Human bocavirus among viral causes of infantile gastroenteritis

Human bocavirus [HBoV] infection possibly plays a role in gastroenteritis because of the frequent manifestation of gastrointestinal symptoms. Detect human bocavirus [HBoV] and assess its prevelance among gastroenteritis associated viral agents in infants with gastroenteritis in Benha University Hospital. The study was carried out on 100 stool samples collected from 100 infants with acute gastroenteritis for detection of Rotavirus [RV], Norovirus [NoV] and Astrovirus [AstV] by multiplex reverse transciptase polymerase chain reaction and detection of Adenovirus[AdV] and HBoV by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Viral agents were detected in 57 [57%] samples; 51 [51%] samples show mono-infection while 6 [6%] samples show co-infection. Rotavirus, Norovirus, Adenovirus and astrovirus were detected in 37%, 14%, 7.0%, and 3% of the study population, respectively; HBoV was detected in 2%. This percentage of HBoV suggests that it might play a minor role in gastroenteritis

Burden of pediatric influenza A virus infection post swine-flu H1N1 pandemic in Egypt

OBJECTIVE@#To screen children with influenza like illness or with symptoms of acute respiratory tract infections for influenza A virus infection - post swine flu pandemic era - using rapid influenza diagnostic tests.@*METHODS@#During two years (2010 & 2011), 1 200 children with influenza like illness or acute respiratory tract infections (according to World Health Organization criteria) were recruited. Their ages ranged from 2-60 months. Nasopharyngeal aspirates specimens were collected from all children for rapid influenza A diagnostic test.@*RESULTS@#Influenza A virus rapid test was positive in 47.5% of the children; the majority (89.6%) were presented with lower respiratory tract infections. Respiratory rate and temperature were significantly higher among positive rapid influenza test patients.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Influenza A virus infection is still a major cause of respiratory tract infections in Egyptian children. It should be considered in all cases with cough and febrile episodes and influenza like symptoms even post swine flu pandemic.

clinic pathological study among Egyptian children with primary nephrotic syndrome

The study included 63 nephrotic children who performed a renal biopsy in the nephrology clinics of Alexandria University Children's Hospital between 1992 and 2002. They were 30 males and 33 females. Their age at the time of onset of the disease ranged from 6 months to 74.5 years [mean 5.8324.02 years]. Eight biopsies [12.6%] were inadequate for histological examination. The most frequent pathological diagnosis in the remaining 55 biopsies was DMP [42.9%], followed by MPGN [23.8%], FSGS [72.7%], MCNS [6.3%], and lastly, one case of CNS of Finnish type [1.6%]. Most cases were steroid resistant [76.1%] and 14.3% were steroid dependent. The percentage of steroid resistance was highest among cases with MPGN [93.3%]' whereas, was lowest [50%] among MCNS. ESRF occurred in 20.6% of cases, all of them were steroid resistant. Also, death occurred in 79% of cases

Renal biopsy: ten years' experience of the pediatric nephrology unit of Alexandria university

Analysis of 147 pediatric renal biopsies was done to review the local pattern of renal diseases in Alexandria University and to assess the safety and diagnostic efficacy of the procedure. Glomerular diseases represented 90.5% of biopsied kidneys. Nephrotic syndrome was the most frequent presentation requiring renal biopsy [57%] followed by acute renal failure [23.8%]. Diffuse mesangial proliferation was the most frequent pathological diagnosis among nephrotic patients [33.3%] followed by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis [21.4%] and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [16.6%]. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome was noticed in only 7%. Also, rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis was the most common pathological diagnosis among patients presenting with acute renal failure [13.6%] followed by hemolytic uremic syndrome [4.7%]. No severe clinical complications related to the biopsies were. observed. Also, 94.5% of biopsies were considered adequate for histopathological analysis. In conclusion, renal biopsy is a valuable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis and management of glomerular diseases in children

Study of urinary N-Acetyl-Glucosaminidase enzyme and urinary zinc excretion in children with beta-thalassemia major

Thalassemia is a common genetic disease. Patients usually have some forms of renal tubular dysfunction, which might be expressed by an increase in urinary excretion of marker enzymes such as N- Acetyl-beta-D-Glucosaminidase [NAG]. Also, zinc deficiency may be associated with thalassemia to varying degrees. Zinc is an essential trace element necessary for growth and for regulation of normal physiological functions. The aim of the present work was to study urinary NAG, serum zinc, RBC's zinc and urinary zinc excretion in children with beta-thalassemia major, Also, to study the effect of Desferrioxamine [DFO] therapy on these parameters. The study was conducted on 40 beta-thalassemic children divided equally into two groups. Group [A] included 20 children with a mean age 8 + 3.48 years who received regular iron chelation with DFO and group [6] included 20 children with a mean age 7.1 2 4.36 years who did not receive DFO. Twenty normal healthy children matched by age and sex were included as controls [group C]. Number of blood transfusions received by each child has been approximately calculated. The mean value in-group A was 115.55 +/- 89.96, and in-group 6, it was 70.8 +/- 189.29. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups [P=0.123]. The mean RBCs zinc in the present study was higher in patients groups [AandB] than in-group C with a statistically significant difference, while serum zinc levels were not significantly different among the three groups. Also, the mean urinary zinc excretion level was statistically significantly higher in-group A than in-group B and both groups had statistically higher significant values than the control group. Finally, the NAG levels showed a statistically significant difference between the patients groups [AandB] and the control group. The mean value was 3.23 +/- 1.98 U/L in group A and 3.02 +/- 1.59 U/L in-group 6, while it was 1.84 +/- 0.76 in the control group

Conclusion: thalassemic patients seem to be protected from zinc deficiency but there may be an impairment of zinc utilization at tissue level. Also, urinary NAG excretion can be considered as a reliable marker of tubular damage and its determination is recommended for early detection of renal problems

Urinary beta-2 microglobulin level in urinary tract infections in infancy and childhood

Upper urinary tract infection is a serious bacterial illness among febrile infants and young children. Significant renal scarring may occur after a single episode especially with delayed diagnosis and treatment. In this study, we evaluated the value of measurement of urinary beta 2 microglobulin [B2-MG] in the differentiation between upper and lower urinary tract infections. Fifty children with urinary tract infections [UTIs] aged between 1-12 years were studied: 15 children with acute pyelonephritis documented by positive DMSA scan, 15 children with acute cystitis documented by negative DMSA scan and 20 normal children as control. In all children, total Ieukocytic count [TLC], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], serum C reactive protein [CRP], blood urea and serum creatinine were measured. Also, B2-MG in 24 hours collected urine was measured using ELISA technique. It was found that TLC, ESR and CRP were significantly higher in cases of acute pyelonephritis compared with those of cystitis. However, there was no statistically difference between the three studied groups as regards blood urea and serum creatinine. Urinary B2-MG was significantly higher in children with acute pyelonephritis compared with the other two groups [P= 0.01]. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of urinary B2-MG in the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis were 94.3%, 100% and 91.6% respectively

Conclusion: This study showed the importance of measuring of urinary B2-MG in children with urinary tract infection and the possibility of using this non invasive test in the differentiation between upper and lower UTIs

profile of nephrotic syndrome in Alexandria University children' s hospital: ten years experience

The study was conducted on 356 nephrotic children who attended the nephrology clinic of Alexandria University Children's Hospital [AUCH] between January 1992 and June 2002 in order to determine the profile of nephritic syndrome [NS] in these patients. They were 216 male and 140 females and their age at onset of the disease ranged from 3 months to 14.5 years [mean 4.9 +/- 3.03 years]. All cases were edematous at presentation while gross hematuria, microscopic hematuria and hypertension were present in 8.4%, 18.3% and 25.8% of cases respectively. Infectionsat some time in the course of the diseaseoccurred in 27.5% of cases with peritonitis as the commonest type [35.7% of total infections]. Familial cases represented 1.7% of cases only. Also, bronchial asthma was present in 3.1% of cases.As regards the long term outcome to steroid therapy, 25.8% had long lasting remission [LLR], 31.2% were infrequent relapsers [IR], 18.6% were steroid dependent [SD], 5.6% were frequent relapsers [FR] and 18.8% were steroid resistant [SR]. As regards the prognosis, end stage renal failure [ESRF] represented 1.7% of total cases, all were steroid resistant. Mortality rate was 4.2%, of which 60% were SR. The causes of death included renal failure, septicemia and thromboembolic complications