Universal Newborn Screening for Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection - From Infant to Maternal Infection: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Most infants at risk for cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) are unrecognized because of the absence of a universal neonatal CMV screening. The search of CMV-DNA by molecular methods in salivary swabs was demonstrated to be a reliable approach. This study describes the results obtained by carrying out a universal screening for congenital CMV (cCMV) infection including all live-born newborns in three Italian sites, as well as the therapeutic interventions and clinical outcome of the CMV-infected neonates.

A case of Kawasaki disease with anasarca and concomitant rotavirus infection.

We present the case of a child who initially presented with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of severe rotavirus gastroenteritis complicated by hyponatraemic dehydration. Appropriate intravenous fluid therapy was administered but the patient, still feverish, developed anasarca probably due to hyperpermeability of microvessels following massive inflammation. Atypical Kawasaki disease was diagnosed on the basis of the clinical findings and laboratory tests.

A randomized prospective double blind controlled trial on effects of long-term consumption of fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei in pre-school children with allergic asthma and/or rhinitis.

To examine whether long-term consumption of fermented milk containing a specific Lactobacillus casei may improve the health status of preschool children suffering from allergic asthma and/or rhinitis a randomized, prospective, double blind, controlled trial was conducted in 187 children 2-5 y of age. The children received for 12 mo either fermented milk (100 mL) containing Lactobacillus casei (10(8) cfu/mL) or placebo. The time free from and the number of episodes of asthma/rhinitis after starting intervention were the outcome measures.