Publications by authors named "Judith Van der Voort"

Background: Childhood urinary tract infection (UTI) can cause renal scarring, and possibly hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and end-stage renal failure (ESRF). Previous studies have focused on selected populations, with severe illness or underlying risk factors. The risk for most children with UTI is unclear.

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Background: Nephropathic Cystinosis (NC), a rare disease characterised by intra-lysosomal accumulation of cystine, results in progressive kidney failure (KF). Compliance to lifelong oral cysteamine, the only therapy, is often compromised. The relationship between compliance and costs of NC has not been previously formally assessed.

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This case presentation takes you on a journey of diagnostic hurdles, covering a common neonatal presentation: abdominal distention with failure to pass meconium, followed by a presentation in infancy with metabolic, renal and electrolyte abnormalities. The article provides a systematic approach to the different clinical problems, allowing interpretation of results, making differential diagnoses and deciding on investigations and management.

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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing contributor to the global burden of noncommunicable diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the severity of kidney damage and the need for dialysis or transplantation. It is not known whether mild-to-moderate renal pelvis dilatation (RPD) identified at 18-20 weeks gestation is an early indicator of renal pathology.

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Objectives: To compare the validity of diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) through urine culture between samples processed in routine health service laboratories and those processed in a research laboratory.

Population And Methods: We conducted a prospective diagnostic cohort study in 4808 acutely ill children aged <5 years attending UK primary health care. UTI, defined as pure/predominant growth ≥105 CFU/mL of a uropathogen (the reference standard), was diagnosed at routine health service laboratories and a central research laboratory by culture of urine samples.

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Background: It is not clear which young children presenting acutely unwell to primary care should be investigated for urinary tract infection (UTI) and whether or not dipstick testing should be used to inform antibiotic treatment.

Objectives: To develop algorithms to accurately identify pre-school children in whom urine should be obtained; assess whether or not dipstick urinalysis provides additional diagnostic information; and model algorithm cost-effectiveness.

Design: Multicentre, prospective diagnostic cohort study.

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Purpose: Up to 50% of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in young children are missed in primary care. Urine culture is essential for diagnosis, but urine collection is often difficult. Our aim was to derive and internally validate a 2-step clinical rule using (1) symptoms and signs to select children for urine collection; and (2) symptoms, signs, and dipstick testing to guide antibiotic treatment.

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Background: The added diagnostic utility of nappy pad urine samples and the proportion that are contaminated is unknown.

Aim: To develop a clinical prediction rule for the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI) based on sampling using the nappy pad method.

Design And Setting: Acutely unwell children <5 years presenting to 233 UK primary care sites.

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Background: Antibiotic treatment recommendations based on susceptibility data from routinely submitted urine samples may be biased because of variation in sampling, laboratory procedures and inclusion of repeat samples, leading to uncertainty about empirical treatment.

Objective: To describe and compare susceptibilities of Escherichia coli cultured from routinely submitted samples, with E. coli causing urinary tract infection (UTI) from a cohort of systematically sampled, acutely unwell children.

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Background: The prevalence of targeted and serendipitous treatment for, and associated recovery from, urinary tract infection (UTI) in pre-school children is unknown.

Aim: To determine the frequency and suspicion of UTI in children who are acutely ill, along with details of antibiotic prescribing, its appropriateness, and whether that appropriateness impacted on symptom improvement and recovery.

Design And Setting: Prospective observational cohort study in primary care sites in urban and rural areas in England and Wales.

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This review article describes the pathophysiology and common aetiologies of hyperkalaemia including pseudohyperkalaemia, renal impairment, medication, rhabdomyolysis and aldosterone deficiency. Two clinical cases are used to describe symptoms (mainly muscle weakness and arrhythmias) and illustrate different management options. An approach to management including relevant investigations and interpretation of ECG changes is described.

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Renal candidiasis is an increasingly common condition affecting predominantly premature infants receiving neonatal intensive care or term infants with urogenital tract anomalies. Multiple risk factors are usually present. Although rare, some infants develop an obstructive uropathy due to fungal balls, and this requires prompt detection and intervention to preserve kidney function.

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Background: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common and may cause hearing loss with associated developmental delay. Treatment remains controversial.

Objectives: To examine the evidence for treating children with hearing loss associated with OME with systemic or topical intranasal steroids.

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