A Cohort Study Comparing the Growth and Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Babies Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology with Those of Naturally Conceived Babies from Birth till 24 Months.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the growth and neurodevelopmental outcome of term, singleton babies conceived by assisted reproduction with those of naturally conceived babies. METHODS: A cohort study evaluating the growth delay in terms of proportion of babies with wasting (W/L < -2SD) at 6, 12 and 24 mo follow-up. Developmental delay was defined as either motor or mental developmental quotient < 70 in DASII. RESULTS: Amongst the 128 artificially conceived babies, at 6 and 12 mo, the proportions of babies with wasting (21.1% and 17.2%), motor (7.03%, 6.3%), and mental developmental delays (5.5% and 3.9%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the naturally conceived babies (10.94%, 8.6%, 1.6%, 0.8%, 0.8% and 0%, respectively). However, at 24 mo, the difference in outcomes were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The growth and neurodevelopment of artificially conceived babies may be delayed in early infancy but they normalize to catch up with their naturally conceived peers by 24 mo.

Profile of Functional Constipation in Children at a Referral Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To study the social, demographic and clinical profile of functional constipation (FC) in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in a tertiary-care hospital to assess prevalence and profile of functional constipation among children (1-18 years) using Rome IV diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: Children with FC constituted 5.56% (87/1565) of hospital attendees. 64.4% were between 2-6 years old and 48.3% had a past history of use of laxatives. Painful defecation was the commonest (62.1%) presenting symptom, while avoidance to school toilet was the commonest (25.3%) precipitating factor. Fecal impaction was present in 70.1% children. CONCLUSION: Functional constipation was the commonest cause of constipation, and a majority of these children had associated fecal impaction.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Sepsis Following Probiotic Therapy in an Infant.

A 3.5-month-old infant with undiagnosed underlying combined immunodeficiency presented with S. ceravisiae fungemia following treatment with S. boulardii containing probiotic preparation. This case highlights that the use of probiotics in sick patients may be fraught with danger.

Attenuation of phenotypical expression of severe hemophilia A in presence of simultaneous prothrombotic Factor V mutation: The debate continues.

The effect of coexistence of the prothrombotic Factor V Leiden mutation on the phenotypical expression in hemophilia is still debatable. Six-year-old boy with severe hemophilia A had presented with large soft tissue hematoma, treated with Factor VIII concentrate. Simultaneous Factor V Leiden mutation had resulted in attenuation of clinical features.

Congenital protein C deficiency causing major arterial thrombosis in a neonate.

A 9-day-old female baby presented with complaints of progressively worsening respiratory distress and lethargy. The parents were first cousins with history of multiple fetal losses in previous pregnancies. On examination, the baby was noted to be tachypnoeic, tachycardic with poor peripheral perfusion of the lower extremities. Femoral pulses on both sides were barely palpable. Echocardiography was normal. But cardiac catheterisation revealed the presence of an intraluminal obstruction of the distal aorta by a large thrombus. An attempt to dissolve the thrombus with urokinase infusion was unsuccessful. The affected vessels were then surgically explored and a large thrombus from the common iliac artery and distal abdominal aorta was removed. Following this, the child recovered uneventfully with return of lower limb pulsation. A thrombotic profile revealed the underlying diagnosis of congenital protein C deficiency responsible for the arterial thrombosis. This is an extremely unusual presentation, hardly ever been reported before.

Congenital dermal sinus with extensive intramedullary expansion and an infected spinal epidermoid cyst in an infant.

An 11-month-old female child presented with progressive weakness involving both lower limbs and left upper limb. There was hypertonia and hyperreflexia in the affected limbs. This was associated with multiple episodes of urinary tract infection and overflow incontinence of the urinary bladder. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine revealed extensive intramedullary expansion of a congenital dermal sinus. There was a cystic lesion along the lower end of the sinus tract. Surgical exploration had confirmed the presence of an infected epidermoid cyst along with the dermal sinus tract. The entire tract as well as the abscessed epidermoid cyst was removed. Following this, the child showed gradual improvement of neurological function and bladder dysfunction. This is perhaps the first report in current literature of a congenital dermal sinus tract with such an extensive intramedullary extension (almost the entire spine) and an infected epidermoid tumor in an infant.

A rare presentation of Hodgkin's lymphoma in a very young child, with involvement of the appendix.

Hodgkin's lymphoma involving the appendix in young children is an exceptionally rare disease. We report a case of a child less than 3 years who presented to us with gradual weight loss, progressive pallor and diffuse abdominal pain. The symptoms were preceded by a history of varicella infection about 6 months ago. The clinical progression was marked by intermittent episodes of acute abdominal pain and fever, mimicking acute intra-abdominal inflammatory process such as appendicitis. Investigations revealed that the child had direct Coomb's test positive haemolytic anaemia, raised platelet counts, lymphopenia and hypergammaglobulinaemia. The CT of the abdomen showed the presence of significant lymph nodes. Abdominal laparoscopy and biopsy of the lymph nodes showed mixed cellularity Hodgkin's lymphoma that also involved the appendix. Subsequent staging detected an advanced stage IV disease. The child was referred immediately to a specialised oncology centre for further management. Unfortunately he was lost in follow-up.

Spontaneous abdominal arteriovenous fistula and polysplenia in a child presenting with brain abscess.

Spontaneous arteriovenous communications below the diaphragm is a very rare condition. Its association with polysplenia has perhaps not yet been reported in children. We reported a case in a 9-year-old boy presenting with acute onset of fever, vomiting, headache, seizures and altered sensorium. A CT scan revealed a large occipital abscess which was drained surgically. On examination he had marked central cyanosis and grade III clubbing of fingers and toes. Further investigations led to the discovery of a very rare finding of abdominal arteriovenous malformation associated with multiple-enhancing structures around the splenic bed suggestive of polysplenia. We believe that the most likely cause of the brain abscess was paradoxical embolism through the abdominal arteriovenous communication. Unfortunately the parents did not consent to a surgical correction of the malformation, realising the risks involved in the procedure. Subsequently the boy was lost in follow-up.

Primary pituitary abscess in an adolescent boy: a rare occurrence.

Primary pituitary abscess is a rare clinical condition at a young age. It is characterised by atypical clinical features which makes the diagnosis difficult. Correct diagnosis and therapy are mandatory due to the potentially lethal outcome. We report the case of a 14-year-old healthy boy. The onset was acute with fever, gait imbalance, slurring of speech and amnesia. MRI brain revealed a hyperintense lesion in T2-weighted image (T2WI) in sellar and suprasellar region, which was hypointense in T1WI. After administration of contrast, there was peripheral rim enhancement suggesting pituitary abscess. The diagnosis was confirmed following evacuation of purulent material, during surgery, through a trans-sphenoidal approach. Postoperatively, the boy needed prolonged intensive care support. He was discharged on day 42 after surgery. Follow-up at 3 months revealed complete motor recovery. He required hormone replacement and was intermittently showing features suggestive of frontal lobe syndrome.