Our results confirm the substantial and increasing pneumococcal infection, the emerging of multidrug resistant isolates, and the vulnerability of the younger age group and high-risk population, which calls for a national surveillance to inform policy and decision-making before national wide vaccine introduction.

INTRODUCTION:Acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) is a considerable public health problem.AIM:This study was designed to describe the aetiology, demographic features, clinical picture, short-term outcome and risk factors of mortality of children with viral encephalitis in Egyptian children.METHODS:PCR detection of viruses in the CSF of pediatric patients admitted to the pediatric unit or ICU Cairo University Pediatric hospital presenting with encephalitis syndrome.RESULTS:Of the 96 patients included in the study, viral etiological agents were detected in 20 cases (20.8%), while 76 patients (79.2%) had no definite viral aetiology. The most abundant virus detected was Enterovirus (EV) in fourteen (14.5%), two (2.1%) were positive for human herpes simplex virus 6 (HSV-6), one (1.0%), human herpes simplex virus1 (HSV-1), one (1.0%) Epstein Barr virus (EBV), one (1.0%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and one (1.0%) with varicella-zoster virus (VZV). On the short term outcome, 22 (22.9) patients died, and 74 (77.1%) survived. Severity outcome among survival was vegetative in three cases (4%) severe in 9 (12.16%), moderate in 14 (18.9%), mild in 29 (39.2%) and full recovery in 19 (25.6%). Mortality risk factors for younger age, the presence of apnea, the need for mechanical ventilation and the presence of abnormal CT findings were all significantly associated with fatal outcome (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION:Enterovirus was the most common cause of encephalitis among Egyptian children. Mortality was correlated with younger age and disease severity at admission. Sequelae were high among infected children.

Introduction: Acute lower respiratory tract infection in children causes significant morbidity in the developing countries. Documentation of virus infection using PCR and clinical characteristics of patients affected with viral pneumonia are reviewed in this study. Methods: 51 children less than three years admitted to the Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University with viral pneumonia were included. All patients had undergone nasopharyngeal aspirate for PCR viral detection. Results: A total of 51 cases were enrolled in the study, of which 7 cases were negative while 44 children were positive for viruses. The most common respiratory virus was Rhinovirus in 32 patients (72.2%), then parainfluenza virus (PIV) in 12 (27.3%), of which subtypes PIV1 were 2 (4.5%), PIV3 were 5 (11.4%) and PIV4 were 5 (11.4%) cases. The third common viruses were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in 9 (20.5%) cases of which 3 (6.8%) were RSVA and 6 (13.6%) were RSVB and adenovirus in 9 cases (20.5%). Boca virus was found in 8 (18.2%) patients, corona virus 2 (4.5%) patients, H1N1 2 (4.5%) patients, enterovirus 2 patients (4.5%) and human metapneumovirus in one case (2.3%). Influenza B and PIV2 were not detected. Coinfection was found in 28 (63.7%). Mortality occurred in 12 (23.5%). There was no significant relation between virus type or coinfection with disease severity. Conclusions: RV was the most commonly detected virus in children under 3 years admitted with acute lower respiratory tract infections. Coinfection was present in the majority of our patients; however it was not related significantly to parameters of disease severity.

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a heterogeneous immunologic disorder. Vitamin D has immune-modulatory effects. The pleiotropic effects of vitamin D are exerted via vitamin D receptor (VDR) and its genetic alterations could influence its functions. In our study, we measured the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 98 Pediatric and Adolescent ITP patients, in addition to 100 apparently healthy controls. Genetic polymorphisms of the VDR gene FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI were tested using specific restriction enzymes for each polymorphism. Vitamin D deficiency in the studied Pediatric age was a dominant factor, but it was found not to be associated with Pediatric ITP. However, patients carrying the FokI CC genotype had statistically higher vitamin D levels compared with those carrying other genotypes (P=0.036). Patients who were carriers of the BsmI G allele had a nearly 2-fold higher risk of ITP (odds ratio: 2.203; 95% confidence interval: 1.467-3.309). Therefore, the BsmI polymorphism of VDR could be considered a molecular risk factor for ITP.

This cross-sectional study included 41 children (age 2 mo-12 y) with pneumonia and 40 healthy controls. Assay of serum copeptin was done using ELISA. Median serum copeptin levels were significantly higher (P=0.03) in children with pneumonia, and in those who died (P=0.04). We conclude that serum copeptin levels seem to be associated with poor outcome in pneumonia.

Background Cough assist devices play an important role with patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), particularly those with neuromuscular diseases which had abnormal muscle tone. It was previously thought to be the main technique for improving cough efficacy, which aids in weaning from mechanical ventilation and improves patient outcomes. So, we selected randomly the odd numbers from Abo El-Reesh hospital records, and 30 children of both sexes with pneumonia were selected, aged from 6 months to 3 years, who were selected from intensive care unit: fifteen children were the control group, who received the selected physical therapy program (postural drainage, percussion and resist diaphragm), and another fifteen children were the study group, who received previous physical therapy program, which was selected, and cough assist device. Results This study revealed the effect of cough assist device on blood gasses and the period of mechanical ventilator on children with pneumonia and general hypotonia. There was a significant decrease in pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 post treatment compared with that pretreatment in the study and control groups (p < 0.05). The percentage of decrease in pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 in study group A were 0.4, 38.26, and 30.28% respectively while that in the control group were 0.4, 32.56, and 25.48% for pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 respectively. There was a significant increase in PaO2 post treatment compared with that pretreatment in the study and control groups (p < 0.001). The percentage of increase in PaO2 in the study group was 32.13% and that in control group was 30.09%. There was no significant difference in pH, PaCO2, and HCO3 between both groups pre-treatment (p ˃ 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference between groups post treatment (p ˃ 0.05). The median (IQR) period of mechanical ventilation in the study group was 5 (7, 4) days while that in control group was 8 (18, 5) days. There was a significant decrease in period of mechanical ventilator of the study group compared with that of control group (p = 0.03). Conclusion The cough assist device and physical therapy program were selected for children in the intensive care unit which have the same effect on arterial blood gasses as they optimize pH, PO2, PCO2, and HCO3, but the cough assist device helps in accelerating weaning of mechanical ventilator so as decrease the period of mechanical ventilator.

No abstract

No abstract