Shortened Treatment Regimens for Drug Sensitive TB.

Tuberculosis (TB) has remained a global health challenge despite the availability of effective anti-tubercular drugs and various treatment strategies. Apart from the complications related to TB disease per se, adverse effects of antitubercular therapy (ATT) also contribute to morbidity. In addition to the adverse effects, the long duration of the treatment regimen also reduces the patient's acceptability of ATT. The available "short-course treatment regimens" are still relatively long, thereby adversely affecting treatment compliance. There is a need for effective, safe, short and intensive regimens for TB which can reduce the treatment cost and adverse effects, thereby improving its acceptance. With the emergence of new evidence, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently endorsed 4 mo short duration ATT regimen for non-severe, drug-sensitive cases of tuberculosis. Even in severe forms of disease like tubercular meningitis (TBM), trials are underway evaluating efficacy and safety of shorter regimens. Inclusion of fluroquinolones and rifapentine help shorten the regimens. These shortened regimens, however, need more close monitoring for adverse effects and may need to be converted to longer course if there is inadequate clinical response. Thus, shorter regimens for pediatric TB are likely to not only decrease the burden on patients and healthcare but also improve compliance and lower the side effects of the drugs due to prolonged exposure. This article reviews the current evidence and the guidelines pertaining to the shortened, intensive regimens for drug-sensitive tuberculosis.

Chronic Suppurative Lung Disease in Children: A Case Based Approach.

Bronchiectasis is a pathologic state of conducting airways manifested radiographically by evidence of bronchial dilation and clinically by chronic productive cough. Considered an "orphan disease" for long, it remains a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in both developed and underdeveloped countries. With the advances in the medical field accompanied by widespread access to vaccines and antibiotics, improved health services and better access to nutrition, the incidences of bronchiectasis have markedly decreased, particularly in developed countries. This review summarizes the current knowledge pertaining to the clinical definition, etiology, clinical approach and management related to pediatric bronchiectasis.

Systematic Identification and Critical Appraisal of Pediatric COVID-19 Guidelines Applicable in India.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically identify and critically appraise the methodological quality of pediatric guidelines applicable to management of COVID-19 in India. METHODS: Pediatric COVID-19 guidelines applicable to India, published until 30 April 2021, were identified through a systematic search across ten databases. Each was critically appraised for methodological quality using the AGREE-II tool, by at least two appraisers. Median (interquartile range) of the total score and domain-wise scores were calculated, and compared for Indian vs. foreign guidelines, updated vs. original versions of guidelines, and those developed earlier vs. later in the pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 62 guidelines was identified. Only 8 (12.9%) were published in India. The overall AGREE-II score ranged from 4.7% to 72.8%; with median (IQR) 37.9% (29.4, 48.6). This suggested overall low(er) methodological quality. The median (IQR) domain-wise scores were as follows: Scope and Purpose 66.7% (58.3, 83.3), Stakeholder Involvement 41.7% (30.6, 83.3), Rigor of Development 23.4% (14.8, 37.5), Clarity of Presentation 59.7% (50.0, 75.0), Applicability 27.1% (18.8, 33.3), and Editorial Independence 8.3% (0.0, 45.8). This suggested diversity in quality of different aspects of the guidelines, with very low quality in the critical domain of methodological rigor. There were no statistically significant differences in the overall scores of Indian vs. foreign guidelines, updated versions vs. original versions, and those developed earlier vs. later in the pandemic. CONCLUSION: The currently available pediatric COVID-19 guidelines have low methodological quality, adversely affecting their credibility, validity, and applicability. Urgent corrective strategies are presented for consideration.

Isolated Myeloid Sarcoma and Intracardiac Thrombus Resulting in Superior Mediastinal Syndrome.

Superior mediastinal syndrome (SMS) is a relatively common emergency in the practice of Pediatric Oncology. It typically results from the compression of large airways and superior vena cava by a swiftly growing mass. T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma, neuroblastoma, and germ cell tumor are the common etiologies of SMS in children. Occasionally, SMS can be an unexpected presentation of less common childhood cancers and a surprise for the diagnostic and treating teams. The present paper reports the diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of managing a 9-y-old boy with SMS resulting from mediastinal myeloid sarcoma. The presence of a sizeable intracardiac thrombus, in addition, contributed to the SMS. The initial pleural fluid cytology and image-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of the mediastinal mass were nondiagnostic. A thoracotomy was subsequently performed to debulk the tumor for symptomatic relief and obtain tissue for diagnosis.

Effects of ambient air pollution on emergency room visits of children for acute respiratory symptoms in Delhi, India.

The present study explored the association between daily ambient air pollution and daily emergency room (ER) visits due to acute respiratory symptoms in children of Delhi. The daily counts of ER visits (ERV) of children (≤15 years) having acute respiratory symptoms were obtained from two hospitals of Delhi for 21 months. Simultaneously, data on daily concentrations of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3) and weather variables were provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. K-means clustering with time-series approach and multi-pollutant generalized additive models with Poisson link function was used to estimate the 0-6-day lagged change in daily ER visits with the change in multiple pollutants levels. Out of 1,32,029 children screened, 19,120 eligible children having acute respiratory symptoms for ≤2 weeks and residing in Delhi for the past 4 weeks were enrolled. There was a 29% and 21% increase in ERVs among children on high and moderate level pollution cluster days, respectively, compared to low pollution cluster days on the same day and previous 1-6 days of exposure to air pollutants. There was percentage increase (95% CI) 1.50% (0.76, 2.25) in ERVs for acute respiratory symptoms for 10 µg/m3 increase of NO2 on previous day 1, 46.78% (21.01, 78.05) for 10 µg/m3 of CO on previous day 3, and 13.15% (9.95, 16.45) for 10 µg/m3 of SO2 on same day of exposure. An increase in the daily ER visits of children for acute respiratory symptoms was observed after increase in daily ambient air pollution levels in Delhi.

The Tools of the Trade - Uses of Flexible Bronchoscopy.

Bronchoscopes have markedly improved the diagnosis as well as therapy in pediatric pulmonary disorders. Two types of bronchoscopes are available; flexible and rigid, with their own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the clinical need and availability of skills, choice is made between the two. Typically, rigid scopes are largely used by the surgeons (pediatric or otolayngologists) while flexible bronchoscope stays in the domain of the pediatric pulmonologist and intensivists. Rigid scopes may be more versatile than flexible bronchoscopes in removing the foreign bodies from the airway. Flexible bronchoscopes on the other hand can even be introduced through an endotracheal tube. At times, use of both scopes may be required in a given patient for optimal results. Bronchoscopes give us a means to visualize the inside of the airway, which can be very informative for assessing various pathologies affecting the airways. Apart from the visualization of the parts of the airway tree and their structure as well as patency, it can also be used to take tissue biopsy specimens, collect secretions from the airways and bronchoalveolar lavage which can also get cellular elements from the distal alveoli. In the past few decades, more and more instruments are being used for expanding the utility of flexible bronchoscope for interventions ranging from bronchial toilet, foreign body removal, airway stenting and lasers or cryotherapy for airway lesions. The perinatologists have opened up more vistas and thrown newer challenges for using fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FB) for in utero tracheal occlusion in cases with diaphragmatic hernia. The vast applications of this tool makes it very relevant to pulmonary investigations and therapeutics.

Absence of diarrhea in purge nut ingestion: A case series of eight children.

There are very few case reports in literature of J. curcas poisoning. Previously grown as an ornamental plant; it is presently being cultivated on a large scale for its seed oil, which is used as biodiesel. This has brought this plant in close vicinity to the human population, exposing them to the chance ingestion. We are presenting clinical and biochemical profile of eight children with J. curcas poisoning. The plant is commonly known to be a purgative and gastrointestinal irritant but the most conspicuous feature in our patients was absence of diarrhea. Lethargy, severe abdominal pain, inability to ingest anything, and intense thirst were the most prominent complaints in all children. The symptoms in all the patients were significant enough to merit admission and intravenous fluid therapy. Hematological and biochemical workup revealed neutrophilia and raised serum alkaline phosphatase in all patients while leukocytosis was observed in 5 of them. Electrocardiography was normal in all the patients.

Hemoptysis in patients of celiac disease with disproportionately severe anemia: tip of the iceberg?

Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis (IPH) is characterized by the triad of iron deficiency anemia, pulmonary infiltrates and haemoptysis with no recognizable cause. Since the first description of its association with Celiac Disease (CD) by Lane and Hamilton in 1971, only a few isolated cases have been reported in literature. Although it has been considered an uncommon association of two disease entities, recent reports indicate that prevalence of celiac disease is as high as one percent. Further, individually both celiac disease and IPH are known to present as refractory anemia only. We are reporting a young adult with Lane Hamilton Syndrome, who realized that he was having significant gastrointestinal complaints only when they disappeared on gluten free diet (GFD). This case report reiterates the fact that celiac disease should be considered in all patients of IPH because of the therapeutic implications. Further on review of literature, we believe that covert hemoptysis may be responsible for disproportionately severe anemia in patients of celiac disease. Thus, prevalence of this association may be more than currently believed. Further research in this regard may improve our understanding of pathogenesis of celiac disease.

Pulmonary diseases and corticosteroids.

Steroids (corticosteroids) are anti-inflammatory drugs. Corticosteroids are used in many pulmonary conditions. Corticosteroids have a proven beneficial role in asthma, croup (Laryngotracheobronchitis), decreasing the risk and severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, interstitial lung disease, hemangioma of trachea, Pulmonary eosinophillic disorders. Role of corticosteroids is controversial in many conditions e.g. idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis, bronchiolitis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, hyperplasia of thymus, bronchiolitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, aspiration syndromes, atypical pneumonias, laryngeal diphtheria, AIDS, SARS, sarcoidosis, meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), pulmonary haemorrhage, bronchitis, bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia in JRA, histiocytosis, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, bordtella pertusis, pulmonary involvement in histiocytosis. However these are used empirically in many of these conditions despite lack of clear evidence in favour. There is concern about their side effects, especially on growth. Systemic steroids are associated with significant adverse effects. Pulmonary conditions have a strategic advantage that inhaled corticosteroids are useful in many of these. Although inhaled preparations of corticosteroids have been developed to maximise effective treatment of lung diseases characterised by inflammation and reduce the frequency of harmful effects, these have not been eliminated. There are situations where only systemic steroids are useful. Clinicians must weigh the benefits against the potential detrimental effects. It is recommended that standard protocols for use of steroids available in literature should be followed, always keeping a watch on the potential hazards of prolonged use.