Clinical Management of Pediatric Acute-Onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome: Part III-Treatment and Prevention of Infections.

Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome (PANS) and its subset, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection (PANDAS), are emerging autoimmune encephalopathies of childhood. Management guidelines are needed. This article, from the PANS/PANDAS Consortium, presents a consensus management guideline for the infection components.

Looking for PANDAS in Missouri.

This review seeks to educate clinicians and advocate for patients having acute-onset pediatric autoimmune encephalopathy. Primary care providers caring for children are not fully aware of the debilitating illness that changes the life of a child and a family overnight. Our goal is to heighten awareness of a) the initial diagnosis, b) treatment and c) information about referral of affected children by health professionals in Missouri and surrounding states.

Altered neutrophil counts at diagnosis of invasive meningococcal infection in children.

Background: Invasive meningococcal infections can be devastating. Substantial endotoxemia releases mature and immature neutrophils. Endothelial margination of mature neutrophils may increase the immature-to-total neutrophil ratio (ITR).

Isolation of Exophiala dermatitidis from pigmented sputum in a cystic fibrosis patient.

A 16-year-old female with cystic fibrosis (CF) presented with an acute respiratory exacerbation during which black flecks were observed in the spontaneously expectorated sputum. The production of this pigmented sputum was subsequently attributed to Exophiala dermatitidis hyphae. Treatment with antibiotics, corticosteroids, and antifungal medications led to an initial resolution of symptoms and clearance of the black pigment from her sputum.