Associations Between Viral and Bacterial Potential Pathogens in the Nasopharynx of Children With and Without Respiratory Symptoms.

Background: Nasopharyngeal (NP) bacterial colonization is necessary for subsequent respiratory and/or invasive infection. Our study aimed at comparing NP bacterial colonization rates between children with and without symptoms of an acute viral respiratory tract infection and examining associations between identified microorganisms.

Methods: Children 3 months to 6 years of age with and without an acute viral respiratory tract infection were recruited, and a questionnaire was filled.

Pandemic influenza A vs seasonal influenza A in hospitalized children in Athens.

Background: Data on pandemic H1N1 influenza (pH1N1) virus infection in hospitalised children are limited.

Aims And Objectives: To examine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children hospitalised with pH1N1 at a large tertiary-care centre in Athens and compare them with those of children hospitalised with seasonal influenza A in previous years.

Methods: All children (n = 146) admitted with confirmed pH1N1 between October 2009 to February 2010 and January 2011 to May 2011 were included.

Too short stature, too many stigmata.

Dyskeratosis congenita (DC) is a rare disease characterised by bone marrow failure and skin manifestations. Patients with DC may exhibit short stature that is not usually related to growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Replacement treatment with GH should be done cautiously as it can predispose to haematological malignancy.

Impact of influenza infection in healthy children examined as outpatients and their families.

Decisions regarding the introduction of influenza immunization in healthy children require an accurate evaluation of influenza disease burden not only in the inpatient but also in the outpatient setting. We prospectively examined the impact of virologically confirmed influenza in 1462 outpatient children (> or = 6 months to < 14 years) and their families, during two consecutive influenza seasons. Influenza was documented in 573/1462 (39%) outpatients with febrile respiratory illness and accounted for 13.