A recent resurgence of pertussis has raised public health concerns even in developed countries with high vaccination coverage. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of infant pertussis, and to determine the relative importance of household transmission in Korea. The multicenter study was prospectively conducted from January 2009 to September 2011. We identified the demographic and clinical data from these patients and performed the diagnostic tests for pertussis in their household contacts. Twenty-one patients with confirmed pertussis were included in the analysis. All infections occurred in infants younger than 6 months of age (mean age, 2.5 months) who had not completed the primary DTaP vaccination except for one patient. Infants without immunization history had a significant higher lymphocytosis and longer duration of hospital stay compared to those with immunization. All were diagnosed with PCR (100%), however, culture tests showed the lowest sensitivity (42.9%). Presumed source of infection in household contacts was documented in 85.7%, mainly parents (52.6%). Pertussis had a major morbidity in young infants who were not fully immunized. Household members were responsible for pertussis transmission of infants in whom a source could be identified. The control of pertussis through booster vaccination with Tdap in family who is taking care of young infants is necessary in Korea.

Based on our study, the hospital outcomes of infants with HIE accompanied by reversible PPHN who underwent TH were in general not significantly graver than those not accompanied by PPHN. Our results suggest that undergoing TH may be more beneficial in HIE infants with PPHN and the risks for possible adverse effects may not be as so high.

Changes in serum LDH may be a useful biomarker for predicting future neurodevelopmental prognosis in infants with HIE.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare congenital neoplasm that originates from the neural crest cells, which give rise to the melanocytes of the skin and leptomeninges. We report a case of MNTI with neurocutaneous melanosis of a 28-month-old girl. She was born with hydrocephalus and several large congenital giant nevi. There were no findings except for hydrocephalus, after a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt operation performed when she was 6 months old. She was operated on for a growing inguinal mass at 8 months. The specimen from the inguinal sac was positive for HMB45, vimentin, chromogranin, and neuron-specific enolase. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed an extensive enhancing extra-axial mass with high signal intensity, along the cerebral spinal fluid space. We report a rare case of MNTI, diagnosed from an inguinal hernia sac, with a disseminated clinical manifestation.