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BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated systemic disorder elicited by the ingestion of gluten. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) guidelines published in 2012 suggested a no-biopsy pathway (NBP) for symptomatic children with IgA tissue transglutaminase (TGA-IgA) ≥10x upper limit of normal (ULN). Biopsy confirmation remained mandatory for other cases. OBJECTIVE: This retrospective case note study was aimed at evaluating the adherence to the ESPGHAN 2012 guidelines for diagnosing CD in our unit. METHODS: Forty-three cases with positive TGA-IgA were identified by a laboratory database search from January 2013 to December 2019. 6 of 43 patients were not referred for a confirmation of CD diagnosis. Data was collected on the diagnostic pathways followed, and appropriateness of adherence was compared with the existing ESPGHAN guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 37 cases were included with 35 children diagnosed with CD. 29/35 (83%) were diagnosed via the NBP;15/29 (52%) children did not meet all the criteria required for NBP, but were diagnosed and managed as having CD. 20/35 (57%) children were diagnosed with CD in adherence to the 2012 guidelines. CONCLUSION: The recommended diagnostic guidelines were frequently not implemented; adherence to the guidelines may improve following regular educational sessions. The revised 2020 ESPGHAN guidelines which exclude HLA-DQ2/DQ8 testing would address the issue of diagnosis for the 10/15 NBP cases (with TGA-IgA >10xULN) in our study who did not have HLA testing and were therefore non-adherent to the 2012 diagnostic guidelines. NBP, with the reduced need for endoscopy may be beneficial in resource limited settings. RESUMO CONTEXTO: A doença celíaca (DC) é uma doença sistêmica imuno-mediada provocada pela ingestão de glúten. As diretrizes da Sociedade Europeia de Gastroenterologia Pediátrica, Hepatologia e Nutrição (ESPGHAN) publicadas em 2012 sugeriram uma via sem biópsia (VSB) para crianças sintomáticas com transglutaminase de tecido IgA (TGA-IgA) ≥10x limite superior do normal (LSN). A confirmação da biópsia permaneceu obrigatória para outros casos. OBJETIVO: Este estudo retrospectivo de dados de caso teve como objetivo avaliar a adesão às diretrizes da ESPGHAN 2012 para o diagnóstico de DC em nossa unidade. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e três casos com TGA-IgA positivo foram identificados por uma pesquisa laboratorial de banco de dados de janeiro de 2013 a dezembro de 2019. Seis de 43 pacientes não foram encaminhados para confirmação do diagnóstico de DC. Os dados foram coletados nas vias diagnósticas seguidas, e a adequação da adesão foi comparada com as diretrizes ESPGHAN existentes. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 37 casos com 35 crianças diagnosticadas com DC. Foram diagnosticados 29 (83%) de 35 VSB; 15 (52%) de 29 crianças não atenderam a todos os critérios exigidos para a VSB, mas foram diagnosticadas e gerenciadas como tendo DC. Vinte (57%) em 35 foram diagnosticadas com DC em adesão às diretrizes de 2012. CONCLUSÃO: As diretrizes diagnósticas recomendadas não foram frequentemente implementadas; a adesão às diretrizes pode melhorar após sessões educativas regulares. As diretrizes revisadas ESPGHAN de 2020 que excluem os testes HLA-DQ2/DQ8 abordariam a questão do diagnóstico para 10 em 15 casos VSB (com TGA-IgA >10x LSN) em nosso estudo os quais não fizeram testes de HLA e, portanto, não aderiram às diretrizes de diagnóstico de 2012. A VSB, com a necessidade reduzida de endoscopia, pode ser benéfica em configurações limitadas de recursos.

A term infant with persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborn developed clinical and laboratory features of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in childhood (MIS-C) between days 12 and 14. Mother and baby were anti-SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG positive and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM negative on day 18, with negative COVID-19 PCR on repeated testing; possible first documentation of neonatal MIS-C following passive transfer of maternal antibodies.

Fever is a natural and almost universal mammalian response to infection. There exists a fear amongst general public and healthcare providers regarding fever being harmful leading to its overzealous management with antipyretics. Although the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines suggest the use of single antipyretic agent for management of fever, combination therapy with paracetamol, and ibuprofen is common in paediatric practice in the United Kingdom. These antipyretics at times can cause significant adverse events even when administered at regular therapeutic doses. We describe a young boy who presented with significant hypothermia (34.1°C) and was initially treated as cold sepsis. Once the boy got warmed up and as blood results became subsequently available, it became clearer that the hypothermia was secondary to therapeutic doses of antipyretics. In conclusion, we hope to improve awareness regarding this condition in clinical practice and educate health care professionals and caregivers with recommended NICE guidelines.

Summary Background Bronchiolitis is the most common reason for hospitalization in young children. In addition to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), other viruses have been increasingly implicated. Guidance on testing has also changed. Aims To compare clinicopathological outcomes in young children admitted with bronchiolitis due to RSV in comparison with rhinovirus (RV), and identify associated risk/epidemiological factors. Methods Children aged less than two years admitted to hospital with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis with positive results for either RSV or RV were included in this study. Polymerase-chain-reaction-negative cases using an extended respiratory virus panel served as a control group. Retrospective data were collected on sex, risk factors, respiratory support, intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Outcomes such as length of stay (LOS) and need for transfer to the high-dependency unit/paediatric intensive care unit were included. Findings Two hundred and twenty-seven out of 437 nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were positive for either RSV (N = 162) or RV (N = 65). The median age of cases was three months and 75% had at least one risk factor. Risk factors were higher in the RV group (P = 0.004). RV accounted for the majority of cases outside the RSV season (P

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune multisystem disease. Childhood-onset SLE is extremely rare and comprises only 10% to 20% of all cases. In this case report, we present a 9-year-old boy from northeastern India who presented with fever, cough, vague abdominal pain, lethargy and swelling of face and legs. Initial impression was one of sepsis with central nervous system (CNS) involvement and was treated accordingly. Detailed clinical examination with subsequent laboratory and imaging studies clinched the diagnosis of SLE. The patient showed rapid resolution of symptoms with immunoglobulins, cyclophosphamide and steroid therapy. A brief discussion on childhood neuropsychiatric lupus syndrome and SLE with CNS infections is included here.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the commonest cause of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children in both more developed and developing parts of the world. It is defined by the Rome III criteria for functional gastrointestinal disorders. It is characterized by abdominal pain that is improved by defecation and whose onset is associated with a change in stool form and or frequency and is not explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. It is estimated that 10%-15% of older children and adolescents suffer from IBS. IBS can be considered to be a brain-gut disorder possibly due to complex interaction between environmental and hereditary factors. The diagnosis of IBS is made based on the Rome III criteria together with ruling out organic causes of RAP in children such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. Once the diagnosis of IBS is made, it is important to explain to the parents (and children) that there is no serious underlying disease. This reassurance may be effective treatment in a large number of cases. Lifestyle modifications, stress management, dietary interventions and probiotics may be beneficial in some cases. Although there is limited evidence for efficacy of pharmacological therapies such as antispasmodics and antidiarrheals; these have a role in severe cases. Biopsychosocial therapies have shown encouraging results in initial trials but are beset by limited availability. Further research is necessary to understand the pathophysiology and provide specific focused therapies.