Clinical Experiences and Selection of Accessory Devices for Pediatric Endoscopic Foreign Body Removal: A Retrospective Multicenter Study in Korea

Background@#Swallowing of foreign bodies (FBs) is the most common indication of therapeutic endoscopy in children. Endoscopic removal may be necessary depending on the type of FB, age of the child, and location of the FB. We attempted to analyze the characteristics of each device used for the endoscopic removal of FBs in children. @*Methods@#Medical records of the patient’s age, sex, weight, type, location, size, shape, type of device used for endoscopic removal, and endoscopic time were retrospectively collected. @*Results@#A total of 424 FB removal procedures were analyzed. The average age of the patients at the time of FB removal was 4.1 ± 3.7 years. Coins were the most common FBs (192, 45.3%). The most common locations of the FBs were the esophagus (45.7%) and the stomach (48.3%), respectively. For a total of 371 cases, forceps were used in 96 cases (25.9%) for esophageal FBs and in 25 cases for gastric FBs (6.7%), while nets were used in 250 cases (67.4%) for gastric FBs retrieval; the average durations of the procedures were 7.2 ± 7.4 minutes, 8.5 ± 7.2 minutes, and 5.7 ± 7.3 minutes, respectively (P = 0.003). The procedure time was significantly shorter, in the group of patients with low body weights, when nets were used than when forceps were used to remove gastric FBs (P = 0.001). @*Conclusion@#The endoscopic procedure duration, in low-weight children, was shorter when retrieval nets were used than that with forceps.

Clinical Characteristics of Human Parvovirus B19 Infection in Children

Purpose@#Human parvovirus B19 infection is widespread and has a heterogeneous clinical spectrum, ranging from asymptomatic infection to potentially life-threatening complications. We investigated the various clinical features of human parvovirus B19 infection during an outbreak of the virus in our community. @*Methods@#A retrospective chart review study was conducted at the Pusan National University Children's Hospital from December 2017 to April 2019. We investigated the clinical features of children with parvovirus B19 immunoglobulin M or parvovirus B19 DNA detected using polymerase chain reaction. @*Results@#A total of 24 children were diagnosed with parvovirus B19 infection. Twelve (50%) had lace form rashes, and four (16.7%) had petechial rashes. Two (8.3%) were diagnosed with fever without a focus. Six (25%) developed aplastic crisis as a complication of infection, of whom three were previously diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis and three with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. @*Conclusions@#In addition to erythema infectiosum, the parvovirus B19 infection can present clinically with various types of rashes and fever without a focus. Furthermore, hematologic manifestations such as neutropenia and aplastic crisis can occur during infection.

Newly Diagnosed Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome Presenting with Rectal Polyposis in a Male Pediatric Patient: A Case Report / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

The Factors Affecting the Use of Empirical Antibiotics in Febrile Infants from 1 Month to Less than 3 Months

PURPOSE: This study investigated the factors affecting the use of empirical antibiotics in febrile infants from 1 month to less than 3 months. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of hospitalized previously healthy infants with fever in Pusan National University Children's Hospital from January 2010 to December 2016. Clinical features, laboratory findings and antibiotic therapy were analyzed. Respiratory viruses were identified by multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and were reported after 1–3 days. Enterovirus were identified by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were reported in several hours. RESULTS: The 129 of 366 subjects used empirical antibiotics and 237 patients didn't used empirical antibiotics. Empirical antibiotics were used more frequently when the fever was longer before admission, respiratory symptoms and ill being appearances were present and C-reactive protein was elevated. The rate of readmission was low in the group not used empirical antibiotics. Most of the patients detected by enterovirus PCR in cerebrospinal fluid didn't used empirical antibiotics. The results of respiratory virus multiplex RT-PCR showed no difference in the use of empirical antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, empirical antibiotic prescriptions were affected not respiratory virus multiplex RT-PCR but enterovirus PCR. If multiplex RT-PCR were reported more rapid turn around time, it will affect antibiotic use.

A Rare Case of Unilateral Pleural Effusion in a Pediatric Patient on Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis: Is it a Pleuroperitoneal Leakage?

Non-infectious complications of peritoneal dialysis (PD) are relatively less common than infectious complications but are a potentially serious problem in patients on chronic PD. Here, we present a case of a non-infectious complication of PD in a 13-year-old boy on chronic PD who presented with symptoms such as hypertension, edema, dyspnea, and decreased ultrafiltration. Chest and abdominal radiography showed pleural effusion and migration of the PD catheter tip. Laparoscopic PD catheter reposition was performed because PD catheter malfunction was suspected. However, pleural effusion relapsed whenever the dialysate volume increased. To identify peritoneal leakage, computed tomography (CT) peritoneography was performed, and a defect of the peritoneum in the left lower abdomen with contrast leakage to the left rectus and abdominis muscles was observed. He was treated conservatively by transiently decreasing the volume of night intermittent PD and gradually increasing the volume. At the 2-year follow-up visit, the patient had not experienced similar symptoms. Patients on PD who present with refractory or recurrent pleural effusion that does not respond to therapy should be assessed for the presence of infection, catheter malfunction, and pleuroperitoneal communication. Thoracentesis and CT peritoneography are useful for evaluating pleural effusion, and timely examination is important for identifying the defect or fistula.

Effects of Rituximab Including Long-term Maintenance Therapy in Children with Nephrotic Syndrome in a Single Center of Korea

Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that inhibits CD20-mediated B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Several studies have examined its use in intractable nephrotic syndrome (NS) with some positive results. However, those studies examined such effects for a short-term period of 1 year, and some patients continued to relapse after a lapse in RTX treatment. Our use of RTX as a maintenance therapy (RTX injection when the CD19 cell count exceeded 100–200/µL before relapse) showed some noticeable efficacy. We used RTX in 19 patients with steroid-dependent NS (SDNS). In 12 patients treated with RTX maintenance therapy, only one relapse occurred. The mean treatment period was 23.4±12.7 months, and the mean number of RTX administrations was 3.9±1.6. The relapse rates were decreased (from 2.68/year to 0.04/year), and the drug-free period also increased (from 22.5 days/year to 357.1 days/year) during maintenance therapy. The other seven patients were treated with one cycle of RTX or additional cycles in case of relapse (non-maintenance therapy). Relapse rates were significantly decreased after RTX treatment (from 1.76/year to 0.96/year, P=0.017). The relapse-free period was 15.55±7.38 (range, 5.3–30.7) months. No severe side effects of RTX were found except for a hypersensitivity reaction such as fever and chills during its infusion. In conclusion, RTX is considered an effective and safe option to reduce the relapse rate by a single- or maintenance-interval therapy in SDNS.

Severe Hypophosphatemia in a Girl with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by various symptoms and multi-organ involvement. Hypophosphatemia has been described in several diseases accompanied with systemic inflammation. However, hypophosphatemia has rarely been described in SLE patients, especially in those without nephritis. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl with SLE who developed hypophosphatemia without renal involvement. Her hypophosphatemia was caused by renal loss of phosphorus and persisted for 7 months. It improved as her complement levels increased. Therefore, hypophosphatemia may be related to disease activity in SLE patients.

Clinical Characteristics and Ultrasonographic Findings of Acute Bacterial Enterocolitis in Children / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study clarified the bacterial pathogens currently causing acute infectious enterocolitis (AIE) in children and evaluated the clinical characteristics and ultrasonographic findings according to the different pathogens. METHODS: Medical records regarding age, sex, clinical symptoms, laboratory data, identified enteropathogens, ultrasonographic findings, treatment, and outcome of 34 patients who were diagnosed with AIE via stool examination using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture, were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (70.6%) were male. The mean age of the patients was 8.5±6.2 (range, 1.1–17.1) years. Six bacterial pathogens were isolated: Salmonella species (spp.) (32.4%), Campylobacter spp. (20.6%), verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (14.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (11.8%), Clostridium difficile (8.8%), and Shigella spp. (2.9%). Abdominal pain occurred in all patients regardless of pathogen. The patients infected with Salmonella were older than those infected with verotoxin-producing E. coli (p<0.05). C-reactive protein levels were higher in patients with Salmonella and Campylobacter infections than in those with verotoxin-producing E. coli infection (p<0.05), the other clinical and laboratory data were indistinguishable between pathogens. Ultrasonography demonstrated diverse involvement of bowel segments according to pathogen. Wall thickening of both the ileum and the entire colon was the most common lesion site regardless of pathogen. CONCLUSION: Various bacterial agents cause AIE and the symptoms are diverse symptoms, however, all most children recovered spontaneously. Use of multiplex PCR on stool samples warrants improvement of its sensitivity for diagnosis of enteropathogenic bacteria. Ultrasonographic examination is useful for diagnosis of AIE; it can also detect the disease extent and severity.

Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Children with Steroid Dependent Nephrotic Syndrome

PURPOSE: Steroid dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS) is a chronic illness in childhood hard to treat. Steroid sparing drugs are often used, because long-term steroid therapy can cause severe side effects. We studied to compare efficacy between MMF and other drugs including cyclosporine and levamisole. METHODS: This study was performed retrospectively on patients with SDNS, who were treated at Pusan National University Children's hospital. MMF group included 11 patients who were treated with MMF for at least six months between June 2012 and July 2014. As control groups, cyclosporine group (n=15) and levamisole group (n=18) included patients treated between January 2008 and July 2014. Number of relapse was analyzed in patients treated more than six months, and relapse free for one year was analyzed in patients treated more than one year. RESULTS: In MMF group, ten were boys and mean age at onset was 5.8 years. Mean age at starting of MMF was 8.6 years. Number of relapse in MMF group was reduced significantly after treatment from 3.4 /year to 0.2 /year (P=0.003). There was no significant difference in number of relapse among groups (MMF: 0.2 /year, cyclosporine: 0.5 /year, levamisole: 0.5 /year). Comparing the early relapse within six months after treatment levamisole group was significantly higher than the other two groups (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: MMF which is used in SDNS significantly reduced the relapse and side effects were rare. In addition, MMF did not show any significant difference in comparison with the other two groups in number of relapse and relapse free for one year.

A Case of Post-Traumatic Pseudocyst in the Spleen Successfully Treated with Alcohol Sclerotherapy / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

This report details a case of post-traumatic pseudocyst in the spleen that was successfully treated with sclerotherapy using ethanol. A sixteen-year-old boy visited our hospital for a follow-up examination of a splenic cyst. He had experienced blunt trauma to the abdomen three years prior to presentation. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a large cyst of the lower pole of the spleen. The cyst was 6.8x9.5x7.0 cm and conservative management was tried. A follow-up ultrasonographic examination three years later revealed that the size of the cyst was unchanged and another treatment was needed to prevent complications. One session of sclerosis with ethanol (90 mL of 99% ethanol) percutaneously was applied to the cyst. A follow-up after four months revealed that the cyst had completely resolved.

Clinical Characteristics of Community Acquired Enterococcal Urinary Tract Infections In Children

PURPOSE: Recently, enterococcus spp. have become one of the most common nosocomial pathogens with increasing rates of multi-drug resistance. However, study on enterococcal urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children is very limited, especially community acquired UTIs. We studied the clinical characteristics of enterococcus spp. in community acquired UTIs and antibiotic resistance within our urban area. METHODS: All children with first episode of community acquired UTIs due to enterococcus spp. and Echerichia coli who were admitted in Pusan National University Children's Hospital between January 2010 and January 2013 were included in our study. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records. RESULTS: During the study period, 201 patients were identified to have first episode of community acquired UTIs. 154 cases were E.coli UTIs (76.6%) and 11 cases were enterococcal UTIs (5.5%) and all enterococcus spp. were Enterococcus feacalis. In enterococcal UTI group, voiding cystourethrogram(VCUG) was performed in 7/11 patients and demonstrated 4 vesicoureteral refluxes (VURs) with renal scar and 3 patients underwent corrective surgery. In E.coli UTI group, VCUG was performed in 121/154 patients and demonstrated 23 VURs and 11 patients underwent corrective surgery. Enterococcal group had significant high rate of underlying urinary abnormalities and surgical corrections compared with E. coli group. All enterococcus spp. were susceptible to ampicillin, vancomycin and linezolid, but all were resistant to tetracycline. They also showed 71.4% resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 20% resistance to ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Community acquired enterococcal UTIs in children were rare within our urban area. However, they could be indicative of severe underlying urinary tract abnormalities.