Assessment and Prognostic Resources for Gross Motor Development in a Child with Cerebral Palsy Related to Congenital Zika Syndrome.

This article describes how the Gross Motor Ability Estimator (GMAE) software can provide important information based on the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM)-66 score of a child with congenital Zika syndrome.A child was assessed at 9, 17, and 25 months of age through the GMFM-66. At 2 years, the child's gross motor ability was estimated and classified according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS).

The early evolution of COVID-19 incidence and mortality among people aged under 80 years or 80 years and above after COVID-19 vaccine implementation in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

This study evaluates the early effects of COVID-19 vaccine implementation in the number of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 among those aged < 80 years or ≥ 80 years in the state of Bahia, Brazil. For that, we used data from the Bahia state Secretary of Health platform of cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in all age groups, between March 2020 and May 2021, when 82% of COVID-19 vaccines were CoronaVac. Overall, there were 1,012,200 cases and 21,241 deaths due to COVID-19, of which, respectively, 2.

Do Children With Congenital Zika Syndrome Have Cerebral Palsy?

As researchers and practitioners, we have an important role in educating families of children with brain damage caused by Zika virus infection on how a cerebral palsy diagnosis can empower them with more information and enable better access to care and intervention services.

Cell adhesion proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of neonates prenatally exposed to Zika virus: A case-control study.

To compare cell adhesion molecules levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between Zika virus (ZIKV)-exposed neonates with/without microcephaly (cases) and controls, 16 neonates (cases), 8 (50%) with and 8 (50%) without microcephaly, who underwent lumbar puncture (LP) during the ZIKV epidemic (2015-2016) were included. All mothers reported ZIKV clinical symptoms during gestation, all neonates presented with congenital infection findings, and other congenital infections were ruled out. Fourteen control neonates underwent LP in the same laboratory (2017-2018).

Impact of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine on incidence of invasive meningococcal disease in an 18-year time series in Brazil and in distinct Brazilian regions.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine in Brazil.

Methods: Ecological study assessing all invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and meningococcal C disease (MenC) cases reported in all age groups, from 2001 to 2019. MCC was implemented in 2010.

Delafloxacin as a treatment option for community-acquired pneumonia infection.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults. Bacterial pathogens are recognized to be frequent causative agents, which makes antibacterial treatment crucial for the evolution of these patients. There are several antimicrobial options available in daily practice.

Differences between children with severe acute lower respiratory infection with or without SARS-Cov-2 infection.

Aim: to compare clinical features and outcome of children with severe acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Methods: for this retrospective cohort study, all children aged<17 years admitted with severe ALRI at a PICU, in Salvador, Brazil were evaluated. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection was performed by real-time reverse-transcription PCR.

Zika-exposed microcephalic neonates exhibit higher degree of inflammatory imbalance in cerebrospinal fluid.

Not every neonate with congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection (CZI) is born with microcephaly. We compared inflammation mediators in CSF (cerebrospinal fluid obtained from lumbar puncture) between ZIKV-exposed neonates with/without microcephaly (cases) and controls. In Brazil, in the same laboratory, we identified 14 ZIKV-exposed neonates during the ZIKV epidemic (2015-2016), 7(50%) with and 7(50%) without microcephaly, without any other congenital infection, and 14 neonates (2017-2018) eligible to be controls and to match cases.

The impact of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine upon hospitalization rate of children with pneumonia in different Brazilian administrative regions.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent bacterial causative agent of pneumonia. Due to its significant contribution to the morbidity and mortality profile and the country's economy, the 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV10) was introduced in Brazil in 2010. Brazil is divided into five administrative regions which differ in social-economic indices among each other.

Seasonality of distinct respiratory viruses in a tropical city: implications for prophylaxis.

Objective: The frequency and seasonality of viruses in tropical regions are scarcely reported. We estimated the frequency of seven respiratory viruses and assessed seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza viruses in a tropical city.

Methods: Children (age ≤ 18 years) with acute respiratory infection were investigated in Salvador, Brazil, between July 2014 and June 2017.

Effect of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on mortality from lower respiratory infections and pneumonia among under-fives.

There is a well-known inverse association between mortality rate from infectious diseases and improvements in socioeconomic status, even though longer time-series are required to demonstrate this relationship. This general rule seems to apply to mortality from pneumonia in children in the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) era. Two recent published secular trend studies spanning from about 30 years among Brazilians under the age of five show either no effect of PCV - not even death rate decline from pneumococcal meningitis - or a modest one (8% reduction).

Systemic cytokines/chemokines associated to radiographic abnormalities in pneumonia in children.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) diagnosis remains a challenge in paediatrics. Chest radiography is considered gold standard for definition of pneumonia, however no previous study assessed the relationship between immune response and radiographic-confirmed-pneumonia. We assessed association between cytokines/chemokines levels and radiographic abnormalities in children with CAP.

The Negative Predictive Ability of Immature Neutrophils for Bacteremia in Children With Community-Acquired Infections.

Bacteremia is a serious condition. We aimed to assess the role of immature neutrophils in peripheral blood smears for prediction of bacteremia in children. In this cross-sectional study conducted in Salvador, Brazil, blood cultures collected from patients aged ≤18 years were identified.

Recurrent wheezing, allergic rhinitis, and maternal asthma as predictors of asthma in children.

Early prediction of asthma is crucial for asthma prevention. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) of recurrent wheezing during the first 3 years of life, atopic rhinitis, and maternal asthma for asthma in school-age children (ages ≥ 6 years). This case-control study was conducted in Salvador, Brazil.

Lower respiratory infections mortality among Brazilians under-five before and after national pneumococcal conjugate vaccine implementation.

Background: Studies on the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) on mortality, especially among preschoolers are scarce. We aimed to assess time trend mortality from lower respiratory infections (LRI), taken as a proxy of pneumonia, from 1990 to 2017.

Methods: This ecological study assessed the mortality rate among Brazilians under-five before and after the national PCV-10 implementation in 2010.

Cerebrospinal fluid immunoglobulins are increased in neonates exposed to Zika virus during foetal life.

Objective: To compare immunoglobulin levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of neonates exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) during foetal life (cases) with levels in CSF of control neonates.

Methods: We identified 16 neonates who underwent lumbar puncture (LP), during the ZIKV epidemic (December/2015 to March/2016) whose mothers reported ZIKV clinical symptoms during gestation (cases). Congenital microcephaly was defined as head circumference ≤31.

Effects of 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate (PCV10) vaccination on the nasopharyngeal microbiome.

Pathogenic bacteria, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis, are important vaccine targets. The 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) acts on 10 differents S. pneumoniae serovars.

Evolution of cytokines/chemokines in cases with community-acquired pneumonia and distinct etiologies.

Aim: To compare the systemic cytokines/chemokines levels over time during the evolution of children hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with and without pneumococcal infection.

Methods: Children less than 5-years-old hospitalized with CAP were prospectively investigated in Salvador, Brazil. Clinical data and biological samples were collected to investigate 20 etiological agents and to determine serum cytokines/chemokines levels on admission and 2 to 4 weeks later.

Community-acquired pneumonia among children: the latest evidence for an updated management.

Objective: To provide cutting-edge information for the management of community-acquired pneumonia in children under 5 years, based on the latest evidence published in the literature.

Data Source: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, by using the expressions: "community-acquired pneumonia" AND "child" AND "etiology" OR "diagnosis" OR "severity" OR "antibiotic". All articles retrieved had the title and the abstract read, when the papers reporting the latest evidence on each subject were identified and downloaded for complete reading.

Early Gross Motor Development Among Brazilian Children with Microcephaly Born Right After Zika Virus Infection Outbreak.

Objective: To assess the gross motor development of children with presumed congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection over the first 2 years of their lives.

Methods: Seventy-seven children were assessed at the median ages of 11, 18, and 24 months, using the evaluative instrument Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66). At the third assessment, the children with diagnoses of cerebral palsy (CP) were classified by severity through the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) and stratified by topography indicating the predominantly affected limbs.

Wheezing independently predicts viral infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia.

Aim: To assess whether there was a difference in the frequency of symptoms and signs among children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with viral or bacterial infection.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Salvador, Brazil. Children less than 5-years-old hospitalized with CAP were recruited.