Risk of Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome in industrialised nations: a systematic review of the literature.

Background And Aim: Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is a triad of haemolytic anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, and acute kidney injury. It is a leading cause of acute kidney injury in children and has a high rate of long-term sequelae. Streptococcus pneumoniae-associated HUS (SpHUS) is a rare complication from pneumococcal disease.

COVID-19 deaths in children and young people in England, March 2020 to December 2021: An active prospective national surveillance study.

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths are rare in children and young people (CYP). The high rates of asymptomatic and mild infections complicate assessment of cause of death in CYP. We assessed the cause of death in all CYP with a positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test since the start of the pandemic in England.

Community Pharmacy Minor Ailment Service (PMAS): An Untapped Resource for Children and Their Carers.

Background: The Pharmacy Minor Ailment Service (PMAS) was introduced in the UK over 15 years ago for use in treating minor ailments and has been shown to be effective and acceptable by the public in reducing the burden on high-cost healthcare settings (such as general practice and emergency departments). This paper aims to review the use of a PMAS in the paediatric population.

Methods: PMAS was established in a London Borough in 2013.

Paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS): Prospective, national surveillance, United Kingdom and Ireland, 2020.

Background: Paediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), first identified in April 2020, shares features of both Kawasaki disease (KD) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS). The surveillance describes the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of PIMS-TS in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Methods: Public Health England initiated prospective national surveillance of PIMS-TS through the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit.

Retrospective analysis of neonatal deaths secondary to infections in England and Wales, 2013-2015.

Objective: To estimate the overall and infection-related neonatal mortality rate and the pathogens responsible using electronic death registrations.

Design: Retrospective analysis of national electronic death registrations data.

Setting: England and Wales.

Catatonia as a presentation of autism in a child: a case report.

Catatonia commonly refers to a cluster of movement abnormalities, behaviour, volition and speech that has long been associated with psychiatric disorders in adults. Recent evidence suggests increasing prevalence in adolescents and older children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), but its occurrence in younger children is rare. Here we describe a 6-year-old boy presenting with catatonic autism, highlighting the diagnostic challenge and demonstrating the importance of timely assessment and management.

Clinical Characteristics of Children with COVID-19.

Background: In December 2019, the infection caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) led to an outbreak in Wuhan, situated in the Hubei Province of China. Following this, there has been a rapid increase in the number of cases. On 12th March 2020, there were over 100,000 confirmed cases and almost 4,300 deaths worldwide.

A Rare Case of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis following a Ruptured Baker's Cyst in a Toddler.

A Baker's cyst is usually an incidental finding in adults being investigated for a joint arthropathy, and its rupture preceding the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is rare in children. Here, we describe a case of a 4-year-old girl who presented to the Emergency Department with right calf pain, swelling, and no preceding history of trauma. MRI confirmed a ruptured Baker's cyst with inflammatory arthropathy alongside an extensive synovial proliferation throughout the knee joint with large joint effusions and associated soft tissue oedema tracking superiorly and inferiorly along the medial head of gastrocnemius and anteriorly along the tibia.

Does norovirus induce acute hepatitis?

Background: Norovirus is the commonest cause of acute viral gastroenteritis with significant morbidity. Extra intestinal manifestation following norovirus infection is rare and the mechanism is unknown.

Methods: We undertook a review of the English literature published from January 1967 to April 2019 to evaluate the risk of acute viral hepatitis due to norovirus gastroenteritis.

Infection is associated with one in five childhood deaths in England and Wales: analysis of national death registrations data, 2013-15.

Objective: To estimate the contribution of infections to childhood deaths in England and Wales over a 3-year period.

Design: Retrospective analysis of national electronic death registration data.

Setting: England and Wales.

Effect of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines on Pneumococcal Meningitis, England and Wales, July 1, 2000-June 30, 2016.

We describe the effects of the 7-valent (PCV7) and 13-valent (PCV13) pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on pneumococcal meningitis in England and Wales during July 1, 2000-June 30, 2016. Overall, 84,473 laboratory-confirmed invasive pneumococcal disease cases, including 4,160 (4.9%) cases with meningitis, occurred.

ARE ANTIBIOTICS OF ANY USE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF GRANULOMA ANNULARE IN CHILDREN?

Background: Granuloma annulare (GA) is a benign inflammatory dermatosis of unknown cause, of which generalised granuloma annulare (GGA) is a subtype that tends to be resistant to treatment. Various antibiotics have been used to treat GGA, the most recent being combination therapy with rifampicin, ofloxacin and minocycline (ROM). This study aims to explore the efficacy of antibiotics in treating GGA, and whether antibiotics may be useful in children with GGA.

The Epidemiology and Biostatistics of Pneumococcus.

Invasive infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in young children and older adults worldwide. The introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines into national childhood immunization programs has led to large and sustained reductions in the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease across all age groups. Here we describe the epidemiology and biostatistics of pneumococcal disease as well as the impact of vaccination on the burden of pneumococcal disease globally.

The Pneumococcus and Its Critical Role in Public Health.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the commonest bacteria that cause morbidity and mortality in children and the elderly. The two extremes of age and individuals with underlying disease are particularly at risk of developing pneumococcal disease. The pneumococcus is responsible for a wide range of infectious diseases, ranging from mild, non-invasive infections such as otitis media and sinusitis, to more severe infections including pneumonia, septicemia, and meningitis.

Risk of invasive pneumococcal disease in children with sickle cell disease in the era of conjugate vaccines: a systematic review of the literature.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are highly effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) in children, including those with sickle cell disease (SCD). A systematic review of the English literature published between 2000 and 2017 was undertaken to evaluate the serotype distribution, clinical presentation and outcomes of IPD in children with SCD in PCV programmes. We identified 475 potential studies and included 16 publications, involving 9438 children up to 22 years of age with SCD and 182 IPD episodes (prevalence, 1·9%.

Rare and Imported Infections: Are We Prepared?

The world's population is rapidly expanding [...

Cerebrospinal Fluid Pleocytosis following Meningococcal B vaccination in an Infant.

We describe a case of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis in a previously well infant after his first immunisation with the multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B and advice clinicians to be cautious with the interpretation of CSF findings in children post Meningococcal B vaccination until clearer guidelines are available Keywords: meningococcal B vaccine - cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis - inflammatory response - infant.

The Dilemma of Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory disease that affects mainly children and young adults, resulting in significant morbidity especially if not diagnosed early. The clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific, with a consequential delay in diagnosis. Radiological and histopathological criteria are important for its definition.

Risk of Transverse Myelitis Following Dengue Infection: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Dengue virus (DENV) is one of the most common arbovirus diseases, with a wide spectrum of presentation. Spinal cord involvement in dengue infection (DF) is rare. However, the risk of transverse myelitis (TM) following Dengue has not been systematically assessed.

Teicoplanin-Induced Anaphylactic Reaction in Children: A Case Report.

Teicoplanin is now increasingly used as a first-line prophylactic therapy for major surgical procedures, treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections and for those with reported penicillin allergy. Teicoplanin is rarely associated with anaphylaxis and there is limited information on the prevalence of teicoplanin-induced perioperative anaphylaxis. Here, we describe a case of a 12-year-old child with teicoplanin-induced anaphylaxis peri-operatively.

Characteristics and Serotype Distribution of Childhood Cases of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Following Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination in England and Wales, 2006-2014.

Background: The 7-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV7 and PCV13, respectively) are highly effective in preventing invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) caused by vaccine serotypes. Vaccine failure (vaccine-type IPD after age-appropriate immunization) is rare. Little is known about the risk, clinical characteristics, or outcomes of PCV13 compared to PCV7 vaccine failure.

Risk of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Children with Sickle Cell Disease in England: A National Observational Cohort Study, 2010-2015.

Objective: To describe the clinical presentation, risk factors, serotype distribution and outcomes of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) following the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in the UK.

Design: Prospective national newborn screening for SCD and enhanced national IPD surveillance.

Participants: Children with SCD born in England between 1 September 2010 and 31 August 2014 who developed laboratory-confirmed IPD by 31 December 2015.