Search

On average, it takes almost 24 h to diagnose an ischemic stroke in a child. Epileptic seizures are the most common clinical manifestation of cerebral ischemia in neonates and small children. Many children who have sustained a stroke have a constellation of risk factors that can lead to recurrent infarcts if they are not detected in timely fashion and then definitively treated. In this article, we present the current concept of the evaluation and treatment of ischemic cerebral arteriopathies in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectopic thyroid is a rare developmental abnormality. Clinically, it may be difficult to differentiate an ectopic thyroid gland from a thyroglossal cyst. Investigations such as thyroid function test and a thyroid (Tc-99m) scan will help in making the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumonia is one of the most common respiratory tract infection in the pediatric age group. Recurrence of pneumonia in child is of concern. The diagnostic workup is dependent on whether infection repeatedly occurs in the same lung lobe, or affects multiple lobes and/or different areas in different episodes. A 7-year-old boy was admitted with a second episode of left lower lobe pneumonia. The chest X-ray demonstrated a nonhomogeneous opacity without a clearly recognizable segmental distribution. A diagnosis of superinfection of an intralobar sequestration was made. The patient was treated with systemic antibiotics and 14 days later the child improved symptomatically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is the most common congenital anomaly of the urinary tract that occurs in 30-50% of children presenting with recurrent urinary tract infections. Long-standing untreated VUR results in renal scarring and hydronephrotic change ultimately leading to chronic renal failure and arterial hypertension. However, it may also result in diffuse tubulopathy compromising the concentrating capacity of tubules and urinary acidification defects. Renal tubular dysfunction should be considered in all children with VUR presenting with failure to thrive, rickets, bony deformity/pain, hypokalemia, and metabolic acidosis. We report such a case of a 14-year-old girl who presented with rickets, failure to gain weight and height, bony pains, and muscle weakness with a history of VUR. On investigation, she was found to have normal anion gap metabolic acidosis with hypokalemia suggestive of distal renal tubular acidosis. She responded well to oral alkali and potassium replacement therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]