Is the Medium Still the Message? Culture-Independent Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Infections.

Infectious diarrhea is caused by a variety of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasitic organisms. Though the causative agent of diarrhea has historically been evaluated via stool cultures, recently, culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) have been developed and utilized with increasing frequency. Current practice guidelines recommend their use as adjuncts to stool cultures for diagnosing acute and chronic diarrhea.

Bradycardia Without Hypertension: Is It a Common Clinical Presentation of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Malfunction in Pediatric Patients?

Background: Mechanical shunting of cerebrospinal fluid is an effective treatment for hydrocephalus. Some studies suggest that bradycardia without hypertension may also be observed in ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt malfunction; however, in our experience, this is not a common presenting sign.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether bradycardia without hypertension was a common sign in patients presenting to the pediatric emergency department (ED) with a VP shunt malfunction.

Outpatient Management of Headache after Pediatric Emergency Department Visit: Are we Missing Anything?

Background: Headache is a common complaint in children at a pediatric emergency department (PED). The primary objective of this analysis is to describe the outcome of patients presenting with headache to the PED and discharged with neurology follow up. The secondary objective is to describe the diagnostic evaluation children with headache underwent in the PED and to evaluate headache characteristics which are more likely associated with serious, life-threatening conditions.

Severe disseminated intravascular coagulation in a child envenomated by Echis coloratus and successful treatment with monovalent equine immunoglobulin G antivenom.

Background: Echis coloratus (Burton Carpet viper), a highly venomous snake belonging to the family Viperidae, is responsible for a large proportion of the venomous snakebites in Israel and Palestinian Authority. Procoagulant enzymes are present in Echis coloratus venom and significant coagulopathy is typical after envenomation. Here we report a case of envenomation by Echis coloratus that involved severe coagulopathy as the main systemic manifestation with severe bleeding after fasciotomy.

Publication outcomes of abstracts presented at an international toxicology conference.

Introduction: The timely and formal publication of material presented at national and international meetings is critical to the dissemination of new information to the medical community. The conversion rates for toxicology abstracts to full-text publications at previous North American toxicology meetings were low. No study has assessed the publication rate from the European Association of Poisons Centers and Clinical Toxicologists (EAPCCT).

Treatment of pediatric black widow spider envenomation: A national poison center's experience.

Background: Black widow species (Latrodectus species) envenomation can produce a syndrome characterized by painful muscle rigidity and autonomic disturbances. Symptoms tend to be more severe in young children and adults. We describe black widow spider exposures and treatment in the pediatric age group, and investigate reasons for not using antivenom in severe cases.

The changing clinical presentation of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis: the experience of a large, tertiary care pediatric hospital.

The authors reviewed the clinical and laboratory data from cases of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (HPS) diagnosed at their institution from 2006 to 2008. They assessed and compared presentation of patients with HPS over time at their institution. A total of 118 patients were included in this study.