Children hospitalised with gastroenteritis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: The COVID-19 pandemic altered the pattern of many paediatric infections. We aimed to assess the incidence and characteristics of children hospitalised with gastroenteritis during the early and the late pandemic, relative to previous years. METHODS: In a retrospective study, we collected data from patient files of children aged 1 month to 5 years, admitted with gastroenteritis to a paediatric department in Denmark during January-June, of 2017 to 2021, comparing incidence rates and clinical features in the early pandemic (March to June 2020), and late pandemic period (January to June 2021), to similar pre-pandemic months. RESULTS: In the early pandemic, admission rates per 1000 children/month declined to 0.5 (95% CI: 0.3-0.6) from pre-pandemic rates of 1.6 (95% CI: 1.4-1.7) (p < 0.0001) and increased in the late pandemic to 2.2 (95% CI: 1.9-2.6) (p = 0.006). Children admitted in the late pandemic period were older than those admitted previously. CONCLUSION: A resurgence of gastroenteritis in children occurred in the spring of 2021, with higher hospital admission rates of children, who were older, but not more severely ill than previously.

DAHEAN: A Danish nationwide study ensuring quality assurance through real-world data for suspected hereditary anemia patients.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary anemias are a group of genetic diseases prevalent worldwide and pose a significant health burden on patients and societies. The clinical phenotype of hereditary anemias varies from compensated hemolysis to life-threatening anemia. They can be roughly categorized into three broad categories: hemoglobinopathies, membranopathies, and enzymopathies. Traditional therapeutic approaches like blood transfusions, iron chelation, and splenectomy are witnessing a paradigm shift with the advent of targeted treatments. However, access to these treatments remains limited due to lacking or imprecise diagnoses. The primary objective of the study is to establish accurate diagnoses for patients with hereditary anemias, enabling optimal management. As a secondary objective, the study aims to enhance our diagnostic capabilities. RESULTS: The DAHEAN study is a nationwide cohort study that collects advanced phenotypic and genotypic data from patients suspected of having hereditary anemias from all pediatric and hematological departments in Denmark. The study deliberates monthly by a multidisciplinary anemia board involving experts from across Denmark. So far, fifty-seven patients have been thoroughly evaluated, and several have been given diagnoses not before seen in Denmark. CONCLUSIONS: The DAHEAN study and infrastructure harness recent advancements in diagnostic tools to offer precise diagnoses and improved management strategies for patients with hereditary anemias.

Systematic review of the prevalence of onychomycosis in children.

Onychomycosis is one of the most common nail diseases in adults but is described as infrequent in children. Data are, however, scattered and diverse. Studies have nevertheless suggested that the prevalence of onychomycosis is increasing in children lately and the aim of this review was therefore to examine this problem. Two authors individually searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for articles on epidemiology and prevalence of onychomycosis in children. The literature search was conducted in accordance per PRISMA guidelines. In total 1042 articles were identified of which 23 were eligible for inclusion. One of the articles presented two studies and a total of 24 studies were therefore included. Seventeen studies presented data of the prevalence of onychomycosis in children in the general population and seven studies among children visiting a dermatological and pediatric department or clinic. The prevalence ranged from 0% to 7.66% with an overall discrete increase of 0.66% during the period 1972 to 2014 in population studies (not statistically significant). This review supports a trend towards an increased prevalence of onychomycosis in children, albeit based on a paucity of studies. The data suggests an increasing prevalence of onychomycosis with age, and co-infection with tinea pedis (reported in 25% of the studies). The most common pathogen reported was Trichophyton rubrum and onychomycosis was more prevalent in toenails compared to fingernails. The general characteristics of onychomycosis in children are thus similar to those described in adults.

[Recurrent meningococcal infection in a young woman witha mutation in the C8B gene].

This is a case report of recurrent meningococcal infection in a young woman. She had no positive microbiological findings but was serologically diagnosed with the meningococcal antibody test. Investigation of the complement system showed no function of the terminal pathway. Further genetical analysis revealed a pathogen mutation in the C8B gene in the patient and her sister. They were both immunised with meningococcal vaccines. Complement deficiencies are rare but potentially fatal. Workup for complement deficiency is important for correct acute and prophylactic treatment.

[Acute neonatal myocarditis with cardiogenic shock caused by enterovirus infection].

In this case report, a 16-days-old boy presented with reduced feeding, vomiting, respiratory distress and pallor. He developed cardiogenic shock with cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. Echocardiography showed reduced left ventricular systolic function and he was diagnosed with enterovirus myocarditis since enterovirus RNA was found in the blood by polymerase chain reaction. After one month of hospitalization, the patient was discharged without any apparent sequelae. The condition is rare but associated with a high mortality. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment is essential for survival.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2-Antibodies in Danish Children and Adults.

In Denmark, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies were assessed in a cross-sectional study among 1033 children visiting pediatric departments and 750 blood donors in June 2020, using a point-of-care test. Antibodies were detected in 17 children (1.6%) and 15 blood donors (2.0%) (P = 0.58). In conclusion, children and adults were infected to a similar low degree.