Evaluation of children with acute central nervous system infections admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric ward: a retrospective study.

Objectives: Acute central nervous system (CNS) infections in children can lead to neurological complications and mortality. This study aimed to identify the clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, and cerebrospinal fluid characteristics indicative of CNS infections and define the risk factors that lead to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission in the pediatric population of Şanlıurfa, a city in southeastern Turkey.

Methods: This retrospective analysis included patients aged 1 month to 18 years who were treated for acute CNS infections in the Şanlıurfa Training and Research Hospital between January 2020 and May 2023.

The Present and Future Aspects of Life-Long Pertussis Prevention: Narrative Review with Regional Perspectives for Türkiye.

Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis, remains one of the most widespread, contagious, and vaccine-preventable diseases. It results in notable morbidity and mortality as well as severe medical, social, and economic burden. Despite high global vaccine coverage, pertussis continues to be a significant epidemiologic problem, with outbreak episodes every few years just as in the pre-vaccination era.

A pediatric case series of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by serotype-19A despite full dose vaccination.

is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia and bacterial meningitis in children. Although pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are commonly available, invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) still remains a life-threatening complication. Serotype 19A has high invasive potential and is capable of causing extensive and destructive lung disease.

Expert-opinion-based guidance for the care of children with lysosomal storage diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: An experience-based Turkey perspective.

This expert-opinion-based document was prepared by a group of specialists in pediatric inherited metabolic diseases and infectious diseases including administrative board members of Turkish Society for Pediatric Nutrition and Metabolism to provide guidance for the care of children with lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey. The experts reached consensus on key areas of focus regarding COVID-19-based risk status in relation to intersecting immune-inflammatory mechanisms and disease patterns in children with LSDs, diagnostic virus testing, particularly preventive measures and priorities during the pandemic, routine screening and diagnostic interventions for LSDs, psychological and socioeconomic impact of confinement measures and quarantines and optimal practice patterns in managing LSDs and/or COVID-19. The participating experts agreed on the intersecting characteristics of immune-inflammatory mechanisms, end-organ damage and prognostic biomarkers in LSD and COVID-19 populations, emphasizing the likelihood of enhanced clinical care when their interaction is clarified further studies addressing certain aspects related to immunity, lysosomal dysfunction and disease pathogenesis.

Predictors of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection in children with antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Background: This study aimed to determine the predictors of hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in pediatric patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and to develop a predictive scoring system to identify at-risk patients.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study included patients aged ≥2-18 years with AAD who underwent C. difficile polymerase chain reaction testing >3 days after hospital admission.

Evaluation of vaccination status of health care workers for recommended vaccines and their acceptance of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Introduction: Health care workers (HCWs) are disproportionately exposed to infectious diseases and play a role in nosocomial transmission, making them a key demographic for vaccination. HCW vaccination rates are not optimal in many countries; hence, compulsory vaccination policies have been implemented in some countries. Although these policies are effective and necessary under certain conditions, resolving HCWs' hesitancies and misconceptions about vaccines is crucial.

Challenges of the treatment of pediatric hepatosplenic bartonellosis: case report and literature review.

The hepatosplenic (HS) form of cat scratch disease (CSD) is rarely seen; however, management of the treatment is challenging for clinicians. Monotherapy or combination regimens may be preferred based on severity of cases. Along with that, there are uncertainties as to the combination and duration of antibiotics effective against the microorganisms.

The effectiveness of topical 1% lidocaine with systemic oral analgesics for ear pain with acute otitis media.

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common childhood infections. Ear pain, the main symptom of AOM, results in parents frequently seeking medical assistance for their children. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of topical 1% lidocaine ear drops administered with oral analgesics with that of oral analgesics alone.

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity among pediatric health care personnel after the first peak of the pandemic: nationwide surveillance in Turkey.

Background: Understanding SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among health care personnel is important to explore risk factors for transmission, develop elimination strategies and form a view on the necessity and frequency of surveillance in the future.

Methods: We enrolled 4927 health care personnel working in pediatric units at 32 hospitals from 7 different regions of Turkey in a study to determine SARS Co-V-2 seroprevalence after the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A point of care serologic lateral flow rapid test kit for immunoglobulin (Ig)M/IgG was used.

From asymptomatic to critical illness - different clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in children.

The global pandemic infectious disease that was named the new coronavirus disease (COVID 19), spread throughout the world, causing a major public health emergency. The causative virus of COVID-19, called SARS CoV-2, can infect all age groups. Various clinical signs and symptoms have been observed in neonates, children, and adolescents during the COVID-19 outbreak.