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WOS: 000357905800009 PubMed: 25868903 Currently, tuberculosis remains a major public health problem worldwide. Peritoneal tuberculosis occurs in approximately 1% of all of tuberculosis cases and is rarely observed in children. Diagnosis and treatment delays caused by mimicking many other intra-abdominal diseases can lead to increases in morbidity and mortality. Here, we present a case of a four-year-old child with tuberculosis peritonitis who was diagnosed by laparoscopic biopsy and histopathological examination and recovered with antituberculosis therapy. Peritoneal tuberculosis should be considered in younger patients and adults with fever, abdominal pain and weight loss in endemic areas. (C) 2015 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited. All rights reserved.

Background Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency caused by defects in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase enzyme system. This disease causes the disordered functioning of phagocytic cells. It is characterized by life-threatening and/or recurrent infections by bacteria and fungi. CGD has both an X-linked recessive (X-CGD) and autosomal recessive (AR-CGD) phenotypes. AR form have four subtypes including defects with one of these NADPH oxidase components (p22, p40, p47 and p67phox). Objectives To report the clinical and laboratory characteristics of seven CGD patients based on their genetic characteristics. Methods Seven boys with CGD were reviewed based on clinical findings and genetic results. Dihydrorhodamine-1,2,3 (DHR) assay was used as a diagnostic test. Genetic analysis was conducted to establish moleculer diagnoses in all patients. Results The age of diagnosis varied between 1.5 years and 15 years. The most frequent clinical presentation was pneumonia, and two patients had BCG-itis. Four patients had the AR-CGD phenotype, and three patients had the X-CGD phenotype. Severe invasive infections due to Aspergillus, Staphylococcus, and Serratia species were reported. Frequent lung and lymph node involvement was observed during follow-up of the cases. Conclusions CGD is life-threatening disease that involves deep-seated infection. In our patients, the most commonly affected organs were the lungs and lymph nodes. Phagocytic disorders should be considered in cases of recurrent infectious diseases, invasive fungal diseases, BCG complications that are not self-limiting, unexplained lymphadenitis or osteomyelitis, and chronic inflammatory disorders.

isikay, sedat/0000-0003-0103-9612; YAMAN, Ayhan/0000-0002-5651-1286; Kendirli, Tanil/0000-0001-9458-2803 WOS: 000423394800025 PubMed: 28762041 Purpose Although influenza primarily affects the respiratory system, in some cases, it can cause severe neurological complications. Younger children are especially at risk. Pediatric literature is limited on the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of influenza-related neurological complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate children who suffered severe neurological manifestation as a result of seasonal influenza infection. Methods The medical records of 14 patients from six hospitals in different regions of the country were evaluated. All of the children had a severe neurological manifestations related to laboratory-confirmed influenza infection. Resuls Median age of the patients was 59 months (6 months-15.5 years) and nine (64.3%) were male. Only 4 (28.6%) of the 14 patients had a comorbid disease. Two patients were admitted to hospital with influenza-related late complications, and the remainder had acute complication. The most frequent complaints at admission were fever, altered mental status, vomiting, and seizure, respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis was performed in 11 cases, and pleocytosis was found in only two cases. Neuroradiological imaging was performed in 13 patients. The most frequent affected regions of nervous system were as follows: cerebellum, brainstem, thalamus, basal ganglions, periventricular white matter, and spinal cords. Nine (64.3%) patients suffered epileptic seizures. Two patients had focal seizure, and the rest had generalized seizures. Two patients developed status epilepticus. Most frequent diagnoses of patients were encephalopathy (n = 4), encephalitis (n = 3), and meningitis (n = 3), respectively. The rate of recovery without sequelae from was found to be 50%. At discharge, three (21.4%) patients had mild symptoms, another three (21.4%) had severe neurological sequelae. One (7.1%) patient died. The clinical findings were more severe and outcome was worse in patients < 5 years old than patients > 5 years old and in patients with comorbid disease than previously healthy group. Conclusion Seasonal influenza infection may cause severe neurological complications, especially in children. Healthy children are also at risk such as patients with comorbid conditions. All children who are admitted with neurological findings, especially during the influenza season, should be evaluated for influenza-related neurological complications even if their respiratory complaints are mild or nonexistent.

WOS: 000401516100041, PubMed ID: 28140784, The serogroup epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD), which varies considerably by geographic region and immunization schedule, changes continuously. Meningococcal carriage data are crucial for assessing IMD epidemiology and designing f potential vaccination strategies. Meningococcal seroepidemiology in Turkey differs from that in other countries: serogroups W and B are the predominant strains for IMD during childhood, whereas no serogroup C cases were identified over the last 10 y and no adolescent peak for IMD was found. There is a lack of data on meningococcal carriage that represents the whole population. The aims of this multicenter study (12 cities in Turkey) were to evaluate the prevalence of Neisseria meningitidis carriage, the serogroup distribution and the related risk factors (educational status, living in a dormitory or student house, being a household contact with Hajj pilgrims, smoking, completion of military service, attending bars/clubs) in 1518 adolescents and young adults aged 10-24 y. The presence of N. meningitidis DNA was tested, and a serogroup analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction. The overall meningococcal carriage rate was 6.3% (n = 96) in the study population. A serogroup distribution of the 96 N. meningitidis strains isolated from the nasopharyngeal specimens revealed serogroup A in 5 specimens (5.2%), serogroup B in 9 specimens (9.4%), serogroup W in 64 specimens (66.6%), and serogroup Y in 4 specimens (4.2%); 14 were classified as non-grouped (14.4%). No serogroup C cases were detected. The nasopharyngeal meningococcal carriage rate was 5% in the 10-14 age group, 6.4% in the 15-17 age-group, and 4.7% in the 18-20 age group; the highest carriage rate was found in the 21-24 age group (9.1%), which was significantly higher than those of the other age groups (p < 0.05). The highest carriage rate was found in 17-year-old adolescents (11%). The carriage rate was higher among the participants who had had close contact with Hajj/Umrah pilgrims (p < 0.01) or a history of upper respiratory tract infections over the past 3 months (p < 0.05). The nasopharyngeal carriage rate was 6.3% among adolescents and young adults in Turkey and was similar to the recent rates observed in the same age groups in other countries. The most prevalent serogroup was W, and no serogroup C cases were found. In conclusion, the present study found that meningococcal carriage reaches its peak level by age 17, the highest carriage rate was found in 21-to 24-year-olds and the majority of the carriage cases were due to serogroup W. Adolescents and young adult carriers seem to be a potential reservoir for the disease, and further immunization strategies, including adolescent immunization, may play a role in the control of IMD., Scientific Research Projects of the Eskisehir Osmangazi University [2014/455], The study was fully financed by the Scientific Research Projects of the Eskisehir Osmangazi University (2014/455).

WOS: 000339275500003 PubMed: 24463803 Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is endemic in some regions of our country. It is seen in all age groups; however, its prevalance is low in children. The studies on CCHF have been mostly in adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic, demographic, clinical and laboratory findings of children with CCHF. Methods: Between May 2008 and September 2011, the medical records of patients who were admitted to the Children Infectious Diseases Service of Ondokuz Mayis University School of Medicine with positive blood IgM by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or polymerase chain reaction positive for CCHF were retrospectively evaluated. Epidemiologic and demographic features, clinical and laboratory data and therapy were recorded. Results: Fifty-four patients with the diagnosis of CCHF were recorded between May 2008 and September 2011. Main symptoms during hospital admission were fever (98%), vomiting (59%), headache (39%), nausea (39%), diarrhea (22%), abdominal pain (22%), bleeding (22%) and rash (20%). During admission, thrombocytopenia was found in 74%, elevated aspartate aminotransferase in 61%, leucopenia in 57%, elevated creatine kinase (33%) and alanine aminotransaminase (29%), and prolonged prothrombin time and partial thromboplastine time in 28% were noted. Thirty-nine patients received ribavirin treatment. During clinical follow up, bradycardia was recorded in 18 patients (33%) all of whom received ribavirin treatment. One patient died. Conclusions: This study reports the largest series of children with CCHF and the first to describe bradycardia associated with ribavirin therapy.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an exotoxin that is produced by many strains of Staphylococcus aureus, and an important virulence factor. A PVL-positive S. aureus infection leads to rapid and severe infections of soft tissue and necrotizing pneumonia in healthy adolescents, and has a high mortality. This case report included a 12-year-old male patient who admitted for fever, respiratory distress and hip pain and was identified with necrotizing pneumonia with septic pulmonary embolism, psoas abscess, cellulitis and osteomyelitis. The PVL positive methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) was isolated in the patient blood culture.La leucocidina de Panton-Valentine (LPV) es una exotoxina producida por muchas cepas de Staphylococcus aureus, y un importante factor de virulencia. Una infección por S. aureus positivo para LPV deriva en infecciones rápidas y graves de partes blandas y neumonía necrosante en adolescentes sanos, y la tasa de mortalidad es elevada. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 12 años hospitalizado por fiebre, dificultad respiratoria y coxalgia en el que se identificó neumonía necrosante con embolia pulmonar séptic absceso del psoas, celulitis y osteomielitis. En el hemocultivo del paciente se aisló S. aureus sensible a la meticilina (SASM) positivo para LPV.

WOS: 000388736900040, PubMed: 27454468, This is an observational epidemiological study to describe causes of bacterial meningitis among persons between 1 month and 18 y of age who are hospitalized with suspected bacterial meningitis in 7 Turkish regions. covering 32% of the entire population of Turkey. We present here the results from 2013 and 2014. A clinical case with meningitis was defined according to followings: any sign of meningitis including fever, vomiting, headache, and meningeal irritation in children above one year of age and fever without any documented source, impaired consciousness, prostration and seizures in those < 1 y of age. Single tube multiplex PCR assay was performed for the simultaneous identification of bacterial agents. The specific gene targets were ctrA, bex, and ply for N. meningitidis, Hib, and S. pneumoniae, respectively. PCR positive samples were recorded as laboratory-confirmed acute bacterial meningitis. A total of 665 children were hospitalized for suspected acute meningitis. The annual incidences of acute laboratory-confirmed bacterial meningitis were 0.3 cases / 100,000 population in 2013 and 0.9 cases/100,000 in 2014. Of the 94 diagnosed cases of bacterial meningitis by PCR, 85 (90.4%) were meningococcal and 9 (9.6%) were pneumococcal. Hib was not detected in any of the patients. Among meningococcal meningitis, cases of serogroup Y, A, B and W-135 were 2.4% (n = 2), 3.5% (n = 3), 32.9% (n = 28), and 42.4% (n = 36). No serogroup C was detected among meningococcal cases. Successful vaccination policies for protection from bacterial meningitis are dependent on accurate determination of the etiology of bacterial meningitis. Additionally, the epidemiology of meningococcal disease is dynamic and close monitoring of serogroup distribution is comprehensively needed to assess the benefit of adding meningococcal vaccines to the routine immunization program., GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SAGlaxoSmithKline, Funding for this study was provided by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA was provided the opportunity to review a preliminary version of this manuscript for factual accuracy but the authors are solely responsible for final content and interpretation. The authors received no financial support or other form of compensation related to the development of the manuscript.

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) is now an accepted therapy for many end-stage organ disorders and fungal infections are the principal cause of infection-related mortality in SOT recipients. Among invasive fungal infections, Candida species are the most common pathogens identified, associated with high mortality rates. The epidemiology and clinical manifestations of Candida infections vary with the type of organ transplantation. This article reviews invasive Candida infections in pediatric SOT recipients.

WOS: 000349908800026 PubMed: 25741974 …

WOS: 000361387200005 PubMed: 26367782 Presenting with severe thrombocytopenia and pancytopenia is rare in children with brucellosis, and at the beginning it can be misdiagnosed as a hematological or a viral hemorrhagic disease. The follow-ups of 52 patients diagnosed with brucellosis from January, 2008, to December, 2013, in our clinic have shown the following results. Eleven out of these 52 patients revealed the fact that they had pancytopenia at the admission phase. Anemia and leukopenia were defined as hemoglobin levels and leukocyte counts below the standard values in terms of ages, thrombocytopenia as thrombocyte counts below 150,000/mm(3), and severe thrombocytopenia as thrombocyte counts below 20,000/mm(3). The most frequent admission symptoms and findings of the patients with pancytopenia were fever (75%), fatigue (50%), splenomegaly (75%), and hepatomegaly (41%). Laboratory results were hemoglobin 9.3 +/- 0.96 gram/dL, white blood cell count 2226 +/- 735.9/mm(3), and thrombocyte count 70,090 +/- 47,961/mm(3). The standard tube agglutination test was positive for all patients, and Brucellosis spp. were isolated in the blood cultures of six (54%) patients. Three of the 11 patients had severe thrombocytopenia, and they were admitted with complaints of epistaxis, gingival bleeding, petechiae, and purpura. At the beginning, two of three cases were misdiagnosed as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), another zoonotic endemic disease in Turkey. Pancytopenia improved with treatment of brucellosis on all patients. In conclusion, brucellosis can show great similarity with hematologic and zoonotic diseases like CCHF. Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancytopenia, treatment-resistant immune thrombocytopenia, and viral hemorrhagic disease, especially in countries where brucellosis is endemic.

Velipasaoglu, Sevtap/0000-0002-0200-8079; ONCEL, Selim/0000-0002-5493-1818; Dinleyici, Ener Cagri/0000-0002-0339-0134; NUHOGLU, CAGATAY/0000-0003-2187-4121; Ciftci, Ergin/0000-0002-4955-160X; Ozdemir, Halil/0000-0002-7318-1688; Emiroglu, Melike/0000-0003-1307-0246; Yasa, Olcay/0000-0002-1347-5019 WOS: 000358460500031 PubMed: 26133048 Introduction: Varicella in previously immunized individuals, known as "breakthrough varicella". While the majority of breakthrough cases are mild, some may be severe, requiring hospitalization in previously healthy children or children with an underlying condition. Methods: This report, as a part of the prospective national pediatric varicella hospitalizations study (including 29 centers, represent 50% of pediatric population) in Turkey, is aimed to evaluate breakthrough varicella infection requiring hospitalization before the routine use of single-dose live varicella vaccine in national program from 2008 to 2013 (

WOS: 000349905900001 PubMed: 25072372 Background: To evaluate the clinical feature and outcome of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in children with hematologic and malign diseases. Patients and Methods: The medical records of children with hematologic and malignant diseases, who were hospitalized at our hospital between January 2010 and December 2011, were reviewed. Proven, probable, and possible IFIs were diagnosed according to the revised definitions of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycosis Study Group. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of the patients who met the study criteria were evaluated. Results: IFI was diagnosed in 67 (7.2%) febrile episodes of 56 patients, of which 10 (1.2%) were proven, 20 (2%) probable, and 37 (4%) possible IFI. Blood culture of 10 cases with proven IFI yielded yeast and the most common isolated agent was Candida parapsilosis. Seventy percent of cases with fungemia had central venous catheter (CVC). Twenty cases with probable IFI had invasive mold infection. The cases with mold infection had higher median C-reactive protein values, lower neutrophil counts, and longer duration of neutropenia compared with the cases with yeast infection. A total of 14 patients (20.9%) died. Presence of CVC, bone marrow transplantation, total parenteral nutrition, prolonged fever, and proven/probable IFI were detected more often in patients who died, compared with patients who survived. Conclusions: IFIs are important causes of death in children with hematologic and malignant diseases. Mold infections are seen more frequently in cases with prolonged and profound neutropenia, and invasive yeast infections, especially with non-albicans Candida species, in cases with CVC. Early and effective treatment considering these findings will help to decrease the mortality.

BEK, KENAN/0000-0002-1005-2379; ozkaya, ozan/0000-0002-0198-1221 WOS: 000275891200013 PubMed: 20307148 Acyclovir is an effective, frequently used antiviral agent. Adverse effects of this drug are well known and are especially seen with high doses and/or dehydration. In this article, we report a 6-year-old boy with leukemia with nonoliguric acute renal failure in normal hydration status after using acyclovir treatment. He had no preexisting renal impairment, and there were no additional symptoms. Dimercaptosuccinic acid radionucleid scyntigraphy and other laboratory findings revealed impairment of proximal tubule function, in addition to distal tubule. We emphasize that renal functions should be monitored carefully during treatment with acyclovir, and asymptomatic nephrotoxicity must be kept in mind.

Listeria species may cause life-threatening events including meningitis and invasive infection in newborns, pregnant women, older and immunodeficient people. The most common Listeria species that causes infection is L. monocytogenes. It is known that Listeria innocua has no pathogenicity. A 9-month-old baby had ventriculoperitoneal shunt and was treated with adrenocorticotropic hormone because of infantile spasms. He was brought to hospital with fever and vomiting. Upon physical examination, the patient seemed uncomfortable and had a temperature of 38.6°C. Laboratory results were as follows: hemoglobin, 6.7 g/dL; leukocyte count, 5420/mm(3) ; platelet count, 169,000/mm(3) ; and C-reactive protein, 100 mg/L (normal5 mg/L). On analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), leukocyte count was 480/mm(3) , protein was 46 mg/dL and CSF glucose was 35 mg/dL. L. innocua was isolated in CSF culture. We describe this unusual case of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection with L. innocua.

WOS: 000320857300004, PubMed ID: 23637041, Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common etiological cause of complicated pneumonia, including empyema. In this study, we investigated the serotypes of S. pneumoniae that cause empyema in children. One hundred fifty-six children who were diagnosed with pneumonia complicated with empyema in 13 hospitals in seven geographic regions of Turkey between 2010 and 2012 were included in this study. Pleural fluid samples were collected by thoracentesis and tested for 14 serotypes/serogroups using a Bio-Plex multiplex antigen detection assay. The serotypes of S. pneumoniae were specified in 33 of 156 samples. The mean age +/- the standard deviation of the 33 patients was 6.17 +/- 3.54 years (range, 0.6 to 15 years). All of the children were unvaccinated according to the vaccination reports. Eighteen of the children were male, and 15 were female. The serotypes of the non-7-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (non-PCV-7), serotype 1, serotype 5, and serotype 3, were detected in eight (14.5%), seven (12.7%), and five (9.1%) of the samples, respectively. Serotypes 1 and 5 were codetected in two samples. The remaining non-PCV- 7 serotypes were 8 (n = 3), 18 (n = 1), 19A (n = 1), and 7F/A (n = 1). PCV-7 serotypes 6B, 9V, 14, 19F, and 23F were detected in nine (16.3%) of the samples. The potential serotype coverages of PCV-7, PCV-10, and PCV-13 were 16.3%, 45.4%, and 60%, respectively. Pediatric parapneumonic empyema continues to be an important health problem despite the introduction of conjugated pneumococcal vaccines. Active surveillance studies are needed to monitor the change in S. pneumoniae serotypes that cause empyema in order to have a better selection of pneumococcal vaccines., GlaxoSmithKlineGlaxoSmithKline, The study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline.

Background The rapid detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae could assist in the management of pneumococcal infections. The Binax NOW S. pneumoniae test is a rapid immunochromatographic test for this purpose. Methods Multiplex PCR in parapneumonic pleural effusion fluid (PPEF) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with Binax NOW urinary pneumococcal antigen test (PAT) from 80 children was compared in this study. Results PAT had a sensitivity of 36.4%, specificity of 97.3%, in CSF. PAT had a sensitivity of 50%, specificity of 81% for parapneumonic pleural effusion fluid. Conclusions When rapid management of a serious infection is needed the Binax NOW test could be a reliable method for the exclusion of S. pneumoniae infection.

WOS: 000309871900005 PubMed: 22825420 Complications of ventriculoperitoneal (V/P) shunt surgery are generally due to infection, or mechanical or dynamic dysfunction. Thoracic complications like cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hydrothorax are rarely seen. We present a CSF hydrothorax patient as a rare complication of V/P shunt surgery and review of the literature. The patient was a 7-month-old girl who had V/P shunt surgery for hydrocephalus. Six months after surgery, she was admitted to hospital with the complaint of cough. As the chest X-ray revealed hydrothorax, a chest tube was inserted. Although her shunt tip was in the abdominal cavity in shuntograms, positive beta-2 transferrin in liquid sample and Tc 99m cisternography proved that it was CSF. After we replaced her V/P shunt with a ventriculoatrial shunt, the liquid coming from the chest tube progressively diminished and disappeared, and her chest tube was removed. There are 36 CSF hydrothorax cases, including the present case, in the literature. There is peritoneal catheter migration into the chest in 22 of them (61.1 %). Half of the remaining 14 cases (38.9 %) without catheter migration have also CSF ascites. But, in the other half (seven cases), there is neither catheter migration nor CSF ascites as in the present case. CSF hydrothorax following V/P shunt surgery is a very rare complication that may cause serious respiratory distress. It is important to keep in mind that peritoneal catheter migration into the chest may or may not occur. Even ascites may not accompany CSF hydrothorax in a patient without peritoneal catheter migration.

Dinleyici, Ener Cagri/0000-0002-0339-0134; Carman, Kursat Bora/0000-0002-4629-1873; Akarsu, Saadet/0000-0002-2673-8842; Kondolot, Meda/0000-0002-1168-3228; Ozdemir, Halil/0000-0002-7318-1688; ONCEL, Selim/0000-0002-5493-1818; Velipasaoglu, Sevtap/0000-0002-0200-8079; Ciftci, Ergin/0000-0002-4955-160X; NUHOGLU, CAGATAY/0000-0003-2187-4121; Aykan, Hayrettin Hakan/0000-0001-5136-3977; Emiroglu, Melike/0000-0003-1307-0246; Yasa, Olcay/0000-0002-1347-5019 WOS: 000303054700011 PubMed: 22170238 Varicella can cause complications that are potentially serious and require hospitalization. Our current understanding of the causes and incidence of varicella-related hospitalization in Turkey is limited and sufficiently accurate epidemiological and economical information is lacking. The aim of this study was to estimate the annual incidence of varicella-related hospitalizations, describe the complications, and estimate the annual mortality and cost of varicella in children. VARICOMP is a multi-center study that was performed to provide epidemiological and economic data on hospitalization for varicella in children between 0 and 15 years of age from October 2008 to September 2010 in Turkey. According to medical records from 27 health care centers in 14 cities (representing 49.3% of the childhood population in Turkey), 824 children (73% previously healthy) were hospitalized for varicella over the 2-year period. Most cases occurred in the spring and early summer months. Most cases were in children under 5 years of age, and 29.5% were in children under 1 year of age. The estimated incidence of varicella-related hospitalization was 5.29-6.89 per 100,000 in all children between 0-15 years of age in Turkey, 21.7 to 28 per 100,000 children under 1 year of age, 9.8-13.8 per 100,000 children under 5 years of age, 3.96-6.52 per 100,000 children between 5 and 10 years of age and 0.42 to 0.71 per 100,000 children between 10 and 15 years of age. Among the 824 children, 212 (25.7%) were hospitalized because of primary varicella infection. The most common complications in children were secondary bacterial infection (23%), neurological (19.1%), and respiratory (17.5%) complications. Secondary bacterial infections (p < 0.001) and neurological complications (p < 0.001) were significantly more common in previously healthy children, whereas hematological complications (p < 0.001) were more commonly observed in children with underlying conditions. The median length of the hospital stay was 6 days, and it was longer in children with underlying conditions (< 0.001). The median cost of hospitalization per patient was $338 and was significantly higher in children with underlying conditions (p < 0.001). The estimated direct annual cost (not including the loss of parental work time and school absence) of varicella-related hospitalization in children under the age of 15 years in Turkey was $856,190 to $1,407,006. According to our estimates, 882 to 1,450 children are hospitalized for varicella each year, reflecting a population-wide occurrence of 466-768 varicella cases per 100,000 children. In conclusion, this study confirms that varicella-related hospitalizations are not uncommon in children, and two thirds of these children are otherwise healthy. The annual cost of hospitalization for varicella reflects only a small part of the overall cost of this disease, as only a very few cases require hospital admission. The incidence of this disease was higher in children < 1 year of age, and there are no prevention strategies for these children other than population-wide vaccination. Universal vaccination is therefore the only realistic option for the prevention of severe complications and deaths. The surveillance of varicella-associated complications is essential for monitoring of the impact of varicella immunization.

Ciftci, Ergin/0000-0002-4955-160X; Kendirli, Tanil/0000-0001-9458-2803; yildizdas, dincer/0000-0003-0739-5108 WOS: 000306663800008 PubMed: 22727770 Nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms are a common problem around the world, especially in Intensive Care Units. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of colistin therapy in paediatric patients with severe nosocomial infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria. There were 87 episodes in 79 paediatric Intensive Care Unit patients in five different hospitals; each patient was treated intravenously with colistin and evaluated. Of the 79 patients, 54.4% were male and the median age was 30 months. The most commonly isolated microorganism was Acinetobacter baumannii, the most common isolation site was tracheal aspirate fluid and the most common type of infection was ventilator-associated pneumonia. The mean colistin dose in patients without renal failure was 5.4 +/- 0.6 mg/kg/day, the mean therapy duration was 17.2 +/- 8.4 days and the favourable outcome rate was 83.9%. Serious side effects were seen in four patient episodes (4.6%) during therapy; two patients suffered renal failure and the others had convulsive seizures. Other patients tolerated the drug well. The infection-related mortality rate was 11.5% and the probability of death within the first 9 days of treatment was 10 times higher than after the first 9 days. In conclusion, this study suggests that colistin is effective in the treatment of severe nosocomial infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria and is generally well tolerated by patients, even after relatively long-term use. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

PubMedID: 21859378 Background: In April 2009 a novel strain of human influenza A, identified as H1N1 virus, rapidly spread worldwide, and in early June 2009 the World Health Organization raised the pandemic alert level to phase 6. Herein we present the largest series of children who were hospitalized due to pandemic H1N1 infection in Turkey. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicentre analysis of case records involving children hospitalized with influenza-like illness, in whom 2009 H1N1 influenza was diagnosed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, at 17 different tertiary hospitals. Results: A total of 821 children with 2009 pandemic H1N1 were hospitalized. The majority of admitted children (56.9%) were younger than 5 y of age. Three hundred and seventy-six children (45.8%) had 1 or more pre-existing conditions. Respiratory complications including wheezing, pneumonia, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and hypoxemia were seen in 272 (33.2%) children. Ninety of the patients (11.0%) were admitted or transferred to the paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and 52 (6.3%) received mechanical ventilation. Thirty-five children (4.3%) died. The mortality rate did not differ between age groups. Of the patients who died, 25.7% were healthy before the H1N1 virus infection. However, the death rate was significantly higher in patients with malignancy, chronic neurological disease, immunosuppressive therapy, at least 1 pre-existing condition, and respiratory complications. The most common causes of mortality were pneumonia and sepsis. Conclusions: In Turkey, 2009 H1N1 infection caused high mortality and PICU admission due to severe respiratory illness and complications, especially in children with an underlying condition. © 2011 Informa Healthcare. Ankara Universitesi Medical School, University of Michigan 7Pediatric 5Pediatric Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University From the 1Department of Pediatrics,Ankara University Medical School,Ankara,Turkey,2Department of Pediatric Infection Diseases,Dr.Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Training and Research Hospital,Ankara,Turkey, 3Department of Pediatrics, Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health Ankara Dıs¸kapı Children’s and Research Hospital, Ankara,Turkey, 4Department of Pediatrics, Ondokuz Mayıs University Medical School, Samsun,Turkey, 5Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit,Dr.Behçet Uz Children’s Hospital,Izmir,Turkey,6Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases,S¸is¸li Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul,Turkey, 7Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine,Ankara,Turkey,8Division of Pediatrics,Adana Numune Research and Training Hospital,Adana, Turkey,9Department of Pediatrics,Gazi University Medical School,Ankara,Turkey,10Department of Pediatrics,Selçuk University Meram Medical Faculty, Konya,Turkey, 11Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Uludag^ University Medical School, Bursa,Turkey, 12Clinics of Pediatrics,Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir,Turkey, 13Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Children’s Health and Diseases, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine,Adana,Turkey,14Department of Pediatrics,Eskis¸ehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine,Eskis¸ehir, Turkey, 15Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Süleyman Demirel University Faculty of Medicine, Isparta,Turkey, 16Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University Medical School, Istanbul,Turkey, 17Department of Pediatrics,Mersin University Medical School,Mersin,Turkey,and 18Department of Biostatistics,Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey

WOS: 000290376500012 PubMed: 21575324 In Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), haemorrhagic manifestations are usually petechiae and ecchymoses on mucous membranes and skin. Rarely, there is bleeding from the nose, gingiva, gastro-intestinal tract, genito-urinary tract, brain and lungs. A 13-year-old boy with CCHF presented with gastro-intestinal bleeding and developed peritoneal and pleural effusion. He made a complete recovery with supportive treatment and ribavirin, without requiring chest or peritoneal fluid drainage. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CCHF associated with peritoneal and pleural fluid.

Cryptosporidium is an intracellular protozoan parasite that causes gastroenteritis in human. In immunocompromised individuals, cryptosporidium causes far more serious disease. There is no effective specific therapy for cryptosporidiosis, and spontaneous recovery is the rule in healthy individuals. However, immunocompromised patients need effective and prolonged therapy. Here, we present our clinical experience in a six-yr-old boy who underwent living-related donor renal transplantation and who was infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Our patient was successfully treated with antimicrobial agents consisting of spiramycin, nitazoxanide, and paromomycin. At the end of second week of therapy, his stool became negative for Cryptosporidium spp. antigen and spiramycin was discontinued. Nitazoxanide and paromomycin treatment was extended to four wk. With this case, we want to emphasize that cryptosporidiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe or persistent diarrhea in solid organ transplant recipients where rigorous antimicrobial therapy is needed.

WOS: 000262056500014 PubMed: 19084940 AIM: To present our experience with tuberculous peritonitis treated in our hospital from 2002-2007. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 9 children with tuberculous peritonitis. RESULTS: Nine patients (5 boys, 4 girls) of mean age 14.2 years were diagnosed with peritoneal tuberculosis. All patients presented with abdominal distention. Abdominal pain was seen in 55.5% and fever in 44.4% of the patients. Four cases had coexisting pleural effusion and two had pulmonary tuberculosis with parenchymal consolidation. Ultrasonography found ascites with septation in 7 patients. Two patients had only ascites without septation. Ascitic fluid analysis of 8 patients yielded serum-ascite albumin gradients of less than 1.1 gr/dL. Laparoscopy and laparotomy showed that whitish tuberculi were the most common appearance. Adhesions were also seen in three cases. The diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis was confirmed histo-pathologically in 7 patients and microbiologically in two. Two patients had been diagnosed by ascitic fluid diagnostic features and a positive response to antituberculous treatment. All patients completed the antituberculous therapy without any complications. CONCLUSION: Tuberculous peritonitis has to be clinically suspected in all patients with slowly progressive abdominal distension, particularly when it is accompanied by fever and pain. Laparoscopy and peritoneal biopsy are still the most reliable, quick and safe methods for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis. (C) 2008 The WJG Press. All rights reserved

WOS: 000402464600015 PubMed: 27452287 HSV 1 encephalitis is the most common cause of sporadic and focal viral encephalitis. Opercular syndrome is characterized by swallowing and speech difficulties which are associated with deterioration of voluntary control of face, pharynx, tongue and chewing muscles. It can be developed in patients with Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE). Here, a twelve-year-old boy who was diagnosed with HSE and Opercular syndrome, is presented. The patient recovered without sequela as a result of 30 days of intravenous and 10 days of oral acyclovir treatment. It might be important as well, to personalize and elongate the treatment in terms of prognosis. (C) 2016 King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited. All rights reserved.

WOS: 000328149200001 PubMed: 24199612 Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of colistin therapy in pediatric patients with severe nosocomial infections in pediatric intensive care unit. Methods: The medical records of patients treated with colistin at a 200-bed university children hospital were reviewed. Result: Thirty-one patients (male/female = 22/9; median age, 3 years; range, 3 months-17 years) received forty-one courses of colistin. The average dose of colistin was 4.9 +/- 0.5 mg/kg/day and average treatment duration was 19.8 +/- 10.3 days. Three patients who received concomitant nephrotoxic agent with colistin developed nephrotoxicity. Colistin treatment was well tolerated in other patients, and neurotoxicity was not seen in any patient. Favourable outcome was achieved in 28 (68.3%) episodes. Twelve patients died during the colistin therapy. Six of these patients died because of primary underlying disease. The infection-related mortality rate was found 14.6% in this study. Conclusion: In our study, colistin therapy was found to be acceptable treatment option for the severe pediatric nosocomial infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria. However, the use of concomitant nephrotoxic drugs with colistin must be avoided and renal function test should be closely monitored.