Vitamin D as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Children with acute pneumonia may be vitamin D deficient. Clinical trials have found that prophylactic vitamin D supplementation decreases children's risk of developing pneumonia. Data on the therapeutic effects of vitamin D in acute childhood pneumonia are limited. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2018. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and two trial registries on 28 December 2021. We applied no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that compared vitamin D supplementation with placebo in children (aged one month to five years) hospitalised with acute community-acquired pneumonia, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) acute respiratory infection guidelines. For this update, we reappraised eligible trials according to research integrity criteria, excluding RCTs published from April 2018 that were not prospectively registered in a trials registry according to WHO or Clinical Trials Registry - India (CTRI) guidelines (it was not mandatory to register clinical trials in India before April 2018). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion and extracted data. For dichotomous data, we extracted the number of participants experiencing the outcome and the total number of participants in each treatment group. For continuous data, we used the arithmetic mean and standard deviation (SD) for each treatment group together with number of participants in each group. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: In this update, we included three new trials involving 468 children, bringing the total number of trials to seven, with 1601 children (631 with pneumonia and 970 with severe or very severe pneumonia). We categorised three previously included studies and three new studies as 'awaiting classification' based on the research integrity screen. Five trials used a single bolus dose of vitamin D (300,000 IU in one trial and 100,000 IU in four trials) at the onset of illness or within 24 hours of hospital admission; one used a daily dose of oral vitamin D (1000 IU for children aged up to one year and 2000 IU for children aged over one year) for five days; and one used variable doses (on day 1, 20,000 IU in children younger than six months, 50,000 IU in children aged six to 12 months, and 100,000 IU in children aged 13 to 59 months; followed by 10,000 IU/day for four days or until discharge). Three trials performed microbiological diagnosis of pneumonia, radiological diagnosis of pneumonia, or both. Vitamin D probably has little or no effect on the time to resolution of acute illness (mean difference (MD) -1.28 hours, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.47 to 2.91; 5 trials, 1188 children; moderate-certainty evidence). We do not know if vitamin D has an effect on the duration of hospitalisation (MD 4.96 hours, 95% CI -8.28 to 18.21; 5 trials, 1023 children; very low-certainty evidence). We do not know if vitamin D has an effect on mortality rate (risk ratio (RR) 0.69, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.07; 3 trials, 584 children; low-certainty evidence). The trials reported no major adverse events. According to GRADE criteria, the evidence was of very low-to-moderate certainty for all outcomes, owing to serious trial limitations, inconsistency, indirectness, and imprecision. Three trials received funding: one from the New Zealand Aid Corporation, one from an institutional grant, and one from multigovernment organisations (Bangladesh, Sweden, and UK). The remaining four trials were unfunded. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Based on the available evidence, we are uncertain whether vitamin D supplementation has important effects on outcomes of acute pneumonia when used as an adjunct to antibiotics. The trials reported no major adverse events. Uncertainty in the evidence is due to imprecision, risk of bias, inconsistency, and indirectness.

An Assumed Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 During Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected persons of all ages, including the newborns. Few published case reports and case series have described the possibility of vertical transmission of COVID-19. In the present report, we describe a young primigravida at 33 weeks of gestation, who presented with a four-day history of low-grade fever, malaise, and breathing difficulty. She underwent testing of nasopharyngeal swab sample by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), which was positive for COVID-19. Cesarean section was done, and a preterm low birthweight baby was delivered. The baby required resuscitation at birth and was mechanically ventilated for a shorter duration. A tracheal aspirate that was taken at 12 hours of life tested positive for COVID-19. The course and outcome of the newborn are described here along with the possibility of vertical transmission.

Successful management of abnormal uterine bleeding from uterine arteriovenous malformations with progesterone in postabortal patients.

AIM: To study the feasibility of conservative management with progesterone as a treatment option for postabortal patients with uterine arterio-venous malformations (AVMs). METHODS: This prospective observational study was conducted in the tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 2 years. Postabortal patients with abnormal uterine bleeding were enrolled. Diagnosis was made by history, clinical and radiological examinations. Oral norethisterone was used (10 mg twice daily for 3 weeks, maximum of three cycles). Descriptive statistics was used to present the data. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were included. Majority (n = 17) had complete resolution of symptoms after a single 3-week course of progesterone therapy. Rest (n = 13) remained symptomatic and required second course. Of the later, only three remained symptomatic after 2 months, and underwent CT angiography followed by embolization. There was no report of any serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: Oral norethisterone is a safe, effective and novel oral drug as an alternative to embolization or surgical therapy for patients with postabortal AVM bleed. Larger studies are required to confirm the findings of the present study.

Vitamin D as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia.

BACKGROUND: Children with acute pneumonia may be vitamin D deficient. Clinical trials have found that prophylactic vitamin D supplementation decreases the risk of developing pneumonia in children. Data on the therapeutic effects of vitamin D in acute childhood pneumonia are limited. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of vitamin D supplementation as an adjunct to antibiotics for the treatment of acute childhood pneumonia. SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL (2017, Issue 7), which includes the Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group's Specialised Register; Ovid MEDLINE Epub Ahead of Print; In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations; Ovid MEDLINE Daily and Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to July Week 4, 2017); and Embase (2010 to 28 July 2017). We also searched ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) on 28 July 2017. There were no language restrictions. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) including children (aged over one month and up to five years) hospitalised with acute community-acquired pneumonia, as defined by the WHO acute respiratory infection guidelines, that compared vitamin D supplementation with control. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed studies for inclusion and extracted data. For dichotomous data, we extracted the number of participants experiencing the outcome and the total number of participants in each treatment group. For continuous data, we used the arithmetic mean and standard deviation (SD) for each treatment group together with numbers of participants in each group. We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. MAIN RESULTS: We included seven RCTs conducted in low-income countries that involved 1529 children (780 with pneumonia and 749 with severe or very severe pneumonia). Four studies used a single 100,000 IU dose of vitamin D3 at the onset of illness or within 24 hours of hospital admission; two used a daily dose of oral vitamin D3 (1000 IU for children aged up to one year and 2000 IU for children aged over one year) for five days; and one used a daily dose of oral vitamin D3 (50,000 IU) for two days. One study reported microbiological and radiological diagnosis of pneumonia.The effects of vitamin D on outcomes were inconclusive when compared with control: time to resolution of acute illness (hours) (mean difference (MD) -0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) -6.14 to 4.24; 3 studies; 935 children; low-quality evidence) mortality rate (risk ratio (RR) 0.97, 95% CI 0.06 to 15.28; 1 study; 193 children; very low-quality evidence); duration of hospitalisation (MD 0.49, 95% CI -8.41 to 9.4; 4 studies; 835 children; very low-quality evidence) and time to resolution of fever (MD 1.66, 95% CI -2.44 to 5.76; 4 studies; 584 children; very low-quality evidence).No major adverse events were reported.The GRADE assessment found very low-quality evidence (due to serious study limitations, inconsistencies, indirectness, and imprecision) for all outcomes except time to resolution of acute illness.One study was funded by the New Zealand Aid Corporation; one study was funded by an institutional grant; and five studies were unfunded. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We are uncertain as to whether vitamin D has an important effect on outcomes because the results were imprecise. No major adverse events were reported. We assessed the quality of the evidence as very low to low. Several trials are ongoing and may provide additional information.

Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and childhood allergic diseases: a systematic review.

Studies have found a link between neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NNH) and/or neonatal phototherapy (NPT) and childhood allergic diseases. The present systematic review was conducted to provide updated evidence and to provide direction regarding future research. A systematic search of the published literature was carried out. Observational studies including children up to 12 yr of age were included. Data extraction was carried out using a standardized data extraction form that was designed and pilot tested a priori. The analysis was carried out with the statistical software RevMan (version 5.2) [Protocol is registered at PROSPERO: CRD42014009943]. Of 79 citations retrieved, a total of 7 good quality studies (n = 101,499) were included in the final analysis. There was a significant increase in the odds of asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) after NNH [asthma, OR 4.26 (95% CI 4.04-4.5); AR, OR 5.37 (95% CI 4.16-6.92)] and after NPT [asthma, OR 3.81 (95% CI 3.53-4.11); AR, OR 3.04(95% CI 2.13-4.32)]. A similar increase in the trend was noted for late onset of asthma after NNH [OR 4.1 (95% CI 2.82-5.94)], and hospitalization due to asthma after NPT [OR 3.56 (95% CI 2.93-4.33)]. The GRADE evidence generated was of 'low quality'. The current evidence finds a significant increase in the odds of childhood allergic diseases after NNH and/or NPT. As observational studies were included, the evidence generated was of 'low quality'. Future studies should try to elucidate the pathophysiologic link between NNH and/or NPT and childhood allergic diseases.