Calgary score and modified calgary score in the differential diagnosis between syncope and genetic generalized epilepsy in children.

The purpose of the study is to explore the use of Calgary scoring (CS) and Modified Calgary scoring (MCS) in the differentiation of genetic generalized epilepsy and syncope in children. The study involved 117 patients aged < 18 years who presented to our hospital's pediatric neurology outpatient clinic with TLOC between June 2020 and June 2022. In addition to CS and MCS scoring, all patients were subjected to statistical analysis based on their age, sex, number of episodes and distribution during the day, duration of syncope, and family history. Seventy-one patients with syncope and 46 with epilepsy were included in the study. At a CS value > - 1, sensitivity was 86.9% and specificity 63.4%, while at an MCS value > - 1, sensitivity was 76.1% and specificity 71.8%. CS had less specificity and sensitivity in predicting epilepsy when focal epilepsies were excluded. Abnormal behavior noted by bystanders, including witnessed unresponsive, unusual posturing, or limb jerking? (Q5) emerged as the most important question for the detection of epilepsy. Compared with other syncope findings, loss of consciousness during prolonged sitting or standing (Q9) emerged as the most important for the detection of syncope.

Assessment of the changing trends in maternal knowledge about management of fever and antibiotic use in the last decade in Türkiye.

BACKGROUND: The wrong attitudes of parents on fever create a basis for unnecessary drug use and increased workload. The study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes concerning fever and antibiotic use and demonstrate the changes in the last decade. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was composed of two parts, and a total of 500 participants were included. Group 1 (the new group, 50.0%) consisted of 250 participants who participated in the study between February 2020 and March 2020 and Group 2 (the old group, 50.0%) consisted of 250 participants who participated in the study between February 2010 and March 2010. All participants share the same ethnic properties and had been visiting the same center for similar reasons. A validated, structured questionnaire assessing the management of fever and antibiotic use was administered to all mothers. RESULTS: According to the fever assessment scoring, maternal knowledge of fever and its management in children significantly increased (p < 0.001). The antibiotic assessment score also increased in 2020 (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The public spotlight on the erroneous use of antibiotics and the management of febrile illnesses seems to be promising. Improving maternal/parental educational status and informational advertisements can enhance parental knowledge concerning fever and antibiotic use.

Successful Treatment of Fasciola hepatica with Metronidazole in a Child: A Case Report.

Fasciola hepatica is a zoonotic liver trematode that usually causes infection in cattle and sheep, and is transmitted to humans by consuming water and aquatic plants contaminated with metacercaria. The detection of Fasciola eggs in stools, serological evaluation and radiological evaluation are essential for diagnosis. Triclabendazole is the first-line therapy for fascioliasis. However, as triclabendazole is not an easily accessible drug in countries such as Turkey, it reveals a quest for alternative therapies. In this report, we present a 10-year-old boy with fascioliasis successfully treated with a course of metronidazole 1.5 g/day for 3 weeks in 2020. During the follow-up, eosinophilia and radiological findings completely recovered. Here we report a case of pediatric fascioliasis that was cured with metronidazole successfully.

Neuropsychiatric comorbidities in genetic/idiopathic generalized epilepsies and their effects on psychosocial outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: Idiopathic/genetic generalized epilepsy (GGE) accounts for 15-20% of all epilepsy cases. Neuropsychiatric comorbidities and disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), academic failure, and poor social competence, are present at a higher rate in patients with epilepsy compared with the general population. In this study, we aimed to determine the frequency of neuropsychiatric comorbidities in GGE subgroups, and to reveal the risk factors in the patient group with neuropsychiatric comorbidities. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This hospital-based, cross-sectional study follows the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines. Patients with seizure-controlled GGE were invited to a semi-structured interview at the hospital. Variables [photosensitivity, valproic acid (VPA) resistance, timing of the neuropsychiatric comorbidities Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and low academic performance), seizure control, and timing of the antiepileptic treatment] were statistically analyzed and evaluated in terms of their association with GGE subgroups [Generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone (EGTGS), juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME), and juvenile absence epilepsy (JAE)], RESULTS: Total 101 patients with GGE were included in the study and the mean age was 13.94 ±â€¯1.66 years. A total of 12.9% (n = 13) of the patients had EGTGS, 49.5% (n = 50) had JME, and 37.6% (n = 38) had JAE. VPA resistance, photosensitivity, and the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms before the starting of epilepsy were found to be risk factors in the GGE group with neuropsychiatric comorbidities compared with the group without neuropsychiatric comorbidities (p < 0.001). The subgroups of GGE did not show any relationship with psychiatric disorders, including ADHD, ODD, and low academic performance (neuropsychiatric comorbidities) (p > 0.005). No correlation was found between seizure control and decline in neuropsychiatric symptoms (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, the onset of psychiatric symptoms prior to the onset of epilepsy, photosensitivity, and VPA resistance were the most important factors affecting neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The JME, JAE, and EGTCS subgroups, early initiation of antiepileptic treatment, and seizure control were found to have no effect on poor psychosocial outcome and neuropsychiatric comorbidities.