Diphyllobothriasis Caused by the Sanada Tapeworm: A Case Report.

The incidence of human diphyllobothriasis is expected to rise amidst the current global popularity of Japanese cuisine, such as sushi, which contains raw fish. We report a case of a 10-year-old boy with a diphyllobothriasis infection acquired via sushi consumption. The patient was otherwise healthy, exhibited no symptoms, and was successfully treated with a single dose of 10 mg/kg praziquantel. In Japan, this parasite is known as "Sanada-mushi" because it resembles a Sanada cord. Prompt recognition of this parasite by evoking the Sanada cord's appearance may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment and increase public awareness to prevent diphyllobothriasis.

Frequent Apnea Attacks in a 1-Month-old Infant With Influenza C Virus Infection.

Influenza C virus infection is a common and mild disease in children. Nevertheless, it remains an under-recognized cause of acute respiratory illnesses. Herein, we report the case of a 54-day-old infant who developed an influenza C virus infection and frequent apnea attacks, which could be a risk factor for sudden death and has never been reported earlier.

Non-thyroidal Illness Syndrome in an Infant With Acute Anorexia and Psychological Stress.

Non-thyroidal illness syndrome (NTIS), a remarkable ensemble of changes in serum thyroid hormone concentration during acute illness, was first reported in the 1970s. While NTIS is not a form of hypothyroidism, it is characterized by a decrease in serum triiodothyronine (T3) or thyroxine (T4) or both with normal or decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Notably, it typically resolves without thyroid hormone replacement therapy. We report a case of paralytic ileus caused by NTIS in an infant with psychological stress. This case illustrates the development of NTIS during psychological stress, which can lead to severe symptoms such as those seen in pathological hypothyroidism.

Incarcerated Umbilical Hernia Treated With Adhesive Strapping in a Three-Month-Old Infant.

An umbilical hernia (UH) is a common condition in early childhood; it is defined as the protrusion of abdominal viscera through a defect in the umbilical ring. Since most UHs close spontaneously, almost no active treatment has been performed. Adhesive strapping (AS) for early UH closure is an easy-to-perform and relatively safe treatment. However, it can present rare but serious complications. Herein, we report a case of a three-month-old infant with incarcerated UH during AS therapy. AS treatment for UH, which has been reported mainly in Japan, has shown excellent results in observational studies and could be widely applied globally. However, our case demonstrated the presence of a noteworthy complication; incarcerated UH, in addition to skin complications, such as cellulitis and skin ulcer-related perforation, was associated with AS. To minimize the occurrence of these complications associated with AS treatment for UH, it is crucial to adequately explain and guide the family members regarding the proper management of AS and seeking medical care promptly when abnormalities occur during AS.

Unusual Acute Pediatric Pyelonephritis Presenting With Cluster Convulsions by Possible Central Nervous System Lesion: A Case Report.

Acute pyelonephritis is the leading cause of bacterial infection among children. It can be difficult to diagnose early in the disease course owing to non-specific symptoms and physical findings. Recently, some cases of pediatric acute pyelonephritis with mild encephalitis/encephalopathy with a reversible splenial lesion (MERS) have been reported. We describe a case of a six-year-old boy who presented with a high fever and four episodes of cluster convulsions. Despite the absence of leukocyturia and hypo-inflammatory response in the blood, he was diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis by contrast-enhanced computed tomography seven days after onset. The convulsions were not simple febrile convulsions and suggested central nervous system (CNS) lesions, as the patient was older than the usual cut-off age of five years for febrile seizures. This case highlights an unusual presentation and clinical course of a case of pediatric acute pyelonephritis characterized by cluster convulsions and a poor inflammatory response. Furthermore, we strongly consider that the cause of the cluster convulsions may be related to MERS spectrum disorder and emphasize that pyelonephritis can be accompanied by CNS disturbances.

No child should suffer from vitamin K deficiency-induced bleeding disorders.

We encountered an 11-day-old male neonate with vitamin K deficiency-induced intracranial hemorrhage, despite receiving oral vitamin K2 (menaquinone-4) prophylaxis according to Japanese guidelines. This case suggests that the current vitamin K deficiency-bleeding prophylaxis programs cannot prevent bleeding completely. Better prophylaxis programs using both intramuscular and oral administration should be considered.