Is this acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Arthritis could be a presenting feature of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and could be wrongly diagnosed as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Clinical and laboratory parameters might differentiate ALL and JRA in children who present with arthritis. Out of a total of 250 children of ALL, 10 were referred to the department of child health and paediatric haemato-oncology of Christian Medical College, Vellore during 1990-2002.

Clinical features and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus.

We report the clinical profile, treatment and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus in 70 patients between the age of 4-15 years. Fever (94.2%), arthritis (65.

Efficacy and safety of a live attenuated, cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent against culture-confirmed influenza in young children in Asia.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cold-adapted influenza vaccine, trivalent (CAIV-T) against culture-confirmed influenza in children 12 to <36 months of age during 2 consecutive influenza seasons at multiple sites in Asia.

Methods: In year 1, 3174 children 12 to <36 months of age were randomized to receive 2 doses of CAIV-T (n = 1900) or placebo (n = 1274) intranasally > or =28 days apart. In year 2, 2947 subjects were rerandomized to receive 1 dose of CAIV-T or placebo.

Efficacy of zinc in the treatment of severe pneumonia in hospitalized children <2 y old.

Background: Severe pneumonia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in undernourished young children in developing countries.

Objective: This study evaluated the effect of adjuvant zinc therapy on recovery from severe pneumonia by hospitalized children in southern India who were receiving standard antibiotic therapy.

Design: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted at the Christian Medical College Hospital, an 1800-bed teaching hospital in Tamilnadu, India.

Clinical profile and outcome of acute renal failure in South Indian children.

This was a retrospective study to assess the clinical profile of children admitted with acute renal failure and to identify factors associated with poor outcome. Fifty-four children (age one month to 12 years) with acute renal failure were studied. Males outnumbered females (38/54; 70%).

Intermittent clobazam therapy in febrile seizures.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of intermittent clobazam therapy in preventing the recurrence of febrile seizures and to assess its safety.

Methods: The study was a prospective, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted in the Department of Child Health, Christian Medical College Hospital, Vellore between July 2001 and September 2002. Neurologically normal children between 6 months and 3 years of age with a history of febrile seizures and no evidence of acute CNS infection or EEG abnormality were included into the study.

Unusual cause for miliary lung mottling in a child.

A 12-year-old boy presented to us with a diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis which was made based on a history of prolonged fever, multiple neck swellings and radiological findings of bilateral multiple micronodular opacities. Examination showed a diffuse thyroid gland swelling. He was diagnosed to have papillary thyroid carcinoma with distant metastases to cervical lymphnode on histopathology and to lungs.

Osteopetrorickets.

Rickets is a paradoxical complication of osteopetrosis resulting from the inability of the osteoclasts to maintain a normal calcium-phosphorus balance in the extracellular fluid. Detection of rickets in a child with osteopetrosis is necessary, because treatment of the rickets with vitamin D leads to improvement in activity, decrease in irritability, improvement of appetite, and protects against recurrent respiratory tract infections. If bone marrow transplantation is feasible, then for better results, rickets should be completely treated prior to the transplantation.

Quantitation of proteinuria by spot urine sampling.

Few studies have shown that calculation of protein/creatinine ratio in a spot urine sample correlates well with the 24-hour urine collection. A study was conducted to compare the accuracy of a spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio (P/C ratio) and urinary dipstick (albustix) with the 24-hour urine protein (24-HUP). Fifty samples from 26 patients were collected.

Comparison of blood gas values in arterial and venous blood.

Objective: To compare pH and PCO2 values of simultaneously obtained arterial, arterialized capillary, and venous blood samples and also to compare oxygen saturation (ASaO2) measured in arterial blood and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry (PSaO2).

Methods: Prospective study was done in the children admitted in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Christian Medical College Hospital Vellore, requiring critical care. All the three blood gas samples (arterial, capillary and venous) were taken simultaneously and analyzed.