Acute diarrhoea in children treated in an outpatient setting in Athens, Greece.

Objective: To describe the epidemiology and aetiology of acute diarrhoea among children treated exclusively in an outpatient setting in Greece.

Methods: During 1999, children with acute diarrhoea who attended the emergency department of our hospital were prospectively studied. Patients requiring hospitalization were excluded.

Epidemiology, clinical course and impact on hospitalization costs of acute diarrhea among hospitalized children in Athens, Greece.

The aim of this study was to describe the etiology, morbidity and hospitalization costs associated with acute diarrhea among hospitalized children in Greece. During 1999, 294 hospitalized children (median age 1 y) with acute diarrhea were prospectively studied. Bacterial and viral enteropathogens were detected in 100 (34%) and 37 (12.

Lack of association between Kawasaki syndrome and infection with Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia typhi, Coxiella burnetii or Ehrlichia phagocytophila group.

Background: The etiology of Kawasaki syndrome (KS) is unknown. Rickettsiae, intracellular microorganisms that invade the vascular endothelium, might cause KS.

Objectives: To investigate whether there is an association between KS and infection with Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia typhi, Coxiella burnetii or Ehrlichia phagocytophila group.

Mycobacterial cervical lymphadenitis in children: clinical and laboratory factors of importance for differential diagnosis.

The role of epidemiological and clinical features for the early differential diagnosis between Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) complex and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) cervical lymphadenitis in children was examined in this study. From 1982 to 1997, 24 MTB complex cases and 26 NTM cases were diagnosed, of which 75% and 25%, respectively, presented during the first half of the study period. Epidemiological and lymph-node features and anatomical areas were not helpful in the differential diagnosis between the 2 groups.

Visceral leishmaniasis during childhood in southern Greece.

Records were reviewed of 82 immunocompetent children (median age, 2. 5 years) from southern Greece who were diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis from 1986 through 1998. Forty-nine (58%) patients originated from the city of Athens; of them, 46 (94%) lived by hills bordering the city.

Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in children.

Methods: The clinical and epidemiological features of 102 children with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosed between 1982 and 1998 at P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital were reviewed.

Results: During the past decade, a 50% increase of admissions for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was observed. The source of infection was disclosed in 48 patients.

Tuberculosis during infancy.

Setting: A worldwide re-emergence of tuberculosis has been observed during the last decade. However, few studies of infants with tuberculosis appear in the literature.

Objective: To describe tuberculosis during infancy.

Viral infections in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Background: Although viral infection is a major clinical problem for hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, there are few large series reporting on these infections in the pediatric population. We performed a retrospective analysis of the impact of viral infections in this patient population in our center, managed by a uniform antiviral prophylaxis protocol.

Method: We reviewed the medical records of consecutive children and adolescents who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at the Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas M.

Isepamicin versus amikacin for the treatment of acute pyelonephritis in children.

In this study we compared the efficacy and safety of isepamicin versus amikacin at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg i.v.

Hickman-Broviac catheter-related infections in children with malignancies.

Infectious complications are frequently encountered following Hickman-Broviac (H-B) catheter insertion. The medical records of 164 children with malignancies who underwent H-B catheter insertion from March 1, 1988 to December 31, 1997 were reviewed retrospectively. During a 35,697 catheter-day period, 77 catheter-related infections occurred, including 50 catheter-insertion-site infections and 27 bloodstream infections.

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lymphadenitis in children.

Objectives: To describe the clinical and epidemiologic features, management and outcome associated with the development of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) superficial lymphadenitis in children.

Methods: The medical records of all children 0 to 14 years of age with NTM superficial lymphadenitis who were diagnosed at P. and A.

Cytomegalovirus disease in adult marrow transplant recipients receiving ganciclovir prophylaxis: a retrospective study.

In a retrospective study, we compared the incidence and risk of mortality associated with CMV disease in adult allogeneic BMT and PBSC recipients who received ganciclovir prophylaxis three-times-per-week (78 patients) vs five-times-per-week (137 patients). Active CMV infection occurred in 28 (41%) and 26 (21%) in the three- vs five-times-per-week groups, respectively (P < 0.005).

Wound infections after minor limb lacerations: risk factors and the role of antimicrobial agents.

Background: The requirement for antimicrobial agents in patients with minor limb lacerations was prospectively studied.

Methods: The development of wound infections in patients with minor limb lacerations who received amoxicillin plus clavulanate acid treatment (group A, 52 patients) was studied and compared with patients who did not (group B, 48 patients).

Results: Wound infection occurred in 6 (11.

Dapsone for Pneumocystis carinii prophylaxis in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

Children who undergo bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are at risk for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Prophylaxis using trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) is highly effective but the incidence of adverse drug reactions is significant. We retrospectively reviewed 33 pediatric BMT (25 allogeneic and eight autologous) in whom dapsone was used for PCP prophylaxis because patients were unable to receive TMP/SMX.