Sequelae of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children under 5 years of age

Between 1984 and 1990, 257 cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) meningitis occurred in children under five years of age in Western Australia. We obtained information on possible sequelae in 131 cases (all non-Aboriginal) by medical record review and parental interview, and in a further 116 cases (60 non-Aboriginal, 56 Aboriginal) by medical record review only; no follow-up information was available for ten children (nine non-Aboriginal, 1 Aboriginal). The incidence of Hib meningitis in children under five years of age was 26.3 per 100000 for non-Aboriginal and 152.2 per 100000 for Aboriginal children. The case fatality rate was 3.5% for non-Aboriginal children and 14.0% for Aboriginal children. Sequelae were recorded for 17.1% of non-Aboriginal and 22.4% of Aboriginal children who survived Hib meningitis. Surviving Aboriginal children experienced severe sequelae following Hib meningitis almost three times more frequently than surviving non-Aboriginal children (10.5%vs 3.6%), although mild and moderate sequelae were not more common in Aboriginal children. The information on incidence and severity of sequelae in this study was obtained by chart review and parental interview, and hence may be subject to error or bias, particularly for mild and moderate disabilities. Outcomes like death and severe sequelae, such as cerebral palsy and profound intellectual and physical disability, are less subject to bias. Of Aboriginal children who contracted Hib meningitis in Western Australia over the study period, 22.8% either died or had severe sequelae, while only 7.0% of non-Aboriginal children experienced these severe outcomes.     

Moxalactam therapy of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in children

Thirty-four children with Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis were given prospectively either moxalactam (200 mg/kg/day) or ampicillin (400 mg/kg/day) plus chloramphenicol (75 mg/kg/day). One patient in each group died. The mean duration of fever, clinical response, sequential cerebrospinal fluid findings, and incidence of neurologic sequelae were similar between groups. Moxalactam cerebrospinal fluid bioactivity was significantly greater than that of ampicillin or chloramphenicol throughout therapy. Neutropenia, liver enzyme abnormalities, and diarrhea were not significantly different. In eight of 11 patients given moxalactam (versus one of 14 controls) there was complete elimination of gram-negative aerobic flora in the stools by day 10 (P = 0.002); however, none acquired Clostridium difficile. Moxalactam in effective therapy for H. influenzae type b meningitis.     

Haemophilus influenzae type B meningitis in a previously healthy child

Vaccines have proven successful in virtually eradicating certain infectious diseases that typically attack the pediatric population. Since 1988, when the conjugate vaccine was introduced, the incidence of invasive Haemophilus influenzae type B disease was reduced dramatically. However, immunization rates have decreased in certain parts of the country because of a combination of vaccine shortage and widespread parental perception that vaccines are harmful. We present the case of a previous healthy child, who ultimately succumbed to H. influenzae type B meningitis where multiple factors were likely responsible for his acquisition of the disease.     

Bacterial meningitis in Saudi children

During the four years period from 1988 to 1991, 50 pediatric patients were diagnosed to have bacterial meningitis, out of a total number of 9057 pediatric admissions at Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif, Saudi Arabia, and 82% were less than two years of age. The causative organisms were isolated in 27 (54%) patients. The bacteria grown includedhaemophilus influenzae type B in 8 patients (29.6%),Neisseria meningitidis in 8 patients (29.6%),Streptococcus pneumonia in 6 (22%) patients, and other bacteria in 5 patients (18.5%). Cerebro spinal fluid cultures from twenty three patients (46%) showed no organisms, however their clinical and C.S.F. findings were compatible with bacterial meningitis. One case ofH. influenzae type B was resistant to ampicillin. Six patients died with an over all mortality of 12%, and 10 patients (20%) developed some kind of C.N.S. sequelae. Partially treated meningitis formed a large percentage of our sample.     

潮气呼吸法支气管舒张试验在5岁以下儿童哮喘诊断中的价值

目的 利用潮气呼吸法对小年龄哮喘患儿进行支气管舒张试验,探讨支气管舒张试验在5岁以下患儿哮喘诊断中的价值.方法 将2006年1月-2007年5月就诊的哮喘患儿246例,根据不同年龄段分为4组,Ⅰ组0～1岁,Ⅱ组～3岁,Ⅲ组～5岁,Ⅳ组～6岁.以0.5%沙丁胺醇作为支气管舒张约物,用潮气呼吸肺功能分析各组吸药前后肺功能指标变化.结果 Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组吸药前后达峰时间比(tPTEF/tE)、达峰容积比(VPEF/VE)差异均无统计学意义(t=0.065～0.179,P＞0.05);Ⅳ组吸药前后tPTEF/tE和VPEF/VE差异均有统计学意义(t=-4.295、5.029,P＜0.05).tPTEF/tE和VPEF/VE吸药前后差值与年龄呈正相关(P＜0.05).随年龄增大,差值逐渐增高.tPTEF/tE改善率和VPEF/VE改善率组问比较差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 潮气呼吸法支气管舒张试验在5岁以下哮喘患儿诊断中无明确临床价值,对于＞5岁哮喘患儿诊断与成人哮喘相同具有诊断意义.     

Introduction of Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate vaccine into routine immunization in Ghana and its impact on bacterial meningitis in children younger than five years

This report shows the impact of a pentavalent vaccine that includes Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccine on bacterial meningitis in children younger than 5 years in Ghana. A review of the first 3 years of a pediatric bacterial meningitis surveillance program, started in August 2001 in Accra, Ghana, was undertaken. There was a significant reduction, P = 0.042 and 0.017, in percentage of purulent meningitis in children younger than 1 year, comparing the first year when the vaccine was introduced, to the second and third years, respectively.     

Reye's syndrome in children under three years old.

The National Childhood Encephalopathy Study identified 37 cases of Reye''s syndrome in children aged between 2 and 36 months in a 3-year period, giving an estimated incidence in Great Britain of 0.7/100 000 children a year. The diagnostic features were neither consistently positive in these cases, nor negative in 11 others later considered not to have Reye''s syndrome. The prognosis was poor; the fatality rate was 46%, and 60% of the survivors were handicapped. A surveillance scheme to investigate pathological, clinical, and epidemiological factors in this rare condition is required. This has now been set up in the UK.     

Clara细胞分泌蛋白10在5岁以下喘息儿童外周血中的表达

目的：探讨外周血中Clara细胞分泌蛋白10（CC10）和血清总IgE浓度在5岁以下喘息儿童中的表达。方法：随机选取5岁以下反复喘息患儿59例,分为有特应质高危因素的喘息Ⅰ组（n=33）和无特应质高危因素的喘息Ⅱ组（n=26）,对照组为近期无感染疾病史的外科术前患儿(n=23)。采用固相夹心酶免疫吸附实验（ELISA）测定3组患儿外周血CC10与IgE水平。结果：喘息Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组CC10水平(3.95±1.26, 5.41±1.64 ng/mL)均低于对照组(8.72±2.23 ng/mL),差异有统计学意义(P<0.01);喘息Ⅰ组CC10水平低于喘息Ⅱ组(P＜0.05)。喘息Ⅰ组IgE水平高于喘息Ⅱ组和对照组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,喘息Ⅱ组和对照组之间差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）。喘息Ⅰ组血清CC10与IgE呈负相关（r=-0.912, P＜0.01）。结论：外周血CC10水平在5岁以下患儿喘息发作期显著降低,有特应质高危因素的患儿降低更为明显,并与外周血IgE水平呈负相关。     

Varicella zoster seroprevalence in children less than 5 years old

This study was designed to evaluate the age-specific varicella-zoster virus (VZV) seroprevalence in children less than 5 years old who presented at a healthy child outpatient clinic and to compare the results with the data from other countries. The study was a cross-sectional study determining the prevalence of serum IgG against VZV in children who presented to the Healthy Child Outpatient Clinic of the Gazi University Medical Faculty and who were aged between 9 months and 5 years, in the 3rd--97th percentile as regards height and weight, not suffering from any disease, and without a history of vaccination against varicella. The information on the children was obtained from a questionnaire, by physical examination, and from patient files. Serum samples were obtained from babies and children at 9, 15, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months. The 295 serum samples were kept at --20 degrees C following centrifugation until used for serologic analysis (ELISA). The 292 children of the study group consisted of 168 males (57.5 per cent) and 124 females (42.5 per cent). VZV antibodies were found to be positive in 65 children aged between 9 months and 5 years (22.3 per cent); 22.0 per cent in males and 22.6 per cent in females with no statistically significant difference between the sexes (p>0.05). The VZV seroprevalence was highest at the 48th and 60th months and this difference was statistically significant (p=0.000).