IntroductionMany cases of pneumonia with an unknown origin were observed in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China [1,2]. It was reported that most of these patients exposed to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market. The disease spread rapidly, to other parts of China, and then globally, to many countries across six continents.On January 3, 2020, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) confirmed a novel member of enveloped RNA coronavirus as the cause of this disease 1 . The World Health Organization (WHO) described it as the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on January 7, 2020. After a short period, WHO has declared the COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern on January 30 2 . Since then, the disease affected 1 Tan WJ, Zhao X, Ma XJ. A novel coronavirus genome identified in a cluster of pneumonia cases-Wuhan, China 2019−2020. China CDC Weekly 2020; 2:61-2. 2 World Health Organization (2020). WHO Director-General's statement on IHR Emergency Committee on Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) [online]. Website https://www.who.int/dg/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-statement-on-ihr-emergency-committeeon-novel-coronavirus-(2019-nCov) [accessed 03 March 2020]. 3 World Health Organization (2020). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Situation Report -80 [online]. Website https://www. who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200409-sitrep-80-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=1b685d64_4 [accessed 10 April 2020]. more than 177 countries globally. On February 11, 2020, this illness was named as the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by WHO [3].The first cases detected in Europe were reported from France on January 24, 2020, many European countries reported cases following France. In a short time, many people from many different countries in Europe were affected [4]. The first case from Turkey was reported on March 13, 2020. By April 9, there were 1,436,198 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, and total deaths were 85,522 3 .The first confirmed pediatric case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 infection was reported in Shenzhen on January 20 [5], and by January 31, more than 20 pediatric cases were reported in China Abstract: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was firstly reported at the end of 2019. The disease rapidly spread all around the world in a few months and was declared a worldwide pandemic by WHO in March 2020. By April 9, there were 1,436,198 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the world, nearly with 6% mortality rate. This novel infectious disease causes respiratory tract illness that may generally occur as mild upper respiratory tract disease or pneumonia. In older patients and/or patients with underlying conditions, it may result in acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi organ failure and even death. According to the current literature, children account approximately for 1%-5% of diagnosed COVID-19 cases. Generally, COVID-19 seems to be a less severe disease for children than adults. Approximately 90% of pediatric patients are diagnosed as asymptomatic, mild, o...

Objectives: The aim of this study is to identify the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by pediatric infectious disease specialists from 32 different hospitals from all over Turkey by case record forms. Pediatric cases who were diagnosed as COVID-19 between March 16, 2020, and June 15, 2020 were included. Case characteristics including age, sex, dates of disease onset and diagnosis, family, and contact information were recorded. Clinical data, including the duration and severity of symptoms, were also collected. Laboratory parameters like biochemical tests and complete blood count, chest X-ray, and chest computed tomography (CT) were determined.Results: There were 1,156 confirmed pediatric COVID-19 cases. In total, male cases constituted 50.3% (n = 582) and females constituted 49.7% (n = 574). The median age of the confirmed cases was 10.75 years (4.5–14.6). Of the total cases, 90 were younger than 1 year of age (7.8%), 108 were 1–3 years of age (9.3%), 148 were 3–6 years of age (12.8%), 298 were 6–12 years of age (25.8%), 233 were 12–15 years of age (20.2%), and 268 cases were older than 15 years of age (23.2%). The most common symptom of the patients at the first visit was fever (50.4%) (n = 583) for a median of 2 days (IQR: 1–3 days). Fever was median at 38.4°C (38.0–38.7°C). The second most common symptom was cough (n = 543, 46.9%). The other common symptoms were sore throat (n = 143, 12.4%), myalgia (n = 141, 12.2%), dyspnea (n = 118, 10.2%), diarrhea (n = 112, 9.7%), stomachache (n = 71, 6.1%), and nasal discharge (n = 63, 5.4%). When patients were classified according to disease severity, 263 (22.7%) patients were asymptomatic, 668 (57.7%) patients had mild disease, 209 (18.1%) had moderate disease, and 16 (1.5%) cases had severe disease. One hundred and forty-nine (12.9%) cases had underlying diseases among the total cases; 56% of the patients who had severe disease had an underlying condition (p < 0.01). The need for hospitalization did not differ between patients who had an underlying condition and those who do not have (p = 0.38), but the need for intensive care was higher in patients who had an underlying condition (p < 0.01). Forty-seven (31.5%) of the cases having underlying conditions had asthma or lung disease (38 of them had asthma).Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the largest pediatric data about confirmed COVID-19 cases. Children from all ages appear to be susceptible to COVID-19, and there is a significant difference in symptomatology and laboratory findings by means of age distribution.

TDH is altered in AT in children. The alteration is more prominent in viral than in bacterial tonsillopharyngitis.

Background/aim: Bacteremia remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality during febrile neutropenia (FN) episodes. We aimed to define the risk factors for bacteremia in febrile neutropenic children with hemato-oncological malignancies. Materials and methods: The records of 150 patients aged ≤18 years who developed FN in hematology and oncology clinics were retrospectively evaluated. Patients with bacteremia were compared to patients with negative blood cultures. Results: The mean age of the patients was 7.5 ± 4.8 years. Leukemia was more prevalent than solid tumors (61.3% vs. 38.7%). Bacteremia was present in 23.3% of the patients. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most frequently isolated microorganism. Leukopenia, severe neutropenia, positive peripheral blood and central line cultures during the previous 3 months, presence of a central line, previous FN episode(s), hypotension, tachycardia, and tachypnea were found to be risk factors for bacteremia. Positive central line cultures during the previous 3 months and presence of previous FN episode(s) were shown to increase bacteremia risk by 2.4-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively. Conclusion: Presence of a bacterial growth in central line cultures during the previous 3 months and presence of any previous FN episode(s) were shown to increase bacteremia risk by 2.4-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively. These factors can predict bacteremia in children with FN.

Holocord spinal abscesses are a rare entity. The source of the disease can be hemopoietic spread or contagious spread. The dermal sinus tract is major risk factor for contagious spread. The major hemopoietic sources are urogenital infection, endocarditis, and infective lung diseases. The hemopoietic spread is a more common source for pediatric patients. The thoracolumbar region is the most common site of involvement. Spinal infection has a tendency to extend longitudinally throughout spinal fibers. The pathogenesis of the holocord edema or syrinx is uncertain. The underlying etiology may be inflammation, infection, and associated venous congestion within the spinal canal. Also, CSF circulation alteration due to arachnoiditis may be another etiological factor. The most important entities on outcome are appropriate surgical treatment and antibiotic administration.

Background Personal and herd immunity require durability in high vaccination coverage rates, and this mainly depends on the interaction between parental and service/provider factors. Aims: The aim of this study was to assess Turkish parents' knowledge and behaviours concerning childhood vaccination and their association with familial sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A cross-sectional survey, including a questionnaire, was conducted with parents of children aged between 1 day and 120 months. Results: Of the 903 index children, 881 (97.6%) were up to date for all vaccinations by age. Demographic variables were not related to belief in protection through vaccination or rejection of obligatory vaccines. Mean age, education level, occupation of mother (P = 0.006, P < 0.001, and P = 0.01, respectively) and father (P = 0.002, P < 0.001, and P = 0.006, respectively), average monthly household income (P < 0.001), and experience of vaccine side-effects (P = 0.02) were associated with knowledge about optional childhood vaccines. Father's education level was independently associated with knowledge about optional childhood vaccines. Conclusions: Having any experience of vaccine side-effects and parental sociodemographic characteristics, especially father's education level, affect Turkish parents' knowledge of childhood optional vaccines.

Summary We aimed to describe rotavirus epidemiology and clinical findings including extraintestinal manifestations in a setting that has yet to introduce rotavirus vaccines in the national immunization program. A literature search was performed by using the key words “Turkey” and “rotavirus.” Ninety‐eight studies published between 1987 and 2016 including epidemiological, clinical, and genotypical data at least 1 year duration were included. There were a total of 117 741 children with diarrhea and 26 566 rotavirus gastroenteritis with a median detection rate 31.8% (95% CI, 31.3‐32.4) under 5 years of age. The rate of dehydration was 47% (95% CI, 23.4‐91.6). There were 328 cases reported to be presenting with a various complication related to rotavirus in 2750 children in eight studies. The overall complication rate was 11.7% (95% CI, 10.7‐12.9). The cumulative incidence of the most common genotypical combinations circulating worldwide was only 59.7% (G9[P8], 25%; G1[P8], 22%; G2[P4], 5.6%; G3[P8], 2.6%; G4[P8], 4.5%) whereas mixed, untypeable, and other genotypes were 2.4%, 15%, and 22.9% respectively. Our results point out the importance of rotavirus vaccination by presenting that rotavirus may cause severe complications besides severe gastroenteritis. The role of strain diversity in the variability of clinical presentations of rotavirus infections needs to be further investigated.

These findings can guide hospitals to plan and prepare for the influenza season. Effective influenza vaccination strategies, particularly aimed at the elderly and adults with chronic diseases, can provide an opportunity for prevention of deaths due to influenza-like illness.