ABSTRACT
Management of pediatric head trauma requires a delicate balance between accuracy and safety, with a dual emphasis on prompt diagnosis while minimizing radiation exposure. Ultrasonography (US) shows promise in this regard. A case study involving a 10-month-old infant with acute right parietal swelling revealed the utility of US in detecting a corresponding hypoechoic lesion, along with an underlying suspected fracture line of the vault and subdural hematoma. Subsequent CT confirmed the fracture, while MRI confirmed the subdural hematoma. At one-month follow-up, MRI demonstrated hematoma reabsorption, while US revealed a bone callus in its advanced phase. Although US is not yet standard practice for pediatric head trauma, its ability to detect fractures in infants suggests its potential role: when a fracture is evident on US, it may serve as an indication to perform neuroimaging. Potentially, adoption of US could contribute to mitigation of children's exposure to ionizing radiation.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection is the leading cause of non-hereditary sensorineural hearing loss in children. While about 10% of children reportedly display symptoms at birth, 85-90% of cCMV infection cases are asymptomatic. However, 10-15% of these asymptomatic infants may later develop hearing, visual, or neurodevelopmental impairments. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cCMV infection on newborns' hearing function with a particular emphasis on progressive and late-onset cases. METHODS: This study is a retrospective chart analysis with longitudinal character and was conducted in two Italian centers: Center 1 (from 1 November 2007 to 31 December 2021) and Center 2 (from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2021). Data collected included newborn hearing screening results, characterization of hearing loss (unilateral/bilateral, degree of impairment), and audiological follow-up. RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 103 children (42% males, 58% females). In total, 28 children presented with hearing impairment; 71.4% (20 out of 28) of the cases of hearing loss were severe/profound, with 35.7% of the cases due to unilateral hearing loss. Out of twenty-eight, six experienced progression of hearing loss and four had late-onset hearing loss. CONCLUSIONS: In the absence of universal cCMV screening, hearing screening at birth for cCMV remains a critical factor for early diagnosis. A significant percentage of children affected by cCMV with normal audiological evaluations at birth is easily lost to follow-up. Close collaboration between neonatologists, pediatricians, and audiological services is fundamental to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment of cCMV-related hearing loss.