Evaluation of maximal mouth opening for healthy Indian children: Percentiles and impact of age, gender, and height.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Maximal mouth opening (MMO) is used as a marker of masticatory pathology. However, MMO among children varies considerably with their age, height, sex, and race. While accurate percentile of normal mouth opening and relationship with anthropometric measurement are not precisely defined for the Indian population, we designed prospective, observational study to define the percentiles for normal MMO in our children. METHODS: A total of 985 children, 560 males and 425 females, in the age range of 5-18 years attending the pediatric clinic in a tertiary care center in Western India were studied. In addition to the basic demographic data, MMO was measured in these children. The children were asked to open their mouth maximally until no further opening was possible. The distance from the incisal edge of the upper incisor teeth to the incisal edge of the lower incisor teeth was measured using a calibrated fiber ruler. Statistical analysis was performed to assess the impact of other anthropometric measures such as age, gender, and height on MMO. OBSERVATIONS: The mean MMO for males was 44.24 (±5.84) mm and for females was 43.5 (±5.19) mm. Age- and height-related percentiles were created for girls and boys separately, showing the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th, and 95th percentiles from 5 through 18 years of age with 86-185 cm height. CONCLUSION: The MMO percentile range for different age and height groups is established for the normal children. The mouth opening seems to increase with the age and especially with the height as per the skeletal growth. Height affects mouth opening more than the age.

Clinico - diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of computed tomography scan of brain in children with partial seizures.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic relevance of computed tomography (CT) in children with partial seizures is reported to be remarkably low (1-2%). However, in the developing countries where infections involving the nervous system are common, routine CT scan of brain may help in finding treatable causes of seizures. OBJECTIVE: Aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of CT scan of brain in the management of children with partial seizures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children with partial epilepsy, whose predominant seizure type was focal motor seizures, were included in the study. CT scan of brain was done in all children aged between 1 month and 12 years with partial seizures of unknown etiology prospectively. The clinical findings of these children were noted along with the CT findings. RESULTS: Between August 2001 and July 2002, of the 200 children with seizure disorder 50 children who satisfied the inclusion criteria were included in the study. CT scan of brain was normal in 16 children (32%) and was abnormal in 34 children (68%). Twenty children (~60% of abnormal scan) had potentially correctable lesions: Tuberculoma (n = 13), neurocysticercosis (n = 3), and brain abscess (n = 4). Five children had changes representing static pathology that did not influence patient management. The clinical features correlated with CT findings in 78% children. CONCLUSION: Children with partial motor seizures have high probability of having abnormal findings on CT scan of brain, especially, neuro-infections which are potentially treatable. Therefore, CT scan brain should be carried out in all children with partial motor seizures especially, in developing countries.

Disseminated tuberculosis with paradoxical miliary tuberculomas of brain in a child with rickets.

Intracranial tuberculomas continue to be a serious complication of central nervous system tuberculosis. Multiple central nervous system tuberculoma is commonly associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The development of intracranial tuberculomas has been thought to be caused by hematogenous spread of tubercle bacilli on the surface of brain parenchyma from the primary site of infection. Here, we describe the case of a 5-year-old male child with severe protein energy malnutrition (Marasmus) having large cervical lymphadenopathy and severe nutritional rickets with deformity at presentation. The child developed convulsions 20 days after initiation of antituberculous drugs, and neuroimaging confirmed multiple miliary tuberculomas of brain as primary etiology for the convulsions.

Imaging features of double aortic arch shown by multidetector computed tomography angiography.

We present a three-dimensional reconstructed image of vascular ring in a 2.5-month-old patient, which was obtained using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). MDCT angiography made an accurate diagnosis of this life-threatening, but correctable, anomaly in an infant with a stridor, repeated respiratory infections and episodes of apnea.

Percutaneous closure of patent ductus arteriosus via internal jugular vein in patient with interrupted inferior vena cava.

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) using various occluders and coils via femoral vein is a well established therapeutic option. However, in patients with interrupted inferior vena cava (IVC) it is not feasible to close the PDA percutaneously using traditional methods. We present a nine-year-old girl with IVC interruption in whom percutaneous closure of PDA was successfully accomplished via the transjugular approach.

Fatal secondary pulmonary hypertension due to cardiac involvement in AIDS-associated Burkitt's lymphoma.

Primary cardiac lymphomas are rare lesions in children with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Most of them are high-grade Burkitt's or Burkitt-like lymphomas. They usually present with congestive cardiac failure, pericardial effusion or tamponade, arrhythmias, with predominant systemic 'B' symptoms and often with widespread extranodal involvement. The clinical profile and operative and pathological findings of a 4-year-old boy with AIDS-associated Burkitt's lymphoma of the heart presenting with acute right heart failure and fatal secondary pulmonary hypertension is reported.