Epstein-Barr Encephalitis in a Child with Congenital Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: A Case Report Calling for No Forgetfulness.

Background: In resource-rich settings, the rate of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has dramatically decreased by virtue of a combination of preventive strategies during the last two decades.

Case Presentation: We present a case of progressive developmental milestone loss in a toddler with previously unknown congenitally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, complicated by an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) coinfection.

Conclusion: Our report underscores the differential diagnosis between HIV encephalopathy and EBV encephalitis and the vertical transmission of the HIV infection, which constitutes an alarming issue in terms of public health.

Screening for coeliac disease in preschool Greek children: the feasibility study of a community-based project.

Aim: Evaluation of the prevalence of coeliac disease (CD) in Greek paediatric population.

Methods: The project consists of two parts: (i) a pilot study of preschool children aged 2-6 years to test the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of community-based screening and (ii) a CD prevalence study, by random clustered sampling and proportionate stratification of various geographical areas in Greece. Trained nonmedical staff performed a rapid immunochromatographic test to detect IgA antibodies to tTG-IgA and IgA deficiency.

Four-year evaluation of myocardial and liver iron assessed prospectively with serial MRI scans in young patients with beta-thalassaemia major: comparison between different chelation regimens.

This study was conducted in order to assess myocardial and liver iron concentrations (LICs) using serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans in patients with beta-thalassaemia major, over a 4-yr period, and consequently to compare the effectiveness of different chelation regimens. Fifty children and young adults with beta-thalassaemia major (27 boys and 23 girls) were recruited (mean age: 14.74 +/- 3.

Correlative study of iron accumulation in liver, myocardium, and pituitary assessed with MRI in young thalassemic patients.

Clinical complications resulting from unevenly iron accumulation in individual organs of patients with beta-thalassemia major can affect both expectancy and quality of life. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a quantitative, noninvasive, accurate method for estimating iron levels in various tissues, not easily accessible with other techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate the level of iron accumulation in different organs (anterior pituitary, myocardium, and liver) assessed with MRI, in children and young adults with beta-thalassemia major.

Prevalence and severity of liver disease in patients with b thalassemia major. A single-institution fifteen-year experience.

During the last years, liver disease has emerged as a major cause of mortality in patients with b thalassemia major (TM). In spite of its clinical relevance, TM-associated liver damage has been insufficiently characterized. We therefore retrospectively analyzed all TM patients of our Department who underwent liver biopsy since 1990.

Glycine N -methyltransferase deficiency: a new patient with a novel mutation.

We report studies of a Greek boy of gypsy origin that show that he has severe deficiency of glycine N -methyltransferase (GNMT) activity due to apparent homozygosity for a novel mutation in the gene encoding this enzyme that changes asparagine-140 to serine. At age 2 years he was found to have mildly elevated serum liver transaminases that have persisted to his present age of 5 years. At age 4 years, hypermethioninaemia was discovered.

Shigellosis of childhood in northern Greece: epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data of hospitalized patients during the period 1971-96.

The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data of shigellosis in children from northern Greece, hospitalized in our department during the period 1971-96. In total, 422 cases of shigellosis, aged 1 month to 14 y (238M, 184F) were hospitalized during the study period. The annual distribution was approximately stable until 1990, the mean number of cases per year being about 20.

Listeria meningitis in children: report of two cases.

We report two cases of meningitis caused by Listeria monocytogenes in children. The first patient was a healthy 14-month-old boy and the second patient a 3-year-old girl with Byler disease which, however, is not reported as a predisposing factor for listeriosis. We present these cases because Listeria infection, although common in neonates, is extremely infrequent during infancy and childhood.

Incidence of ceftriaxone-associated gallbladder pseudolithiasis.

We prospectively evaluated the incidence of gallbladder pseudolithiasis in children treated with high doses of ceftriaxone for a variety of serious infections. We also monitored the time interval needed for this phenomenon to develop and resolve completely after initiation and cessation of treatment, respectively. Included in this study are 44 children treated with ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/d divided into 2 equal intravenous doses and followed by serial abdominal sonography.