Invasive mould infections in newborns and children.

Invasive mould infections represent important complications of different pediatric conditions. Epidemiology and clinical features vary according to the type of underlying conditions that determine the risk of invasive mycosis. No pediatric study has specifically evaluated the efficacy of prophylaxis or therapy invasive moulds infections, while pediatric dosages for the treatment of invasive aspergillosis are available for drugs that produced positive results in clinical trials undertaken in adults.

Determinants of exhaled nitric oxide levels (FeNO) in childhood atopic asthma: evidence for neonatal respiratory distress as a factor associated with low FeNO levels.

Background: In allergic asthmatic children exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels are related to eosinophilic inflammation by correlation analysis. Whether FeNO can be modified by factors potentially influencing the natural history of asthma in early life is not known.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of anamnestic factors influencing the natural history of asthma and to identify potential determinants for elevated or low FeNO levels by multivariate analysis.

"Atypical steroid response" in a pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor.

A 6-year-old girl was evaluated for the presence of a paratracheal mass with right upper lobe atelectasis due to an endobronchial mass. Bronchoscopic biopsy established a diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) and prednisone initially led to a significant reduction of the endobronchial lesion. However, 8 weeks later, when still on prednisone, the mediastinal mass enlarged dramatically.

Tracheal compression by aberrant innominate artery: clinical presentations in infants and children, indications for surgical correction by aortopexy, and short- and long-term outcome.

Background: Aberrant innominate artery (AIA) may cause various degrees of tracheal compression (TC).

Purpose: The aim of this study is to define the clinical manifestations of AIA-induced TC and outcome after aortopexy in infants and older children.

Methods: Children with significant AIA-induced TC were evaluated, and information after surgery or conservative management was obtained by telephonic interview after 1 to 4 years since discharge.

Intermittent gaseous bowel distention: atypical sign of congenital tracheoesophageal fistula.

Three girls, 5-, 9-, and 15-year-old, were evaluated for recurrent airway infections and pneumonia. Chest X-rays, which included the upper portion of the abdomen, showed marked gaseous bowels distention, while computed tomography scans of the chest demonstrated the presence of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), confirmed by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Abdominal gaseous distension, a known possible clinical manifestation of TEF in the neonatal period generated by airflow through the fistula into the oesophagus, has not been reported as a clue to the diagnosis in older children.