International Care programs for Pediatric Post-COVID Condition (Long COVID) and the way forward.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric Post-COVID-Condition (PPCC) clinics treat children despite limited scientific substantiation. By exploring real-life management of children diagnosed with PPCC, the International Post-COVID-Condition in Children Collaboration (IP4C) aimed to provide guidance for future PPCC care. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional international, multicenter study on used PPCC definitions; the organization of PPCC care programs and patients characteristics. We compared aggregated data from PPCC cohorts and identified priorities to improve PPCC care. RESULTS: Ten PPCC care programs and six COVID-19 follow-up research cohorts participated. Aggregated data from 584 PPCC patients was analyzed. The most common symptoms included fatigue (71%), headache (55%), concentration difficulties (53%), and brain fog (48%). Severe limitations in daily life were reported in 31% of patients. Most PPCC care programs organized in-person visits with multidisciplinary teams. Diagnostic testing for respiratory and cardiac morbidity was most frequently performed and seldom abnormal. Treatment was often limited to physical therapy and psychological support. CONCLUSIONS: We found substantial heterogeneity in both the diagnostics and management of PPCC, possibly explained by scarce scientific evidence and lack of standardized care. We present a list of components which future guidelines should address, and outline priorities concerning PPCC care pathways, research and international collaboration. IMPACT: Pediatric Post-COVID Condition (PPCC) Care programs have been initiated in many countries. Children with PPCC in different countries are affected by similar symptoms, limiting many to participate in daily life. There is substantial heterogeneity in diagnostic testing. Access to specific diagnostic tests is required to identify some long-term COVID-19 sequelae. Treatments provided were limited to physical therapy and psychological support. This study emphasizes the need for evidence-based diagnostics and treatment of PPCC. The International Post-COVID Collaboration for Children (IP4C) provides guidance for guideline development and introduces a framework of priorities for PPCC care and research, to improve PPCC outcomes.

Thyroid disturbances after COVID-19 and the effect of vaccination in children: a prospective tri-center registry analysis.

Rapidly evolving clinical data suggest that the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and vaccination against COVID-19 might be associated with thyroid disturbances. However, studies remain limited among the pediatric population. Our aim was to assess the prevalence and permanence of thyroid autoimmunity (TA) and dysfunction in children after an acute infection and its potential association with vaccination. A prospective, multicenter registry analysis was performed among 458 children (mean age: 12.4 ± 3,8 years, 45.4% male) with preceding COVID-19. Patient inclusion lasted from 24th March, 2021 to 23rd March, 2022 at three pediatric outpatient facilities at Semmelweis University, Budapest. Primary outcomes were the rate of thyroid disturbances assessed by laboratory parameters (thyroid function tests, antithyroglobulin [ATG] and anti-thyroid peroxidase [ATPO] antibodies) and thyroid ultrasound. TA rate among vaccinated and unvaccinated children was determined. Children with newly diagnosed thyroid alterations were followed up for 12.7 ± 4.3 months. Six children had previous thyroid disease. Out of 452 children, 30 cases (6.6%) of newly diagnosed TA (six of them had abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels) and eight cases (1.8%) of isolated TSH elevation were observed. Ultrasound-proven autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) was 4.0%. No association was found between COVID-19 vaccination and thyroid autoimmunity (χ2(1,N = 452) = 0.138, p = 0.815). Among children with TA, 73.3% had long-lasting alterations.  Conclusion: Vaccination had no effect on the prevalence of TA. Until further controlled studies state otherwise, children with preceding COVID-19 might benefit from thyroid screening. What is Known: • Numerous case reports implicate that coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 can be responsible for thyroid disturbances. • Thyroid alterations discovered during acute COVID-19 tend to cease by time and only incidental thyroid autoimmunity (TA) is diagnosed after COVID-19. In adults, no increase in vaccine-related hyper- or hypothyroidism was found. What is New: • TA rate after COVID-19 vaccination among children was not increased. TA had no role in long COVID syndrome. • We discovered a considerable rate of TA (6.6%) and ultrasound-proven autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) (4.0%) after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and the majority of these alterations remained positive after 6 months.

Clinical assessment of children with long COVID syndrome.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for further understanding pediatric long COVID syndrome (LCS) to be able to create specific case definitions and guidelines for providing good clinical care. METHODS: Medical records of all LCS patients who presented at our designated LC clinic were collected. We carried out descriptive analyses summarizing the history, clinical presentation, and findings of children, while doing a diagnosis of exclusion with multi-disciplinary medical examinations (physical, laboratory, and radiological examinations, specialist consultations, etc.) without a control group. RESULTS: Most children reported at least minor impairment to their quality of life, of which 17 (23%) had moderate or severe difficulties. Findings that could be directly connected to the linked complaint category were observed in an average of 18%, respiratory symptoms with objective alterations being the most frequent (37%). Despite our detecting mostly non-specific conditions, in a smaller number we identified well-described causes such as autoimmune thyroiditis (7%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of children stated an impairment in their quality of life, while symptom-related conditions were detected only in a minority. Controlled studies are needed to separate the effect of the pandemic era from the infection itself. Evidence-based pediatric guidelines could aid to rationalize the list of recommended examinations. IMPACT: Long COVID syndrome is a complex entity with a great impact on children's everyday lives. Still, there is no clear guidance for pediatric clinical management. Systematic, detailed studies with medical assessment findings could aid the process of creating evidence-based guidelines. We present validated systematic information collected during in-person medical assessments with detailed medical findings and quality of life changes. While making a diagnosis of exclusion, we could confirm symptom-related conditions only in a minority of children; however, the majority reported at least minor impairment to their quality of life.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and its prevention in pediatric autoimmune diseases / SARS-CoV-2-fertozés és annak megelozése gyermekkori krónikus szisztémás autoimmun betegségekben.

Összefoglaló. A krónikus autoimmun betegségben szenvedokben a súlyos COVID-19 kialakulásának kockázata magasabb, a SARS-CoV-2-fertozés pedig a krónikus alapbetegség progressziójához, fellángolásához vezethet. A COVID-19 elkerülésének legbiztonságosabb, legköltséghatékonyabb módszere a vakcináció, illetve az emellett alkalmazott higiénés szabályok betartása, a megfelelo maszk viselése. A hiedelemmel ellentétben önmagában az autoimmun megbetegedés nem jelent oltási ellenjavallatot, sot a rizikóállapot miatt ezek a betegek az elsok között oltandók. A COVID-19 elleni vakcina alkalmazásának egyetlen egyértelmu kontraindikációja az anamnézisben szereplo súlyos allergiás reakció (anafilaxia) a vakcina valamelyik alkotórészével szemben. A betegek olthatóságát többek között befolyásolja az aktuális betegségaktivitás és az alkalmazott kezelés. Az immunizáció idejét a legbiztonságosabban a gondozó orvos tervezheti meg. Az autoimmun betegek immunizációja során észlelheto oltási reakciók és szövodmények incidenciája megegyezik az egészséges populációban is tapasztalt elofordulási gyakorisággal. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(11): 414-423. Summary. The risk of developing severe COVID-19 is higher in patients with autoimmune diseases, and SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to progression and exacerbation of the underlying chronic disease. The safest and most cost-effective way to avoid COVID-19 is to be vaccinated, to follow the hygiene rules and to wear an appropriate mask. Contrary to belief, autoimmune disease alone is not a contraindication to vaccination and, in fact, patients should be among the first to be vaccinated because of the risk. The only clear contraindication to the use of COVID-19 vaccine is a history of severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any of the components of the vaccine. Indication of vaccination migh be influenced by, among other things, the current disease activity and the treatment applied. The timing of immunization can be the most safely planned by the attending physician. The incidence of vaccination reactions and complications during immunization in autoimmune patients is similar to that seen in the healthy population. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(11): 414-423.

Out-of-hospital pediatric sudden cardiac arrest and inherited arrhythmia syndromes in Hungary. / Gyermekkori, kórházon kívüli hirtelen szívmegállás és öröklodo arrhythmiaszindrómák Magyarországon.

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A gyermekkori hirtelen szívmegállás ritka, de egy részük megelozheto lehetne. Célkituzés: Vizsgálatunk célja az volt, hogy a Magyarországon eloforduló, kórházon kívüli gyermekkori szívmegállás gyakoriságát és hátterében az öröklodo arrhythmiaszindrómák jelentoségét megbecsüljük. Módszer: Három megközelítést alkalmaztunk. Elemeztük 1) az Országos Mentoszolgálat 2012. január 1. és 2015. június 30. közötti eseteinek Utstein-adatlapjait, 2) az Országos Gyermekszív Központba hirtelen szívmegállás miatt 2000. január 1. és 2021. augusztus 11. között felvett, valamint 3) az öröklött arrhythmiaszindróma gyanúja miatt 2015. október 1. és 2021. augusztus 11. között gondozásba vett gyermekek adatait. Eredmények: 1) A vizsgált 3,5 év alatt 373 gyermekkori keringésmegálláshoz riasztották a mentoket. Az Utstein-adatlapok alapján vélhetoen 84 esetben (≈24/év) állhatott cardialis ok a háttérben. A reanimáció az esetek 20%-ában volt sikeres. 2) A vizsgált közel 21 évben 24 gyermek (≈1/év) került felvételre elozmény nélküli hirtelen szívmegállást követoen a tercier országos központba. Hátterükben 11/24 (46%) esetben öröklött arrhythmiaszindróma, 4/24 (16%) esetben strukturális szívbetegség igazolódott. 9/24 (38%) esetben az ok nem volt tisztázható. 3) A vizsgált közel 6 évben 73 gyermeknél (≈12/év) történt genetikai vizsgálat öröklodo arrhythmiaszindróma gyanúja miatt: tünetek nélküli kóros EKG: n = 23, családszurés: n = 21, syncope: n = 15, sikeres újraélesztést követoen: n = 14. Egyértelmu patológiás mutáció 29 (≈5/év), ismeretlen jelentoségu variáns 15 esetben igazolódott. Következtetés: Az Országos Mentoszolgálat adatai alapján Magyarországon évente kb. 20-25 gyermeknél következik be kórházon kívüli hirtelen szívmegállás. Ezen esetek körülbelül egyötödében sikeres az újraélesztés, és a túlélo betegek egyötöde gyógyul súlyos szövodmények, neurológiai károsodás nélkül és kerül az Országos Gyermekszív Központba további ellátásra (a gyermekkori szívmegállások 5%-a). Ezen betegek közel felénél utólag öröklött arrhythmiaszindróma igazolható. Öröklodo arrhythmiaszindróma miatt az országos központban gondozásba kerülo gyermekek egyötödét ismerik fel hirtelen szívmegállást követoen. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(12): 473-477. INTRODUCTION: The incidence of pediatric out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest is low, but a part of them could be preventable. OBJECTIVE: Aim of our study was to assess the pediatric cardiac arrest in Hungary and the magnitude of inherited cardiac arrhythmias in the background. METHOD: Three methods were used. 1) Utstein data sheets of the National Ambulance Service between 01. 01. 2012 and 30. 06. 2015. 2) Records of admissions to the national tertiary pediatric heart centre, due to out-of-hospital pediatric sudden cardiac arrest between 01. 01. 2000 - 11. 08. 2021. and 3) Results of genetic testing in patients with suspicion of inherited arrhythmia syndromes between 01. 10. 2015 - 11. 08. 2021 were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: 1) Ambulance was called to 373 paediatric cardiac arrests during the study period of 3.5 years. Primary cardiac origin was presumed in 84 cases (≈24/year) on the basis of Utstein data sheets. Reanimation was successful in 20%. 2) 24 children (≈1/year) were admitted to the national pediatric heart centre after out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest during the study period of 21 years. Inherited arrhythmia syndromes in 11/24 (46%), structural heart disease in 4/24 (16%) cases could be identified, but etiology remained unclear in the rest 9/24 (38%). 3) Suspicion of inherited arrhythmia syndrome emerged in 73 children in 6 years of the study (≈12/year) and it was based on pathological ECG: n = 23, family screening: n = 21, syncope: n = 15, successful reanimation: n = 14. Genetic testing revealed pathological variation in 29 cases (≈5/year), variant of unknown significance in 15 cases. CONCLUSION: 20-25 children have out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually in Hungary based on data from the National Ambulance Service. Reanimation is successful in one fifth of the cases. One fifth of these surviving children had no severe complications and neurological deficit and they were admitted to the national pediatric heart centre for further diagnosis and treatment (5% of pediatric cardiac arrest). Inherited arrhythmia syndrome could be identified in the background in half of these admissions. One fifth of children checked up and followed for inherited arrhythmia syndrome in the national centre were diagnosed after sudden cardiac arrest. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(12): 473-477.

Foreign body type reaction causing differential diagnostic difficulty after appendectomy / Differenciáldiagnosztikai nehézséget okozó fonálgranuloma appendectomia után.

Összefoglaló. Az appendectomia szövodményei a leggyakrabban a korai posztoperatív idoszakban jelentkeznek. A mutét után évekkel megjeleno szövodmény ritka. Egy 11 éves kislányt vizsgáltunk 2 hete fennálló hasi panaszok miatt. Anamnézisében 8 évvel ezelott hagyományos módon elvégzett appendectomia szerepel. Az Ausztriában készült elso hasi ultrahangvizsgálat eltérést nem talált. Az intézetünkben elvégzett képalkotó vizsgálatok - hasi ultrahang, MR-vizsgálat - ileocoecalisan elhelyezkedo szolid terimét igazoltak, és felvetették a folyamat gyulladásos eredetét. A szerteágazó klinikai tünetek, a laboratóriumi és a képalkotó diagnosztikai eltérések kapcsán differenciáldiagnosztikai szempontból a gyulladásos bélbetegség lehetosége is felmerült, és biztonsággal a tumoros folyamatot sem sikerült kizárni. A rosszabbodó status miatt mutét történt. Ennek során a colon ascendenssel összefüggo, makroszkóposan tumoros megjelenésu elváltozást távolítottak el. A szövettani vizsgálat malignitást nem igazolt, a folyamat idegen test okozta - varróanyag-granuloma - krónikus gyulladásos jellegét erosítette meg. A vizsgálatok kapcsán coeliakia is igazolódott. A hasi mutétek ritka szövodménye a Schloffer-tumor, melyet idegen test típusú - gyakran sebészi varróanyag-maradvány körüli - granulomatosus gyulladásos folyamat jellemez. Az entitás ismerete differenciáldiagnosztikai szempontból fontos. Nehezítette a diagnózist az elso hasi ultrahangvizsgálat negatív eredménye és az egyidejuleg manifesztálódó coeliakia. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(3): 112-115. Summary. Generally, complications with appendectomy occur during the early postoperative stage and are quite rare years after the operation. In case of late manifestation of complications, the clinical signs are generally unspecific. We report a case of an 11-year-old girl - who underwent an appendectomy 8 years ago - with abdominal pain during the last 2 weeks. The first ultrasound examinations were carried out in Austria with normal results. In our department, the ultrasonography and the MR examinations showed an inhomogeneous abdominal mass which was connected to the abdominal wall and with the suspicion of inflammation. Because of the diversified results of radiology imaging and laboratory test, inflammatory bowel disease and tumor were considered in the differential diagnosis. During the operation, a tumor-like lesion related to the ascending colon was found. The histopathological examination revealed a foreign body type suture granuloma with a central abscess. Malignancy was not found. The clinical investigation proved celiac disease, too. The Schloffer tumor is a rare complication after abdominal surgery. This is a foreign body type inflammatory granuloma mainly around a surgical thread. The knowledge of the entity is important in differential diagnostic aspect. The presence of celiac disease in combination with the negative result of the first ultrasound examination made the exact diagnosis more difficult. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(3): 112-115.