Risk of acute otitis media in relation to acute bronchiolitis in children

A prospective study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence and the etiology of acute otitis media [AOM] In children with acute bronchiolitis. Also to determine whether AOM occurring with acute bronchiolitis "Which mainly due to respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]" is accompanied with another pathogens "which usually found in the middle ear aspirate [MEA]" or not. Thirty-six children with acute bronchiolitis aged 3 to 18 months that were admitted to pediatrics department, El-Minia University Hospital during the period from September 2005 to December 2005 were included In this study. In patients with AOM at entry or developed AOM within 14 days, Gram-stained smears, bacterial cultures, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] were performed on middle-ear aspirates to detect the presence of bacterial pathogens and RSV respectively. Twenty children [55.6%] with acute bronchiolitis had AOM at entry or developed AOM within 14 days, 9 patients [25%] had developed otitis media with effusion, and only 7 patients [19.4%] remained free of both AOM and otitis media with effusion, throughout the 2-weeks observation period. Of 27 middle-ear aspirates [13 unilateral and 7 bilateral], bacterial pathogens were isolated in 23 [85%] [10 bacteria alone "37%" and 13 mixed bacteria and RSV "48%"], RSV was identified in 15 [55.5%] of middle ear aspirates [mixed with bacteria in 13 and RSV alone in 2 cases [7.5%]], so RSV was identified in 15 of 20 patients [75%] with AOM. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in 11 middle ear aspirates, Haemophilus influenza in 6, Moraxella catarrhalis in 4, Staphylococcus aureus in 2, Streptococcus pyogenes in one aspirate and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in one aspirate only. Of 20 cases of AOM, 15 [75%] responded clinically to usual dose of antibiotic [Amoxicillin and clavulanic acid and/or Cefotaxime]. Finally we concluded that bacterial AOM is a complication In most children with acute bronchiolitis. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenza were the commonest organisms isolated from middle ear aspirate. RSV is identified in most cases of acute otitis media [75%] and mixed with bacterial pathogens. Accordingly, in patients with acute bronchiolitis and associated AOM, antimicrobial treatment is indicated

Serum carnitine levels in children with iron deficiency anemia

This study was designed to evaluate the carnitine serum levels as co-morbidity in apparently healthy children with iron deficiency anemia. Fifty four apparently healthy well nourished children [29 boys and 25 girls], their ages ranged from 9 months to 12 months with iron deficiency anemia were enrolled in the study. Twenty five healthy non anemic children with matched age and sex included as a control group. Malnourished children with iron deficiency anemia were excluded from the study. For all anemic children with suspected iron deficiency anemia as well as control group, we performed complete blood count [CBC] including measuring of hemoglobin [Hb] level, hematocrit% [Hct], mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration [MCHC]; serum ferritin, serum iron [SI], and total iron binding capacity[TIBC]. Serum total carnitine levels were measured by spectrophotometric method. Hb, MCV, MCH, serum ferritin and serum iron were significantly lower in patients with iron deficiency anemia than in control non anemic group [p < 0.001]. Serum carnitine levels were significantly lower in children with iron deficiency anemia than in healthy control group [p<0.001]. There was a significant positive correlation between hemoglobin and serum carnitine [r=0.84; p<0.001]. Also, we found a significant positive correlation between serum iron, serum ferritin and serum carnitine [r=0.91; p<0.001 and r = 0.9; P<0.001, respectively]. In conclusion, iron is required for biosynthesis of carnitine. Low serum carnitine levels in these children may be due to iron deficiency. Therefore, iron fortification of the diets of children seems to be essential not only to prevent iron deficiency anemia but also to avoid other possible effects of iron deficiency in the growing children, such as secondary carnitine deficiency. However, additional studies are still needed to ascertain the frequency of carnitine deficiency and the need for carnitine supplementation in children with iron deficiency anemia