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Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in infants. Nirsevimab, an RSV-neutralising monoclonal antibody, was approved for use in the EU in 2022, and a national immunisation campaign began in France in September, 2023. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of nirsevimab in reducing paediatric emergency department visits (and subsequent hospitalisations) for all-cause bronchiolitis and RSV-associated bronchiolitis., Methods: In this case-control study in a paediatric emergency department in Paris, France, we included all infants aged 12 months or younger who attended the department between Oct 14, 2023, and Feb 29, 2024, and whose nirsevimab status was known. Infants were classed as cases if they had all-cause bronchiolitis; all other infants were classed as controls. The primary outcome was the effectiveness of nirsevimab against paediatric emergency department visits for all-cause bronchiolitis during the 2023-24 RSV season. Secondary outcomes were paediatric emergency department visits for RSV-associated bronchiolitis; hospitalisations for all-cause bronchiolitis, RSV-associated bronchiolitis, and severe RSV-associated bronchiolitis requiring supplemental oxygen or feeding by nasogastric tube; and severe RSV-associated bronchiolitis requiring admission to the paediatric intensive care unit. Effectiveness estimates were adjusted for age, week of paediatric emergency department visit, and sex., Findings: Our study included 2786 infants, 864 with all-cause bronchiolitis (cases) and 1922 without bronchiolitis (controls). 178 (21%) of the 864 cases had received nirsevimab, and 305 (35%) cases were hospitalised for all-cause bronchiolitis. 200 (72%) of the 277 cases tested for RSV were positive, of whom 22 (11%) had received nirsevimab. 701 (36%) of 1922 infants in the control group had received nirsevimab. The effectiveness of nirsevimab against paediatric emergency department visits for all-cause bronchiolitis was 47% (95% CI 33-58). Nirsevimab effectiveness was 83% (71-90) against paediatric emergency department visits for RSV-associated bronchiolitis, 59% (42-71) against hospitalisations for all-cause bronchiolitis, 83% (72-90) against hospitalisations for RSV-associated bronchiolitis (91% [78-96] against those necessitating supplement oxygen and 88% [74-95] against those necessitating feeding via a nasogastric tube). Nirsevimab did not significantly reduce admissions to the paediatric intensive care unit (67% [95% CI -100 to 95])., Interpretation: During the first French national immunisation campaign, a single dose of nirsevimab effectively reduced paediatric emergency department visits (both all-cause visits and visits related to RSV-associated bronchiolitis) and subsequent hospitalisations., Funding: None., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests We declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.)

BackgroundChildren have a low rate of COVID-19 and secondary severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) but present a high prevalence of symptomatic seasonal coronavirus infections.AimWe tested if prior infections by seasonal coronaviruses (HCoV) NL63, HKU1, 229E or OC43 as assessed by serology, provide cross-protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection.MethodsWe set a cross-sectional observational multicentric study in pauci- or asymptomatic children hospitalised in Paris during the first wave for reasons other than COVID (hospitalised children (HOS), n = 739) plus children presenting with MIS (n = 36). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies directed against the nucleoprotein (N) and S1 and S2 domains of the spike (S) proteins were monitored by an in-house luciferase immunoprecipitation system assay. We randomly selected 69 SARS-CoV-2-seropositive patients (including 15 with MIS) and 115 matched SARS-CoV-2-seronegative patients (controls (CTL)). We measured antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV as evidence for prior corresponding infections and assessed if SARS-CoV-2 prevalence of infection and levels of antibody responses were shaped by prior seasonal coronavirus infections.ResultsPrevalence of HCoV infections were similar in HOS, MIS and CTL groups. Antibody levels against HCoV were not significantly different in the three groups and were not related to the level of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the HOS and MIS groups. SARS-CoV-2 antibody profiles were different between HOS and MIS children.ConclusionPrior infection by seasonal coronaviruses, as assessed by serology, does not interfere with SARS-CoV-2 infection and related MIS in children.

Background: The effects of ethambutol (EMB) on vision are particularly difficult to detect in children less than 5 years of age because of a lack of complaints and objective clinical signs. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of visual abnormalities and the utility of visual-evoked potentials (VEPs) recordings in monitoring the visual function of children less than 5 years of age who were exposed to EMB during anti-mycobacterial treatment., Methods: We performed a retrospective study in Robert-Debré University Hospital, Paris, France, including all children less than 5 years of age, who were treated with EMB for a mycobacterial infection from January 2002 to December 2012., Results: Fourteen patients were enrolled, including 12 treated for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The sex ratio was 1:1. The median age was 1.65 years (0.3 to 4.7). Five patients had subarachnoid involvement. The median EMB dose was 22 mg/kg/day (15 to 27). Only 11 patients were monitored using VEPs. Three children (27.3%) developed a visual impairment secondary to EMB, with delays of 4, 7 and 36 weeks. One of the 3 patients developed an impairment of the retrochiasmatic visual pathways, and 2 other patients developed classical retrobulbar optic neuritis. In all cases, the discontinuation of EMB resulted in a normalization of these findings., Conclusion: Alterations in visual function related to the use of EMB are not uncommon in young children and are most likely underestimated. Systematic close monitoring using VEPs recordings is needed in young children treated with EMB.

Unlabelled: Few data are available on the impact of a tuberculosis exposure on newborns in a maternity ward., Objectives: To describe the screening and clinical course of infants exposed during the neonatal period to a caregiver with bacillary tuberculosis., Patients and Methods: Infants exposed during the postnatal period in a maternity unit in Paris, from March to August 2005, to a caregiver with bacillary tuberculosis were included in a standardized screening protocol. The screening performed at baseline (M0) and at 3 months (M3) included a clinical evaluation, a tuberculin skin test (TST), and a chest X-ray. A preventive treatment for tuberculosis with isoniazid and rifampicin for 3 months was systematically proposed., Results: At M0, 182 of the 217 infants (84%) with significant exposure were evaluated. Data were available for 172 infants. The median age at M0 was 4.9 months (IQR=3.8-6.2). At M0, 4 of 172 infants (2.3%) had latent TB infection. Between M0 and M3, 19 infants (11%) were lost to follow-up and 1 on 153 developed a latent TB infection. No cases of tuberculosis disease were diagnosed. The treatment was administered properly in 83% of cases and side effects were observed in 11% of infants without any serious adverse event. Four infants received no treatment and 11 stopped their treatment prematurely., Conclusion: In the absence of neonatal massive exposure, although low (2.9%), the risk of latent TB infection requires close monitoring of the infants exposed. However, in the context of a mild exposure in the maternity unit, surveillance without systematic initiation of TB preventive treatment could be discussed., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Rotavirus is recognised as the most important agent of severe acute gastroenteritis (AGE) in young children. In a 2-year prospective survey, we investigated the epidemiology and clinical features of the viral and bacterial pathogens in children hospitalised for AGE. The study was performed in a Parisian teaching hospital from November 2001 to May 2004. Clinical data were prospectively collected to assess the gastroenteritis severity (20-point Vesikari severity score, the need for intravenous rehydration, duration of hospitalisation). Stools were systematically tested for group A rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus and adenovirus 40/41, sapovirus and Aichi virus and enteropathogenic bacteria. A total of 457 children (mean age 15.9 months) were enrolled. Viruses were detected in 305 cases (66.7%) and bacteria in 31 cases (6.8%). Rotaviruses were the most frequent pathogen (48.8%), followed by noroviruses (8.3%) and adenoviruses, astroviruses, Aichi viruses and sapoviruses in 3.5%, 1.5%, 0.9% and 0.4%, respectively. Cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were significantly more severe than those of norovirus with respect to the Vesikari score, duration of hospitalisation and the need for intravenous rehydration. Rotaviruses were the most frequent and most severe cause in children hospitalised for AGE, and noroviruses also account for a large number of cases in this population.

Unlabelled: Only few drugs for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria are available in children. Atovaquone-proguanil is a recent antimalarial drug licensed in France for the uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in adults. Few paediatric studies have evaluated atovaquone-proguanil in children for uncomplicated malaria in endemic area, but no study have evaluated this treatment for imported malaria., Objective: To evaluate treatment by atovaquone-proguanil for uncomplicated and imported P. falciparum malaria in children., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the tolerance and the efficacy of atovaquone-proguanil in the children admitted in Robert-Debré Hospital (Paris) for a P. falciparum malaria. From January 2004 to December 2005, 48 children with a median age of 7,5 years (IQR 4-11) were treated with atovaquone-proguanil for a uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, except for 5 children who had an isolated hyperparasitemia greater or equal to 5%., Results: Atovaquone-proguanil was stopped for 3/48 children because of vomiting. Fever resolved in all the children between Day 3 and 7, following the beginning of the treatment. One child, with a favourable outcome, had a positive parasitemia at Day 4 equal to the initial parasitemia (0,1%). No late therapeutic failure was observed among the 24 children evaluated up to one month after starting treatment., Conclusion: Atovaquone-proguanil is an efficient and well-tolerated antimalarial treatment for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in children. The risk of vomiting should lead to a systematic initial hospitalisation of children treated with atovaquone-proguanil.

Unlabelled: IFN-alpha detection is useful in some clinical circumstances, but its use has never been validated in young infants with viral infections., Objective: The authors wanted to determine it there was any difference in the assessment of IFN-alpha production between infants under or over six months of age., Patients and Method: A series of 233 children with identified common viral infections who had been assessed for IFN-alpha production was retrospectively analyzed. The viral infections were enteroviral meningitis (n =103), respiratory syncytial virus infections (n =60), and rotavirus gastroenteritis (n =70). Data collected from the group of infants under six months of age (n =105) was compared to that of the older children (n =128). Qualitative and quantitative values of interferon-alpha were determined for each group., Results: Interferon-alpha was detected in very young infants (81.9% of cases) as often as in the older age group (80.3% of cases), for any of the three viral infections (P =0.3-0.63). The mean level of interferon-alpha production detected was not lower in the youngest group, and even higher in the group under six months of age with enteroviral meningitis., Conclusion: Interferon-alpha detection in very young infants is efficient and may be useful to differentiate between viral and bacterial infection particularly when the etiological diagnosis appears uncertain.