Toxocariasis causing eosinophilic ascites.

Eosinophilic ascites in the absence of gastroenteritis is uncommon in children. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl with eosinophilic ascites caused by Toxocara, only the second reported case in the literature. The patient had complete symptom resolution after albendazole therapy.

Rapid assays for the diagnosis of influenza A and B viruses in patients evaluated at a large tertiary care children's hospital during two consecutive winter seasons.

Background: The rapid and accurate diagnosis of influenza facilitates antiviral therapy, judicious antibiotic usage, and cohorting patients to decrease nosocomial infection.

Objective: To determine the utility of rapid influenza tests in a children's hospital.

Study Design: Two in vitro rapid immunochromatographic assays that detect and distinguish influenza A and B viruses were compared to the reference standard of viral culture.

Clinical manifestations of tuberculosis in children.

The natural history and clinical manifestations of tuberculosis in children differ significantly from those of the disease seen in adults. The two main factors determining the risk of progression to disease are patient age and immune status. Neonates have the highest risk of progression to disease, and in infancy miliary and meningeal involvement is common.

Mycobacterium simiae complex infection in an immunocompetent child.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitous in the environment but rarely infect immunocompetent patients. We describe a pediatric case of Mycobacterium simiae complex lymphadenitis in an immunocompetent child and review the natural history, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and current management of the disease.

Pantoea agglomerans, a plant pathogen causing human disease.

We present 53 pediatric cases of Pantoea agglomerans infections cultured from normally sterile sites in patients seen at a children's hospital over 6 years. Isolates included 23 from the bloodstream, 14 from abscesses, 10 from joints/bones, 4 from the urinary tract, and 1 each from the peritoneum and the thorax. P.

Performance of a rapid assay (Binax NOW) for detection of respiratory syncytial virus at a children's hospital over a 3-year period.

A rapid assay, Binax NOW RSV, was compared to viral culture for 14,756 pediatric respiratory specimens obtained from 2003 to 2006. There were 794 viral culture-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus infections. Sensitivity was 81%, and specificity was 93.

Performance characteristics of a rapid immunochromatographic assay for detection of influenza virus in children during the 2003 to 2004 influenza season.

Study Objective: We evaluate the performance of a rapid assay (Binax NOW) for the detection of influenza A virus in children.

Methods: The performance of an in vitro rapid immunochromatographic assay for detection of influenza A virus was compared to viral culture in 4,383 consecutive respiratory specimens received during the 2003 to 2004 season, which included an influenza A epidemic in October and November of 2003.

Results: The overall test sensitivity was 61.