Evaluation of Antivenom Therapy for Middle East Scorpion Envenomations.

Introduction: Scorpion envenomation is a leading cause of envenomation in our region. Antivenom has been used successfully to treat the systemic manifestations of envenomations inflicted by toxic scorpions. Toxic scorpions common in our area include Leiurus quinquestriatus , Androctonus australis , and Buthus occitanus .

Foreign body aspiration score (FOBAS)-a prospectively validated algorithm for the management and prediction of foreign body aspiration in children.

Unlabelled: Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a common cause of pediatric morbidity, but a standardized protocol to guide decision-making about bronchoscopy is lacking. We aimed to validate a new Foreign body aspiration score (FOBAS) for the pediatric emergency department (ED). Patients aged 0-18 years referred to the ED for suspected FBA were prospectively enrolled.

National Weekly SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Screening of All Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities Associated with Decrease in Resident Mortality Rate.

Introduction: Outbreaks of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have resulted mainly from disease transmission by asymptomatic health care workers. This study examines whether routine screening tests carried out on health care workers can help in reducing COVID-19 outbreaks, morbidity, and mortality of LTCF residents.

Methods: The study followed a weekly, nationwide, government-funded screening program of LTCF personnel for SARS-CoV-2, by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction as the main testing technology.

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 mRNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Vaccine Against Acquisition of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Among Healthcare Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: We assessed vaccine effectiveness (VE) of BNT162b2 mRNA coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) acquisition among healthcare workers (HCWs) of long-term care facilities (LTCFs).

Methods: This prospective study, in the framework of the "Senior Shield" program in Israel, included routine weekly nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing from all LTCF HCWs since July 2020. All residents and 75% of HCWs were immunized between December 2020 and January 2021.

The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on children with asthma-related symptoms: A tertiary care center experience.

Background: Acute asthma exacerbations are a common cause for emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in children. Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the education system closure/total lockdown in Israel on March 2020, we have noticed a decrease in pediatric ED visits and an increase in hospitalizations of asthma exacerbations.

Objective: to examine the patterns of ED visits for asthma exacerbations during COVID-19 outbreak, in comparison to the previous year.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis at Emergency Department Presentation During the First Months of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in Israel: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: We aimed to examine the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) rates in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of 11 Israeli pediatric emergency departments (ED) was conducted. Children with T1D who attended the ED between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020 were compared with those who attended the ED between March 1, 2019 and May 31, 2019.

Urine dipstick low sensitivity for UTI diagnosis in febrile infants .

Urine cultures are usually obtained from 0- to 2-month-old febrile infants, while in older children they are obtained more selectively. In 3- to 23-month-old children, urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis requires both positive culture and dipstick, but data are scarce regarding 0- to 2-month-old infants. We assessed dipstick performance for UTI diagnosis in 0-2 vs.

The Epidemiologic, Microbiologic and Clinical Picture of Bacteremia among Febrile Infants and Young Children Managed as Outpatients at the Emergency Room, before and after Initiation of the Routine Anti-Pneumococcal Immunization.

We described the occult bacteremia (OB) and bacteremia with diagnosed focus (BwF) picture among children managed as outpatients at the pediatric emergency room (PER) in southern Israel, before and after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) introduction in a retrospective study enrolling all three- to 36-month-old patients with fever >38.0 °C during 2005-2014. Of 511 (0.

Multiple hymenoptera stings in children: clinical and laboratory manifestations.

Multiple hymenoptera stings are a cause of rhabdomyolysis, elevated liver enzymes, clotting abnormalities, kidney injury, and even death. However, the progression of the clinical and laboratory findings has been described mainly in sporadic case reports. We report the clinical and laboratory manifestations of multiple hymenoptera stings in six children who were hospitalized and referred for a nephrology evaluation and follow-up over a 12-year period.

Parental administration of analgesic medication in children after a limb injury.

Objective: To document parental administration of analgesic medication to children with pain from acute limb injury before coming to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Research assistants interviewed parents of children 0 to 18 years old who presented to the ED with acute limb injury, asking about analgesic use before arriving to the ED. Parents were also asked for personal and demographic information.

Cardiac perforation 6 weeks after percutaneous atrial septal defect repair using an Amplatzer septal occluder.

A 14-year-old boy presented to the emergency department unaccompanied by his parents with a decreased level of consciousness, bradycardia, and hypotension after a syncopal episode. The patient's electronic chart revealed a percutaneous closure of a secundum atrial septal defect using an Amplatzer septal occluder (AGA Medical, Golden Valley, MN) 6 weeks before this presentation. An urgent echocardiogram revealed a moderate pericardial effusion, and 320 mL of fresh blood was evacuated by subxiphoid pericardiocentesis.