Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Children With Severe Dengue During the 2019-2020 Outbreak in Southern Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is characterized by uncontrolled activation of inflammatory cells and an exaggerated release of cytokines. It can be triggered by different factors, including viruses, such as dengue. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical and laboratory profiles of children with severe dengue and HLH, and to identify the risk factors for this clinical complication. METHODS: An analytical study was conducted in children with severe dengue who were treated in an intensive care unit between January 2019 and March 2020. Clinical and laboratory factors were compared between patients with and without HLH. RESULTS: HLH represented 13.4% (15/112) of children with severe dengue. Patients with HLH had a long-lasting fever (10.1 vs. 5.8 days; P = 0.012), low hemoglobin levels (7.6 vs. 10.8 g/dL; P = 0.000) and high aspartate aminotransferase values (4443 vs. 1061 U/L; P = 0.002), alanine transaminase (1433 vs. 487 U/L; P = 0.004), partial thromboplastin time (80.6 vs. 51.8 seconds; P = 0.010), prothrombin time (23.5 vs. 19.6 seconds; P = 0.024), triglycerides (333.7 vs. 223.2 mg/dL; P = 0.005), lactate dehydrogenase (4209 vs. 1947 U/L; P = 0.006), soluble CD25 (3488 vs. 1026 pg/mL; P = 0.014), and presented with higher frequency of myocarditis (66.7% vs. 38.3%; P = 0.048), hepatitis (5.3% vs. 1.3%; P = 0.014), bacterial coinfection (73.3% vs. 26.7%; P = 0.010) and fatal outcome (26% vs. 5%; P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: HLH is a serious life-threatening clinical complication of dengue virus infection that must be considered, particularly during outbreaks.

Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From the South of Colombia: One Year of Experience.

Background: Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is one of the most severe presentations of COVID-19 infection in pediatrics. Currently, we have few studies that describe the characteristics of this condition in Colombian children. Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children hospitalized with MIS-C in Neiva, Colombia. Methods: Observational follow-up study of a cohort of children with MIS-C for 12 months (May 15, 2020, to May 30, 2021) in two hospitals in the city of Neiva. Epidemiological data, clinical characteristics, laboratory characteristics, cardiological evaluation, treatment, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results: We included 34 patients who met the diagnosis of MIS-C. The median age was 68 months. Some type of nutritional issue was observed by 43.75% of those under 5 years of age and by 27.78% of those over 5 years of age. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most frequent, with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain being the most frequent by 79, 70, and 67%, respectively. By 77% of the patients, a history of SARS-COV-2 infection was documented through IgG. In the echocardiogram, 35.4% of the patients had systolic dysfunction, followed by coronary involvement by 35%. Conclusion: This study describes a series of cases of children with MIS-C in Colombia. Gastrointestinal manifestations were predominant. Mortality was high in comparison to other countries but similar to that reported in Colombia. This fact was associated with relevant pathological background. More training is required for physicians in order to have a better understanding of the disease so as to have an early diagnosis and timely treatment.

[Urban outbreak of leishmaniasis in Colombia]. / Brote urbano de leishmaniasis en Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment of children with visceral Leishmaniasis in Neiva- Huila, from April to June 2012. METHODOLOGY: We performed a descriptive study of an outbreak of visceral leshmaniasis in children from the urban area of Neiva. RESULTS: There were seven cases in children younger than five years. All of them had prolonged fever, hepato-splenomegaly, severe anemia and leukopenia. Five were admitted with severe thrombocytopenia, without hemorrhagic manifestations. Six patients received first-line treatment with miltefosine, five of them had treatment failure requirirng therapy escalation to amphotericin B, two received liposomal amphotericin B and three deoxycholate amphotericin B. The main vector identified was the Lutzomyia gomezi and its main reservoir were canines. CONCLUSION: We describe the first visceral leishmaniasis outbreak in children living in an urban area, with no mortality. Most of the cases had a good response to amphotericin B.

OBJETIVOS: Describir las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y el tratamiento de niños con leishmaniasis visceral en Neiva, Huila. METODOLOGIA: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo del brote de leshmaniasis visceral en niños de la zona urbana de Neiva, Huila, entre los meses de abril a junio de 2012. RESULTADOS: Se presentaron siete casos, en niños menores de cinco años, con fiebre prolongada, hepato-esplenomegalia, anemia severa y leucopenia. Cinco ingresaron con trombocitopenia severa, sin manifestaciones hemorrágicas. Seis pacientes recibieron manejo de primera línea con miltefosine, cinco presentaron fracaso terapéutico y se escalonó tratamiento a anfotericina B, de los cuales dos recibieron anfotericina liposomal y tres anfotericina deoxicolato. El principal vector identificado fue la Lutzomyia gomezi y los reservoirios indentifiacados fueron caninos. CONCLUSIÓN: Se describe el primer brote de leishmaniasis visceral en zona urbana, en población pediátrica sin casos de mortalidad. La mayoría de los casos con buena respuesta a Anfotericina B.

Brote urbano de leishmaniasis en Colombia / Urban outbreak of leishmaniasis in Colombia

RESUMEN Objetivos Describir las características epidemiológicas, clínicas y el tratamiento de niños con leishmaniasis visceral en Neiva, Huila. Metodologia Se realizó un estudio descriptivo del brote de leshmaniasis visceral en niños de la zona urbana de Neiva, Huila, entre los meses de abril a junio de 2012. Resultados Se presentaron siete casos, en niños menores de cinco años, con fiebre prolongada, hepato-esplenomegalia, anemia severa y leucopenia. Cinco ingresaron con trombocitopenia severa, sin manifestaciones hemorrágicas. Seis pacientes recibieron manejo de primera línea con miltefosine, cinco presentaron fracaso terapéutico y se escalonó tratamiento a anfotericina B, de los cuales dos recibieron anfotericina liposomal y tres anfotericina deoxicolato. El principal vector identificado fue la Lutzomyia gomezi y los reservoirios indentifiacados fueron caninos. Conclusión Se describe el primer brote de leishmaniasis visceral en zona urbana, en población pediátrica sin casos de mortalidad. La mayoría de los casos con buena respuesta a Anfotericina B.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objectives To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and treatment of children with visceral Leishmaniasis in Neiva- Huila, from April to June 2012. Methodology We performed a descriptive study of an outbreak of visceral leshmaniasis in children from the urban area of Neiva. Results There were seven cases in children younger than five years. All of them had prolonged fever, hepato-splenomegaly, severe anemia and leukopenia. Five were admitted with severe thrombocytopenia, without hemorrhagic manifestations. Six patients received first-line treatment with miltefosine, five of them had treatment failure requirirng therapy escalation to amphotericin B, two received liposomal amphotericin B and three deoxycholate amphotericin B. The main vector identified was the Lutzomyia gomezi and its main reservoir were canines. Conclusion We describe the first visceral leishmaniasis outbreak in children living in an urban area, with no mortality. Most of the cases had a good response to amphotericin B.(AU)

Alteraciones bioquímicas como marcadores predictores de gravedad en pacientes con fiebre por dengue / Biochemical alterations as prediction markers for the severity of illness in dengue fever patients

Introducción. El dengue es la infección transmitida por mosquitos más importante en el mundo. Existe información de que las alteraciones bioquímicas pueden utilizarse como herramientas predictoras de gravedad del dengue. Objetivo. Evaluar las alteraciones bioquímicas como posibles marcadores predictores de gravedad del dengue. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio de casos y controles anidado en una cohorte. Se seleccionaron al azar 125 casos con dengue grave y 120 controles con dengue no grave para evaluar los niveles séricos de lactato-deshidrogenasa (LDH), creatina cinasa (CK), proteína C reactiva (PCR) y albúmina, en sueros obtenidos en las primeras horas de la enfermedad. Para evaluar el valor diagnóstico de cada biomarcador, se establecieron puntos de corte con una sensibilidad del 90 % en la detección de casos graves. Resultados. Se observó una asociación entre los niveles de PCR por debajo de 9,8 mg/l (OR=0,04; IC 95% =0,02-0,08 ; p=0,000), de LDH inferiores a 400 U/L (OR=0,49; IC 95% =0,24-1,02; p=0,053) y de albúmina menor de 4 mg/dl (OR=3,46; IC 95% =1,96-6,12; p=0,000), con la gravedad del dengue. En contraste, los niveles de la CK no mostraron asociación con la gravedad de la enfermedad. Conclusiones. Los hallazgos de nuestro estudio sugieren una asociación de los niveles de PCR, LDH y albúmina con la gravedad del dengue. Estas pruebas bioquímicas podrían ser utilizadas como herramientas predictoras del curso clínico de la infección.

Introduction: Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne infection in the world. There is evidence supporting the use of biochemical alterations as prediction tools for severity of illness in dengue. Objective: To evaluate biochemical alterations as potential prediction markers for severity in dengue. Materials and methods: This was a case-control study nested in a cohort. We randomly selected 125 severe dengue cases and 120 controls with non-severe dengue for measuring LDH, CK, CRP and albumin serum levels using acute phase sera. To evaluate the predictive value for each biomarker, we established cut-off points with 90% sensitivity in detecting severe cases. Results: There was association among the CRP levels < 9.8 mg/L (OR=0.04; 95%CI=0.02-0.08; p=0.000), <400 U/L LDH levels (OR=0.49; 95%CI=0.24-1.02; p=0.053) and <4 mg/dl albumin levels (OR=3.46; 95%CI=1.96-6.12; p=0.000) with the severity of dengue. In contrast, the CK levels showed no association with the severity of the disease. Conclusions: Our findings suggest an association of CRP, LDH and albumin levels with the severity of dengue. These biochemical tests could be used as predictive tools in the clinical course of the infection.

[Biochemical alterations as prediction markers for the severity of illness in dengue fever patients]. / Alteraciones bioquímicas como marcadores predictores de gravedad en pacientes con fiebre por dengue.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue is the most important mosquito-borne infection in the world. There is evidence supporting the use of biochemical alterations as prediction tools for severity of illness in dengue. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate biochemical alterations as potential prediction markers for severity in dengue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a case-control study nested in a cohort. We randomly selected 125 severe dengue cases and 120 controls with non-severe dengue for measuring LDH, CK, CRP and albumin serum levels using acute phase sera. To evaluate the predictive value for each biomarker, we established cut-off points with 90% sensitivity in detecting severe cases. RESULTS: There was association among the CRP levels < 9.8 mg/L (OR=0.04; 95%CI=0.02-0.08; p=0.000), <400 U/L LDH levels (OR=0.49; 95%CI=0.24-1.02; p=0.053) and <4 mg/dl albumin levels (OR=3.46; 95%CI=1.96-6.12; p=0.000) with the severity of dengue. In contrast, the CK levels showed no association with the severity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an association of CRP, LDH and albumin levels with the severity of dengue. These biochemical tests could be used as predictive tools in the clinical course of the infection.