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Study Objectives: Optimal cutoff values of oximetry indices that differentiate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) from primary snoring (PS) are not well-established. Our study aimed to assess the utility of overnight oximetry indices in differentiating PS from OSA and assessing OSA severity, compared to polysomnography, in children with suspected OSA., Methods: This was a retrospective study of children (1-18 years of age) with snoring who underwent polysomnography. Patients with Down syndrome, craniofacial anomalies, known genetic syndromes, neuromuscular conditions, or a central apnea index ≥ 5 were excluded. Demographic data, polysomnography variables, and oximetry indices (eg, oxygen desaturation index [ODI 3 , defined as number of ≥ 3% desaturation episodes/h of artifact-free recording time, and SpO 2 nadir]) were collected., Results: Of 1,203 children (mean age 9.1 ± 3.9 years, 67.7% males), 91.8% (847/923) ≤ 12 years and 84.3% (236/280) > 12 years of age had OSA. The optimal cutoff of ODI 3 for differentiating PS from OSA was 2.4 (sensitivity [Se]: 78.8% [75.9-81.6%]; specificity [Sp]: 80.5% [69.9-88.7%]) in children ≤ 12 years of age and 3.6 (Se: 71.1% [64.8-76.8%]; Sp: 91.1% [78.8-97.5%]) in children > 12 years of age. The optimal cutoffs of ODI 3 for differentiating PS from mild, moderate, and severe OSA categories were 2.0 (Se: 70.1% [65.3-74.5%]; Sp: 70.1% [58.6-80.0%]), 3.7 (Se: 82.3% [76.6-87.1%]; Sp: 94.8% [87.2-98.6%]), and 4.3 (Se: 99.1% [96.8-99.9%]; Sp: 98.7% [93.0-100.0%]) in children ≤ 12 years of age and 1.9 (Se: 78.8% [75.9-81.6%]; Sp: 80.5% [69.9-88.7%]), 4.1 (Se: 85.4% [72.2-93.9%]; Sp: 91.1% [78.8-97.5%]), and 6.9 (Se: 98.4% [91.2-100.0%]; Sp: 97.8% [88.2-99.9%]) in children > 12 years of age, respectively., Conclusions: This study provides optimal cutoff values for ODI 3 in differentiating PS from OSA and assessing OSA severity in children. Because oximetry is cheaper and widely available, ODI 3 has the potential to be incorporated into cost-effective clinical decision-making algorithms, especially in resource-limited settings., Citation: Koh YQ, Sultana R, Pugalenthi A, et al. Utility of overnight oximetry indices in the evaluation of children with snoring and suspected obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2025;21(1):109-121., (© 2025 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.)

This study examines relationships between breastfeeding practices and postpartum weight retention (PPWR) at 6 and 12 months postpartum among 379 first-time mothers participating in a clinical trial in Singapore. We categorized feeding modes at 6 months into exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding, and exclusive formula feeding. Participants were analyzed in two groups based on their PPWR assessment at 6 and 12 months postpartum, with complete datasets available for each assessment. We calculated PPWR by subtracting pre-pregnancy weight from self-reported weight at 6 and 12 months postpartum, defining substantial PPWR as ≥5 kg retention. Modified Poisson regression models adjusted for potential confounders were performed. At 6 and 12 months, 35% ( n = 132/379) and 31% ( n = 109/347) of women experienced substantial PPWR, respectively. Compared to exclusive breastfeeding, mixed feeding (risk ratio 1.85; 95% confidence interval 1.15, 2.99) and exclusive formula feeding (2.11; 1.32, 3.28) were associated with a higher risk of substantial PPWR at 6 months. These associations were slightly attenuated at 12 months and appeared stronger in women with pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity. This study suggests that breastfeeding by 6 months postpartum may help mitigate PPWR, particularly with exclusive breastfeeding. It also draws attention to targeted interventions to promote breastfeeding among women with overweight or obesity.

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of developmental and emotional/ behavioural concerns in maltreated children and to examine the impact of adverse family/caregiver risk factors on these outcomes., Method: We analysed family demographic and baseline data of 132 maltreated children and their caregivers from a family support programme in Singapore. We examined the associations of 3 main risk factors (i.e., caregiver mental health, educational attainment, and family socio-economic status [SES]) with developmental/behavioural outcomes using multivariable logistic regression, controlling for caregiver relationship to the child. Caregiver mental health was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and General Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) tools. Developmental/behavioural outcomes were assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3), ASQ-Social-Emotional (ASQ-SE), and the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL)., Results: The children ranged in age, from 2 months to 3 years 11 months (median age 1.7 years, interquartile range [IQR] 0.9-2.6). Among caregivers, 86 (65.2%) were biological mothers, 11 (8.3%) were biological fathers, and 35 (26.5%) were foster parents or extended family members. Low family SES was associated with communication concerns on the ASQ-3 (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.04, 95% CI 1.08-8.57, P=0.04). Caregiver mental health concerns were associated with increased behavioural concerns on the CBCL (AOR 6.54, 95% CI 1.83-23.33, P=0.004) and higher scores on the ASQ-SE (AOR 7.78, 95% CI 2.38-25.38, P=0.001)., Conclusion: Maltreated children with caregivers experiencing mental health issues are more likely to have heightened emotional and behavioural concerns. Those from low SES families are also at increased risk of language delay, affecting their communication., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Introduction: Maltreatment adversely affects children's health and development. Knowledge of child maltreatment in early childhood is limited. We studied the demographic factors and health issues in children aged 0-3 years who were hospitalised for maltreatment., Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, health and demographic information was extracted from the electronic medical records of children hospitalised in KK Women's and Children's Hospital between January 2018 and June 2019. High-risk groups were children with developmental delay (DD), missed vaccination (MV), low outpatient attendance, high dependency unit (HDU) or intensive care unit (ICU) admission and Child Protection Service (CPS) referral. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used for categorical variables. Mann-Whitney U test was used for skewed quantitative variables., Results: Among the 101 children included in the study, the most common type of abuse and alleged perpetrator were physical abuse and parents, respectively. In addition, 35.6% of the children had pre-existing health conditions before hospitalisation, 58.4% had new health conditions diagnosed during hospitalisation requiring follow-up and 26.7% had maltreatment-related injuries. One-fifth of the children had DDs and another one-fifth had MVs. About 20% of them had defaulted all outpatient appointments. High-risk children mostly lived in rented housing. Their mothers mostly had primary education or lower. Most children admitted to ICU or HDU were <6 months old (8/12 [66.7%] vs. 6-24 months 3/12 [25%] vs. 24-47 months 1/12 [8.3%], P = 0.001). A higher number of children with DD were referred to CPS (63.2%, P = 0.049) than to other agencies., Conclusion: Maltreated children have significant health needs that are not fully met through routine surveillance practices. They are at risk of defaulting their hospital appointment. It is imperative that families at risk of child maltreatment are identified early and their needs holistically evaluated, with care coordinated within the hospital-community support system., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Singapore Medical Journal.)

Background: Enhanced parenting self-efficacy (PSE) contributes to positive parenting and future parental-child health. First-time parents, in particular, are in need of support since the pregnancy until post-delivery to strengthen their early PSE. However, there is a lack of effective and sustainable relevant programmes in the community. The Community-enabled Readiness for first 1000 Days Learning Ecosystem (CRADLE) aims to develop a self-learning eco-community throughout the pregnancy and early childhood to promote PSE among first-time parents. We apply choice architecture strategy using behavioural nudges and midwife-led continuity care during the first 1000 days, and test their effects on PSE and mother-child health for first-time families in Singapore., Methods: This three-arm randomised controlled trial will recruit up to 750 pregnant women from the KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive: (1) standard routine care; (2) behavioural nudges (text messages) along with the use of a social media platform; or (3) midwife-led continuity care involving individualised teleconferencing sessions, during pregnancy and post-delivery. Using web-based questionnaires, participants will be assessed for baseline socio-demography and health status in the first visit, with follow-up assessments in the third trimester, at birth, 6-week (primary end-point), 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month post-delivery. The primary outcome is PSE. Secondary outcomes include health and birth experience, mental wellness, feeding practice, maternal and child nutritional status. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses will be performed using general linear models to test the effects of interventions across three arms. Recruitment has begun in June 2020 and is estimated to complete in September 2022., Discussion: This study may identify a sustainable effective strategy in the community by helping first-time parents to have a positive experience during the pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood, leading to an enhanced PSE and health outcomes for both mother and child. Findings from this study will provide insight into the implementation of early parenting and mother-child care programmes., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04275765 . Registered on 19 February 2020.

Background: Previous studies on association between level of asthma control, markers of airway inflammation and the degree of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) have yielded conflicting results. Our aim was to determine the presence and severity of BHR and the concordance between BHR, asthma control, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) in children with asthma on therapy., Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, children (aged 6-18 years) with asthma on British Thoracic Society (BTS) treatment steps 2 or 3, underwent comprehensive assessment of their asthma control (clinical assessment, spirometry, asthma control test [ACT], Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire [PAQLQ]), measurement of FeNO and BHR (using mannitol dry powder bronchial challenge test [MCT], Aridol™, Pharmaxis, Australia)., Results: Fifty-seven children (63% male) were studied. Twenty-seven children were on BTS treatment step 2 and 30 were on step 3. Overall, 25 out of 57 (43.8%) children had positive MCT. Of note, 9 out of 27 (33.3%) children with clinically controlled asthma had positive MCT. Analyses of pair-wise agreement between MCT (positive or negative), FeNO (>25 or ≤25 ppb) and clinical assessment of asthma control (controlled or partially controlled/uncontrolled) showed poor agreement between these measures., Conclusions: A substantial proportion of children with asthma have persistent BHR despite good clinical control. The concordance between clinical assessment of asthma control, BHR and FeNO was observed to be poor. Our findings raise concerns in the context of emerging evidence for the role of bronchoconstriction in inducing epithelial stress that may drive airway remodeling in asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:1004-1009. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Different maternal psychological states during pregnancy have been associated with wheeze-rhinitis-eczema symptoms in children. However, previous studies were limited and it was unclear whether the type of prenatal psychological state was associated with a particular symptom. We examined the association of maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy with wheeze-rhinitis-eczema symptoms in infancy., Methods: In a longitudinal birth cohort (GUSTO) of 1152 mother-child pairs, wheeze-rhinitis-eczema symptoms in the infants during the first year of life were collected by parental report. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed at 26 weeks of gestation using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustment for potential confounders., Results: An increased risk of wheezing was found in infants of pregnant women with probable depression (EPDS ≥ 15) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10-3.12)], and an increased risk of rhinitis was associated with maternal anxiety [STAI state ≥ 41: OR = 1.42 (95% CI 1.04-1.93); STAI trait ≥ 43: OR = 1.38 (95% CI 1.01-1.88)]. After adjusting for known risk factors for the development of allergic disease, these associations remained significant [EPDS ≥ 15: adjusted OR = 2.09 (95% CI 1.05-4.19); STAI state ≥ 41: adjusted OR = 1.82 (95% CI 1.17-2.82); STAI trait ≥ 43: adjusted OR = 1.70 (95% CI 1.10-2.61)]. However, maternal psychological states were not associated with infantile eczema., Conclusion: This study suggests that there may be an independent effect of prenatal depression on wheezing and anxiety on rhinitis in infancy., (© 2015 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Children with a diagnosis of cross-reactive hypersensitivity to both paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are limited in their choice of antipyretics., Objective: The aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the feasibility of using a Chinese proprietary medicine, Yin Qiao San (YQS), for fever relief., Methods: A single centre, open label, prospective clinical trial exploring the tolerability and feasibility of using YQS for fever relief in children who are unable to use conventional antipyretic medications. Children between 1-18 years of age with hypersensitivity to multiple antipyretics were recruited. Eligible participants underwent an oral provocation test with YQS. Children who passed the oral provocation test were instructed to take a prescribed dose of YQS when the temperature was >38.0℃ and continued till the fever settled. Time taken for fever resolution and any adverse events were collected., Results: A total of 21 children, mean age 10.7 years, had a diagnosis of paracetamol and ibuprofen hypersensitivity. All except one patient successfully tolerated an oral challenge of YQS. Of the 88 doses of YQS taken for fever over 38.0℃, 16 (18%) had documented temperature reduction 2 hours after ingestion and 30 (34%) had documented temperature reduction 4 hours after ingestion. There were 2 reports of urticaria after YQS use which were attributed to flare of recurrent spontaneous urticaria during the illness. None of the patients developed symptoms of circulatory compromise or respiratory distress., Conclusion: YQS is generally well tolerated in patients with paracetamol and ibuprofen hypersensitivity.

Background: We have noticed changes in paediatric anaphylaxis triggers locally in Singapore., Objective: We aimed to describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features, causative agents and management of children presenting with anaphylaxis., Methods: This is a retrospective study of Singaporean children presenting with anaphylaxis between January 2005 and December 2009 to a tertiary paediatric hospital., Results: One hundred and eight cases of anaphylaxis in 98 children were included. Food was the commonest trigger (63%), followed by drugs (30%), whilst 7% were idiopathic. Peanut was the top food trigger (19%), followed by egg (12%), shellfish (10%) and bird's nest (10%). Ibuprofen was the commonest cause of drug induced anaphylaxis (50%), followed by paracetamol (15%) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, 12%). The median age of presentation for all anaphylaxis cases was 7.9 years old (interquartile range 3.6 to 10.8 years), but food triggers occurred significantly earlier compared to drugs (median 4.9 years vs. 10.5 years, p < 0.05). Mucocutaneous (91%) and respiratory features (88%) were the principal presenting symptoms. Drug anaphylaxis was more likely to result in hypotension compared to food anaphylaxis (21.9% vs. 2.7%, Fisher's exact probability < 0.01). There were 4 reported cases (3.6%) of biphasic reaction occurring within 24 h of anaphylaxis., Conclusion: Food anaphylaxis patterns have changed over time in our study cohort of Singaporean children. Peanuts allergy, almost absent a decade ago, is currently the top food trigger, whilst seafood and bird's nest continue to be an important cause of food anaphylaxis locally. NSAIDs and paracetamol hypersensitivity are unique causes of drug induced anaphylaxis locally.

Background: The age-related comparative prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) and non-allergic rhinitis (NAR) in children is poorly defined. We aimed to characterize AR and NAR in children., Methods: This study enrolled children with chronic rhinitis who presented to a tertiary paediatric center for a diagnostic skin prick test (SPT). Parents completed a medical history questionnaire for their child, including disease activity for asthma and rhinitis. Sociodemographic data was obtained and all participants underwent a common inhalant SPT panel. A positive SPT indicated AR., Results: From March 2001 to March 2009, 6,660 children (64% male) were enrolled (aged 6 months to 19 years, mean 7.82 years). Only 3.7% (249) of the children were <2 years old, and almost 30% of these had AR. Most children with AR (73%) presented after age 6. Males were more likely to have AR (vs. NAR) (OR 1.5; CI 1.39-1.77). Antihistamine and salbutamol use did not differ between children with AR and NAR. Children with AR were more likely to require adjunct therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (51.2% vs. 43.2%, P < 0.001), have drug hypersensitivity (especially antipyretic drugs) (2.5% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.384) or an asthma admission (9.1% vs. 6.0%, P < 0.001)., Conclusions: AR is more common in male children, is relatively rare below the age of 2 years, and accounts for two-thirds of all childhood chronic rhinitis and 73.3% of all chronic rhinitis in school-aged children (≥6 years old). Children with AR have more severe rhinitis symptoms and more often suffer from asthma-related events and admissions., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aim: To determine the results of children who underwent flexible bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in the Respiratory Medicine Service of Kandang Kerbau Women's and Children's Hospital from 1996 to 2005., Method: This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy. Patients were traced from the hospital records., Results: Two hundred and eight records were reviewed over a 10-year period. Of these, 63.5% were for male patients. The mean age of the patients was 4.1 years (range: 0.01 to 26 y). Sixty-six percent of the patients were below the age of 5 years. The main indications for bronchoscopy were abnormalities on chest x-ray (56.7%) followed by stridor (23.1%). An abnormality was detected in 77.7% of patients who underwent bronchoscopy. Twenty-three percent (n=45) of the bronchoscopes with BAL were performed on immunocompromised children for identification of microorganisms, of which 20% (n=9) yielded a positive microbiologic result. A positive yield was better if no earlier antimicrobials (26.3%) or only 1 antimicrobial was prescribed (42.8%) as compared with a 10% yield rate on treatment with 2 or more antimicrobials. The most common pathologic microorganisms identified were Candida albicans (18.5%) and Cytomegalovirus (18.5%). Complications from the bronchoscopy occurred in 16.6% of the patients. The main complication was hypoxia, which occurred in 28 children (13.4%). Other complications included cardiac arrhythmias (n=1, 0.5%) and laryngospasm (n=4, 1.9%). There were no fatalities experienced in our center., Conclusions: Flexible bronchoscopy was well tolerated with no serious adverse events being experienced. It is a useful tool in the investigation of stridor and persistent wheezing in children. For microbiologic identification, the BAL should be performed before initiating antimicrobials for better results.

Children aged 11 to <24 months received 2 intranasal doses of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) or placebo, 35+/-7 days apart. Dose 1 was administered concomitantly with a combined measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (Priorix). Seroresponses to measles and mumps were similar between groups. Compared with placebo, response rates to rubella in LAIV+Priorix recipients were statistically lower at a 15 IU/mL threshold (83.9% vs 78.0%) and the prespecified noninferiority criteria were not met. In a post hoc analysis using an alternate widely accepted threshold of 10 IU/mL, the noninferiority criteria were met (93.4% vs 89.8%). Concomitant administration with Priorix did not affect the overall influenza protection rate of LAIV (78.4% and 63.8% against antigenically similar influenza strains and any strain, respectively)., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) is an uncommon condition which often mimics asthma in presentation and severity. We present nine- and 11-year-old female siblings with vocal cord dysfunction, which is a dysfunction of the larynx involving unintentional paradoxical adduction of the vocal cords during inspiration. We evaluated the use of exercise testing in conjunction with pulmonary function testing in suspected vocal cord dysfunction. Although normal pulmonology function tests were elicited with the patient at rest, exercise testing revealed blunting of the expiratory loop with attenuation of the inspiratory loop unique to VCD. The child underwent video laryngoscopy in the specialised voice clinic, which confirmed vocal cord dysfunction. Exercise testing is a rapid and noninvasive means of diagnosing vocal cord dysfunction in a small subset of patients, but video laryngoscopy, with training manoeuvres to elicit paradoxical vocal cord movements in VCD, remains the gold standard of diagnosis of VCD.

Background: Food allergy seems to be increasing in Asia as well as world-wide. Our aim was to characterize food protein sensitization patterns in a population of Asian children with possible food allergy., Methods: Children presenting to our allergy clinic over 3 years with symptomatic allergic disease and at least one specific food allergen sensitization documented on skin prick testing were included in the analysis., Results: Two hundred and twenty-seven patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. Ninety (40%) of the positive skin tests were positive to egg, 87 (39%) to shellfish, 62 (27.3%) to peanut, 30 (13.2%) to fish, 27 (11.8%) to cow's milk, 21 (9.3%) to sesame, 13 (3.7%) to wheat and eight (3.2%) to soy. Peanut sensitization was the third most common sensitizing allergen, and seen mostly in young atopic children with multiple food hypersensitivities and a family history of atopic dermatitis. The median reported age of first exposure to fish and shellfish was 6 and 12 months, respectively. The mean age at presentation of children with shellfish hypersensitivity was at 6.7 years of age. The likelihood of shellfish sensitization was increased in children with concomitant sensitization to cockroaches., Conclusions: In contrast to previously reported low peanut allergy rates in Asia, in our review, peanut sensitization is present in 27% (62/227) of food-allergic children, mostly in patients with multiple food protein sensitizations. Temporal patterns of first exposure of infants to fish and shellfish are unique to the Asian diet. Shellfish are a major sensitizing food source in Asian children, especially in allergic rhinitis patients sensitized to cockroaches.

Objective and Background: Childhood community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The features of childhood CAP vary between countries. The aim of this study was to delineate the clinical characteristics, complications, spectrum of pathogens and patterns of antimicrobial resistance associated with hospitalized cases of childhood CAP in Singapore., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of patients discharged from Singapore's only children's hospital over a 3-year period with a principal diagnosis of CAP., Results: A total of 1702 children, with a median age of 4.2 years (range: 1 month-16.3 years) were enrolled. A pathogen was identifiable in 38.4% of cases, including Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 20.3%, typical respiratory bacteria in 10.3% (64.6%Streptococcus pneumoniae; 21.7% non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae), viruses in 5.5% and mixed bacterial/viral infections in 2%. The majority of M. pneumoniae infections were in school-aged children (>5 years). Severity of infection was greater in CAP caused by typical bacteria, as reflected by length of hospital stay, CRP level, white cell and absolute neutrophil counts. Mortality from typical bacterial infections (8.9%) exceeded that from M. pneumoniae (0.3%) and viral pneumonias (0%) (P < 0.001). Aminopenicillins were often prescribed empirically for suspected S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae infections; however, resistance to these agents was frequently documented among S. pneumoniae (58.5%) and H. influenzae isolates (51%)., Conclusion: In Singaporean children hospitalized with CAP, M. pneumoniae is the most commonly identified causative organism, followed by common respiratory viruses, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Streptococcus pneumoniae and H. influenzae are associated with greater severity of infection than other organisms, and have high levels of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics.

Background: The published incidence of paracetamol cross-reactivity in adults and adolescents with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) reactions is low and all data on such reactions in young children is sparse. The study aim was to characterize the clinical presentation and cross-reactivity with paracetamol in patients with a reported onset of NSAID hypersensitivity before 6 years of age., Methods: A retrospective case review was done of patients with cross-reactive hypersensitivity reactions to antipyretic/analgesic medications from the pediatric allergy clinic of the Kendang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore. Included patients reported the onset of such reactions before 6 years of age. Hypersensitivity was established through a detailed history of recurrent reactions to NSAIDs or an oral provocation test., Results: Eighteen patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria within the study period. Eighty-three percent had cross-reactive reactions with paracetamol. When compared to the group of children with later onset of NSAID hypersensitivity, children with onset before 6 years of age had a significantly increased likelihood of reacting to paracetamol (odds ratio 9.6, 95% confidence interval 1.6-58.0, p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Paracetamol seems to be a major eliciting drug in this group of children.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) is an important outcome in the treatment of chronic childhood diseases such as asthma. However, this measure is rarely used in young children in Asia because of the difficulty of obtaining valid, reliable instruments that are developmentally and culturally suitable., Objectives: To select, culturally adapt and validate a disease-specific HR-QOL questionnaire (Childhood Asthma Questionnaire [CAQ]-B) for asthmatic children aged 7-11 years in Singapore, and to understand the relationship between patient-reported HR-QOL domains and physician- or caregiver-rated severity., Methods: A literature review was conducted to shortlist questionnaires based on pre-specified criteria. A pre-test was conducted to assess suitability and relevance of the questionnaires in Singapore. The selected questionnaire (CAQ-B) was then adapted to more closely reflect the local culture, climate, school system and terminology. Cross-sectional validation was conducted. All asthmatic patients aged 7-11 years attending the respiratory clinic in a paediatric hospital, and without co-morbidities that could significantly affect their HR-QOL, were invited to participate. Patients and their parents or caregivers were asked to complete the relevant sections of the questionnaire before their medical consultation. The child's severity of asthma was rated by the attending physician according to guidelines from the Singapore Ministry of Health. Correlations between the child-reported CAQ-B outcomes and clinical ratings of severity by both parents and physicians were investigated. Internal reliability was tested with Cronbach's alpha, and the overall questionnaire structure was explored using principal axis analysis with oblimin rotation and extraction for factors with Eigen values >1.0., Results: The adapted CAQ-B was validated in 96 patients (40 girls and 56 boys) with a mean age of 8.7 +/- 1.1 years (range 7-11). Most children had no difficulty understanding and completing the questionnaire. The median time taken to complete a questionnaire was 10 minutes. Internal consistency of the various scales ranged from 0.29 to 0.76 (Cronbach's alpha) when items were analysed according to the UK or Australian scale structure. This increased to 0.57-0.76 after item reduction. Physician-rated severity only correlated significantly with the Active Quality of Living (AQOL) domain (r = -0.29, p = 0.02). However, parent/caregiver-rated severity correlated with three of four patient-reported domains: AQOL (r = -0.359, p = 0.001), Passive Quality Of Living (PQOL) [r = -0.271, p < 0.01] and severity (r = 0.367, p < 0.001). The AQOL domain was significantly correlated with the PQOL domain (r = 0.513, p = 0.005)., Conclusions: The children and parents/caregivers in this study found CAQ-B to be a simple and acceptable questionnaire with some evidence of content validity. While two of the domains did not meet internal consistency standards expected of HR-QOL instruments for adults (Cronbach's alpha = 0.70), they were acceptable for children of this age. The patterns of correlation also suggest that parent/caregivers' perception of the severity of a young child's asthma may be a better indicator of a child's HR-QOL than clinical diagnosis of severity. However, further investigation is recommended to improve and validate the internal structure of the scale.

Background: Previously published data established Blomia tropicalis, as the major source of allergic sensitization in asthmatic children in tropical Singapore. Objective To define the prevalence, clinical characteristics and risk factors of species-specific mite sensitization in paediatric allergic rhinitis (AR) patients in this unique environment., Methods: We performed a prospective evaluation of newly diagnosed AR patients, from 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2004, from the otolaryngology and allergy outpatient clinics of the Kendang Kerbau Children's Hospital in Singapore. Patients included in the study showed evidence of sensitization to at least one respiratory allergen source and completed a detailed questionnaire. Relative risk of sensitization and associated risk factors were calculated using logistic regression analysis with the forward stepwise model. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding interactions. Continuous values were compared using anova, SPSS 9.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., 1999)., Results: One hundred and seventy-five patients were included, 119 (68%) males, 142 (81%) Chinese, age mean 7.9 years (range 2-16). Sixty-eight patients (39%) reported a concomitant diagnosis and/or clinical complaints of bronchial asthma and 84 (48%) of atopic dermatitis. Skin prick test results were positive for traditional house dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. and D. farinae mix) in 85% of patients and for B. tropicalis in 62%. Overall mite sensitization was 98%, household pets 10%, moulds 9% and food proteins 12%. By far the single most significant factor associated with Dermatophagoides sensitization in this group was the presence of allergic eczema (odds ratio (OR) 31.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.6-285, P=0.002). Allergic eczema was negatively associated with B. tropicalis sensitization (OR 0.26%, 95% CI 0.14-0.5)., Conclusions: Children with AR and concomitant atopic dermatitis show a preferential sensitization to the Dermatophagoides mites. In our population, B. tropicalis sensitization is more prominent in children with pure respiratory allergy.

Histamine skin prick test (SPT) is used as the 'golden standard' for positive control in in vivo immediate type hypersensitivity testing. The skin reactivity to histamine can, however, be modulated by a bevy of extraneous factors. We aimed to define whether histamine skin reactivity in atopic children in Singapore is influenced by age, ethnic origin, gender, environmental exposure or specific sensitization patterns. A retrospective analysis of children, with specific aeroallergen sensitization (as measured by at least one allergen-specific SPT with a wheal size > 3 mm compared with the negative control) from the outpatient speciality clinic of the KK Children's Hospital, during 06/2002-06/2003. A total of 315 patients were included, 235 (75%) were males, 252 (80%) were Chinese, age mean was 7.7 yr (range: 2-15). Patients were referred to the SPT with a diagnosis of one or more of: allergic rhinitis 287 (91%), asthma 112 (36%) or atopic dermatitis 60 (19%). The mean histamine response showed a bimodal distribution, independent of age, ethnic origin, gender or phenotypical expression of allergic disease. Histamine skin reactivity was higher in atopic patients with polysensitization (mean 5.0 mm vs. 2.9 mm in monosensitized patients, p < 0.001), and in patients with mould sensitization (mean 5.1 mm vs. 3.3 mm in patient not sensitized to moulds, p < 0.001). The presence of passive smoking increased the likelihood of a diminished histamine skin response. Histamine skin response data strongly suggested the presence of two heterogeneous subpopulations. Children with polysensitization and mould sensitization were more likely to show a large significant histamine response, whereas children with passive smoke exposure, showed a diminished skin reactivity to histamine.

Singapore is a unique blend of a tropical environment with a high standard of hygiene and public health care. The objective was to define the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and environmental risk factors of specific aeroallergen sensitization in pediatric allergic rhinitis patients in this unique environment. The method adopted was a retrospective analysis of allergic rhinitis patients, undergoing aeroallergen skin prick testing (SPT), in the outpatient specialty clinic of the KK Children's hospital, from July 2001 to June 2002. A total of 202 patients were included, 161 (80%) males, 167 (83%) Chinese, age mean 7.6 yr (range 2-14 yr). The most prevalent clinical symptoms were: watery rhinorrhea 61%, blocked nose 61%, sneezing 52%, snoring 17%, and epistaxis 12%. SPT results were positive for house dust mites in 97% of children, pets (20%), molds (19%), pollens (15%), and kapok (10%). Mold sensitization was significantly more prevalent in households without air-conditioning (aircon), 49% vs. 10% with aircon (odds ratio 9.4, 95% CI 3.8-22.9). Polysensitization (sensitization to three or more allergens) was similarly more prevalent in households without aircon, 51% vs. 14% with aircon (odds ratio 6.4, 95% CI 2.8-14.7). It was concluded that indoor aeroallergen sensitization is the major associated factor with clinical allergic rhinitis in children in Singapore. Patients living in households without air-conditioning are at increased risk of mold sensitization and polysensitization.

Aims: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of paediatric severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Singapore., Methods: The following data were retrospectively collected from the case records of all 71 patients (aged 7 months to 14 years) admitted from 23 March to 22 May 2003 to the SARS paediatric unit: patient demographics, contact history, clinical features, physiological parameters, investigations, treatment, and outcome. Using WHO criteria there were seven probable (P), 23 suspect (S), and 41 observe (O) cases., Results: Compared to the O cases P patients had a longer mean duration of fever (3.66 (SD 2.3) v 8.57 (SD 2.44) days), lower mean thrombocytopenia (248.3 (SD 82.7) v 173.7 (SD 49.0)x10(9)/l), leucopenia (8.19 (SD 4.45) v 3.06 (SD 1.02)x10(9)/l), lymphopenia (2.79 (SD 1.97) v 1.44 (SD 0.75)x10(9)/l), and neutropenia (4.48 (SD 2.88) v 1.24 (SD 0.43)x10(9)/l). Chest auscultation was abnormal in 71% of P patients, with mild crepitations detected. All had abnormal chest radiographs versus 39% of S cases, and 27% of O cases., Conclusions: There are no distinguishing clinical features of paediatric SARS. The diagnosis is suggested by the paucity of clinical signs with an abnormal chest radiograph, and laboratory evidence of leucopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the management of empyema in children., Methods: This report involves cases of complicated pneumonia in children requiring surgical intervention after failure of medical treatment with antibiotics, with or without drainage from November 1997 to October 1999. The impact of VATS has been studied prospectively from October 1998 when VATS was introduced. The results have been compared with the previous year when similar cases were dealt with open thoracotomy. These 2 groups of patients with VATS (V) or without VATS (O) were studied for their progress in hospital and the final outcome., Results: A total of 39 immunocompetent children with community-acquired pneumonia were studied. There were 17 cases in O and 22 in V. There were 2 conversions to open thoracotomy in V. Both of these cases required resection of the lung parenchyma for severe necrosis and bronchopleural fistula. The mean age in years was 5.3 (O) and 4.9 (V). Parameters that were significantly less in V compared with O include timing of referral (O, 13.6 days; V, 5.3 days), number of lung resections (O, 8; V, 2), blood transfusion (O, 14; V, 2), analgesia requirements (O, 7.8 days; V, 2.9 days), postoperative length of stay in hospital (O, 10.4 days; V, 4.6 days), time to become normothermic (O, 5.6 days; V, 1.7 days); and time to removal of chest drains (O, 6.0 days; V, 2.7 days). Cosmesis is superior in cases of VATS compared with open thoracotomy. All the children recovered well on follow-up with resolution of symptoms and no recurrences., Conclusions: (1) VATS has ushered in a new era of hope for patients with complicated pneumonia. (2) Thoracotomy, lung resections, and the attending morbidity rate have decreased. (3) Patients are being referred earlier by the physicians because the management protocol is changing.

The Chinese delicacy "bird's nest" is the most common cause of food-induced anaphylaxis requiring hospitalization among Chinese children in Singapore. This investigation has established an immunoglobulin E-mediated cause and has characterized the major putative allergens.

We set out to determine the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) among obese Singapore school children and identify risk factors for OSAS. This study was designed as a prospective study in three phases. Parents completed a questionnaire with regards to sleep and daytime symptoms in Phase 1. Children suspected to have OSAS based on the questionnaire and all with a percent ideal body weight (IBW) >/=180 were called for clinic visits in Phase 2. All whose percent IBW >/=180 and those in whom the physicians strongly suspected OSAS were subjected to a polysomnogram in phase 3. The children were recruited from the School Health Nutritional Clinic for obese children. The investigations were carried out at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. In all, 3,671 children were screened with the questionnaire. Of these, 146 were selected to undergo polysomnography. Twenty-six had abnormal sleep studies with apnea/hypoxia indices (AHIs) >5/hr. The significant clinical feature which correlated with OSAS was sleep sitting up (P = 0.005). The risk is higher in morbidly obese (IBW >/=180), with a prevalence of 13.3% (8/60), than in less obese children (IBW <180). One in eight (12.5%) of these children was asymptomatic and would have been missed based on the questionnaire. Presence of adenotonsillar hypertrophy led to increased risk of OSAS. The prevalence of OSAS was 0.7% (26/3,671) among the obese schoolchildren in Singapore, which is similar to the prevalence reported by others. Using discriminant analysis, the estimated prevalence increased to 5.7%. In the morbidly obese (IBW >/=180), the prevalence rate is higher at 13.3%., (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Unlabelled: Bronchiolitis is a common respiratory infection affecting young children. Much controversy revolves around the efficacy of bronchodilators in the treatment of bronchiolitis. This study was conducted to address this issue., Aim: To determine the efficacy of bronchodilators in the treatment of bronchiolitis., Method: All children less than 2 years old with bronchiolitis were randomly assigned to receive nebulisations of Salbutamol, Ipratropium bromide or normal saline. A fourth group given only humidified oxygen without nebulisation were used as a control., Results: Data were obtained for 120 patients. Fifty-one (42%) had respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated from their nasopharyngeal aspirates. The demographic characteristics of the 4 groups were similar. There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of severity score, number of nebulisations required in the nebulised groups and the outcome as measured by the length of hospitalisation., Conclusion: The use of bronchodilators did not alter the course of the disease and is therefore not effective in the treatment of bronchiolitis.

The etiologic agents causing acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in hospitalized children were compared for 1995 and 1988. Between May 1994 to April 1995, 397 children were admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for acute LRTI compared to 240 children in 1988. The following criteria for LRTI were used: (i) age less than 12 years with a community-acquired LRTI; (ii) presence of cough or fever of less than 2 weeks' duration; and (iii) presence of tachypnea, chest retractions or pulmonary infiltrates on chest X-ray. Sputum cultures were considered suitable for culture if there were less than 25 epithelial cells per low power field. Moraxella catarrhalis was considered only if heavy growth of more than 3+ was seen. Etiological agents were found in about 70% of patients in both studies. Viruses constituted 41.3% of the etiologic agents in 1995 but constituted only 28% in 1988; 36% had a bacterial etiology in 1995 compared to 15% in 1988. The most common bacteria in 1995 was M. catarrhalis (34.7%) followed by non-type B Haemophilus influenzae (33%). In contrast, in 1988, Mycoplasma (33%) was the predominant organism followed by H. influenzae (17%) and M. catarrhalis (11.4%). The increased incidence of M. catarrhalis could be due to antibiotic selection. A mixed viral-bacterial etiology was found in 12.3% of the 1995 cohort. The majority of the bacteria were positive by sputum cultures; only 4 (3.3%) had positive blood cultures. No penicillin resistance was detected in 1988; however, in 1995, penicillin resistance was found in 17% of the Streptococcus pneumoniae, 38.5% of H. influenzae and 83% of M. catarrhalis. It was also found that 30% of the S. pneumoniae were also resistant to erythromycin, and 23% were resistant to sulfamethoxaxole-trimethoprim; 5% of the H. influenzae had multiple resistance to erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim and chloramphenicol. Among those patients with antibiotic resistance, 30% had received prior antibiotics of which 18% had had two or more antibiotics, frequently erythromycin or amoxycillin/ampicillin. Judicious use of antibiotics is required to check the rising trend of antibiotic resistance.

A neonate presented with poor feeding, jaundice and hepatosplenomegaly. He was in liver failure with disseminated coagulopathy. Post-mortem liver biopsy revealed discrete granulomas with central necrosis and acid-fast bacilli on Ziehl-Nielsen's stain. The mother had active tuberculosis at delivery. The principal characteristics of congenital tuberculosis are reemphasized in this observation.

Acute respiratory infections are common childhood illnesses. Most are mild and self-limiting. Five percent are lower respiratory tract diseases and are potentially serious. A prospective study was conducted to ascertain the etiology of community-acquired severe lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in hospital based patients. Mycoplasma was the most frequently identified agent (33%). This was followed by viruses (28%) and bacteria (15%). Twenty-four percent of children had no identified causative agent.

Over one year period, 240 children with severe lower respiratory infection was admitted to a general paediatric department. The mortality was 1.6%. Apart from pleural effusions and skin exanthems, several major complications were noted. These were septicaemia (1), apnoea (2), encephalopathy (3), meningitis (1), Stevens Johnson Syndrome (1), bronchiectasis (1) and lung abscess (1).

This was a double-blind, randomised evaluation of the efficacy and safety of Zaditen in comparison with placebo in infants and young children (aged 6-36 months). These children either had (i) at least 2 episodes of wheezing over 8 weeks, or (ii) persistent wheeze over 4 weeks, prior to entering into the study. In the doctor's opinion, the group treated with Zaditen had more improvement in symptomatology (p < 0.05). They were more likely to have reduced or discontinued bronchodilators. They showed trends of improvement of symptom scores in night cough, wheeze and sputum production. These differences, however, did not reach statistical significance. There were no major adverse reaction of note.

One hundred and eleven children with Mycoplasma pneumonia infection were studied. Their mean age was 6.2 +/- 3.1 years. The two commonest symptoms were cough (98%) and fever (95%). Only 23% of children had cough of greater than one week's duration. Ninety one per cent had positive chest signs. Radiological abnormalities were seen in 95% of chest x-ray. Complications included dermatological (10%), pleural effusion (5%), neurological disorder (3%), septicaemia (1%), bronchiectasis (1%). Two children with Down's Syndrome died. A rare case of Mycoplasma bronchitis with Reye's Syndrome was observed.

Acute viral bronchiolitis is one of the most common causes of paediatric respiratory disease, especially in the first year of life. Young infants and those with pre-existent cardiorespiratory problems are at an increased risk of acute respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation. A prospective study was carried out from November 1988 to October 1989, to analyse the clinical features, aetiology and outcome of patients with severe bronchiolitis. 52 (29.9%) out of 174 cases of acute bronchiolitis admitted were found to be severe. A virus aetiology was identified in 75% of the cases, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) being the commonest agent. 88.5% of the patients were less than 1 year of age, with a male preponderance of 1.4:1. There was a higher incidence in the Malay ethic group. Despite the viral aetiology, 88.2% were treated with a course of antibiotics. There was one death, and 2 patients had apnea requiring mechanical ventilation.

The incidence of bronchial asthma admissions to Singapore's major Paediatric Units has increased over the years. The diagnosis of asthma was usually simple but patients with atypical presentations required the demonstration of bronchial lability to confirm the diagnosis. National statistics revealed a small but constant number of deaths from asthma in childhood. Underestimation of severity and delay in treatment were important contributing factors to deaths from asthma.

Over the last decade, admissions from respiratory infections have declined but there had been an increase in admissions from Bronchial Asthma in Singapore Government Hospitals. Better recognition by doctors and increased prevalence are important factors. However, mortality had remained low. Like other mortality studies, underestimation of the severity of asthma and undertreatment are the major contributing factors to asthma deaths in Singapore children. Therefore, better public education and continuing education of medical personnel may help to reduce deaths from asthma in children and adolescents.

We present 4 neonates with enteroviral meningitis. The cerebrospinal fluid findings were variable and posed a diagnostic problem. Immediate outcome was excellent and 3 of the 4 infants were normal at follow-up at 6 months of age. However long-term follow-up will be necessary to to determine any long-term sequelae.

Wheezing is a significant problem in some patients with cystic fibrosis. Currently available tests are not reliable at determining whether this wheezing is due to co-existent asthma or to the underlying pulmonary disease. The reproducibility of hyperventilation of cold dry air (HVCDA) was studied over eight days in 11 children with cystic fibrosis. A group with mild lung disease were selected to minimize the variability due to underlying pulmonary disease. Fifty-six per cent of subjects had consistent responses to HVCDA. A test of reproducibility was performed on the respiratory heat exchange, the percentage fall in FEV1 after HVCDA and the ratio of these two (R). Respiratory heat exchange was found to be highly reproducible with a reproducibility co-efficient of 0.97. The percentage fall in FEV1 after HVCDA and R were not reproducible over the eight-day period. Hyperventilation of cold dry air did not give reproducible results in children with cystic fibrosis, suggesting that a single test may not be suitable for judging bronchial liability.

The relationship between pertussis infection and subsequent abnormalities of pulmonary function is not clear. Thirty subjects (16 male, 14 female) aged 14.3 years (s.e.m. = 1.9) were studied who had been hospitalized with culture-proven pertussis when less than 6 months of age. Details of respiratory symptoms in the subjects and their families were obtained. Standard spirometry, lung volumes by body plethysmography, maximum flows at low lung volumes and histamine challenges were performed. Nine of 30 (30%) subjects were symptomatic with a history of recurrent cough and wheeze while 11 of 30 (37%) had abnormal pulmonary function tests. Seven of nine symptomatic subjects had abnormal pulmonary function including positive histamine challenges. Twenty-one per cent had a family history of asthma. This study indicates that children hospitalized in infancy with pertussis can subsequently be shown to have recurrent lower airways symptomatology and abnormal pulmonary function, but the incidence is not significantly higher than a control group from the same socio-economic background.