Pediatric Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome Temporarily associated with COVID-19: Clinical characteristics and management in a Pediatric Critical Care Unit. / Síndrome Inflamatorio Multisistémico Pediátrico asociado a COVID-19: Características clínicas y manejo en una Unidad de Paciente Crítico Pediátrico.

INTRODUCTION: In April 2020, the pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporarily associated with COVID-19 (MIS-C) was described for the first time. MIS-C could have a severe course and may require critical care support. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical, laboratory, and management characteristics of hospitalized children who meet MIS-C criteria with severe presentation in a pediatric critical pa tient unit. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive prospective study of children with severe MIS-C mana ged by treatment phases with immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone, according to their clinical response. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and imaging data were obtained. Phenotypes were classified into Kawasaki and not Kawasaki, comparing their findings. RESULTS: 20 patients were analy zed, the median age was 6 years, 60% were female, and 40% presented comorbidity. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 90% of the patients. They presented fever as the first symptom, followed by brief and early gastrointestinal symptoms (70%). 75% presented the Kawasaki phenotype. They evolved with lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, coagulation alterations, and elevated systemic and cardiac in flammatory parameters. 80% of the cases presented echocardiographic alterations and 90% shock that required critical care support. All the patients had a short and favorable evolution. All patients responded to the established therapy, but 40% required a second phase of treatment. There were no differences when comparing phenotypes. No deaths were reported. CONCLUSION: MIS-C is a new childhood disease whose presentation could be life-threatening. It requires early suspicion, immuno modulatory management, critical care support, and a multidisciplinary approach to obtain the best results and optimize its prognosis.

[Myopia and Myopic Astigmatism in school-children]. / Miopía y Astigmatismo miópico en escolares.

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, there is an epidemic increase in myopia. In children, the evidence points to a lack of ex posure to natural light. In Chile, the population situation of myopia in children is unknown. Objec tive: To estimate the tendency of myopia and myopic astigmatism in 1st- and 6th-grade students from the public education system in Chile. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Ecological study based on diagnostic confirmations of the JUNAEB Medical Services Program, between 2012 and 2018. Annual country prevalence of myopia and astigmatism was estimated by region and sex. The screening evaluation included visual acuity using Snellen Eye Abbreviated chart, red reflex, Hirschberg test, Titmus test, Cover test, ocular motility, and anterior segment examination. Chi2 and logistic regression were used to assess differences and linear regression to estimate average annual change. RESULTS: Between 2012 and 2018, myopia and myopic astigmatism had a heterogeneous geographical presentation. Myopia and myopic astigmatism ≥ 3 dioptres increased by an annual average of 0.11% (R2 0.67) and 1.21% (R2 0.90), respectively, in 1st-grade children and by 0.2% (R2 0.65) and 8.7% (R2 0.79), respectively, in 6th-grade children. Myopia < 3 dioptres decreased by 0.13% annual average (R2 0.45) in 1st-grade children and myopic astigmatism < 3 dioptres by 0.5% (R2 0.53) in 6th-grade children. High myopic astigmatism affected men more than women and myopia < 3 dioptres affected more 6th-grade females. DISCUSSION: In schoolchildren of the public education system, myopia and myopic astigmatism > 3 dioptres tend to increase. The protective effect of natural light against myopia has been demonstrated in longitudinal and experimental studies. This evidence is to be considered in promoting children's time spent outdoors.

Inmunizaciones en pacientes con artritis idiopática juvenil / Immunizations in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Los pacientes con AIJ/ARJ presentan un riesgo mayor de infecciones inmunopreveni-bles, debido a su disfunción inmune, exacerbada por la actividad de su enfermedad y la terapia inmunosupresora. Las vacunas inactivadas han demostrado un perfil de seguridad adecuado en estos pacientes, por lo que no están contraindicadas, aunque su respuesta inmune puede ser inadecuada. Las vacunas vivas atenuadas, formal-mente contraindicadas, poseen una información creciente que permite evaluar su riesgo beneficio de manera individual. Por este motivo, debemos procurar mantener el calendario de vacunas actualizado y complementado, evitando el retraso en esque-mas de vacunación y poniéndolo al día lo antes posible, con estrategias basadas en el individuo, idealmente antes de iniciar la terapia inmunosupresora o de lo contrario durante ella. Para llevar a cabo esto debemos conocer y considerar los intervalos entre las vacunas, los esquemas acelerados, la solicitud de vacunas especiales, las aprobaciones vigentes y, finalmente, sus contraindicaciones.

Patients with JIA/JRA present a higher risk of vaccine-preventable infections, due to their immune dysfunction, exacerbated by the activity of their disease and immu-nosuppressive therapy. Inactivated vaccines have shown an adequate safety profile in these patients, so they are not contraindicated, although their immune response may be impaired. Live attenuated vaccines, formally contraindicated, have a growing information that allows to evaluate their risk benefit case by case. For this reason we must try to keep the vaccination schedule updated and supplemented, avoiding the delay in vaccination schemes and updating it as soon as possible, with taylor-based strategies, ideally before starting immunosuppressive therapy or otherwise during it. To carry out this we must manage and consider the intervals between the vaccines, the accelerated schemes, the request for special vaccines, the current approvals and, finally, their contraindications.

Historia y epidemiología del meningococo

el meningococo o Neisseria meningitidis es una bacteria que vive exclusivamente en la faringe de algunas personas y ocasionalmente puede producir enfermedades como meningitis, neumonía, artritis y sepsis. existen varias cepas de Neisseria meningitidis, destacando los serogrupos a, b, c, Y, y w-135. históricamente la cepa c era la habitual en chile, pero posteriormente la b pasó a ser la predominante. durante los últimos 6 meses hemos observado un aumento de los casos de infección por el serogrupo w135, fundamentalmente en la región metropolitana, y un aumento de los casos en valparaíso asociado a meningococo b. considerando que la epidemiología del meningococo es impredecible, dinámica, con cambios en corto tiempo y brotes cada 8 a 12 años, requiere de una vigilancia sistemática y estricta en cada país. el objetivo del presente artículo es revisar la historia y epidemiología del meningococo. frente al aumento de los casos es necesario educar a los equipos de salud y a la población en estrategias tendientes al diagnóstico y tratamiento lo más precoz posible e implementación de medidas de profilaxis efectiva, además de la toma de decisiones respecto de la incorporación de vacunas específicas.