The COVID-19 disease usually leads to mild infectious disease in children, but some develop serious complications. Here, we describe the characteristics of children with COVID-19 in northern Iran, the Golestan province. Ninety-one confirmed cases were enrolled in the study, aged 0–18 years. Demographic, clinical, comorbidity, laboratory, and radiological data were compared based on the disease severity (admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) or not) and disease outcome (recovered or deceased). Sixteen (17.5%) cases were hospitalized in ICU, and 8/91 (8.8%) deceased. Fever and cough were the most common clinical symptoms. Among all symptoms notified there were no significant differences between severe and milder cases, or between those who deceased and recovered. Failure to thrive (FTT), malignant disease and neurological disease were significantly more prevalent in severe cases as was frequently reported comorbidities. Laterality, ground-glass opacity, and lung consolidation were the most common findings in chest computed tomography. The data confirms that the COVID-19 disease has various presentations in children, and clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings may help predict the development of severe forms of COVID-19 among children.

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in children that can be associated with renal parenchymal injuries and late scars. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renal scan is known as golden standard for detecting acute pyelonephritis (APN) that has a lot of difficulties and limitations. Objectives: we designed this study the accuracy of one inflammatory marker, serum procalcitonin (PCT) to identify as an early predictor of renal injuries. Patients and Methods: A prospective study was carried out in 95 patients who admitted in the hospital with the first febrile UTI. Serum PCT of all patients was measured; sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of this marker was analyzed compared to DMSA scan. P value <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: In total, 79 females and 16 males were investigated. There are 42 cases in group 1 with normal DMSA scan and 53 patients in group two with renal parenchymal injuries in their scans. Mann-Whitney test showed a meaningful relation between the two groups regarding PCT level (P<0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of PCT reported in optimum cut off were 70%, 88.1%, 88.1% and 70%, respectively. The positive likelihood ratio (PLR) of PCT test was 5.8. Conclusion: In the current survey, PCT was the eligible inflammatory marker to predict renal parenchymal injuries in children with proper sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV that play also a pivotal role in the children aged less than 24 months, although, more studies should be undertaken to confirm.

People in different age groups are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection as a newly emerging virus. However, the clinical course, symptoms and disease outcome vary from case to case. Although COVID-19 is usually milder in children than adults, some studies reported nonspecific symptoms. Here, we report eight pediatric cases of COVID-19 admitted in the Taleghani Children Hospital in Gorgan city, north of Iran, with complicated symptoms. The current case series poses several challenges to the pediatricians regarding the pediatric cases of COVID-19. As most literature relating to adults are not always transferable to children, clinicians should be warned about such presentations among children with COVID-19.

Background: Lymphadenitis is the most common complication following BCG vaccination observed in 0.1% to 1% of children. Objectives: The presence of immunodeficiency can increase the probability of lymphadenitis or contribute to its exacerbation, so the early detection of immunodeficiency in those developing lymphadenitis can help prevent its many catastrophic complications. Methods: This study was performed on patients referred to Taleghani Hospital of Gorgan city in 1396. Forty children with lymphadenitis and 40 healthy children entered the study. Serum samples were taken to measure white blood cell counts and the antibodies, including IgE, IgG, IgM, and IgA. Purified protein derivative (PPD) test was done in both groups. Results: In this study, there were 40 patients with lymphadenitis, of whom 24 were boys (60%), and 16 were girls (40%), and in the control group were 22 boys (55%) and 18 girls (45%). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. Lymphadenitis was ipsilateral to the vaccine injection site in all 40 cases, and it was in the anterior axillary region in 82%. Abscess at the lymphadenitis site occurred in 25% of cases. The mean size of induration following PPD in the lymphadenitis group was larger than the control group (5.86 mm and 3.04 mm, respectively) (P = 0.004). There were five patients (12.5%) under one year of age with lymphopenia (lymphocyte count 3,000 >), but no lymphopenia was observed in the control group. The mean average IgA and IgM levels were different between the case and control groups (P = 0.001), (P = 0.016), respectively. There was no statistical difference in IgG and IgE levels between both groups (P = 0.92 and P = 0.762, respectively). Conclusions: This study shows that the size of indurations following PPD injection is higher in those with post-vaccination lymphadenitis. Although the probability of a primary immunodeficiency disorder in the cases of our study was low considering the normal immunoglobulin levels and CBC report, further studies with a larger sample size and more specific investigations, such as flow cytometry and specific antibody response, are needed.

Background: Computerized Tomographic (CT) scan is a rapid, non-invasive, and common diagnostic modality in radiology. More and faster growth of cells, as well as longer lifespan of a child, may lead to a cumulative effect of radiation and a greater chance of mutation, especially in children who are more vulnerable. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the current trend in the use of this modality. Methods: In this descriptive study, all cases of children admitted to Taleghani Hospital who were studied by CT scan during the years 2018 - 2019, entered in survey. Demographic information, anatomical location of the scan, findings from the CT scan report, initial and final diagnosis, number of scans, patient’s complaint that led to his hospitalization and total amount of radiation received by the patient were analyzed. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 23 with descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage, and mean and standard deviation). Results: In this study, 344 scans of 280 patients were reviewed. Out of 280 patients, 222 patients underwent scan from one, 55 patients from two and four patients from three different anatomical locations. There were 146 male patients (52.1%) with a mean age of 57.7 months and 134 female patients (47.9%) with a mean age of 54.7 months. Out of all scans, the brain was reported with 45%, chest 30%, and other areas 25%. The CT scan was performed at the request of the doctor in charge. Pneumonia (19%) followed by convulsion (17%) and febrile seizures (12%) were the most common complaints. The number of completely normal CT was 151 scans (44.02%), with brain scans having the highest rate of normal scans with 74.19%. Brain scans with an average of 358.66 milliGray.centimeter (mGy.cm) and a maximum of 995.30 mG/cm had the highest average absorbed dose. Conclusions: In this study, the rate of normal CT scans was relatively high and the range of rays available for each modality was significantly wide. Effective interventions must be made in this regard.

Context: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver illness that results from exceeding fat cumulating in the liver. NAFLD can result in progressive fibrosis, which leads to end-stage liver disease. It has rapidly evolved into the most common liver disease seen in the pediatric and adolescent population, being an increasingly common indication for liver transplant even in youths. Best practices in the management of pediatric NAFLD have not been clearly defined.Objectives: Due to increasing prevalence and the nature of the disease as well as importance of treatment plans and efficacy of each mode of treatment, all studies for pediatric fatty liver disease have been investigated for introducing definite or potential therapies. Data Sources:This systematic review aimed to include and analyze all studies descry the effectiveness of lifestyle modification, pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and dietary supplement treatments in children suffered from fatty liver, NAFLD, or NASH. The PUBMED/MEDLINE for Controlled Trials, Scopus, and OVID databases were searched for articles published up to and including December 2016.Study Selection, Data Extraction: All study in the pediatric group with diagnosis of fatty liver spectrum were included in this review. Adult studies were excluded. The results extracted and expanded.Results: A total of 27 randomized controlled trials were identified after the complete search, deletion of duplicates, removal of irrelevant studies, and final assessment of studies. Treatment plans of interest in these pediatrics articles included: lifestyle modifications, fish oil, and omega-3 fatty acids, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), probiotics, vitamin E, metformin, ursodeoxycholic acid, vitamin D, and bariatric surgery. Conclusions:Lifestyle modification is the only approved treatment modality for which evidence-based studies have documented benefits. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are probably effective. Probiotics likely have therapeutic effects in cases of fatty liver; however, further research is needed. Vitamin E and metformin have equivocal results. Ursodeoxycholic acid is recommended as an adjuvant; however, the data are insufficient for vitamin D. Bariatric surgery is not an acceptable plan in pediatric patients. Research of fatty liver diseases in children in all aspects of treatments is urgently needed.

Background: Bronchiolitis is a lower respiratory tract infection and one of the major health concerns and hospitalization factors in infants. Objectives: This study aimed to address inconsistencies in treating this disease. Methods: This study is a double-blind clinical trial investigating the effect of salbutamol, epinephrine, and 5% inhaled hypertonic saline on treating infants with bronchiolitis referred to the Taleghani Pediatrics Hospital in Gorgan, Iran, during 2019 - 2020. The clinical results of the treatments and hospitalization stay were also evaluated. Results: In this study, the study sample encompassed 18 girls and 39 boys. There was no significant difference between the three groups regarding age, gender, parental literacy level, and history of allergies. Salbutamol and epinephrine, in comparison to hypertonic saline, were effective in shortening patients' hospital stay (P = 0.004). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the oxygen saturation of in the patients 48 h after treatment in the salbutamol and epinephrine groups compared to the saline group (P = 0.001). Conclusions: In comparison to hypertonic saline, salbutamol and epinephrine can be selected to treat children with acute bronchiolitis since they can shorten hospital stay improve O2 saturation, and decrease treatment costs imposed on the health care system and families.

Background: Enuresis is bedwetting that occurs during sleep in children over five years old. If left untreated, it can lead to social and psychological problems for children and their parents. The role of copeptin in patients with primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) has been reported in several studies. Due to the favorable structural properties of copeptin and the reflection of arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentration, it can be used as an alternative marker for AVP secretion. Objectives: This study aims to compare the levels of copeptin in healthy and enuresis children aged 5 - 15 years. Methods: This case-control study was performed on 42 children with primary monosymptomatic enuresis and 42 children without enuresis who were referred to the clinic of Taleghani hospital in Gorgan in 2020. Copeptin levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results: Out of 84 patients, an equal proportion of girls (21 patients) and boys (21 patients) participated in both the case and control groups. The age of the children was 8.05 ± 2.46 years, and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.16). The mean level of copeptin in the case and control groups were 6.7 ± 4.27 and 6.87 ± 8.52 pg/mL, respectively, significantly lower in the case group (P = 0.03). There was a statistically significant difference in the level of copeptin between the boys in the two groups (P = 0.03). Although the mean level of copeptin in the girls in the patient group was lower than that in the control group, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.35). Conclusions: In this study, the mean level of copeptin in PMNE was significantly lower than that in the control group, which suggests it may be considered as a probable biomarker for the prediction of response to treatment with desmopressin, but further study is required to confirm this hypothesis.