Evaluation of late cardiac effects after multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children.

Introduction: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is associated with important cardiovascular morbidity during the acute phase. Follow-up shows a swift recovery of cardiac abnormalities in most patients. However, a small portion of patients has persistent cardiac sequelae at mid-term.

Population-Level Analysis of Appropriateness of End-of-Life Care for Children with Neurologic Conditions.

Objective: The objective of this study was to measure the appropriateness of end-of-life care for children who died with neurologic conditions.

Study Design: Based on linked routinely collected databases, we conducted a population-level decedent retrospective cohort study of children with neurologic conditions who died in Belgium between 2010 and 2017. We measured a set of 22 face-validated quality indicators.

Acute Health Effects and Outcome Following Sarin Gas Attacks in Khan Shaykhun, Syria.

Background In 2017, Idlib, Syria, was exposed to a chemical attack with sarin gas. Many patients of the attack were presented to the Al Rahman Charity Hospital in northern Syria. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical manifestations of sarin gas exposure, as well as the management and outcome of these manifestations in areas with poor healthcare infrastructure.

Effects of Two Chlorine Gas Attacks on Hospital Admission and Clinical Outcomes in Kafr Zita, Syria.

Background In 2014, Hama Governorate was exposed twice to chlorine gas, with 15 patients presenting to Kafr Zita Hospital in Northwest Syria. This study aimed to describe clinical manifestations of chlorine gas exposure to identify factors leading to facility admission and the need for ICU/intubation in conflict-affected areas with limited healthcare infrastructure. Methods We conducted a case-series study, using medical records of suspected chlorine-exposed patients presenting at Kafr Zita Hospital on either 11 April or 22 May 2014.

Factors influencing the occurrence of infectious disease outbreaks in Lebanon since the Syrian crisis.

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the region has witnessed a major population displacement. Lebanon, a country with a population of 4.2 million, has welcomed around one million refugees.

Outcome of 10 years of ear and hearing screening in people with intellectual disability in Europe: A multicentre study.

Background: Undetected ear and hearing problems negatively impact the quality of life of people with intellectual disability.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective study describes the outcome of 10 years of ear and hearing screening in athletes with intellectual disability in seven European countries. The screening was conducted by a trained team using a strictly standardised protocol.

Varying Presentations of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Temporarily Associated with COVID-19.

. A novel coronavirus identified in 2019 leads to a pandemic of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with important morbidity and mortality. Initially, children seemed minimally affected, but there were reports of cases similar to (atypical) Kawasaki disease or toxic shock syndrome, and evidence emerges about a complication named paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporarily associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS) or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Diagnosing enterovirus meningitis via blood transcriptomics: an alternative for lumbar puncture?

Background: Meningitis can be caused by several viruses and bacteria. Identifying the causative pathogen as quickly as possible is crucial to initiate the most optimal therapy, as acute bacterial meningitis is associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Bacterial meningitis requires antibiotics, as opposed to enteroviral meningitis, which only requires supportive therapy.

Clinical Characteristics of the 2013 Haiyan Typhoon Victims Presenting to the Belgian First Aid and Support Team.

Objective: In 2013, the Philippines was struck by typhoon Haiyan, which damaged local hospitals and disrupted health care. The Belgian First Aid and Support Team erected a field hospital and water purification unit in Palo. This study aims to describe the diagnoses encountered and treatment provided.

A refugee camp in the centre of Europe: clinical characteristics of asylum seekers arriving in Brussels.

Background: In the summer of 2015, the exodus of Syrian war refugees and saturation of refugee camps in neighbouring countries led to the influx of asylum-seekers in European countries, including Belgium. This study aims to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of asylum seekers who arrived in a huddled refugee camp, in the centre of a well-developed country with all medical facilities.

Methods: Using a descriptive cross-sectional study design, physicians of Médecins du Monde prospectively registered age, gender, origin, medical symptoms and diagnoses of all patients presenting to an erected field hospital in Brussels in September 2015.

Children in the Syrian Civil War: the Familial, Educational, and Public Health Impact of Ongoing Violence.

Objective: The Syrian civil war since 2011 has led to one of the most complex humanitarian emergencies in history. The objective of this study was to document the impact of the conflict on the familial, educational, and public health state of Syrian children.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in May 2015.

Disaster preparedness and response improvement: comparison of the 2010 Haiti earthquake-related diagnoses with baseline medical data.

Objectives: Disaster medicine research generally lacks control groups. This study aims to describe categories of diagnoses encountered by the Belgian First Aid and Support Team after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and extract earthquake-related changes from comparison with comparable baseline data. The hypothesis is that besides earthquake-related trauma, medical problems emerge soon, questioning an appropriate composition of Foreign Medical Teams and Interagency Emergency Health Kits.

Clinical characteristics of the inhabitants of an internally displaced persons camp in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo after the arms dump blast on March 4, 2012.

Background: On March 4, 2012, an arms dump exploded in a densely populated area in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo. At least 250 people were killed, 2,500 wounded, and 13,800 left homeless, of which 5,000 were relocated to a newly constructed internally displaced person (IDP) camp.

Aim: To describe the medical complaints of persons presenting to the IDP camp for medical evaluation.

Acute sore throat in children at the emergency department: best medical practice?

Background: Belgian antibiotic (AB) policy guidelines discourage the use of ABs in sore throat in otherwise healthy individuals; yet, 35% of all children with sore throat in our pediatric emergency department receive a prescription for ABs.

Objective: To identify factors influencing our physician's prescription behavior.

Patients And Methods: Using a retrospective study, we analyzed all medical records of children younger than 16 years of age diagnosed with sore throat (in 2009 and 2010).

Centor criteria in children in a paediatric emergency department: for what it is worth.

Introduction: Centor criteria (fever >38.5°C, swollen, tender anterior cervical lymph nodes, tonsillar exudate and absence of cough) are an algorithm to assess the probability of group A β haemolytic Streptococcus (GABHS) as the origin of sore throat, developed for adults. We wanted to evaluate the correlation between Centor criteria and presence of GABHS in children with sore throat admitted to our paediatric emergency department (PED).

Pandemic A/H1N1v influenza 2009 in hospitalized children: a multicenter Belgian survey.

Background: During the 2009 influenza A/H1N1v pandemic, children were identified as a specific "at risk" group. We conducted a multicentric study to describe pattern of influenza A/H1N1v infection among hospitalized children in Brussels, Belgium.

Methods: From July 1, 2009, to January 31, 2010, we collected epidemiological and clinical data of all proven (positive H1N1v PCR) and probable (positive influenza A antigen or culture) pediatric cases of influenza A/H1N1v infections, hospitalized in four tertiary centers.

Congenital cervical kyphosis in a child associated with tetraparesis: case report.

Congenital cervical kyphosis is a rare clinical condition. We describe an infant presenting with tetraparesis, rapidly progressing to phrenic paralysis and fatal respiratory insufficiency. Therapeutic options remain challenging.

Clinical predictors of the severity of bronchiolitis.

Introduction: Bronchiolitis is the most common serious, acute viral infection in infants. Besides the diagnostic and treatment challenges, the appropriate time and the need of hospitalization remain unanswered. We wonder whether clinical predictors such as age less than 6 months, respiratory frequency more than 45 breaths per minute and oxygen saturation less than 95% could be of any help in assessing the severity of the disease and the need for admission.