Clinical characteristics of unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated children with neurological manifestations due to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection.

Omicron generally causes milder disease than previous strains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially in fully vaccinated individuals. However, incompletely vaccinated children may develop Omicron-related complications such as those affecting the central nervous system. To characterize the spectrum of clinical manifestations of neuro-COVID and to identify potential biomarkers associated with clinical outcomes, we recruited 15 children hospitalized for Omicron-related neurological manifestations in three hospitals in Hong Kong (9 boys and 6 girls aged 1-13 years).

Clinical Spectrum and Burden of Influenza-Associated Neurological Complications in Hospitalised Paediatric Patients.

Background: Influenza is one of the most common causes of acute respiratory tract infections around the world. Influenza viruses can cause seasonal epidemics. There remains limited information on the impact of both seasonal influenza A and influenza B related hospitalisations from neurological complications in paediatric populations in Asia.

Clinical Characteristics and Transmission of COVID-19 in Children and Youths During 3 Waves of Outbreaks in Hong Kong.

Importance: Schools were closed intermittently across Hong Kong to control the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to significant physical and psychosocial problems among children and youths.

Objective: To compare the clinical characteristics and sources of infection among children and youths with COVID-19 during the 3 waves of outbreaks in Hong Kong in 2020.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cross-sectional study involved children and youths aged 18 years or younger with COVID-19 in the 3 waves of outbreaks from January 23 through December 2, 2020.

A case report of complement C4B deficiency in a patient with steroid and IVIG-refractory anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Background: Complement C4A or C4B deficiency has never been reported in autoantibody-associated encephalitides patient. Here we present a case of anti-N-methyl- D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis associated with homozygous C4B deficiency, who did not respond to intravenous immunoglobulin and pulse methylprednisolone but plasmapheresis and rituximab.

Case Presentation: A fourteen-year-old boy presented to our unit with subacute onset of behavioral changes and confusion, and was later confirmed to be anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis.

Exome sequencing identifies molecular diagnosis in children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

Objective: Early onset drug-resistant epilepsy is a neurologic disorder in which 2 antiepileptic drugs fail to maintain the seizure-free status of the patient. Heterogeneous clinical presentations make the diagnosis challenging. We aim to identify the underlying genetic causes of a pediatric cohort with drug-resistant epilepsy and evaluate whether the findings can provide information on patient management.

Neurocognitive function, performance status, and quality of life in pediatric intracranial germ cell tumor survivors.

Background: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are more common in Asia than in the West, accounting for about 15% of brain tumors in Asian children. The survival rate for intracranial GCT is excellent, but there are concerns about the effects of radiotherapy on neuropsychological function and quality of life of patients.

Methods: Intracranial germ cell tumors (GCT) are more common in Asia than in the West, accounting for about 15% of brain tumors in Asian children.

Anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis in children: Incidence and experience in Hong Kong.

Aim: The study aims to analyze the incidence, clinical features, investigation findings and treatment outcomes of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor encephalitis in children from Hong Kong.

Method: A retrospective study was carried out on paediatric patients diagnosed with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in Hong Kong from January 2009 to December 2015.

Results: Fifteen patients (67% female, 93% Chinese) were identified over seven years and the estimated incidence in Hong Kong was 2.

Analysis of mutations in 7 genes associated with neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in a cohort of children with non-syndromic infantile epileptic encephalopathy.

Epileptic Encephalopathy (EE) is a heterogeneous condition in which cognitive, sensory and/or motor functions deteriorate as a consequence of epileptic activity, which consists of frequent seizures and/or major interictal paroxysmal activity. There are various causes of EE and they may occur at any age in early childhood. Genetic mutations have been identified to contribute to an increasing number of children with early onset EE which had been previously considered as cryptogenic.

Intra-abdominal Rhizopus microsporus infection successfully treated by combined aggressive surgical, antifungal, and iron chelating therapy.

Zygomycetes are widely distributed in the environment as inhabitants of soil and decaying matter. On rare occasions, these organisms can cause invasive infections in immunocompromised hosts. As zygomycetes are resistant to most conventional antifungal agents, its infection is often fatal.