Hidatidosis pancreática en una niña de 5 años / Pancreatic echinococcosis in a 5-year-old girl

La hidatidosis pancreática representa el 0,2-0,6 % de los casos, siendo la población pediátrica la de mayor riesgo. Las lesiones suelen localizarse en cabeza del páncreas (50-58 %); la localización en cuerpo y cola del páncreas se encuentra en el 24-34 % y el 19 %, respectivamente. Dada la posibilidad de complicaciones, suele realizarse tratamiento quirúrgico. Se sugiriere indicar albendazol antes y después del acto quirúrgico por los riesgos de ruptura y diseminación de los protoescólices. Se presenta el caso de una niña de 5 años de edad con dolor abdominal progresivo y lesión quística en páncreas compatible con hidatidosis en la ultrasonografía. En la tomografía computada se observa compresión de la vía biliar. La hemoaglutinación indirecta fue negativa. Presentó elevación de la bilirrubina total, con franco predominio de bilirrubina directa, y aumento de enzimas hepáticas. Se realizó laparotomía exploradora, colecistectomía y destechamiento del quiste. Evolucionó favorablemente, continuó con albendazol durante 3 meses luego de la cirugía.

Pancreatic echinococcosis accounts for 0.2­0.6% of cases, with the pediatric population being at a higher risk. Most commonly, pancreatic lesions occur in the head of the pancreas (50­58%); and in the body and tail in 24­34% and 19% of cases, respectively. Given the potential complications, surgery is usually performed. Albendazole is recommended before and after the surgery due to the risks for rupture and dissemination of protoscolices. Here we describe the case of a 5-year-old girl with progressive abdominal pain and cystic lesion in the pancreas compatible with echinococcosis in the ultrasound. The computed tomography showed bile duct compression. Indirect hemagglutination was negative. She had elevated total bilirubin, with a clear predominance of direct bilirubin, and high liver enzymes. Exploratory laparotomy, cholecystectomy, and unroofing of the cyst were performed. The patient had a favorable course and continued with albendazole for 3 months after the surgery.

Paciente con quistes pulmonares y diagnóstico de coinfección con tuberculosis e hidatidosis: reporte de un caso pediátrico / Patient with pulmonary cysts and diagnosis of co-infection with tuberculosis and hydatidosis. Pediatric cases report

Existen numerosas entidades en la población pediátrica que pueden presentarse en forma de quistes o como lesiones de similares características. De estas patologías, las infecciosas son las más frecuentes. Se presenta el caso de una paciente oriunda de Bolivia con migración reciente a la Argentina que presentó una coinfección con tuberculosis e hidatidosis pulmonar. Ambas infecciones se pueden presentar con signos y síntomas similares y, aunque la asociación citada es poco frecuente en la bibliografía, ciertos mecanismos inmunitarios podrían intervenir en la coinfección de parásitos helmintos y micobacterias. Ambas patologías son infecciones prevalentes en nuestra región y deben ser tenidas en cuenta entre los diagnósticos diferenciales ante pacientes con imágenes quísticas o cavitarias pulmonares.

Numerous entities in the pediatric population can present in the form of cysts or as lesions with similar characteristics. Of the pathologies that can cause these images in children, infectious diseases are the most frequent. We present the case of a native of Bolivia with recent immigration to Argentina who presented a pulmonary co-infection with tuberculosis and hydatidosis. Both infections can present with similar signs and symptoms and although this association is rarely reported in the literature, certain immunological mechanisms could intervene in the causal association of co-infection between helminth parasites and mycobacteria. Both pathologies are very prevalent infections in our region and should be taken into account among the differential diagnoses in patients with cystic or cavitary pulmonary diseases.

Toxocariosis visceral: un caso pediátrico atípico con vasculitis cutánea en la provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina / Visceral Larva Migrans: A pediatric case of atypical presentation with cutaneous vasculitis in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina

La toxocariosis es una parasitosis generada por la larva del género Toxocara sp., que causa dos síndromes clásicamente definidos: larva migrans visceral o larva migrans ocular, dependiendo de la localización de la larva. Sin embargo, la mayor parte de los niños presenta una infección asintomática. El ser humano se comporta como un hospedador paraténico, en el que Toxocara sp. no llega a completar su ciclo biológico. Las manifestaciones clínicas pueden ser diversas y dependen del número y de la localización de las larvas enquistadas, así como de la respuesta inmune del huésped. En los últimos años, se ha descrito una relación entre Toxocara sp. y ciertas manifestaciones cutáneas. Se describe el caso clínico de un lactante de 19 meses con toxocariosis visceral y manifestaciones cutáneas de vasculitis. Se detalla su forma de presentación, evolución clínica, metodología diagnóstica y terapéutica empleada.

Toxocariosis is a parasitic disease caused by the larvae from genus Toxocara sp. There are two classic syndromes described for this entity: visceral larva migrans and ocular larva migrans, depending on larvae localization. Human being behaves as an accidental host in which Toxocara sp. does not become an adult worm. This infection is generally asymptomatic but clinical manifestations can be diverse, and they vary according to number and localization of entrenched larvae and host's immune system. In the last years it has been studied a relation between Toxocara sp. and some cutaneous manifestations. We describe the case of a 19-month infant with visceral larva migrans and cutaneous manifestations from vasculitis, explaining its form of presentation, evolution, diagnose and treatment

Presence of benznidazole conjugated metabolites in urine identified by β-glucuronidase treatment

Chagas disease is a serious public health problem in Latin America and, due to migration, in other non-endemic regions. Benznidazole (BNZ) is first choice drug in pediatric therapeutics. However, little is known regarding its metabolism in humans. The aim of the study was to isolate and identify products of human BZN metabolism in urine samples obtained from a pediatric Chagas patient and a healthy adult volunteer both treated with BZN. Urine samples were collected after dose of BNZ. Urine was treated with β-glucuronidase followed by an extraction procedure under two different pH conditions and a HPLC/UV and MS/MS identification of BZN and its metabolites. BZN (m/z 260.09847) was identified in all urine extracts. Peaks from each extracted chromatograms were selected for MS and MS/MS identification. Three compounds structurally related to BZN were identified: BZN-Na+ (m/z 283.08009), N-amine-BZN (m/z 230.12307) and N-hydroxi-amine-BZN (m/z 246.11702). BNZ-Na+ was identified in all extracts, but N-amine-BZN and N-hydroxi-amine-BZN were only observed in those extracts treated with β-glucuronidase. This is the first experimental report showing elimination of BZN N-reduced metabolites in urine. As they were released after treatment with β-glucuronidase it can be suggested that glucuronization plays a role in BNZ metabolism and renal elimination.

Urban Chagas disease in children and women in primary care centres in Buenos Aires, Argentina

The primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of this disease in women of childbearing age and children treated at health centres in underserviced areas of the city of Buenos Aires. Demographic and Chagas disease status data were collected. Samples for Chagas disease serology were obtained on filter paper and the reactive results were confirmed with conventional samples. A total of 1,786 subjects were screened and 73 positive screening results were obtained: 17 were from children and 56 were from women. The Trypanosoma cruziinfection risk was greater in those individuals who had relatives with Chagas disease, who remember seeing kissing bugs, who were of Bolivian nationality or were born in the Argentine province of Santiago del Estero. The overall prevalence of Chagas disease was 4.08%. Due to migration, Chagas disease is currently predominantly urban. The observed prevalence requires health programme activities that are aimed at urban children and their mothers. Most children were infected congenitally, which reinforces the need for Chagas disease screening of all pregnant women and their babies in Argentina. The active search for new cases is important because the appropriate treatment in children has a high cure rate.

Prevention of congenital Chagas through treatment of girls and women of childbearing age

It is currently unknown whether treatment of Chagas disease decreases the risk of congenital transmission from previously treated mothers to their infants. In a cohort of women with Chagas disease previously treated with benznidazole, no congenital transmission of the disease was observed in their newborns. This finding provides support for the treatment of Chagas disease as early as possible.

Neurocisticercosis: un caso autóctono en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires / Neurocysticercosis: report of an autochthonous case in Buenos Aires city

La neurocisticercosis es la enfermedad parasitaria del sistema nervioso central provocada por la larva de Taenia solium, denominada Cysticercus cellulosae. Es una enfermedad universal, endémica en países de Latinoamérica y Asia.En 1993, en la provincia de Buenos Aires se comunicaron 11 casos de neurocisticercosis en pacientes adultos, 8 provenientes de Bolivia y 3 del interior de nuestro país. En la Argentina,los casos pediátricos comunicados son oriundos de países limítrofes o del interior del país.El propósito del presente artículo es presentar el primer caso pediátrico autóctono, con fuente de contagio local en la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y alertar sobre la posibilidad de que una regióncomo ésta, ingrese dentro del área endémica, producto de los movimientos migratorios internos y externos, y del asentamiento de portadores de la parasitosis en el perímetro urbano.

Neurocysticercosis (NC) is a central nervous system disease caused by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larvae of Taenia solium. NC is found worldwide, and endemic in Latin America and Asia.In 1993, 11 adult patients with NC were reported in Buenos Aires, 8 from Bolivia and the rest from Argentina. Pediatric cases reported in Argentina have been from inner provincesor from rural areas. The purpose of the present article is to present the first autochthonous pediatric case, with local source of contagion in the city of Buenos Aires, and to alert regarding the possibility that the city become an endemic area, due to the migratory movements leading to establishment of asymptomatic carriers of Taenia solium in the urban area.

Anti-M2 muscarinic receptor autoantibodies in Trypanosoma cruzi-infected pediatric patients treated with benznidazole

La presencia de autoanticuerpos con actividad adrenérgica y colinérgica, capaces de modificar la actividad de los receptores a neurotransmisores, ha sido asociada a la patogénesis de la Miocardiopatia chagásica. Hemos investigado la existencia de autoanticuerpos contra receptores muscarínicos M2 en la fracción IgG de 14 pacientes pediátricos con Enfermedad de Chagas y en 18 controles no infectados. Encontramos una mayor frecuencia y un incremento de 6,2 mais ou menos 1,8 veces en el nivel de autoanticuerpos contra receptores cardíacos en los niños infectados con T. cruzi respecto de los controles no infectados. Luego del tratamiento parasiticida específico, los pacientes fueron evaluados prospectivamente, comprobándose una tendencia lineal descendente significativa en la reactividad de estos autoanticuerpos. Al producirse la seroconversión negativa para T. cruzi como consecuencia directa del tratamiento, los pacientes presentaron títulos de autoanticuerpos contra receptores cardíacos similares a los detectados en los niños no infectados. Concluimos que en pacientes pediátricos la respuesta de autoanticuerpos contra receptores muscarínicos M2 se manifesta tempranamente en el curso de la infección con T. cruzi y decrece después de la quimioterapia especifica. Por lo tanto, la administración de BZ a estos pacienes no sólo sería efectiva para eliminar el parásito sino también para reducir respuestas autoinmunes potencialmente patogénicas.