Cerebrospinal fluid Gene XPERT (CBNAAT) in children with tuberculous meningitis.

Objectives: To observe the role of CSF Gene XPERT (CBNAAT) in diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and determine its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV).

Methods: A prospective study was done from October 2017 to March 2020. CSF samples of 55 children diagnosed as tuberculous meningitis as per defined clinical and imaging criteria, were subjected to routine CSF analysis, MGIT culture and CBNAAT.

Echocardiography versus cardiac biomarkers for myocardial dysfunction in children with scorpion envenomation: An observational study from tertiary care center in northern India.

Objective: This study was done to evaluate myocardial function by 2D Echocardiography and Cardiac biomarkers (cTnI, CK-MB, BNP) changes in patients of scorpion envenomation of grade II-IV and correlate mortality of envenomed children with myocardial dysfunction.

Methods: A total of 40 patients admitted consecutively with grade II and more scorpion envenomation from October 2015 to July2018 were enrolled in the study. The data included demographics, the time of presentation, clinical features, echocardiographic findings, electrocardiographic findings, cardiac biomarker levels at admission and discharge, use of inotropic medication, oral prazosin, time of discharge, and their outcome.

Evaluating the Impact of Breastfeeding on Rotavirus Antigenemia and Disease Severity in Indian Children.

Objectives: To evaluate the contribution of breastfeeding to Rotavirus (RV)-induced antigenemia and/or RNAemia and disease severity in Indian children (<2 yrs age).

Methods: Paired stool and serum samples were collected from (a) hospitalized infants with diarrhea (n = 145) and (b) healthy control infants without diarrhea (n = 28). Stool RV-antigen was screened in both groups by commercial rapid-test and enzyme immunoassay.

Cognitive and behaviour dysfunction of children with neurocysticercosis: a cross-sectional study.

Eighty-three confirmed cases of neurocysticercosis diagnosed as per modified delBrutto criteria were enrolled in the study (Group-I) to observe cognitive and behavioural changes. Controls consisted of two groups: children with idiopathic generalized tonic-clonic seizure (Group-II) and normal children with non-specific cough (Group-III). Cases and controls were subjected to cognitive and behaviour assessment.

Association of possible osteopetrosis with acute myeloid leukaemia in a child.

Osteopetrosis is a rare disease characterised by an increase in bone mass, skeletal malformations and bone marrow failure due to defective bone resorption. We report a 3-month-old male child presented with chest infections, failure to thrive and hepatosplenomegaly and diagnosed with osteopetrosis associated with acute myeloid leukaemia M3 type (AML-M3). The patient died on day 7 of admission due to respiratory failure.

Unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis with vertebral anomaly.

We report a two-and-half-year-old boy who presented with recurrent respiratory tract infections. He had cortriatum of right atrium, spina bifida occulta, hemivertebra and dysplastic right thumb. On CT of chest, he had also unilateral pulmonary artery agenesis.

Disseminated cysticercosis with a right common femoral vein thrombosis.

Disseminated cysticercosis is an uncommon presentation of cysticercosis. Less than 10 cases of disseminated cysticercosis have been reported worldwide in children. We report the case of an 8-year-old boy with disseminated cysticercosis, who had presented with a swelling of the body for 1 month and proptosis of the eyeballs for 14 days.

Status epilepticus in a child with Sanjad Sakati syndrome.

We report a 6-year-old boy who presented with status epilepticus, who had facial dysmorphism, growth and mental retardation. On investigation, he had hypocalcaemia, hypoparathyroidism and bilateral calcification of basal ganglia in cranial tomographs; features consistent with Sanjad Sakati syndrome. He was treated with intravenous calcium gluconate initially followed by oral calcium and calcitriol and recovered completely.

Serum procalcitonin in septic meningitis.

Objective: To evaluate the role of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in diagnosis of septic meningitis in children and its efficacy in differential diagnosis.

Methods: The study included 40 children of septic meningitis admitted in pediatric ward with fever, headache, vomiting and seizure, up to 14 y of age. The diagnosis of septic meningitis was based on clinical features; physical examination, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytochemical findings, gram's stain and bacterial culture.

Chronic abdominal pain in children.

Chronic abdominal pain in children is usually not caused by organic disease. Diagnostic triage focuses on the assessment of alarm symptoms by means of history and physical examination. Additional diagnostic evaluation is not required in children without alarm symptoms.

Immunosuppressive therapy in children.

The treatment of auto-immune diseases is evolving and newer agents become available. This review will outline treatment options in children with auto-immune disorders. Treatment with current corticosteroids and azathioprine works in majority but issues of intolerance and incomplete response arise, which led to window of newer immunosuppressants including mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, sirolimus, and various antibodies of human and animal origin.

Portal hypertension with visceral leishmaniasis.

We conducted this study to observe evidence of portal hypertension in children with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Eighty-eight consecutive cases (50 male) of VL were subjected to ultrasonography. Those with evidence of portal hypertension also underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and liver biopsy.

Amphotericin B therapy in children with visceral leishmaniasis: daily vs. alternate day, a randomized trial.

A randomized study was carried out to compare the efficacy and adverse reactions of daily vs. alternate day regimens of amphotericin B in children with visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Six hundred and five children of VL below 14 years of age were randomized into two groups; Group A (302), who received amphotericin B at a dose of 1 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 15 days and Group B (303); same doses but on alternate days.

Cysticercal encephalitis with cortical blindness.

The authors report a 6-year-old boy, who had presented with low-grade fever, altered sensorium, headache and seizure for 5 days. On examination, he had features of raised intracranial pressure with left VI cranial-nerve palsy and bilateral extensor plantar response. CT scan showed multiple calcifications in cerebral cortex.

Tubercular abscess of pons in a child with quadriparesis.

Tuberculous brain abscess is a rare manifestation of tuberculosis of the central nervous system. We report a case of a 6-year-old girl with a pontine tuberculous abscess, who presented with fever and quadriparesis and recovered completely after stereotactic aspiration and antituberculous treatment with four drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol). Tuberculous abscess was confirmed based on findings of magnetic resonance imaging, a positive tuberculin test, and the presence of acid fast bacilli in smear and culture of abscess aspirate.

The co-existence of CHARGE and myelodysplastic syndrome in a child.

We report the case of an 8-month-old female child with co-existence of CHARGE with myelodysplastic syndrome, which is not reported in the literature. The patient was treated with packed cell transfusion, laser photocoagulation for retinal detachment, and antimicrobials, and referred for bone marrow transplantation.

Arteriovenous malformation of brain with stroke in Down syndrome: a case report.

Down syndrome is a common chromosomal aberration in children. A variety of associated malformations have been reported in the literature, including vascular malformations of pelvic organs. The vascular malformations of brain with Down syndrome have not been reported in the literature.

Osteogenesis imperfecta with partial trisomy 15.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is the most common genetic cause of osteoporosis, which presents as multiple fractures of bone. Mutations in the loci COL1A1 on band 17q21 and COL1A2 on band 7q22 have been reported as the cause in most cases of OI, but partial trisomy 15 has not been reported previously as a possible cause. A 3-month-old child with OI with an unusual association of partial trisomy 15 is reported.

Miltefosine in children with visceral leishmaniasis: a prospective, multicentric, cross-sectional study.

Objective: Miltefosine, an alkyl phospholipid has been found effective against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in adults in various studies. The authors safety, tolerance and efficacy of Miltefosine and compared with available gold standard anti-Ieishmanial drug, Amphotericin B, a parenteral formulation in children with VL.

Methods: All consecutive children aged 1 yr to 14 yr, presented with fever, splenomegaly and positive LD body in splenic smear examination, admitted in pediatric ward of Nalanda Medical college and Child care center between 1st July 03 to 30th June 05 were taken for study.

Miltefosine in children with visceral leishmaniasis.

Sixty four children (38 boys and 26 girls), aged 1 yr to 14 yr, presenting with fever, splenomegaly and positive LD body in splenic smear examination, admitted to pediatric ward of Nalanda Medical college and Child care center between 1st July 03 to 30th June 04 were taken for study. Patients were categorized into two groups: 44 were in Group I (Patients who had not received prior antileishmanial drug) and 20 in Group II (Patients who had received 30 days course of SAG; 20 mg per kg per day). All patients were given Miltefosine in dose of 2.

Current concept in the management of cerebral palsy.

The authors have described, in depth, the current concept along with the management of cerebral palsy in the present article.

Oral atropine sulfate for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of oral atropine in the management of IHPS. Cases were diagnosed clinically and confirmed sonographically. Atropine was given orally from the outset at a dose of 0.

Department of Paediatrics, Nalanda Medical College, Patna.

Cysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system. The disease has worlwide distribution. The cysticerci might lodge in the brain parenchyma, spinal cord, eyes, ventricular system, subarachnoid space and muscle.