Search

BACKGROUND: Pulse oximetry measurement is ubiquitous in acute health care settings in high-income countries and is familiar to any parent whose child has been treated in such a setting. Oximeters for home use are readily available online and are incorporated in several smartphones and smartwatches. METHODS: We wished to determine how accurate are oximeters available online that are designated for adult and pediatric use, and the saturation monitor integrated in a smartphone, when used in children, compared to reference, hospital-grade oximeters. We evaluated a fingertip oximeter marketed for children purchased online; an adult fingertip oximeter purchased online; the oximeter integrated in a smartphone; and reference, hospital-grade oximeters. Participants were < 18 y of age. Bland-Altman charts were generated, and the estimated root mean square error (EARMS) was calculated. Rates of failure to obtain a measurement, relationship between device and time to successful measurement, relationship between age and time to successful measurement, and relationship between error (vs the reference device) and age were evaluated for each consumer-grade device. RESULTS: We measured SpO2 in 74 children between 0.1-17.0 y of age. Subjects weighing < 30 kg had a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 2 (1.0 month-1.4 y) months, and subjects weighing 6 30 kg had a median (IQR) age of 14.3 (11.9-16.2) y. Readings could not be obtained in 7.5, 0, and 38.8% of subjects using the pediatric, adult, and smartphone oximeters, respectively. The time to successful reading had a modest negative correlation with age with the inexpensive adult and pediatric oximeters. The inexpensive pediatric oximeter had an overall negative bias, with a mean difference from the reference device of 24.5% (SD 7.9%) and an error that ranged from > 8% to < 33% the reference device. The EARMS was 7.92%. The inexpensive adult oximeter demonstrated no obvious trend in error in the limited saturation range evaluated of 87-99%. The overall mean difference was 20.7% (SD 2.5%). EARMS was 2.5%. The smartphone oximeter underestimated SpO2 at saturations < 94% and overestimated SpO2 for saturations > 94%. Saturations could read as much as > 4%, or < 17%, than the reference oximeter. The mean difference was 22.9% (SD 5.2%). EARMS was 5.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the performance of consumer-grade devices varies considerably by both subject age and device. The pediatric fingertip device and smartphone application we tested are poorly suited for use in infants. The adult fingertip device we tested performed quite well in larger children with relatively normal oxygen saturations, and the pediatric fingertip device performed moderately well in subjects > 1 y of age who weighed < 30 kg. Given the vast number of devices available online and ever-changing technology, research to evaluate nonclinical oximeters will continue to be required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are at an increased risk for aspiration, and subsequent pneumonia or pneumonitis. Pneumonia is a common cause of hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and death in patients with CP, and may disproportionately contribute to mortality. The role of respiratory microflora is unknown. This study examined the relationship between respiratory infections with Gram-negative bacteria (GNB), particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the frequency/severity of pneumonia hospitalization. Methods Retrospective chart review of 69 patients with CP and hospitalization for pneumonia. Eligible patients required hospitalization for bacterial pneumonia, at least one respiratory culture, and fulfillment of Bax definition of CP. Group assignment was based on respiratory culture. Charts were analyzed for comorbid illness, hospitalization demographics, and disease severity. Results Children with isolation of P. aeruginosa or other GNB had increased frequency of ICU admission (77.4, 65.1, vs. 26.9 %, respectively, p < 0.01), intubation (45.2, 39.5 vs. 11.5 %, p = 0.02, p = 0.03 respectively), and large pleural effusions (37.5, vs. 0 %) than children without GNB. Children with isolation of GNB had more prolonged hospitalizations and were more likely to have multiple hospitalizations than those without GNB. Conclusion Colonization with P. aeruginosa and other Gram-negative organisms in children with CP is associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and severity of pneumonia including need for PICU admission and intervention. Further research is required to determine causality, the role of antimicrobials active against Gram negative in pneumonia treatment, and the role of GNB eradication therapy in children with CP., Author(s): Christopher A. Gerdung[sup.1] , Adrian Tsang[sup.2] , Abdool S. Yasseen[sup.3] , Kathleen Armstrong[sup.2] , Hugh J. McMillan[sup.2] [sup.3] , Thomas Kovesi[sup.2] [sup.3] Author Affiliations: (1) Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, [...]

Background Elevated rates of eczema and skin infections in Canadian First Nation (FN) communities are of concern to families, community leaders and healthcare professionals. Aim To determine whether skin morbidity was associated with indoor environmental quality factors in Canadian FN children living in remote communities. Methods We quantified indoor environmental quality (IEQ) in the homes of FN children aged < 4 years of age living in four remote communities in the Sioux Lookout region of Northwestern Ontario, Canada. We conducted a quantitative housing inspection, including measuring surface area of mould (SAM), and monitored air quality for 5 days in each home, including carbon dioxide and relative humidity and quantified endotoxin in settled floor dust. We reviewed the medical charts of participating children for skin conditions and administered a health questionnaire. Relationships between IEQ and skin infections or eczema were evaluated using multivariable regression. Results In total, 98 children were included in the descriptive analyses, of whom 86 had complete data and were evaluated in multivariate analyses for dermatological outcomes (mean age 1.6 years). Of these 86 children, 55% had made ≥ 1 visits to the local health centre (HC) for skin and soft tissue infections and 25.5% for eczema. Unexpectedly, annualized eczema visits were inversely associated with SAM (RR = 0.14; 95% CI 0.01–0.93). There was a trend suggesting an inverse relationship between endotoxin and HC encounters for eczema and skin and soft tissue infections. Conclusion Skin infections were common in this population of FN children. IEQ did not appear to be associated with skin infections or eczema. Mould exposure appeared to be inversely associated with HC encounters for eczema, possibly related to complex microorganism–host interactions occurring early in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma have been published over the last 15 years; however, there has been little focus on issues relating to asthma in childhood. Since the last revision of the 1999 Canadian Asthma Consensus Report, important new studies, particularly in children, have highlighted the need to incorporate new information into the asthma guidelines. The objectives of this article are to review the literature on asthma published between January 2000 and June 2003 and to evaluate the influence of new evidence on the recommendations made in the 1999 Canadian Asthma Consensus Report and its 2001 update, with a major focus on pediatric issues. Methods The diagnosis of asthma in young children and prevention strategies, pharmacotherapy, inhalation devices, immunotherapy, and asthma education were selected for review by small expert resource groups. The reviews were discussed in June 2003 at a meeting under the auspices of the Canadian Network For Asthma Care and the Canadian Thoracic Society. Data published through December 2004 were subsequently reviewed by the individual expert resource groups. Results This report evaluates early-life prevention strategies and focuses on treatment of asthma in children, emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and preventive therapy, the benefits of additional therapy, and the essential role of asthma education. Conclusion We generally support previous recommendations and focus on new issues, particularly those relevant to children and their families. This document is a guide for asthma management based on the best available published data and the opinion of health care professionals, including asthma experts and educators.

See relatedarticle [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]