Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, various severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants have been identified with different characteristics than the nonvariant strain. We retrospectively evaluated the demographic and clinical differences in the cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 children (1 month-18 years old) between March 11, 2020, and September 31, 2022, by the time the variants identified in our country predominate. Bonferroni post hoc analysis was performed to compare the differences between the periods. Of the 283 children in this study, 142 (50.2%) were females. The median age was 36 (interquartile range [IQR]: 7-132) months. Sixty-three (22.2%) patients were hospitalized in the nonvariant period, 24 (8.5%) in the Alpha period, 93 (32.9%) in the Delta period, and 103 (36.4%) in the Omicron period. Fever was the most common symptom in all groups, with no statistically significant differences (p = 0.25). In the Omicron period, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms decreased, and neurological symptoms increased significantly compared to other periods: [respiratory symptoms; nonvariant (65.1%) vs. Omicron (41.7%), (p = 0.024)], [gastrointestinal symptoms; Delta (41.9%) vs. Omicron (22.3%), (p = 0.018), [neurological symptoms; Delta (14.5%) vs. Omicron (31.1%), (p = 0.03]. Altered mental status and seizures were more common during the Omicron period compared to the pre-Omicron (nonvariant, Alpha, and Delta) period (p = 0.017 and p = 0.005, respectively). Although the main symptoms in children with COVID-19 were fever and respiratory symptoms, an increase in severe neurological manifestations was seen throughout the Omicron variant period.
Objective: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), associated with Coronavirus disease-2019, is defined as the presence of documented fever, inflammation, and at least two signs of multisystem involvement and lack of an alternative microbial diagnosis in children who have recent or current Severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 infection or exposure. In this study, we evaluated thyroid function tests in pediatric cases with MIS-C in order to understand how the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis was affected and to examine the relationship between disease severity and thyroid function. Methods: This case-control study was conducted between January 2021 and September 2021. The patient group consisted of 36 MIS-C cases, the control group included 72 healthy children. Demographic features, clinical findings, inflammatory markers, thyroid function tests, and thyroid antibody levels in cases of MIS-C were recorded. Thyroid function tests were recorded in the healthy control group. Results: When MIS-C and healthy control groups were compared, free triiodothyronine (fT3) level was lower in MIS-C cases, while free thyroxine (fT4) level was found to be lower in the healthy group (p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). Although the fT4 level was significantly lower in controls, no significant difference was found compared with the age-appropriate reference intervals (p=0.318). When MIS-C cases were stratified by intensive care requirement, fT3 levels were also lower in those admitted to intensive care and also in those who received steroid treatment (p=0.043, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Since the endocrine system critically coordinates and regulates important metabolic and biochemical pathways, investigation of endocrine function in MIS-C may be beneficial. These results show an association between low fT3 levels and both diagnosis of MIS-C and requirement for intensive care. Further studies are needed to predict the prognosis and develop a long-term follow-up management plan.
Background Understanding differences in terms of clinical phenotypes and outcomes of COVID‐19 compared with influenza is vital to optimize the management of patients and to plan healthcare.Herein,we aimed to investigate the clinical differences and outcomes in hospitalized patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 and influenza. Methods We performed a retrospective study of hospitalized children who were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 between March 2020 and March 2021 and for influenza between January 2016 and February 2020 in respiratory samples.The primary outcome of this study was pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission,and the secondary outcome was the need for respiratory support. Results A total of 74 patients with influenza and 71 who were positive for SARS‐CoV‐2 were included.The distribution among the sexes was similar,but patients with COVID‐19 were older than patients with influenza (96 months vs. 12 months,p<0.001).In terms of underlying chronic diseases, the frequency was 26.7% in the COVID‐19 group and 54% in the influenza group (p=0.001).The comparison of symptoms revealed that fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain occurred more frequently with COVID‐19 (for all p<0.05) and runny nose with influenza (p=0.002).The frequency of admission to the PICU was relatively higher (18.9%) in the influenza group than with COVID‐19 (2.8%) with a significant ratio (p=0.001),secondary bacterial infections were observed more frequently in the influenza group (20.2% vs . 4.2%, p=0.003).Some 88.7% of patients with COVID‐19 did not need respiratory support,whereas 59.4% of patients with influenza did require respiratory support (p<0.001). Conclusions This study noted that influenza caused more frequent admissions to the PICU and a greater need for respiratory support in hospitalized pediatric patients than COVID‐19. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Introduction A total of three cases of childhood central nervous system (CNS) echinococcosis with spinal or posterior fossa involvement having rare localizations, have been presented. Case presentation A 7-year-old boy with spinal involvement applied to our hospital with left leg weakness and inability to walk. A 16-year-old girl with posterior fossa involvement had peripheral facial paralysis, while a 9-year-old girl had headache and vomiting. These cases, diagnosed with cystic echinococcosis with the necessary laboratory and imaging methods, improved with appropriate medical treatment and surgery. Discussion Especially in endemic areas, it should be kept in mind that cystic echinococcosis may present with CNS involvement and should become to mind in the differential diagnosis when neurological findings are detected. Lay Summary: With this report, we attempted to share our experience with cystic echinococcosis in the spinal region and posterior fossa in three children over 1 year, including a description of associated signs and symptoms as well as laboratory and radiological findings. It should be kept in mind that cystic echinococcosis may present with CNS involvement in endemic areas and should be considered in the differential diagnosis when neurological findings are detected. Afterward, the diagnosis should be confirmed with appropriate laboratory and imaging methods. In these cases, rapid recovery can be achieved with appropriate surgical intervention as well as medical treatment.
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