Background: Procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as a marker for malaria severity in adults, with a threshold of 10 ng/ml for severe falciparum disease. Whether PCT is useful in children is debated.
Patients & Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted to compare initial PCT levels in children with uncomplicated malaria and a control group, and between children with uncomplicated and severe malaria.
Results: Results showed significantly higher PCT levels in malaria cases compared to the control group and in malaria severe cases compared to uncomplicated cases. A Receiving Operator Characteristic curve established a PCT threshold of 0.65 ng/ml with a negative predictive value of 98.8 % based on a prevalence of 10 %. Analyzing the pooled results of five studies suggested a threshold of 6.17 ng/ml for differentiating uncomplicated and severe malaria.
Conclusion: PCT might be a useful tool to help rule out malaria and predict potential disease severity in returning travelers.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tmaid.2024.102731 | DOI Listing |
Urologia
January 2025
Department of Urology, IPGME&R and SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Introduction: Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) causes trauma to the renal parenchyma. Due to the kidney injury, free radicals are generated, and an inflammatory process develops. Inflammatory markers like interleukin's (IL), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) are released into the circulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Infect Dis
January 2025
Luoyang Research Center for Inheritance and Innovation of Chinese Historical Civilization, Luoyang Institute of Science and Technology School of Marxism (LIT), No. 90 Wangcheng Avenue, Luolong District, Luoyang City, Henan Province, China.
Background: The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemic has posed a major challenge to global public health, especially in children. Some children may experience secondary infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae after SARS-CoV-2 infection, which has attracted widespread attention. Studies have shown that eosinophils play an important role in respiratory tract infections and are involved in regulating immune responses and inflammatory processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Pediatr
January 2025
Department of Pediatrics, Ganzhou People's Hospital, No. 16 Meiguan Avenue, Zhanggong District, Ganzhou, 341000, Jiangxi Province, China.
Unlabelled: This research aimed to describe the effect of azithromycin combined with fluticasone propionate aerosol inhalation on immune function in children with chronic cough caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection. This study was a retrospective analysis in which 110 children with chronic cough caused by MP infection were divided into two groups based on different treatment methods: 58 cases in the control group treated with azithromycin dry suspension and 52 cases in the intervention group treated with azithromycin dry suspension and fluticasone propionate inhalation aerosol. Lung function, inflammatory factors, immune indicators, laboratory-related indicators, adverse reactions, and therapeutic effects were compared between the two groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Oncol
January 2025
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Purpose: To analyze the incidence and risk factors of postoperative fever (POF) in gastrointestinal cancer (GIC), discuss the influence of POF on short-term clinical outcomes, and predict anastomotic leakage (AL) based on POF characteristics.
Methods: Overall, 1362 patients that underwent radical resection for GIC were retrospectively analyzed. POF was defined as a postoperative temperature ≥38°C during hospitalization.
Cureus
December 2024
Anesthesia and Critical Care, Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Casablanca, MAR.
Background Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children with diabetes, often requiring intensive care unit management. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the severity of DKA in infants and children hospitalized in pediatric intensive care. Methodology This retrospective, monocentric, descriptive, analytical study included infants and children aged one month to 17 years who presented with DKA meeting the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes 2022 criteria.
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