A Prospective Investigation of Factors Influencing Neonatal Visits to a Tertiary Emergency Department.

Objective: Although emergency complaints in newborns are very rare and benign, pediatric emergency department (ED) admissions in Turkey are increasing due to early postpartum discharge and insufficient prenatal care. We aimed to analyze the factors affecting neonatal admissions to ED and to evaluate progress and outcomes following discharge, and hospitalization rates.

Materials And Methods: All neonates aged 28 days or less admitted to the pediatric ED were included prospectively.

A transcranial magnetic stimulation study for the characterization of corticospinal pathway plasticity in children with neurological disorders.

We aimed to investigate cortical and radicular TMS-evoked motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in children with neurological disorders (n = 57, mean age: 5.45 years) and agematched healthy controls (n = 46). Four TMS parameters were analyzed: MEP amplitudes, the latencies of MEP, the latency jump (cortical MEP latency at rest - cortical active-MEP latency at with slightly contracted targeted muscle), and central motor conduction time.

Red flag; wheezing with neck pain may be a clue to the early diagnosis of spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon clinical condition in pediatric field. We report two pediatric cases with first time wheezing episode complicated by pneumomediastinum. Investigations failed to reveal any underlying cause for secondary pneumomediastinum.

Frequency and outcomes of endotracheal intubation in the pediatric emergency department.

Intubation is a core airway skill in Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM). The data on pediatric endotracheal intubation in the emergency department, especially in developing countries, is currently very limited. This study was designed to describe the frequency, clinical features and outcomes of pediatric intubation in a large children`s hospital.

Epidemiological and diagnostic features of blastocystis infection in symptomatic patients in izmir province, Turkey.

Background: The aims of this study were to identify Blastocystis subtypes (STs) in a cohort of Turkish patients with various gastrointestinal symptoms using a novel Real Time PCR method developed recently for Blastocystis detection and assess the relationship between Blastocystis STs and patient symptoms.

Methods: Totally, 617 stool samples of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms were examined with microscopy and inoculated in Jones medium. Blastocystis-positive samples were further assessed to identify coinfections with other possible pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.

Direct immunofluorescence assay compared to cell culture for the diagnosis of mucocutaneous herpes simplex virus infections in children.

Background: Direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) is commonly used for the rapid identification of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in mucocutaneous lesions, yet little is known about its diagnostic accuracy.

Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield and accuracy of HSV DFA for the diagnosis of mucocutaneous HSV infection in pediatric patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study of all patients who underwent HSV DFA testing by the Texas Children's Hospital Diagnostic Virology between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2005.

Cardiac tamponade as a first manifestation of possible systemic lupus erythematosus in a 3-year-old female child.

Cardiac manifestations of pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) usually occur as an initial manifestation of the disease or within six months after the diagnosis of SLE. Pericarditis is the most frequent cardiac manifestation of SLE, but pericardial effusion causing tamponade, which has a very serious prognosis, rarely occurs, and it is even less frequent for the pericardial tamponade to be the presenting feature of SLE. In the present case which is the youngest case in the literature we report a 3 year old girl who presented to the emergency room with solely pericardial effusion causing tamponade, bilateral pleural effusion and diagnosed "possible SLE" based on American College of Rheumatology criteria.

Foreign body ingestion in Turkish children.

Foreign body ingestion (FBI) is a common problem in the pediatric population. Even though morbidity and mortality due to foreign body ingestion are rare in childhood, they may cause serious anxiety in parents. We aimed to analyze the clinical presentation, etiology and management strategy of FBI in children in our country.