Scrub Typhus Associated with Guillain–Barré Syndrome (GBS)

Scrub typhus is a vector-borne disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi. Clinical manifestations generally occur due to vasculitis and infammation and can have variable degrees of systemic involvement. Meningoencephalitis and cerebellitis are well-known neurological manifestations of scrub typhus, but the occurrence of Guillain–Barré syndrome is extremely rare. The authors report a 7-y-old boy who developed fever followed by rapidly progressive ascending quadriparesis with arefexia and whose etiological workup revealed positive IgM scrub typhus antibody, as well as, a high OXK titer (1:80). Nerve-conduction studies in all four limbs were suggestive of demyelinating neuropathy. He showed complete recovery after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (2 g/kg) and azithromycin.

Severity and Cardiac Involvement in Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

Multisystem infammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) occurs secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. A retrospective study, involving 6 tertiary-care centers in Haryana, was conducted to evaluate the clinical features, severity, laboratory fndings, and outcomes of patients with MIS-C. Disease severity was graded (mild/ moderate/severe) and presence of cardiac abnormalities noted. Patients with and without cardiac abnormalities and with and without severe disease were compared. Forty-eight children with MIS-C were included (median age - 9.5 y). Fever (100%), gastrointestinal (83.3%) and mucocutaneous (50%) symptoms were common. Only 16.7% patients had previous history of documented SARS-CoV-2 infection/contact. Severe disease and cardiac abnormalities were seen in 47.9% and 54.2% patients, respectively. NT-proBNP>1286.5 pg/mL and thrombocytopenia (?119500/µL) were signifcant risk factors for severe MIS-C. Forty-fve patients (93.8%) recovered and 3 died. Median hospitalization duration was 7 d (5–9.5). MIS-C must be considered as a possibility in any febrile child, even if a positive epidemiological history is absent. High NT-proBNP and thrombocytopenia are signifcant risk factors for severe MIS-C.

Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score and the Glasgow Coma Scale in prediction of pediatric coma / 世界急诊医学杂志（英文）

@#BACKGROUND: This study was done to compare the admission Full Outline of Unresponsiveness (FOUR) score and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) as predictors of outcome in children with impaired consciousness. METHODS: In this observational study, children (5–12 years) with impaired consciousness of <7 days were included. Children with traumatic brain injury, on sedatives or neuromuscular blockade; with pre-existing cerebral palsy, mental retardation, degenerative brain disease, vision/hearing impairment; and seizure within last 1 hour were excluded. Primary outcomes: comparison of area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes: comparison of AUC of ROC curve for mortality and poor outcome on Pediatric Overall Performance Category Scale at 3 months. RESULTS: Of the 63 children, 20 died during hospital stay. AUC for in-hospital mortality for GCS was 0.83 (CI 0.7 to 0.9) and FOUR score was 0.8 (CI 0.7 to 0.9) [difference between areas –0.0250 (95%CI 0.0192 to 0.0692), Z statistic 1.109, P=0.2674]. AUC for mortality at 3 months for GCS was 0.78 (CI 0.67 to 0.90) and FOUR score was 0.74 (CI 0.62 to 0.87) (P=0.1102) and AUC for poor functional outcome for GCS was 0.82 (CI 0.72 to 0.93) and FOUR score was 0.79 (CI 0.68 to 0.9) (P=0.2377), which were also comparable. Inter-rater reliability for GCS was 0.96 and for FOUR score 0.98. CONCLUSION: FOUR score was as good as GCS in prediction of in-hospital and 3-month mortality and functional outcome at 3 months. FOUR score had a good inter-rater reliability.

Clinical Profile of Scrub Typhus in Children and its Association with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.

Objective: To study the clinical profile of children with scrub typhus and its association with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Methods: Children presenting with unexplained fever and multi-systemic involvement between May to December 2011 were tested for scrub typhus using IgM ELISA kits. Occurrence of Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in IgM positive cases of scrub typhus was studied. Results: Of the 35 children with unexplained fever and multi-systemic involvement, 15 children (9 boys) tested positive for scrub typhus. Thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia and raised hepatic transaminases were observed in all children. Out of seven children evaluated for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. 3 met the criteria for hemophagocytosis. Two children (one with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis) died. Conclusions: Scrub typhus is a common cause of unexplained fever in children in northern India. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis can occasionally complicate scrub typhus in children.

Accidental Inorganic Mercury Chloride Poisoning in a 2-Year Old Child.

Inorganic mercury poisoning is uncommon, but when it occurs it can result in severe, life threatening features and acute renal failure. A 2-year old well thriving child presented with alleged history of accidental ingestion of inorganic mercury chloride. He presented with evidence of corrosive trauma to the gastrointestinal tract mucosa, but with normal renal function at admission, which was managed with BAL and other supportive treatment. But he developed non-oliguric renal failure after admission, which also improved gradually. On follow-up, two months later, the patient’s renal function was normal; indicating that renal failure caused by acute inorganic mercury poisoning produced no permanent renal damage. We have hereby presented a case of mercury intoxication in a 2-year old child, with an excellent clinical improvement and normalization of laboratory results.

Pseudocyst in pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Childhood ARDS is mostly caused by pneumonia. Pulmonary pseudocysts are reported in adults recovering from ARDS, usually in non-dependent lung regions. The authors present a 1.5-year-old boy, who survived severe pulmonary ARDS with development of pulmonary giant pseudocysts and other structural abnormalities in dependent lung region. To the best of authors knowledge, it is the first follow up report of pulmonary abnormality in a toddler with ARDS of extreme severity.

Invasive candidiasis in pediatric intensive care units.

Candidemia and disseminated candidiasis are major causes of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients especially in the intensive care units (ICU). The incidence of invasive candidasis is on a steady rise because of increasing use of multiple antibiotics and invasive procedures carried out in the ICUs. Worldwide there is a shifting trend from C. albicans towards non albicans species, with an associated increase in mortality and antifungal resistance. In the ICU a predisposed host in one who is on broad spectrum antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, and central venous catheters. There are no pathognomonic signs or symptoms. The clinical clues are: unexplained fever or signs of severe sepsis or septic shock while on antibiotics, multiple, non-tender, nodular erythematous cutaneous lesions. The spectrum of infection with candida species range from superficial candidiasis of the skin and mucosa to more serious life threatening infections. Treatment of candidiasis involves removal of the most likely source of infection and drug therapy to speed up the clearance of infection. Amphotericin B remains the initial drug of first choice in hemodynamically unstable critically ill children in the wake of increasing resistance to azoles. Evaluation of newer antifungal agents and precise role of prophylactic therapy in ICU patients is needed.

Neurocysticercosis in children.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common cause of seizures and neurologic disease. Although there may be variable presentations depending on the stage and location of cysts in the nervous system, most children (> 80%) present with seizures particularly partial seizures. About a third of cases have headache and vomiting. Diagnosis is made by either CT or MRI. Single enhancing lesions are the commonest visualization of a scolex confirms the diagnosis. Some cases have multiple cysts with a characterstic starry-sky appearance. Management involves use of anticonvulsants for seizures and steroids for cerebral edema. The use of cysticidal therapy continues to be debated. Controlled studies have shown that cysticidal therapy helps in increased and faster resolution of CT lesions. Improvement in long - term seizure control has not yet been proven. Children with single lesions have a good outcome and seizure recurrence rate is low. Children with multiple lesions have recurrent seizures. Extraparenchymal NCC has a guarded prognosis but it is rare in children. In endemic areas NCC must be considered in the differential diagnosis of seizures and various other neurological disorders.

Management of intracranial hypertension.

Raised intracranial pressure (ICP) is a life threatening condition that is common to many neurological and non-neurological illnesses. Unless recognized and treated early it may cause secondary brain injury due to reduced cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP), and progress to brain herniation and death. Management of raised ICP includes care of airway, ventilation and oxygenation, adequate sedation and analgesia, neutral neck position, head end elevation by 200 -300, and short-term hyperventilation (to achieve PCO2 32- 35 mm Hg) and hyperosmolar therapy (mannitol or hypertonic saline) in critically raised ICP. Barbiturate coma, moderate hypothermia and surgical decompression may be helpful in refractory cases. Therapies aimed directly at keeping ICP <20 mmHg have resulted in improved survival and neurological outcome. Emerging evidence suggests that cerebral perfusion pressure targeted therapy may offer better outcome than ICP targeted therapies.

Probiotic use in the critically ill.

Probiotics are "live microbes which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit to the host" (FAO/WHO joint group). Their potential role in bio-ecological modification of pathological internal milieu of the critically ill is under evaluation. Probiotics are available as single microbial strain (e.g., Bacillus clausii, Lactobacillus) or as a mix of multiple strains of Lactobacillus (acidophilus, sporogenes, lactis, reuteri RC-14, GG, and L. plantarum 299v), Bifidobacterium (bifidum, longum, infantis), Streptococcus (thermophillus, lactis, fecalis), Saccharomyces boulardii etc. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria are gram-positive, anaerobic, lactic acid bacteria. These are normal inhabitant of human gut and colonize the colon better than others. Critical illness and its treatment create hostile environment in the gut and alters the micro flora favoring growth of pathogens. Therapy with probiotics is an effort to reduce or eliminate potential pathogens and toxins, to release nutrients, antioxidants, growth factors and coagulation factors, to stimulate gut motility and to modulate innate and adaptive immune defense mechanisms via the normalization of altered gut flora. Scientific evidence shows that use of probiotics is effective in prevention and therapy of antibiotic associated diarrhea. However, available probiotics strains in currently used doses do not provide much needed early benefits, and need long-term administration to have clinically beneficial effects (viz, a reduction in rate of infection, severe sepsis, ICU stay, ventilation days and mortality) in critically ill surgical and trauma patients. Possibly, available strains do not adhere to intestinal mucosa early, or may require higher dose than what is used. Gap exists in our knowledge regarding mechanisms of action of different probiotics, most effective strains--single or multiple, cost effectiveness, risk-benefit potential, optimum dose, frequency and duration of treatment etc. More information is needed on safety profile of probiotics in immunocompromised state of the critically ill in view of rare reports of fungemia and sepsis and a trend toward possible increase in nosocomial infection. At present, despite theoretical potential benefits, available evidence is not conclusive to recommend probiotics for routine use in the critically ill.

Nosocomial bloodstream infection in a pediatric intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of nosocomial blood stream infections (BSI) in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care teaching hospital, identify the organisms responsible and the pattern of antibiotic resistance over one decade. METHODS: Data was retrieved from the records of PICU and Medical Microbiology laboratory of patients with a positive blood culture after 48 hours of admission to PICU over three time periods viz. 1994-1996, 1999-2001 and 2002-2003. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern was also analyzed. RESULTS: 861 episodes (1994-1996: 282, 1999-2001: 362 and 2002-2003: 217) of nosocomial bloodstream infection were documented in 841 patients, corresponding to 3.63, 5.94 and 4.99 episodes per 100 patient-days, respectively. Gram negative organisms were the predominant isolates; common being Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.1%), Enterobacter species (16.6%) and Acinetobacter species (8.6%). Staphylococcus aureus (16.4%) and yeast species (15.9%) were the major Gram positive isolates. Isolation of Staphylococcus aureus , Klebsiella and Acinetobacter species showed a rising trend while yeast (36.9%, 6.6% and 4.1%) showed a decline over the three time periods studied. An increasing trend of resistance to third generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, ciprofloxacin and newer antibiotics including combination of beta-lactam with beta-lactamase inhibitor was noted. CONCLUSION: The predominant organisms responsible for nosocomial infection in the PICU were Klebsiella pneumoniae , Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter species . At present, carbapenems plus vancomycin appear to be the best choice for empiric antibiotic therapy in the PICU in Chandigarh.

Dengue e dengue hemorrágico: aspectos do manejo na unidade de terapia intensiva / Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever: management issues in an intensive care unit

OBJETIVOS: Descrever a epidemiologia, as características clínicas e o tratamento do dengue e das síndromes do choque associadas ao dengue. FONTES DOS DADOS: Para esta revisão de literatura, foi feita uma pesquisa no Pubmed e nos websites da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) e OPAS usando os termos dengue e síndrome do choque associada ao dengue. A informação foi complementada com a experiência pessoal dos autores. SíNTESE DOS DADOS: O dengue é a mais importante doença viral transmitida por artrópodos em seres humanos. A doença se manifesta de diversas formas, variando desde uma síndrome viral não-diferenciada até febre hemorrágica e choque grave. O dengue é uma enfermidade autolimitada, não específica, caracterizada por febre, cefaléia, mialgia, e sintomas constitucionais. As formas mais graves (febre hemorrágica e síndrome do choque) podem levar a um comprometimento multissistêmico e ao óbito. O diagnóstico precoce e um acompanhamento contínuo do agravamento e da resposta ao tratamento são necessários em todos os casos. A OMS recomenda uma abordagem escalonada para o manejo, adequada para as formas mais leves e para o choque precoce. Nas formas mais graves, é preciso uma abordagem agressiva de reanimação com fluidos e de suporte à falência de órgãos em pacientes em estado crítico. As pesquisas sobre as diferenças fisiopatológicas entre o choque do dengue e o choque séptico, seleção de fluidos, agentes inotrópicos e técnicas de suporte a órgãos podem beneficiar os pacientes em estado crítico. CONCLUSÕES: Não há uma terapia específica para infecções causadas pelo dengue. Um bom tratamento de suporte pode salvar vidas mas, em última análise, as iniciativas de controle do vetor e de prevenção contra picadas do mosquito podem trazer os maiores benefícios.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment of dengue fever and dengue shock syndrome. SOURCES: To prepare this review, a literature search was made on Pubmed and on the World Health Organization (WHO) and PAHO websites using the terms dengue and dengue shock syndrome. This information was complemented with personal practice. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Dengue is the most important arthropod-borne viral disease of humans. Its presentation is protean and varies from an undifferentiated viral syndrome to hemorrhagic fever and severe shock. Dengue fever is a self-limiting, nonspecific illness characterized by fever, headache, myalgia, and constitutional symptoms. Its severe forms (hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome) may lead to multisystem involvement and death. Early diagnosis, close monitoring for deterioration and response to treatment are necessary in all cases. WHO has provided a stepwise approach to management that is useful for milder forms and early shock. In the more severe forms aggressive fluid resuscitation and support for failing organs is necessary for the critically ill patient. Research addressing pathophysiological differences between dengue shock and septic shock, choice of fluids, inotropes and techniques of organ support are likely to yield benefits for the critically ill. CONCLUSIONS: There is no specific therapy for dengue infections. Good supportive care may be lifesaving, but ultimately initiatives aimed at vector control and prevention of mosquito bites may provide the greatest benefits.

Predictors of long term neurological outcome in bacterial meningitis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the long-term neurological and developmental outcome and the clinical and laboratory predictors of sequelae in children with acute bacterial meningitis (ABM). METHODS: Detailed clinical and demographic data was retrieved from the medical records of study children. Subsequently they were followed up for a minimum of 12 months after discharge for development, neurological and hearing assessment. All sequelae were identified and divided into minor or major. For analysis data was divided into 2 groups those with sequelae and without sequelae at follow-up. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 10.00 and Epi Info version 2000. RESULTS: 61 boys and 19 girls, a mean age of 31.4 +/= 41.9 months at the time of ABM, were included in the study. Of these 62.5% children were infants. Mean age at follow-up was 58.6 +/= 47.2 months. Sequelae were observed in 32 (40%) children (8 (10%) minor and 24 (30%) major). Mean social quotient at follow-up was 92.8 +/= 32.6. Developmentally 22 (37.9%) children were normal and 20 (34.5%) had global delay. Seizures (P=0.015), cranial nerve palsy (P=0.0065), abnormal deep tendon reflexes (P=0.002), Glasgow coma scale score (GCS) < 8 (P = 0.044) at admission, a CSF culture positive for bacteria and abnormal findings on ultrasonography or computed tomography of head at admission had significant association with sequelae at follow-up. All children (7/7) who had infarct on CT scan (P=0.001) and 12 (80%) of 15 patients who had hydrocephalus (OR - 9.0, 95% CI - 2.03-45.6, P=0.001) diagnosed on CT scan developed severe sequelae. On multiple regressions GCS score <8, presence of cranial nerve palsy and abnormal deep tendon reflexes were independent predictors of sequelae. CONCLUSION: Neurological and audiological sequelae and global developmental delay may be seen in about one third of survivors of bacterial meningitis. GCS score <8, presence of infarct or cranial nerve palsy, or hydrocephalous on CT/ ultrasound at admission may help in identification of children most likely to need long term follow up and rehabilitation.

Penicillin and gentamicin therapy vs amoxicillin/clavulanate in severe hypoxemic pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of sequential injectable crystalline penicillin (C.pen) and gentamicin combination followed by oral amoxicillin with sequential IV and oral amoxicillin-clavulanate (amox-clav) in treatment of severe or very severe hypoxemic pneumonia. METHODS: Children aged 2-59 months with WHO-defined severe or very severe pneumonia with hypoxemia (SpO2 < 90%) were included in the study. Patients with fever > 10 days, bacterial meningitis, prior antibiotic therapy > 24 hours, stridor, heart disease and allergy to any of the study drugs were excluded. They were randomly allocated to two groups--Group A and Group B. Group A received C. pen and gentamicin intravenously (IV), followed by oral amoxicillin and group B got amox-clav IV, followed by oral amox-clav. Minimum duration of IV therapy was 3 days and total 7 days. Respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and chest wall indrawing were monitored 6 hourly. RESULTS: 71 patients were included. There were two (5.2%) blood cultures positive in group A and three (9%) in group B. Organisms isolated were S. pneumoniae (n=3) and H. influenzae-b (n=2). There was only one treatment failure in each of the groups. One was due to penicillin resistant H. influenzae -b and the other was due to worsening of pneumonia. The mean time taken for normalization of tachypnea, hypoxia, chest wall indrawing and inability to feed was similar (P-N.S). Mean duration of IV therapy in group A was 76+/-25 hrs and group B was 75+/-24 hrs (p>0.1). CONCLUSION: In children of 2-59 months, sequential injectable C. pen and gentamicin combination, followed by oral amoxicillin or sequential IV and oral amox-clav were equally effective for the treatment of severe or very severe hypoxemic community acquired pneumonia.

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome.

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome (HHNS) was infrequently diagnosed till recently. Now it is being diagnosed with increasing frequency in obese children with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM) and its incidence is likely to go up, given global increase in incidence of childhood obesity, increased insulin resistance, and T2 DM. The syndrome is characterized by severe hyperglycemia, a marked increase in serum osmolality and dehydration without accumulation of beta -hydroxybutyric or acetoacetic ketoacids. Significant ketogenesis is restrained by the ability of the pancreas to secrete small amount of insulin. Prolonged phase of osmotic diuresis leads to severe depletion of body water, which excees that of sodium, resulting in hypertonic dehydration. These children, usually obese adolescents with T2 DM, present with signs of severe dehydration and depressed mental status but continue to have increased rather than decreased urine output and are at increased risk of developing rhabdomyolysis and malignant hyperthermia. Emergency treatment is directed at restoration of the intravascular volume, followed by correction of deficits of fluid and electrolyte (Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++, PO4++), hyperglycemia and serum hyperosmolarity, and a thorough search for conditions that may lead to this metabolic decompensation and their treatment. Use of iso-osomolar isotonic fluid (0.9% saline) until hemodynamic stabilization initially, followed by 0.45% saline with insulin infusion at the rate of 0.1 units/kg/hour, addition of 5% dextrose in fluids and reduction of insulin infusion once the blood glucose is 250 to 300 mg/dl is generally recommended. However, evidence-based guidelines about composition and tonicity of fluids and electrolyte solutions for early resuscitation and rehydration, the rate of infusion-rapid vs slow, and insulin dose-low vs normal, in treatment of HHNS in children are awaited. Careful monitoring of glucose levels and ensuring adequate hydration in patients 'at risk' of HHNS, including those receiving medications that interfere with the secretion or effectiveness of insulin should decrease the risk of HHNS.