Background: The aim of this study was to identify gastrointestinal (GI) and liver injury presentations in children admitted with COVID-19 infection. Methods: In this retrospective study, we studied all children with suspected symptoms of COVID-19, referred to Amirkola Children’s Hospital. Clinical manifestations of the digestive and respiratory systems and liver function tests were evaluated for all cases. Results: Eighteen children were studied. The most common clinical symptoms were fever, anorexia, weakness, nausea and vomiting, cough, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, respectively. Also, 5/18 (27.8%) and 7/18 (38.9%) of cases had abnormally high alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), respectively. Additionally, in icteric cases, direct bilirubin was raised. There was no significant relationship between pulmonary lesions and abnormal excess in ALT (P = 0.59) and AST (P = 0.62). Conclusion: The findings showed that there were no severe clinical GI symptoms in children with COVID-19 infection. Besides, children with increased liver enzymes did not have more respiratory involvement than those without a rise in liver enzymes.

Background/Aims: Proper colon preparation in children has been a challenge for many years. Different regimens have been used for this purpose, but the best regimen is not determined. The aim of this study was to evaluate successful colon preparation before colonoscopy in children who were treated with one-or two-day regimen with polyethylene glycol (PEG) plus bisacodyl and clear liquids. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 100 children (2-14 years old) who were candidates for colonoscopy were enrolled and divided into two groups. The children in group one were started on 2 g/kg PEG powder (17 g in 240 mL water or another beverage) and 5 mg bisacodyl suppository (BD) the day before colonoscopy, whereas those in the other group were started on 1.5 g/kg PEG with fruit juices for two days and 5 mg bisacodyl suppository (BD) for two days before colonoscopy. Results: Compliance rates, regimens, adverse effects, and complete colonoscopy were not significantly different between the two groups. The Boston score was excellent and good in 70% of group one and 72% of group two children, respectively. Compliance rate, adverse effects, and need for enema were similar in both groups. The rate of compliance and non-requirement of enema were significantly higher in children with satisfactory colon preparation. Conclusion: The one-day PEG plus bisacodyl regimen for bowel preparation is as effective as the two-day regimen in children; furthermore, it is well tolerated and has low adverse effects.

No abstract

Sickle cell disease is an inherited autosomal recessive hemoglobinopathy. Acute abdominal pain is the cause of hospitalization in 10% of patients with sickle cell disease and usually occurs during vaso-occlusion or distal tissue ischemia. Determining the etiology of abdominal pain is very difficult in these patients because it is associated with several rare diagnoses, such as pancreatitis and splenic abscess in some patients. We represent a 14-year-old boy with sickle cell disease who was hospitalized due to acute abdominal pain and indicated multiple and scarce disturbances in the spleen and hepatobiliary system.

Background/Aims: There is little data concerning the incidence of alpha-1-antitrypsin"(AAT) deficiency, the most common genetic cause of liver disease, among children with neonatal cholestasis in Iran. Thus, this study was performed to analyze AAT deficiency in this group of patients. Materials and Methods: DNA samples from patients with neonatal cholestasis were investigated for Pi S and Pi Z alleles, using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: Thirty patients with neonatal cholestasis were enrolled. Among those who underwent biopsies, the results revealed neonatal hepatitis in 19, bile duct paucity in 1, steatohepatitis in 1, bile duct proliferation in 1, cirrhosis in 2, fibrosis in 2, and extrahepatic biliary atresia in 1 patient. No mutant allele was found in any patient. Conclusion: The incidence of AAT deficiency is very low in Iran; therefore, screening for AAT is not recommended for patients with neonatal cholestasis in Iran.