Implementation of the WHO Standards to assess the quality of paediatric care using health workers as source of data: findings of a multicentre study (CHOICE) in Italy.

Objectives: There is little experience in implementing the WHO Standards for improving the quality of care (QOC) for children. We describe the use of 75 WHO-Standard based Quality Measures to assess paediatric QOC, using health workers (HWs) as data sources.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Proteinuria and hematuria as early signs of renal involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objectives: To evaluate glomerular and tubular renal functions and analyze blood pressure in a cohort of pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: A total of 40 pediatric patients, 20 (50%) with JIA and 20 (50%) healthy control subjects, were studied, and performed the renal function on 24-h collection and the 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Moreover, we compared renal function and blood pressure trends between the groups of JIA patients with different disease activities.

Facing Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases: The Role of Disease Activity and Parental Emotion Regulation Strategy in Parents' and Children's Psychological Adjustment.

Background: Pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs) are a group of chronic disorders that start in childhood and are characterized by periodic exacerbations and remissions of symptoms, with limitations in family, school, and social activities. The aim of this study was to detect differences in parents' psychological adjustment and emotion regulation strategies, and parent-reported children's adjustments in families of children with active and inactive PRDs.

Methods: Fifty-four parents (38 mothers and 16 fathers) of children with PRD were recruited from a pediatric unit.

Efficacy of Burosumab Every 2 Weeks in an Adult with X-Linked Hypophosphatemia: Should We Learn from Children?

X-linked hypophosphatemia is a genetic condition that leads to fibroblast-growth-factor 23 (FGF23) increase, causing phosphate renal wasting. Since 2018, burosumab, an anti-FGF23 antibody, has been used for this disease with different dosage in children and adults. We report the case of burosumab administration every 2 weeks, as usually done in children.

Point-of-Care Thoracic Ultrasound in Children: New Advances in Pediatric Emergency Setting.

Point-of-care thoracic ultrasound at the patient's bedside has increased significantly recently, especially in pediatric settings. Its low cost, rapidity, simplicity, and repeatability make it a practical examination to guide diagnosis and treatment choices, especially in pediatric emergency departments. The fields of application of this innovative imaging method are many and include primarily the study of lungs but also that of the heart, diaphragm, and vessels.

Post-Infectious Acute Cerebellar Ataxia Treatment, a Case Report and Review of Literature.

Background: infectious mononucleosis is very common during childhood and neurological manifestations are extremely rare. However, when they occur, an appropriate treatment must be undertaken to reduce morbidity and mortality as well as to ensure appropriate management.

Methods: we describe the clinical and neurological records of a female patient with post-EBV acute cerebellar ataxia, whose symptoms rapidly resolved with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Emergency Department Admissions of Children with Chest Pain before and during COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objectives: We compared the number of accesses, causes, and instrumental evaluations of chest pain in children between the pre-COVID-19 era and the COVID-19 period and analyzed the assessment performed in children with chest pain, highlighting unnecessary examinations.

Methods: We enrolled children with chest pain admitted to our emergency department between January 2019 and May 2021. We collected demographic and clinical characteristics and findings on physical examinations, laboratory tests, and diagnostic evaluations.

Cross-Sectional Survey on BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Serious Adverse Events in Children 5 to 11 Years of Age: A Monocentric Experience.

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccine in children resident in the Latina Local Health Authority.

Methods: We conducted a telephone survey among children aged 5-11 years receiving BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine between December 15 and 21. The main outcomes included the presence of allergic reactions or anaphylaxis, adverse events after 24-48 h, 7 and 20 days of taking the first and second doses of medications, and documented SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination.

Comparing parental distress and children's difficulties between parents of children with rheumatic diseases and parents of healthy children in families facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic could be a threat for the health status of children with a chronic condition. The present study aimed to explore parents' and children's psychological adjustment during the current pandemic, pursuing a triple objective: to compare the psychological adjustment of parents of children with pediatric rheumatic diseases (PRDs) and parents of healthy children; to analyze children's psychological symptoms (emotional problems and hyperactivity) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with or without a PRDs diagnosis; to explore the associations of children's emotional problems and hyperactivity with parents' psychological adjustment, parent-child interactions and belonging or not to families with PRDs. This cross-sectional study involved 56 parents of children with PRDs and 53 parents of healthy children.

Assessment of Cardio-Respiratory Function in Overweight and Obese Children Wearing Face Masks during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To evaluate whether the use of a surgical and N95 mask for overweight and obese children was associated with respiratory distress.

Methods: We enrolled 15 healthy and 14 overweight or obese children. We performed two sessions: one wearing a surgical, the other an N95 mask.

Adenomesenteritis following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Children: A Case Report and Review of The Literature.

At present, the vaccine authorized in children aged 5 years and older is the BNT162b2 messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine. Unlike adults, there is limited data available in the pediatric age describing adverse events after vaccine. We report a case of adenomesenteritis in a young girl following the first dose of vaccine.

Clinical picture and long-term symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in an Italian pediatric population.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection in the pediatric age group has a milder course than in adults, but in some cases even children may present with severe forms or develop long-term consequences. The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features, long-term effects, lifestyle changes and psychological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a pediatric sample of the Italian population.

Methods: We conducted a telephone survey among 3075 children infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the Latina Local Health Authority.

Evaluation of Risk for Thromboembolic Events in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Objectives: The occurrence of thrombotic events in adult patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to multiple interactions between hereditary and acquired risk factors. There are few published data concerning children with iBD. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of thromboembolic risk factors also in children with iBD.

Change in Pediatric Health Care Spending and Drug Utilization during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: To evaluate how the restrictive measures implemented during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic have influenced the incidence of the most common children's diseases and the consumption of medications in 2020 compared to 2019.

Methods: We involved all family pediatricians of the local health authority of Latina, from which we requested data of monthly visits in 2019 and 2020 for six common diseases disseminated through droplets and contact, and the territorial and integrative pharmaceutical unit of the area, from which we requested data of the net expenditure regarding the most commonly used drugs at pediatric age.

Results: There was significant reduction in the incidence of the evaluated diseases and in the consumption of investigated drugs between 2019 and 2020 in the months when the restrictive measures were in place, with an attenuation of this effect during the months of the gradual loosening of those measures.

Physical and Neurological Development of a Girl Born to a Mother with Methylmalonic Acidemia and Kidney Transplantation and Review of the Literature.

Background: actual literature suggests that children of methylmalonic acidemia patients are mostly healthy, but data are only partial, especially regarding long-term outcome. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the possible long-term neurological effects of fetal exposure to high levels of methylmalonic acid in a child of a renal transplant recipient.

Methods: we retrospectively evaluated the clinical and neurological records of a girl whose mother is a kidney transplant recipient affected by methylmalonic acidemia.

Assessment of respiratory function in children wearing a N95 mask with or without an exhalation valve: Data compared.

In response to the current COVID-19 pandemic, universal face masking represents one of the most important strategies to limit the spread of infection. However, their use in children is still highly debated (Esposito and Principi, 2020; Esposito et al., 2020) and there are few data (Lubrano et al.

Effects of N95 Mask Use on Pulmonary Function in Children.

Objective: To assess whether use of an N95 mask by children is associated with episodes of desaturation or respiratory distress.

Study Design: Twenty-two healthy children were assigned at random to 1 of 2 groups: one group wearing N95 masks without an exhalation valve and the other group wearing N95 masks with an exhalation valve. We tracked changes in partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (P), oxygen saturation, pulse rate, and respiratory rate over 72 minutes of mask use.

Serum IgG levels in children 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and comparison with adults.

Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 among the population has occurred quite recently, there is a lack of evidence on the long-term duration of antibody response, especially in children. It is therefore crucial to clarify this aspect, considering its implications in the development of successful surveillance strategies, therapies, and vaccinations. The aim of this study was to assess the antibody response in a children group after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to compare it with that of their parents affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Assessment of Respiratory Function in Infants and Young Children Wearing Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Importance: Face masks have been associated with effective prevention of diffusion of viruses via droplets. However, the use of face masks among children, especially those aged younger than 3 years, is debated, and the US Centers for Disease Control and American Academy of Physicians recommend the use of face mask only among individuals aged 3 years or older.

Objective: To examine whether the use of surgical facial masks among children is associated with episodes of oxygen desaturation or respiratory distress.

The comprehensive clinic, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation of children with COVID-19: A 6-months prospective study.

Objectives: To perform a comprehensive clinic, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation of children affected by coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Methods: Children with a positive result of nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) underwent laboratory tests, anal and conjunctival swab, electrocardiography, lung, abdomen, and cardiac ultrasound. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed if abnormal basal blood pressure.

Focus on Cardiologic Findings in 30 Children With PANS/PANDAS: An Italian Single-Center Observational Study.

Cardiac involvement in PANS has not been clarified relying on the scientific literature available until today. It is known that streptococcal infections play a role in the etiology of a great number of diseases including Sydenham chorea and rheumatic fever, among others. Based on the suspected pathogenesis of PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections) reported in the medical literature, we decided to investigate the cardiologic involvement in children with a recent PANS/PANDAS diagnosis.