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A retrospective study on 357 children admitted to four Pediatric Infectious Disease Centers in Rome, affected by acute meningitis, during 10 years period, between January, 1, 1985 and December, 31, 1994 was carried out. Haemophilus influenzae type b was detected in 110 patients; all children aged between 1 month and 5 years; the maximum incidence (74.5%) was observed in patients under two years. The following diagnostic criteria were utilized: Gram stain of CSF; Latex test on CSF, blood, urine; CSF and blood cultures. The in vitro sensitivity of 65 isolates was tested by using the Kirby-Bauer method. We detected 15.3% of strains resistant to Ampicillin and 1.5% resistant to CAF. We also observed a high number of Hib strains resistant to Erythromycin and Cotrimoxazole. Only one strain Ceftriaxone resistant was isolated, confirming the high in vitro sensibility Hib to III generation cephalosporins that still remain the first choice drugs in Hib meningitis.

Non tuberculous Mycobacterial (NTM) Infections mainly affect immunocompromised patients, appearing as disseminated or pulmonary disease. In immunocompetent children the most common form of infection with NTM is cervical adenitis. Ear infection seems to be a rare disease. We present a case of otomastoiditis caused by Mycobacterium avium in a 15 months old child, immunologically normal. Patient was referred for persistent right otitis unresponsive to routine medical therapy. TC scan of the ear and temporal bones revealed: soft tissue in external auditory canal, Eustachian canal, and middle ear overlying ossicles with erosion of tegmen tympani. Tuberculin skin test was positive with 5 units PPD and culture yielded M. avium. The patient undergo timpanomastoidectomy and medical therapy with antituberculous drugs and Steroids, subsequently he was given Clarithromycin and Rifabutin. M. avium is an ubiquitous low grade pathogen found in soil, water, dust and food. There is no evidence of direct transmission. Only a few cases of otomastoiditis due to M. avium have previously been reported. The case presented underlines the importance of microbiological investigations. When a NTM infection is suspected surgeons and infectious diseases specialists should cooperate to find an optimal treatment regimen of this unusual disease.

Dehydration, in childhood as in adulthood, may origin from an inadequate water ingestion or an excessive water elimination. Causes may be found in fever, vomiting, scalds, pulmonary hyperventilation, diabetes. Water loss during acute diarrhea in children can be even 6-7 times higher in comparison with an healthy child. Together with water, electrolytes are lost. We differentiate dehydration in isonatremic d. (70% of cases), hyponatremic d. (10%) and hypernatremic d. (20%) basing on Sodium loss. Important dehydration causes severe clinical symptoms as shock, renal and cardiocirculatory failure, convulsion, coma. Symptoms at the central nervous system level derivate both from hyperosmolarity in brain cells and from thrombosis or hemorrhages in subdural sites. Dehydration, following acute diarrhea, is slight when weight loss is lower than 5%. The child health conditions still remain good. Dehydration become moderate if weight loss reaches 5% and the child starts suffering. When the weight loss reaches 10%, dehydration is now severe and circulatory deficiency becomes evident. When it is higher than 10%, prognosis is very severe and shock and coma may be observed. In the present work, we illustrate the different ways of rehydration after acute diarrhea. Initially, oral rehydration must be established with one of the oral solutions, differing each other for amount of electrolytes and glucose. Recently, a new solution, "supersolution", has been presented differing from the other ones for electrolytes concentration and for the presence of rice starch instead of glucose. In most cases of diarrhea, oral rehydration appears adequate but sometimes an intravenous rehydration becomes necessary, e.g. in case of vomiting, CNS depression and in any case of severe gastroenteric symptomatology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)