Relative Adrenal Insufficiency in Pediatric Septic Shock.

Sepsis and septic shock represent important causes of morbidity and mortality in children, and adrenal dysfunction may play a role in the cardiovascular and immunological response. According to existing reports, the incidence of adrenal dysfunction in critically ill children varies significantly between 4 and 52% of patients. This article reviews the concept of adrenal insufficiency and the role it may play in a pediatric septic shock.

Clinical, biochemical and microbiological factors associated with the prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis in children.

Background: Pneumococcal meningitis (PM) has a high morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to evaluate what factors are related to a poor PM prognosis.

Methods: Prospective observational study conducted on patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a tertiary hospital with a diagnosis of PM (January 2000 to December 2013).

Prognostic factors in pediatric sepsis study, from the Spanish Society of Pediatric Intensive Care.

Background: Sepsis and septic shock represent up to 30% of admitted patients in pediatric intensive care units, with a mortality that can exceed 10%. The objective of this study is to determine the prognostic factors for mortality in sepsis.

Methods: Multicenter prospective descriptive study with patients (aged 7 days to 18 years) admitted to the pediatric intensive care units for sepsis, between January 2011 and April 2012.