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We investigated prolonged symptoms in children after COVID-19, including the clinical characteristics and risk factors.This multicentre retrospective study focused on 451 children under 18 years old who were diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19 between 14 March and 31 December 2020. Persistent symptoms were analysed with a telephone questionnaire by the attending physicians from 1 August to 30 September 2021. A control group of 98 with no history of COVID-19, who were treated for other reasons, was also included.Most (82.0%) of the cases had mild infections that required outpatient care and 5.1% were admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We found that 18.4% had symptoms that lasted 4-12 weeks. There were also 14.6% who were symptomatic for longer than 12 weeks and the odds risks were higher for children aged 5 years or more (OR 3.0), hospitalised (OR 3.9), admitted to the PICU (OR 4.3) and with relatives who were symptomatic for 12 weeks or more (OR 2.8). The controls had similar percentages of prolonged symptoms, despite having no history of COVID-19, especially those who were older than 5 years.This study confirmed that a worrying percentage of children had prolonged symptoms after COVID-19.

Resumen: Introducción: El seguimiento telefónico es una posible alternativa para la atención médica de niños con COVID-19. Nuestro objetivo es describir la experiencia del seguimiento telemático realizado en un hospital terciario. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los niños con diagnóstico confirmado o probable de COVID-19 atendidos en la consulta de seguimiento del Hospital La Paz entre marzo y junio del 2020. Se realizaron llamadas cada 48 h hasta desaparecer los síntomas y posteriormente semanales hasta estar 14 días asintomáticos. Resultados: Se incluyó a 72 niños con una mediana de edad de 83,5 meses (RIC = 16,3-157,5); 46 eran varones (63,9%) y 14 tenían comorbilidades (19,4%); 32 pacientes (44,4%) habían requerido ingreso hospitalario. Se confirmó diagnóstico de COVID-19 en 33 niños por PCR y en 7 por serología. De los confirmados por PCR, seroconvirtió el 67,7%. Se demostraron otras etiologías en 7 pacientes (5 Mycoplasma pneumoniae, uno parvovirus y uno citomegalovirus).La mediana de duración de síntomas fue 25,5 días (RIC = 13,8-37), con mediana de tiempo de seguimiento de 28 días (RIC = 21-39). Se realizó una mediana de 6 llamadas (RIC = 4-8) por niño; 19 pacientes (26,4%) refirieron empeoramiento en el seguimiento, precisando 14 (19,4%) ser revaluados en Urgencias. Un niño necesitó reingresar, siendo la evolución favorable. Conclusiones: Ante sospecha de COVID-19, es recomendable el seguimiento médico por la prolongada duración de síntomas y el riesgo de empeoramiento. Las consultas telefónicas son útiles y seguras para el seguimiento de casos leves y pacientes hospitalizados tras el alta, permitiendo reducir controles presenciales y el consumo de otros recursos. Abstract: Introduction: Telemedicine is an attractive option for the follow-up of paediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this article is to describe the experience with telephone consultations in a tertiary hospital. Patients and methods: Retrospective descriptive study of children with confirmed or probable diagnosis of COVID-19 attended by telephone consultations in Hospital La Paz (Madrid) between March and June 2020. Patients were referred from the Emergency Department after being discharged from the hospital. Telephone consultations were made every 48 hours until symptoms resolved, then weekly until completing 14 days without symptoms. Results: A total of 72 children were included, with median age of 83.5 months (IQR = 16.3-157.5). Of those 46 (63.9%) were male, and 14 (19.4%) had comorbidities. There were 32 (44.4%) hospital admissions. COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed in 33 children by RT-PCR, and in 7 by serology tests. The seroconversion rate was 67.7% in those patients with a positive RT-PCR. Other infections were found in 7 patients (5 Mycoplasma pneumoniae, 1 parvovirus, and 1 cytomegalovirus).Median symptom duration was 25.5 days (IQR = 13.8-37), while median follow-up duration was 28 days (IQR = 21-39). The median number of telephone consultations per patient was 6 (IQR = 4-8). Clinical worsening was reported in 19 (26.4%) during follow-up, and 14 (19.4%) were re-evaluated in the Emergency Department. One patient required hospital admission, but he had a favourable outcome. Conclusions: Children with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection should be followed-up due to prolonged duration of symptoms, and the risk of clinical deterioration. Telephone consultations are a useful and safe alternative for the follow-up of patients with mild symptoms, and for children discharged from the hospital.

Strongyloidiasis, a neglected helminthiasis, is more prevalent in tropical/subtropical areas. However, sporadic autochthonous cases have been described around the Mediterranean coast. We performed a retrospective descriptive study in a referral Spanish Center for Pediatric Tropical diseases. All patients below 18 years of age diagnosed with probable strongyloidiasis between January 2014 and December 2019, born in Spain and with no history of travel abroad, were included. Epidemiological, clinical, and follow-up data were recorded, as well as all microbiology results. Five children met the inclusion criteria and were included in the study. Three males and two females, with a median age of 6.7 years (IQR: 5.8-9.1). All patients had previous medical conditions and used to spend holidays on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. All but one were mildly symptomatic at diagnosis but only four presented peripheral eosinophilia, which was the main reason for referral. First-line treatment was ivermectin in all but one, who was treated with albendazole. Reinfection was suspected in two during follow-up. At 12 months of follow-up 3/5 (60%) children presented negative serology.Conclusion: Although more prevalent in tropical areas, strongyloidiasis should be included among differential diagnosis in children presenting with eosinophilia. Screening for strongyloidiasis should be considered in all children candidate to immunosuppressive therapy. What is Known: • Strongyloidiasis is more prevalent in tropical/subtropical areas. • Strongyloidiasis can be life-threatening in immunosuppressed patients What is New: • Spanish children can be affected by autochthonous strongyloidiasis. • Screening for strongiloidiasis should be performed in all candidates to immunosuppresive therapies, including children.

Human schistosomiasis is the parasitic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide after malaria. It is endemic in more than 78 tropical and subtropical countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is estimated that 236 million people are infected. It can cause serious health complications at the genitourinary and hepatosplenic level, leading to the death of 300,000 people each year. The number of imported cases in Western countries has increased in recent years due to the arrival of a significant number of migrants from endemic regions and a growing number of travelers who have visited them. On the other hand, outbreaks of autochthonous transmission have recently been reported in Corsica (France) and Almería (Spain). For all these reasons, the European health authorities have recommended serological screening for the disease in all migrants from endemic areas who have been living in Europe for less than 5 years. Since Primary Care is usually the first point of contact for these people with the Health System, doctors must know the main aspects of the disease, and be provided with the necessary means for its diagnosis and treatment. This document has been prepared by professionals belonging to five scientific societies of Primary Care (SEMFyC, SEMG, SEMERGEN), Pediatrics (SEIP) and Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI), in order to establish clear recommendations for the diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis in Primary Care.

Esquistosomiasis; Cribado; Migrantes Schistosomiasis; Screening; Migrants Esquistosomiasi; Cribratge; Migrants La esquistosomiasis humana es la enfermedad parasitaria con mayor morbimortalidad a nivel mundial después de la malaria. Es endémica en más de 78 países tropicales y subtropicales, sobre todo de África Subsahariana, estimándose que 236 millones de personas están infectadas. Puede causar graves complicaciones de salud a nivel genitourinario y hepatoesplénico, llegando a ocasionar la muerte de 300.000 personas cada año. El número de casos importados en los países occidentales se ha ido incrementado en los últimos años debido a la llegada de un importante número de migrantes procedentes de regiones endémicas y de un creciente número de viajeros que han visitado las mismas. Por otro lado, recientemente se han comunicado brotes de transmisión autóctona en Córcega (Francia) y Almería (España). Por todos estos aspectos, las autoridades sanitarias europeas han recomendado el cribado serológico de la enfermedad en todas las personas migrantes procedentes de zonas endémicas y que lleven menos de 5 años en Europa. Dado que atención primaria es habitualmente el primer punto de contacto de estas personas con el sistema sanitario, los médicos deben conocer los principales aspectos de la enfermedad, y ser dotados de los medios necesarios para su diagnóstico y tratamiento. Este documento ha sido elaborado por profesionales pertenecientes a 5 sociedades científicas de atención primaria (SEMFyC, SEMG, SEMERGEN), Pediatría (SEIP) y Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional (SEMTSI), con objeto de establecer unas recomendaciones claras para el diagnóstico y el manejo de la esquistosomiasis en atención primaria. Human schistosomiasis is the parasitic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide after malaria. It is endemic in more than 78 tropical and subtropical countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is estimated that 236 million people are infected. It can cause serious health complications at the genitourinary and hepatosplenic level, leading to the death of 300,000 people each year. The number of imported cases in Western countries has increased in recent years due to the arrival of a significant number of migrants from endemic regions and a growing number of travelers who have visited them. On the other hand, outbreaks of autochthonous transmission have recently been reported in Corsica (France) and Almería (Spain). For all these reasons, the European health authorities have recommended serological screening for the disease in all migrants from endemic areas who have been living in Europe for less than 5 years. Since Primary Care is usually the first point of contact for these people with the Health System, doctors must know the main aspects of the disease, and be provided with the necessary means for its diagnosis and treatment. This document has been prepared by professionals belonging to five scientific societies of Primary Care (SEMFyC, SEMG, SEMERGEN), Pediatrics (SEIP) and Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI), in order to establish clear recommendations for the diagnosis and management of schistosomiasis in Primary Care. La publicación del manuscrito cuenta con la financiación de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional (SEMTSI).

ObjectivesProlonged symptoms after acute COVID-19 have been described in the pediatric population. Our objective was to know the prevalence of prolonged symptoms in children with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to describe their clinical characteristics and possible risk factors.Patients & methodsMulticentre retrospective study carried by telephone questionnaire of all children under 18 years old diagnosed of symptomatic COVID-19, both hospitalized and outpatient attended in three hospitals in Spain between March and December 2020. Long-COVID was defined as the presence of symptoms longer than 12 weeks. A control group of children attended by other causes was also contacted and compared.Results451 children met criteria and agreed to participate; 370/451 (82%) presented mild outpatient infection, and 23 required admission in PICU (5.1%). The mean age was 5.9 years old (SD 5.3). A control group of 98 children was included.In 66 cases (14.6%) at least one symptom lasted longer than 12 weeks. Insomnia, concentration problems, apathy or sadness and anxiety were the longest (median >90 days). Age above 5 years (48/66; 72.7%, OR: 3, CI 95% (1.8-5)); admission (OR 3.9 CI 95% (2.2-6.8)), the need for PICU (OR 4.3 CI 95% (1.8-10.4)), and to have a relative with prolonged symptoms (OR 2.8 CI 95% (1.5-5.2)) were significantly associated with Long-COVID. When comparing with controls age above 5 years old, myalgia, asthenia, and loss of appetite were significantly associated with Long-COVID.ConclusionsOur study shows that children also suffer prolonged symptoms after COVID-19 infection, and require specific attention.

The diagnostic approach to eosinophilia is complex, given the numerous reported etiologies. Intestinal parasites (especially helminths) are a concern in children from high-burden settings. We describe the diagnostic approach and clinical management of eosinophilia in a cohort of migrant children.We conducted a retrospective observational study that included children diagnosed with eosinophilia at a reference center for pediatric tropical diseases from 2014 to 2018. All patients were screened according to a unified protocol, including direct microbiologic and serologic tests.A total of 163 children presented with eosinophilia during the study period [median age, 7.7 years (4.1-12.2); 57.1% boys], mostly from Asia (27.6%) and South America (22.1%). Most were internationally adopted children (43.6%) or migrants (26.4%). Only 34.4% of the children were symptomatic, and the main etiology for eosinophilia was helminths (56.4%). After a sequential diagnostic approach, no etiology was found for 40.5% of the patients. The independent risk factors for an unexplained etiology were younger age (≤2 years: odds ratio, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-10.2; P = 0.015), absence of symptoms (odds ratio, 4.8; 95% CI, 1.8-12.5; P = 0.001) and mild eosinophilia (1000/µL: odds ratio, 4.2; 95% CI, 4.5-11.7; P = 0.005). Only 6 children were treated empirically. In those children with an identified cause and in those treated empirically, the eosinophilia resolved in 52% in a median of 7 months (5-9).Helminths are the main cause of eosinophilia in migrant children and need to be hunted, especially in older children with eosinophil counts1000 eosinophils/µL.

Background Chagas disease (CD) has become an emerging global health problem in association with the immigration of individuals from endemic areas (in LatinAmerica) to other countries.Spain is the country in Europe with the highest number of CD cases. Concerning pediatric CD, treatment is not only better tolerated by younger children but also has greater cure possibilities. The aim of this study was to describe clinical and epidemiological aspects of CD in a pediatric population diagnosed of 10 hospitals in the Community of Madrid during the 2004–2018 period, as well as the safety and efficacy of CD treatment on this population. Methodology/Principal findings A multicenter, retrospective, descriptive study was conducted. The studied population included all identified children under the age of 18 with a diagnosis of CD. Diagnosis was performed with a positive parasitological test (with subsequent confirmation) or confirmed persistence of positive serology beyond 9 months, for children younger than one year-old, and with two different positive serological tests, for children older than one. Fifty-one children were included (59% male; 50.9% born in Spain). All mothers were from Latin America. The median age at diagnosis was 0.7 months for those under one year of age, and 11.08 years for those older than one year-old. Only one case presented a symptomatic course (hydrops faetalis, haemodynamic instability at birth, ascites, anaemia). For 94% treatment was completed. Considering patients who received benznidazole (47), AE were recorded in 48,9%. Among the 32 patients older than one year-old treated with benznidazole, 18 (56.25%) had adverse events whereas in the 15 under one year, 5(33,3%) did. Eigtheen (78.2%) of the patients with benznidazole AE were older than one year-old(median age 11.4 years). Of the patients treated with nifurtimox (9), AE were reported in 3 cases (33,3%). Cure was confirmed in 80% of the children under one year-old vs 4.3% in those older (p Conclusions/Significances Screening programs of CD since birth allow early diagnosis and treatment, with a significantly higher cure rate in children treated before one year of age, with lower incidence of adverse events. The high proportion of patients lost to follow-up in this vulnerable population is of concern.

Globalization has pushed population movements in the last decades, turning imported diseases into the focus. Due to behavioral habits, children are at higher risk of acquiring parasitosis. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of parasites in migrant children and factors associated with parasitic diseases.Retrospective cross-sectional study (2014-2018) including children diagnosed with parasitosis. The diagnosis was based on serology and/or microscopic stool-sample evaluation. Epidemiological and clinical data were recorded.Out of 813 migrant children screened, 241 (29.6%) presented at least one parasite, and 89 (10.9%) more than one. The median age was 6.6 years (IQR: 3.1-11.9) and 58.9% were males. Most cases were referred for a health exam; only 52.3% of children were symptomatic, but 43.6% had eosinophilia. The most common diagnosis were giardiasis (35.3%), schistosomiasis (19.1%), toxocariasis (15.4%), and strongyloidiasis (9.1%). After the multivariate analysis, African origin and presenting with eosinophilia were the main risk factors for parasitism.parasitosis are frequent among migrant children. Children are often asymptomatic, and thus active screening for parasitosis should be considered among high-risk populations. Eosinophilia can be useful to guide complimentary tests, as well as geographical origin, but normal eosinophil count does not exclude parasitosis.

Persistent symptoms in adults after COVID-19 are emerging and the term long COVID is increasingly appearing in the literature. However, paediatric data are scarce.This paper contains a case report of five Swedish children and the long-term symptoms reported by their parents. It also includes a systematic literature review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases and the medRxiv/bioRxiv pre-print servers up to 2 November 2020.The five children with potential long COVID had a median age of 12 years (range 9-15) and four were girls. They had symptoms for 6-8 months after their clinical diagnoses of COVID-19. None were hospitalised at diagnosis, but one was later admitted for peri-myocarditis. All five children had fatigue, dyspnoea, heart palpitations or chest pain, and four had headaches, difficulties concentrating, muscle weakness, dizziness and sore throats. Some had improved after 6-8 months, but they all suffered from fatigue and none had fully returned to school. The systematic review identified 179 publications and 19 of these were deemed relevant and read in detail. None contained any information on long COVID in children.Children may experience similar long COVID symptoms to adults and females may be more affected.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been associated with congenital microcephaly and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities. There is little published research on the effect of maternal ZIKV infection in a non-endemic European region. We aimed to describe the outcomes of pregnant travelers diagnosed as ZIKV-infected in Spain, and their exposed children. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study of nine referral hospitals enrolled pregnant women (PW) who travelled to endemic areas during their pregnancy or the two previous months, or those whose sexual partners visited endemic areas in the previous 6 months. Infants of ZIKV-infected mothers were followed for about two years. Results: ZIKV infection was diagnosed in 163 PW, 112 (70%) were asymptomatic and 24 (14.7%) were confirmed cases. Among 143 infants, 14 (9.8%) had adverse outcomes during follow-up, three had a congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), and 11 other potential Zika-related outcomes. The overall incidence of CZS was 2.1% (95%CI: 0.4&ndash, 6.0%), but among infants born to ZIKV-confirmed mothers, this increased to 15.8% (95%CI: 3.4&ndash, 39.6%). Conclusions: A nearly 10% overall risk of neurologic and hearing adverse outcomes was found in ZIKV-exposed children born to a ZIKV-infected traveler PW. Longer-term follow-up of these children is needed to assess whether there are any later-onset manifestations.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the availability of different procedures, diagnostic tests, and treatments, as well as the procedures and techniques used in the management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Spain. This was a cross-sectional study performed from September to December 2018 in Spain. A survey directed to CE-treating clinicians was conducted to collect information regarding the center characteristics and the different protocols of management followed. Thirty-nine centers among 76 contacted centers participated in the survey, most of them belonging to the public health system and attending both adult and children. The median number of patients with CE attended during the last three years per center was 15. Percutaneous techniques were used only in seven centers, and surgery was the most frequently used therapeutic approach. Drugs and duration of treatment (both when administered exclusively or when combined with surgery/puncture, aspiration, injection, and reaspiration) were very variable depending on the centers. There is a high variability in the management of CE among Spanish centers. These results stress the importance of promoting the diffusion of existing knowledge, adapting the WHO recommendations to our setting, and referring patients to referral centers at a national level.

The Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (SEMTSI), the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC), the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), the Spanish Society of Thoracic Surgery (SECT), the Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (SERVEI), and the Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (SEIP) considered it pertinent to issue a consensus statement on the management of cystic echinococcosis (CE) to guide healthcare professionals in the care of patients with CE. Specialists from several fields (clinicians, surgeons, radiologists, microbiologists, and parasitologists) identified the most clinically relevant questions and developed this Consensus Statement, evaluating the available evidence-based data to propose a series of recommendations on the management of this disease. This Consensus Statement is accompanied by the corresponding references on which these recommendations are based. Prior to publication, the manuscript was open for comments and suggestions from the members of the SEIMC and the scientific committees and boards of the various societies involved. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U.

Grupo de trabajo de la Asociación Española de Pediatría para el brote de infección por Coronavirus, colaboradores con el Ministerio de Sanidad., [ES] El 31 de diciembre de 2019, la Comisión Municipal de Salud y Sanidad de Wuhan (provincia de Hubei, China) informó sobre la existencia de 27 casos de neumonía de etiología desconocida con inicio de síntomas el 8 de diciembre, incluyendo 7 casos graves, con exposición común a un mercado de marisco, pescado y animales vivos en la ciudad de Wuhan. El 7 de enero de 2020, las autoridades chinas identificaron como agente causante del brote un nuevo tipo de virus de la familia Coronaviridae, denominado temporalmente «nuevo coronavirus», 2019-nCoV. El 30 de enero de 2020 la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declara el brote una Emergencia Internacional. El día 11 de febrero la OMS le asigna el nombre de SARS-CoV2 e infección COVID-19 (Coronavirus Infectious Disease). El Ministerio de Sanidad convoca a las Sociedades de Especialidades para la elaboración de un protocolo clínico de manejo de la infección. La Asociación Española de Pediatría nombra un grupo de trabajo de las Sociedades de Infectología Pediátrica y Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos que se encargan de elaborar las presentes recomendaciones con la evidencia disponible en el momento de su realización., [EN] On 31 December 2019, the Wuhan Municipal Committee of Health and Healthcare (Hubei Province, China) reported that there were 27 cases of pneumonia of unknown origin with symptoms starting on the 8 December. There were 7 serious cases with common exposure in market with shellfish, fish, and live animals, in the city of Wuhan. On 7 January 2020, the Chinese authorities identified that the agent causing the outbreak was a new type of virus of the Coronaviridae family, temporarily called «new coronavirus», 2019-nCoV. On January 30th, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the outbreak an International Emergency. On 11 February 2020 the WHO assigned it the name of SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2 and COVID-19). The Ministry of Health summoned the Specialties Societies to prepare a clinical protocol for the management of COVID-19. The Spanish Paediatric Association appointed a Working Group of the Societies of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Paediatric Intensive Care to prepare the present recommendations with the evidence available at the time of preparing them.

Background Assessing the role of HIV and non-HIV related factors is essential for a better understanding of the neurocognitive outcomes in perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV+) young people. The aim of our study was to assess cognition and quality of life (QoL) of a PHIV+ cohort of young people and to compare it with a control group. Methods Thirty PHIV+ and 30 HIV(−) healthy young adults matched by age, sex and socioeconomic status completed a protocol that included neurocognitive tests, a psychosocial semi-structured interview and a QoL questionnaire (PedsQL). Neurocognitive domain-specific and domain-general (NPZ-5) Z-scores were calculated. CDC AIDS-defining category C or not C (PHIV+/C, PHIV+/noC) was considered to evaluate differences within the PHIV+ group. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results Sixty patients were included; 67% were female; median age (IQR) 19 years (18–21). Regarding PHIV+ young people, 27% showed CDC C category (none encephalopathy), 93% were on ART and 77% had undetectable viral load. No differences regarding occupation were found, although the HIV(−) group repeated less grades (p = 0.028) and had a higher education level (p = 0.021). No differences were found between PHIV+/noC and HIV(−) participants. However, the PHIV+/C group showed poorer performance than PHIV+/noC (NPZ-5, p = 0.037) and HIV(−) subjects (crystallised intelligence, p = 0.025; intelligence quotient, p = 0.016). Higher nadir CD4+ T-cell count was related to better Z-score in memory (p = 0.007) and NPZ-5 (p = 0.025). Earlier and longer exposure to ART resulted in better performance in memory (p = 0.004) and executive functions (p = 0.015), respectively. Conclusions No significant differences were found in the neurocognitive profile nor QoL between PHIV+/noC and HIV(−) adolescents; however, PHIV+/C participants obtained lower scores. The use of longer and earlier ART seems to have a beneficial effect.

Background and Aim: The circulating recombinant form 02_AG (CRF02_AG) is the predominant clade among the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) non-Bs with a prevalence of 5.97% (95% Confidence Interval-CI: 5.41-6.57%) across Spain. Our aim was to estimate the levels of regional clustering for CRF02_AG and the spatiotemporal characteristics of the largest CRF02_AG subepidemic in Spain. Methods: We studied 396 CRF02_AG sequences obtained from HIV-1 diagnosed patients during 2000-2014 from 10 autonomous communities of Spain. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the 391 CRF02_AG sequences along with all globally sampled CRF02_AG sequences (N = 3,302) as references. Phylodynamic and phylogeographic analysis was performed to the largest CRF02_AG monophyletic cluster by a Bayesian method in BEAST v1.8.0 and by reconstructing ancestral states using the criterion of parsimony in Mesquite v3.4, respectively. Results: The HIV-1 CRF02_AG prevalence differed across Spanish autonomous communities we sampled from (p < 0.001). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 52.7% of the CRF02_AG sequences formed 56 monophyletic clusters, with a range of 279 sequences. The CRF02_AG regional dispersal differed across Spain (p = 0.003), as suggested by monophyletic clustering. For the largest monophyletic cluster (subepidemic) (N = 79), 49.4% of the clustered sequences originated from Madrid, while most sequences (51.9%) had been obtained from men having sex with men (MSM). Molecular clock analysis suggested that the origin (t(MRCA)) of the CRF02_AG subepidemic was in 2002 (median estimate; 95% Highest Posterior Density-HPD interval: 1999-2004). Additionally, we found significant clustering within the CRF02_AG subepidemic according to the ethnic origin. Conclusion: CRF02_AG has been introduced as a result of multiple introductions in Spain, following regional dispersal in several cases. We showed that CRF02_AG transmissions were mostly due to regional dispersal in Spain. The hot-spot for the largest CRF02_AG regional subepidemic in Spain was in Madrid associated with MSM transmission risk group. The existence of subepidemics suggest that several spillovers occurred from Madrid to other areas. CRF02_AG sequences from Hispanics were clustered in a separate subclade suggesting no linkage between the local and Hispanic subepidemics., This work was supported by Plan Nacional de I + D + I and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER (RD16/0025/0040 and PI18/00819) and Fundacion Progreso y Salud, Junta de Andalucia (PI-0550-2017). The study was in part funded by the Hellenic Scientific Society for the Study of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Please cite this paper as: del Rosal et al. (2011) Pandemic H1N1 influenza-associated hospitalizations in children in Madrid, Spain. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 5(6), e544–e551. Objective To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children hospitalized with 2009 pandemic influenza (pH1N1) in Madrid, Spain. Patients/Methods We included patients less than 14 years of age admitted to one of 18 hospitals in Madrid, Spain, between May 1 and November 30, 2009 and diagnosed with pH1N1 by polymerase chain reaction. A retrospective chart review was conducted and data were compared by age, presence of high-risk medical conditions, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission. Results A total of 517 pH1N1 cases were included for final analysis. One hundred and forty-two patients (27·5%) had predisposing underlying illnesses, with immunosuppression (36 children, 7%) and moderate persistent asthma (34, 6·6%) being the most common ones. Patients with underlying medical conditions had longer hospital stays [median 5, interquartile range (IQR) 3–8 days, versus median 4, IQR 3–6, P

Congenital transmission of Chagas disease now occurs in areas where the disease is non-endemic, and also from one generation to another. According to epidemiological data from Latin America, the prevalence of the disease in pregnant women is 0.7%-54%, and the prevalence of vertical transmission is around 5%-6%. Congenital T. cruzi infection is an acute infection in newborns that should be treated with anti-parasitic therapy. The treatment of pregnant women could also have an impact on the control of the disease. This article has been prepared following the recommendations suggested by a group of experts in Infectious Diseases, Microbiology, Gynaecology and Paediatrics.