Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis in children.

METHODS: The clinical and epidemiological features of 102 children with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, diagnosed between 1982 and 1998 at P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital were reviewed. RESULTS: During the past decade, a 50% increase of admissions for extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was observed. The source of infection was disclosed in 48 patients. Diagnoses included superficial lymphadenitis (n = 48), pleural effusion (n = 27), meningitis (n = 16), skeletal tuberculosis (n = 5), miliary tuberculosis (n = 3), abdominal tuberculosis (n = 2), and pericarditis (n = 1). Miliary tuberculosis developed in infants, lymphadenitis and meningitis in preschool children, and pleural effusion and skeletal tuberculosis in older children. None of the patients with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis died; however, six patients with meningitis developed permanent neurological deficits. In these patients, antituberculous treatment was introduced at a median of six days following admission as compared with one day in patients with no complications. Poverty, immigration, and limited access to medical services were common among patients with meningitis.     

Clinical spectrum of tuberculous pleural effusion in children

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and potentially diagnostic specimens of pediatric patients with tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) to make a prompt diagnosis. METHODS: Children who had TPE from September 1997 to December 2003 were retrospectively reviewed at a tertiary pediatric facility in northern Taiwan. RESULTS: There were seven boys and six girls and their ages ranged from 10 to 17 years (average, 14.6 years). Tuberculosis contact history was identified in only six patients (46%). Fever (12/92%), cough (9/69%) and malaise (6/46%) were the most common symptoms. Normal leukocyte count was found in 12 patients (92%). Chest radiograph review showed unilateral pleural effusion in 12 patients (92%) but parenchymal involvement was found in nine patients (69%). Most of the pleural fluid analysis showed a lymphocytic exudative effusion (5/6). The acid-fast bacilli (AFB) stain of sputum, gastric washing, and pleural aspirate was positive in six of 11 (55%), two of seven (29%), and one of five (20%) patients, respectively. Culture of sputum, gastric washing, and pleural aspirate yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis in four of 11 (36%), two of seven (29%), and two of five (40%) patients, respectively. A total of 6 to 9 months of multiple-drug therapy for tuberculosis was successful without sequale. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous pleural effusion usually presents as an acute illness and should always be considered in the differential diagnosis for older children and adolescents with pneumonia. A normal leukocyte count with a lymphocytic exudative effusion may provide a clue to the correct diagnosis of TPE. Diagnostic specimen of sputum seems more effective and sensitive in childhood TPE, especially those having pulmonary involvement.     

Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis by detection of antigen and antibodies in CSF and sera

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate diagnostic potential of three immunological tests, namely, detection of H37Rv antigen of M. Tuberculosis in CSF, detection of antibodies (IgG) against H37Rv in CSF and detection of antibodies (IgG) against H37Rv in serum for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children. SUBJECTS: 50 children diagnosed as patients of tuberculous meningitis were included as cases and 48 children with CNS diseases of nontubercular etiology [pyogenic meningitis (n = 31), encephalitis (n = 10), seizure disorder of unknown etiology (n = 5), brain tumor (n = 2)] served as controls. METHODS: H37Rv antigen of M. tuberculosis was detected in CSF by Dot ELISA, and antibodies (IgG) against H37Rv in CSF and serum were detected by Plate ELISA. RESULTS: Detection of H37Rv antigen in CSF was the most sensitive (90%) and specific (95.83%) with positive and negative predictive values of 95.74% and 90.19%, respectively, followed by detection of antibodies in CSF (sensitivity-74%, specificity-89.58%, positive predictive value-88.10%, negative predictive value-76.78%). Detection of antibodies in serum had low sensitivity (50%), specificity (91.67%), positive predictive value (86.21%) and negative predictive value (63.76%). CONCLUSIONS: Detection of antigen in CSF is a rapid, sensitive and specific test for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in children. Detection of antibody in CSF may be useful in some cases but needs further evaluation. Detection of antibody in serum does not appear to be useful for diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.     

Acute mastoiditis. Diagnosis and complications

Thirty children with acute mastoiditis were identified over a 12-year-period and their hospital records were reviewed retrospectively. All had abnormal tympanic membranes and 26 (87%) had swelling above or posterior to the ear that deviated the pinna. Findings on mastoid roentgenograms included clouding (n = 12) and osteitis (n = 7); six were normal. From 13 patients, bacteria were recovered from normally sterile sites and included Pneumococcus (n = 5), group A streptococcus (n = 3), Haemophilus (n = 2), and anaerobes (n = 3). Complications occurred in 13 children, including subperiosteal abscess (n = 7), meningitis (n = 4), osteitis (n = 7), facial palsy (n = 1), and subdural empyema and brain abscess (n = 1). Four of the six children with neurological complications had no external signs of acute mastoiditis on physical examination. Overall, 19 (63%) of the children recovered without mastoidectomy. We conclude that children without meningitis or subperiosteal abscess may be treated initially with antimicrobial therapy plus myringotomy. The need for mastoidectomy should be reassessed in children who fail to respond in 24 to 48 hours.     

Thoracoscopy with mediastinoscope in pediatric complicated parapneumonic effusion

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience with thoracoscopy with small mediastinoscope in complicated parapneumonic effusion in children.METHODS: From July 1995 to June 1997, seven children with complicated parapneumonic pleural effusion underwent thoracoscopy with mediastinoscope at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The procedure was carried out with a small mediastinoscope built in our hospital.RESULTS: There were six girls and one boy. The procedure was preformed under general anesthesia, without selective intubation. Six patients had previous intercostal tube drainage; one underwent thoracoscopy as a primary procedure. No complication was observed after the procedure. During follow-up, two children underwent pleurotomy due to residual pleural effusion with persistent fever; two others presented asymptomatic small pleural effusion.CONCLUSION: Thoracoscopy with small mediastinoscope is safe, efficient and without severe complications. It is very useful to remove loculated complicated parapneumonic effusion at fibrinopurulent stage and to enable lung expansion.     

北京儿童医院2002至2010年结核病住院患儿临床流行病学研究

目的 分析结核病住院患儿的临床流行病学特征,为结核病的防治提供帮助。 方法 回顾性收集2002年1月至2010年12月北京儿童医院（我院）0~17岁的结核病住院患儿,采集性别、年龄、临床表现、结核病接触史、卡介苗接种史和治疗等资料。根据卡介苗接种情况,将结核病患儿分为卡介苗接种组、卡介苗未接种组和卡介苗接种史不详组。并对结核病的类型、接触史和疗效进行评价。采用Logistic回归分析与儿童结核病疗效相关的危险因素。 结果 研究期间我院共收治结核病住院患儿1 212例,其中男性766例（63.2%）,女性446例;年龄2月龄至17岁,中位年龄5.5岁。农村患儿938例（77.4%）,城市患儿274例。①肺结核占45.5%（552例）,肺外结核和血行播散性结核病分别占23.5%（285例）和15.8%（191例）。在肺外结核中,结核性脑膜炎为主要类型,占57.2%（163/285例）。②0~3岁509例（42.0%）、~6岁158例（13.0%）、~12岁370例（30.5%）、~17岁175例（14.4%）。重症结核病主要见于1岁以下儿童,随着年龄增长,其所占比例逐渐减少。③卡介苗接种组重症结核病比例（26.9%,180/670例）低于卡介苗未接种组（34.4%,170/494例）,P=0.004。④有结核病密切接触史患儿中重症结核病比例（43.7%,159/364例）高于无结核病密切接触史者（34.6%,280/809例）,P=0.003。⑤好转或治愈989例（81.6%）,未愈或死亡223例。女性患儿治疗成功率（77.8%,347例）低于男性（83.8%,642例）,P=0.015;肺结核治疗成功率最高（84.2%,465/552例）,血行播散性结核病治疗成功率最低（738%,141/191例）,P=0.006。 结论 儿童结核病主要见于4岁以下患儿,与成人结核病相比,儿童更易发生肺外及重症结核病,且重症结核病及女性患儿抗结核治疗效果较差;卡介苗对重症结核病具有一定的免疫保护作用。     

儿童侵袭性肺部真菌感染的临床特征及CT表现

目的 总结分析儿童侵袭性肺部真菌感染(invasive pulmonary fungal infections,IPFIs)的临床及高分辨CT特征.方法 回顾分析2007年3月至2015年7月我院收治的35例IPFIs患儿的临床及影像资料,总结其临床及影像学特点.结果 35例患儿年龄(3.2±1.9)岁,男23例,女12例.宿主因素:急性白血病12例,原发性免疫缺陷病4例,先天性心脏病、重症甲型H1N1流感和脑性瘫痪各2例,鱼鳞病、获得性免疫缺陷综合征、系统性红斑狼疮、结核性脑膜炎各1例,机械通气2例.35例患儿均使用过广谱抗菌药物,依次为第三代头孢菌素(28例)、碳氢霉烯类(19例)和万古霉素(18例).全身使用糖皮质激素者17例.12例急性白血病患儿均使用抗肿瘤药.IPFIs主要临床表现为间断或持续发热、咳嗽和肺部啰音.初次肺部高分辨CT结果:结节影25例(71.4％);胸膜下斑片影24例(68.6％);团块影(＞3 cm)4例(11.4％);晕征27例(77.1％);空洞8例(22.9％);新月征4例(11.4％);粟粒状结节影2例(5.7％);胸腔积液14例(40.0％).结论 儿童IPFIs有一定的临床及影像学特点,两者密切结合可以作出IPFIs诊断.     

Childhood invasive pneumococcal disease: a hospital-based study from Malaysia

AIM: New conjugate vaccine for Streptococcus pneumoniae has been introduced in Malaysia recently. Information on infection due to S. pneumoniae in Malaysian children is scarce. We conducted a retrospective chart review of childhood invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) presented to a single centre in Malaysia. METHODS: A retrospective review of 5 years and 4 months of all cases of IPD in children younger than 14 years of age (May 1999-August 2004) seen at the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Kuala Lumpur, was conducted. Cases were identified from the record of Department of Medical Microbiology, UMMC. RESULTS: IPD was identified in 50 children (median age 1.1 years, range 2 weeks-14 years) during the study period. Seventy-six per cent of the cases were younger than 2 years of age. Pattern of infections noted include definite pneumonia (n = 8), probable pneumonia (n = 33), meningitis (n = 4), bacteraemia without focus (n = 4) and septic arthritis (n = 1 each). Pre-morbid diseases were present in 28% of all cases. Complications (n = 12, 24%) due to IPD were seizures (n = 5), pleural effusion/empyema (n = 4), cerebral palsy (n = 2) and deafness (n = 1). No deaths were attributed to IPD. Sixty-two per cent of the pneumococcal isolates were penicillin non-susceptible and were detected throughout the study period. CONCLUSIONS: IPD is associated with high morbidity, particularly among young children. Majority of the isolates were penicillin-non-susceptible strains. Additional information on the serotype of S. pneumoniae isolated is necessary to assess the potential impact of immunisation on preventing pneumococcal infection in Malaysia.     

Successful Treatment of Eosinophilic Pleural Effusions Following Congenital Heart Surgery

We report two children, age 7 months and 5 years, who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease and developed persistent pleural effusions with elevated eosinophil counts. Given the elevation of eosinophil counts in both blood and pleural fluid of these patients, it was considered that an allergic response might have caused the persistent effusion. In both cases, the effusion resolved within 48 hours after treatment with corticosteroids was begun. It is possible that postoperative eosinophilic pleural effusion may represent a subgroup of effusions that are more likely to respond to treatment with corticosteroids.     

Pediatric vs adult pulmonary tuberculosis: A retrospective computed tomography study

AIM: To compare the manifestations of chest tuberculosis (TB) in pediatric and adult patients based on contrast enhanced computed tomography of chest.METHODS: This was a retrospective study consisting of 152 patients of chest TB including 48 children and 104 adults who had undergone contrast enhanced computed tomography of chest prior to treatment. The patterns and severity of parenchymal, mediastinal and pleural manifestations were analyzed and compared among different age groups.RESULTS: Parenchymal changes observed include consolidation, air space nodules, miliary TB, cavitation, bronchiectasis and fibrosis and these were noted in 60% of children, 71% of adolescents and 76.9% of adults. These changes were more common in right upper lobe in all age groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of these changes (except nodules) in different age groups. Centrilobular nodules were seen less commonly in children less than 10 years (P = 0.028). Pleural effusion was noted in 28 (18.42%) patients and pericardial effusion in 8 (5.3%) patients. No significant difference in the serosal involvement is seen among children and adults. Mediastinal adenopathy was seen 70% of children, 76.3% adolescents and 76.9% of adults and paratracheal nodes were seen most frequently. Nodes had similar features (except matting) among all age groups. Matting of nodes was seen more commonly in children (P = 0.014).CONCLUSION: Pediatric chest tuberculosis can have severe parenchymal lesions and nodal involvement similar to adults. The destructive lung changes observed in children needs immediate attention in view of the longer life span they have and hence in formulating optimal treatment strategies.     

北京儿童医院住院儿童胸腔积液病因分析

目的探讨北京儿童医院住院儿童胸腔积液的病因。方法收集2016年1月至2018年12月首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院收治住院的胸腔积液患儿的临床资料。根据病因将患儿分为感染组(肺炎旁胸腔积液、结核性胸膜炎及脓胸)及非感染组,同时按照年龄进一步分为≤3岁、>3~7岁和>7岁组,分类统计,回顾分析胸腔积液患儿的病因。结果 1 165例胸腔积液患儿中,感染性胸腔积液746例(64.0%),其中肺炎旁胸腔积液697例(697/746例,93.4%)。肺炎旁胸腔积液中肺炎支原体感染457例(61.3%)。感染性胸腔积液多见于7岁以上儿童(339/479例,70.8%),非感染性胸腔积液主要见于3岁以下儿童(188/324例,58.0%),二者比较差异有统计学意义(χ²=96.33,P<0.05)。非感染性胸腔积液419例(36.0%),其中多系统疾病239例(57.0%)、恶性胸腔积液97例(23.2%)。18例死亡患儿均为非感染性胸腔积液者。结论儿童胸腔积液的主要病因为感染,感染中最多见的为肺炎旁胸腔积液,主要病原为肺炎支原体。     

Myocardial depression in dengue hemorrhagic fever: prevalence and clinical description.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of myocardial depression and its effect on the clinical severity in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever. DESIGN: Clinical study. SETTING: King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. PATIENTS: Ninety-one children (age 10.5 +/- 2.9 yrs, male/female = 52/39) with serologically or polymerase chain reaction-proven dengue virus infection. INTERVENTIONS: Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) was measured. The proportions of patients with EF <50% were identified in patients with dengue fever (DF, n = 30), dengue hemorrhagic fever without shock (DHF, n = 36), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS, n = 25). Comparisons of clinical findings were made among DSS patients with depressed ventricular function (EF <50%), fair ventricular function (EF > or =50% and <60%), and good ventricular function (EF > or = 60%). Serum troponin T was analyzed in nine patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: EF during toxic stage was significantly lower in patients with DSS than DHF, and lower in DHF than DF (p = .05) with rapid recovery within 24-48 hrs. EF <50% was found in 6.7%, 13.8%, and 36% of patients with DF, DHF, and DSS during the toxic stage, respectively (p = .01). DSS patients with poor ventricular function had significantly more tachycardia and hepatomegaly. While end-diastolic volumes were similarly reduced, patients with lower EF tended to have lower cardiac output, required more aggressive intravenous fluid resuscitation, developed larger pleural effusion, and had higher incidence of respiratory embarrassment. No patient had elevated troponin T level. CONCLUSIONS: Transient myocardial depression is not uncommon in patients with DSS. Cardiac dysfunction in children with DSS may contribute to the clinical severity and the degree of fluid overload in these patients.     

Pleural tuberculosis in children

Pleural tuberculosis effusion (PTE) in children is a diagnosis which must be considered in isolated pleural effusions in non-toxemic children. It is more common in children over 5 years of age. A history of close contact with an adult with pulmonary tuberculosis reinforces the suspicion for its diagnosis. Pleural effusion without any parenchymal lesion is the characteristic finding on the chest x-ray. However, in 20% to 40% of patients, intrathoracic disease may also occur. Adenosine deaminase, interferon-gamma, analysis of pleural fluid and pleural biopsy are the main tools for diagnostic confirmation. Tuberculin skin test may provide supporting evidence of tuberculous infection. PTE has a good prognosis in children and no long term sequelae are expected.     

Defining the burden of pneumonia in children preventable by vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b

OBJECTIVES: To determine the burden of pneumonia requiring hospitalization in infants and young children preventable by vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). DESIGN: Vaccination centers in Santiago, Chile, were randomly selected to administer PRP-T, an Hib conjugate vaccine, combined with diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-pertussis (DTP) vaccine or DTP alone. SUBJECTS: Infants who received > or =2 doses of DTP or DTP and Hib conjugate vaccine combined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pneumonia episodes leading to hospitalization accompanied by indicators of likely bacterial infection including radiologic evidence of alveolar consolidation or pleural effusion, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (> or =40 mm/h) or bronchial breath sounds on auscultation. RESULTS: In participants age 4 to 23 months, PRP-T reduced the incidence of pneumonia associated with alveolar consolidation or pleural effusion by 22% (95% confidence interval, -7 to 43) from 5.0 to 3.9 episodes per 1000 children per year. When the pneumonia case definition included any of the following, alveolar consolidation, pleural effusion, erythrocyte sedimentation rate > or =40 mm/h or bronchial breath sounds, PRP-T provided 26% protection (95% confidence interval, 7 to 44) and prevented 2.5 episodes per 1000 children per year. CONCLUSIONS: Hib vaccine provides substantial protection against nonbacteremic pneumonia, particularly those cases with alveolar consolidation, pleural effusion or other signs of likely bacterial infection. Hib vaccination prevented approximately 5 times as many nonbacteremic pneumonia cases in infants as meningitis cases, thus indicating that the largest part of the effect of Hib vaccination might be undetectable by routine culture methods.     

Tuberculosis in children

Summary Observations on 149 children with tuberculosis are presented and discussed with special reference to the available data from India. The majority of the cases were young males and belonged to the low socio-economic group. Only 15% had a definite history of contact; nearly half of the patients gave a history of measles, whooping cough or chicken pox in the recent past. The over-all incidence of the primary complex was 43%; 7.3% of these cases had associated pulmonary complications. Pleural effusion accounted for 4.0% of the cases, superficial lymphadenopathy 20.0%, meningitis 8.0%, intra-abodominal tuberculosis 11%, skeletal tuberculosis 8.0% and chronic pulmonary tuberculosis 6.0%. From the Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Research and Education. Chandigarh, 11.     

Complicated pleural tuberculosis in children: CT evaluation

Purpose. To describe the CT features of complicated pleural tuberculosis in children and to define the use of CT in children with pleural tuberculosis. Materials and methods. The CT findings in 11 children with complicated pleural tuberculosis were retrospectively analysed. CT was performed to evaluate persistent pleural thickening (n = 6) or a mass-like lesion (n = 5) detected on plain radiographs. Chest radiographs and medical records were reviewed to determine whether additional information provided by CT had altered clinical management. Results. On CT, more than one location was involved in five patients (45 %) and in two patients (18 %) the entire pleural spaces were involved. Pleural thickening was seen in all 11 patients and enhancement after administration of contrast medium occurred in ten patients (91 %). Low-density fluid collections were seen in nine patients (82 %) and in two, CT revealed fluid collections within calcified pleural lesions. In five patients with mass-like lesions on plain radiographs, CT showed a low-density pleural mass with peripheral enhancement in four and a calcified pleural mass with fluid collection in one. CT demonstrated parenchymal abnormalities on the same side as pleural lesions in all 11 patients and hilar or mediastinal adenopathy in four. Four patients (36 %) underwent surgery because of fluid within a calcified fibrothorax (n = 3) and chest wall tuberculosis (n = 1) that were seen only on CT. Conclusions. The CT features of complicated pleural tuberculosis in children were pleural thickening, enhancement and fluid collection with associated parenchymal abnormalities and lymphadenopathy. In the evaluation of children with pleural tuberculosis, CT can be useful for demonstrating fluid within a calcified fibrothorax or chest wall involvement, which usually requires surgical intervention. Received: 29 August 1997 Accepted: 26 May 1998     

对14例免疫功能基本正常儿童肺隐球菌病的再认识

目的深入认识儿童肺隐球菌病的表现、诊断进展、治疗和预后,以提高对儿童肺隐球菌病的诊断和治疗水平,防止发生全身播散。方法回顾分析2005-01—2006-06北京儿童医院收治的免疫功能基本正常的14例肺隐球菌病患儿的临床资料。结果14例患儿最小年龄为1岁8个月。症状主要为长期发热,咳嗽不重或持续时间较短暂。肺部查体12例正常,2例闻及干啰音和中水泡音?级廾飨灾卸局⒆础?例伴有间断腹痛,查体时有肝和(或)脾肿大。从发病到确诊至少23d,最长为5个月。实验室检查:13例外周血白细胞和中性粒细胞升高、C反应蛋白(CRP)明显升高。肺部影像学表现:11例患儿表现为双肺弥漫或散在小结节影,并有胸膜下分布。3例未发生肺外播散,11例伴有肺外隐球菌病(播散性隐球菌病)。病原学检查:8例找到隐球菌孢子。12例进行血清隐球菌荚膜多糖抗原检查,仅1例阴性,其余2例单独肺隐球菌病患儿以及9例播散性隐球菌病患儿全部阳性。动物接触史:6例有接触鸽子史,5例无动物接触史,3例接触家鸡。在11例伴有肺外隐球菌病的患儿中,9例静脉联合应用二性霉素B和氟康唑等治疗,病情控制,改为口服氟康唑继续治疗。1例在确诊前死亡,未行抗真菌治疗。在3例单独的肺隐球菌病患儿中,2例静脉应用二性霉素B;1例静脉应用氟康唑治疗病情控制,改为口服氟康唑继续治疗。结论儿童肺隐球菌病可发生于免疫功能正常的儿童,可无动物接触史,尽管长期发热、外周血白细胞和中性粒细胞升高、CRP升高,无特异性,但临床进展缓慢,咳嗽不重、无明显中毒症状、嗜酸性粒细胞升高,IgE升高是其相对特异的临床表现。双肺弥漫或散在小结节影,和(或)纵隔、肺门淋巴结肿大,为影像学表现。除隐球菌培养外,血肺隐球菌抗原检测有助于诊断。二性霉素B和(或)氟康唑治疗可控制隐球菌病。     

Management of childhood pancreatic disorders: a multidisciplinary approach

INTRODUCTION: Data on therapeutic endoscopy and radiologic interventions for the management of childhood pancreatic disorders are relatively limited. This study focuses on the multidisciplinary approach to the management of pancreatitis in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children with pancreatic disorders were studied from January 1992 to May 2001. Acute pancreatitis (AP) was diagnosed by clinical evaluation, serum amylase more than three times normal, and morphologic abnormalities of the pancreas on imaging. Children with recurrent abdominal pain, pancreatic calcification or ductal stones on imaging, and pancreatic ductal changes on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) were diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Patients were treated by gastroenterologists, surgeons, and interventional radiologists. Pancreatic exocrine insufficiency was diagnosed in appropriate settings. RESULTS: Fifteen children--6 with AP (posttrauma, 3; gallstone disease, 1; and viral, 1), 7 with CP, and 2 with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency--were diagnosed. Local complications observed in children with AP included pseudocyst in three, and infected acute fluid collection, right-sided pleural effusion, and ascites in one patient each. Complications of AP were managed with percutaneous catheter drainage (n = 3; pseudocyst, 2; infected fluid collection, 1), additional pancreatic duct stenting (n = 2), surgical drainage (n = 1), and octreotide for pleural effusion (n = 1). Signs of CP included abdominal pain (n = 7), obstructive jaundice resulting from lower common bile duct stricture (n = 2), and bleeding from gastroduodenal artery pseudoaneurysm (n = 1). Pancreatic duct stenting relieved pain in one patient, and steel coil embolization arrested bleeding from the pseudoaneurysm. Common bile duct strictures were managed by surgical bypass (n = 2), one of which required preoperative endoscopic bile duct stenting for management of cholangitis. Two other patients with CP required no intervention. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary approach of radiologic and endoscopic interventions and surgery are complimentary to each other in achieving successful outcomes of complicated childhood pancreatitis.     

Tuberculosis in adolescents: A French retrospective study of 52 cases

BACKGROUND: The only available data about tuberculosis (TB) among adolescents date back to the 1980s, although the incidence of tuberculosis has been increasing in this age group. METHODS: Medical records were reviewed for all adolescents aged 12 to 18 years hospitalized with the diagnosis of TB in Avicenne/Jean Verdier Teaching hospital (Seine-Saint-Denis, suburb of Paris) between September 2000 and December 2004. RESULTS: Of the 52 patients identified, 52% were female. Median age at diagnosis was 15 years (range, 12-18 years). The proportion of adolescents known to be born abroad was 90%. Diagnoses resulted from the examination of a sick child in 79% of cases, a case contact investigation of an adult suspected of having TB in 19% and routine tuberculin skin test in 2%. Twenty-seven of 52 patients (52%) had isolated pulmonary disease. Sixteen patients (31%) had pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB and 8 cases (17%) had exclusively extrapulmonary disease. The site of extrapulmonary TB included pleural (n = 8), meningitis (n = 4), lymph node (n = 4), peritoneal (n = 5), osteoarticular (n = 3) and genitourinary (n = 1). TB was confirmed by the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputum (n = 21), gastric aspirate (n = 8), bone (n = 1) or cerebrospinal fluid (n = 2). No case had a relapse or recurrence of disease in median 3.2 years of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that demographic and clinical characteristics of adolescents with TB differed from adults and children. A specific approach to the prevention and treatment of TB in adolescents is absolutely necessary.