Clinical Analysis of Intussusception Delayed in the Final Diagnosis / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: In this study, we tried to evaluate the clinical characteristics or circumstances that lead to unintentionally the delay in the diagnosis of intussusception or to the wrong direction that prevent the proper management early. METHODS: All the patients of intussusception with delayed diagnosis in the department of pediatrics or emergency room at Gyeongsang National University Hospital from 1990 to 2003 were enrolled and reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 8 boys and 6 girls and their median age was 8 months (range 2 months to 10 years). Their initial symptoms and signs were vomiting, seizure, diarrhea, lethargy, irritability, bloody stool, palpable abdominal mass, foul odor of urine and tachycardia. Clinical diagnosis or impressions at admission consisted of acute gastroenteritis, shigellosis and toxic encephalopathy, convulsive disorders, urinary tract infections, sepsis, abdominal mass and intestinal obstruction. Eight patients were luckily diagnosed due to the delayed manifestations of cyclic irritability or currant jelly stool. Six patients were not paid attentions for the possibilities of intussusception and diagnosed serendipitiously by the abdominal sonography or CT during the evaluation of the abdominal mass or distension. Only five of 14 cases (35.7%) were successfully managed by barium or air reductions. The other 9 cases needed surgical operations. CONCLUSION: Delayed diagnosis of intussusception arise when doctors initially diagnose the patients incorrectly due to the unusual presentations or when they overlook the newly arising symptoms or signs suggestive intussusception after the admission because they are ardently attached to the first impressions or initial clinical diagnosis.

A Case of ARCI Syndrome with Hypoplasia of Corpus Callosum and Heart Anomaly

ARCI syndrome consists of arthrogryposis, renal tubular acidosis, cholestatic jaundice and icthyosis. We experienced an ARCI syndrome case with corpus callosum hypoplasia and atrial septal defect. This case had oral feeding difficulty, multiple joint contracture, renal tubular acidosis and neurogenic muscular atrophy at neonatal period. At two months of age, icthyosis and cholestatic jaundice were diagnosed. The case was hospitalized due to pneumonia at four months of age. Corpus callosum hypoplasia and atrial septal defect were detected. The case was treated with a mechanical ventilator because pneumonia was aggravated and respiratory failure occurred. The patient expired at five months of age.

Serum C-Reative Protein As a Predictor for Cardiac Sequelae in Kawasaki Disease

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the predictive factors in the early laboratory findings for cardiac sequelae in Kawasaki disease(KD). METHODES: A retrospective review of the records was conducted of all children with KD who were admitted to the Ulsan Dongkang General Hospital, Masan Samsung Hospital, and Gyeongsang National University Hospital between January 1995 and December 1999. We analyzed and compared the early laboratory findings between the patients with and without coronary artery dilatation. RESULTS: A total of 981 patients were divided into two groups : 826 patients(84.3%) with normal coronary artery and 155 patients(15.7%) with coronary artery dilatation. Age and sex were not significantly different between the two groups. The mean serum C-reactive protein(CRP) in the coronary artery dilatation group and in the normal coronary artery group were 5.0 mg/dl(+/-5.3) and 4.1 mg/dl(+/-5.0), respectively, with a significant difference(P<0.05), whereas the other early laboratory findings had no difference between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the early serum CRP was higher in patients with KD who had coronary artery dilatation than in those with normal coronary artery. There may be a strong possibility of cardiac sequelae at a high level of serum CRP. However, the cut-off value of serum CRP could not be determined for the prediction of cardiac sequelae in patients with KD.

Primary Pneumococcal Peritonitis in a Healthy Child / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Primary peritonitis usually refers to a bacterial infection of the peritoneal cavity without a demonstrable intra-abdominal source. Most cases occur in children with ascites resulting from nephrotic syndrome or cirrhosis. Rarely, it may occur in previously healthy children less than 7 years of age, usually a girl. Distinguishing primary peritonitis from appendicitis may be impossible in patients without a history of nephrotic syndrome or cirrhosis. Accordingly, the diagnosis of primary peritonitis is made only at laparotomy. We report one case of primary pneumococcal peritonitis in a 27-month-old female who underwent explorative laparotomy to discover the cause of suspicious intestinal perforation and mechanical ileus. Later, pneumococci were cultured in blood and gram-positive diplococci were isolated from the pus of peritoneal cavity.