, 5.9% (11/187) were Staphylococcus aureus, 5.9% (11/187) were Acinetobacter baumannii, 2.7% (5/187) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 1.1% (2/187) were Enterobacter cloacae.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Tem-PCR assay may increase the detection rate of Hemophilus influenzae b, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. The Combined detection may increase the positive rate of bacterial pathogens in hospitalized children with pneumonia, and the results might reflect the real patterns of bacterial etiology. The Tem-PCR needs further improvement for diagnosis of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.</p>