Hospitalizations for pediatric intoxication in Washington State, 1987-1997

BACKGROUND: Intoxication (or poisoning) that necessitates hospitalization remains an important source of morbidity in children. OBJECTIVE: To determine changes, during an 11-year period (1987-1997), in the incidence of hospitalization due to intoxication among children in Washington State and circumstances of ingestion, agents used, hospital length of stay, charges, and mortality. METHODS: A computerized database of all hospital discharges (Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System [CHARS] database) in Washington was used. Cases included all children younger than 19 years with a primary or secondary diagnosis for an intoxication or with an external cause of injury code (E code) for an intoxication from 1987 to 1997. RESULTS: There were 7322 hospitalizations (45 per 100 000 children per year); the annual rate significantly decreased during the study period. Most patients (75%) were teenagers. Sixty-five percent were female. Pharmaceutical agents were used in 80% of cases. Analgesics were the most commonly used (34%), followed by antidepressants (12%) and psychotropic drugs (8%). Nonpharmaceutical agents were more prevalent in children younger than 12 years than in teenagers. Self-inflicted intoxication was the most frequent cause identified by E codes (47%). Median length of stay was 1 day, and median hospital charges were $2096. Mortality was low (0.2%) and did not change significantly over time. CONCLUSIONS: Acute intoxication continues to be an important cause of hospitalization in children. The type of agent involved did not change significantly over time. Teenage girls continue as the highest risk group for suicide attempt from ingestions. Self-inflicted intoxications were associated with higher costs, length of stay, and readmissions. Although preventive measures and development of poison centers have contributed to decrease mortality from acute intoxication in children in the last 50 years, efforts need to be targeted toward suicide prevention, especially among teenage girls.     

Acute acetone intoxication in a pediatric patient

The widespread presence of fingernail polish remover in the home makes the product a common source of ingestion, as evidenced by recent poison center data. Its principal component, acetone, is present in relatively high concentration. The syndrome of acetone intoxication presents as generalized central nervous system/respiratory depression, hyperglycemia, and ketosis. Despite its ubiquitous presence and high potential for severe intoxication, no reports are found describing the toxicity and supportive care following its ingestion by children. The authors present a 30-month-old patient with severe acetone intoxication secondary to fingernail polish remover ingestion. Also noted is the need to include acetone ingestion in the differential diagnosis of apparent diabetic ketoacidosis.     

Hospitalizations with primary versus secondary discharge diagnoses of asthma: implications for pediatric asthma surveillance

Asthma-related hospitalizations are sentinel events in pediatric asthma surveillance. Little is known about hospitalizations that are assigned a secondary discharge diagnosis of asthma (SDDA). The National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) was analyzed to compare hospitalizations with primary versus secondary discharge diagnoses of asthma. Most hospitalizations with SDDA had primary diagnoses of respiratory origin. Surveillance systems tracking the hospitalization burden of pediatric asthma should consider including selected hospitalizations with a secondary diagnosis of asthma.     

Radiation exposure from pediatric head CT: a bi-institutional study

Background  

Medical radiation from CT should be kept as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA), particularly in young patients.     

Hypertension: retrospective study in children from a pediatric nephrology unit

300 hypertensive children, from newborn to 18 years old,were studied, retrospectively, from 1975 to 1992, 105 from those lost for follow-up. In 244 the diagnosis of the primary disease, predominantly glomerulopathy, was established. 122 had chronic renal failure (CRF). From them, 74 arrived at end stage renal disease (ESRD) and 13 have been transplanted. From 12 submitted to surgical treatment, hypertension has been controlled in 8. 54 died, 48 with CRF and 38 with ESRD. Difficulties in controlling those patients are discussed, mainly therapy diet, the use of hypotensive drugs on dialysis treatment. Our conclusion is for the necessity of a precocious diagnosis for hypertension and primary diseases, of a trained interprofessional team as well as availability of adequate equipment to children, mainly for dialytic therapy. For many of these children, renal transplantation is the only definite therapy.     

Transition from open to robotic-assisted pediatric pyeloplasty: a feasibility and outcome study

PurposeLaparoscopic reconstructive procedures in the pediatric patient are associated with a steep learning curve. Outcomes from robotic-assisted pediatric urology have been reported by surgeons with known facility in laparoscopic surgery. We describe the experience of a single surgeon in transitioning from open to robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) without previous training in traditional laparoscopic pyeloplasty or intracorporeal suturing.Materials and MethodsWe reviewed our experience with 20 (mean age 7.4 years) consecutive children undergoing RALP for ureteropelvic junction obstruction at our institution over 36 months. Additionally, a literature search was conducted to identify age-similar patient groups who underwent open and laparoscopic pyeloplasty.ResultsLength of hospitalization and postoperative analgesia requirement were greater in the age-similar open pyeloplasty group compared to the other two groups. Intraoperative times were greater in the laparoscopic and RALP groups compared to the open pyeloplasty group.ConclusionsOur experience confirms the feasibility of transitioning from open to robotic-assisted laparoscopic pediatric pyeloplasty without previous experience in conventional laparoscopy. Outcomes, analgesic requirement and hospitalization for the patients from our institution are comparable to the laparoscopy patient group and improved compared to open pyeloplasty patients from the literature     

Hospital Charges for Pediatric Heart Failure-Related Hospitalizations from 2000 to 2009

Scarce data exist regarding costs of pediatric heart failure-related hospitalizations (HFRH) or how costs have changed over time. Pediatric HFRH costs, due to advances in management, will have increased significantly over time. A retrospective analysis of Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids’ Inpatient Database was performed on all pediatric HFRH. Inflation-adjusted charges are used as a proxy for cost. There were a total of 33,189 HFRH captured from 2000 to 2009. Median charges per HFRH rose from $35,079 in 2000 to $72,087 in 2009 (p < 0.0001). The greatest median charges were incurred in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ($442,134 vs $53,998) or ventricular assist devices ($462,647 vs $55,151). Comorbidities, including sepsis ($207,511 vs $48,995), renal failure ($180,624 vs $52,812), stroke ($198,260 vs $54,974) and respiratory failure ($146,200 vs $48,797), were associated with greater charges (p < 0.0001). Comorbidities and use of mechanical support increased over time. After adjusting for these factors, later year remained associated with greater median charges per HFRH (p < 0.0001). From 2000 to 2009, there has been an almost twofold increase in pediatric HFRH charges, after adjustment for inflation. Although comorbidities and use of mechanical support account for some of this increase, later year remained independently associated with greater charges. Further study is needed to understand potential factors driving these higher costs over time and to identify more cost-effective therapies in this population.     

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen for bronchiolitis in a pediatric ward: a pilot study

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a widely used ventilatory support in children with bronchiolitis in the intensive care setting. No data is available on HFNC use in the general pediatric ward. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of HFNC oxygen therapy in infants hospitalized in a pediatric ward for moderate–severe bronchiolitis and to assess the changes in ventilatory parameters before and after starting HFNC support. This prospective observational pilot study was carried out during the bronchiolitis season 2011–2012 in a pediatric tertiary care academic center in Italy. Interruptions of HFNC therapy and possible side effects or escalation to other forms of respiratory support were recorded. Oxygen saturation (SpO₂), end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂), and respiratory rate (RR), measured for a baseline period of 1 h before and at specific time intervals in 48 h after the start of HFNC were recorded. Twenty-seven infants were included (median age 1.3 months; absolute range 0.3–8.5). No adverse events, no premature HFNC therapy termination, and no escalation to other forms of respiratory support were recorded. Median SpO₂ significantly increased by 1–2 points after changing from standard oxygen to HFNC (p <0.001). Median ETCO₂ and RR rapidly decreased by 6–8 mmHg and 13–20 breaths per minute, respectively, in the first 3 h of HFNC therapy (p <0.001) and remained steady thereafter. Conclusions: Use of HFNC for oxygen administration is feasible for infants with moderate–severe bronchiolitis in a general pediatric ward. In these children, HFNC therapy improves oxygen saturation levels and seems to be associated with a decrease in both ETCO₂ and RR.     

Bethanechol for pediatric gastroesophageal reflux: a prospective, blind, controlled study

To investigate the effect of bethanechol on postprandial gastroesophageal reflux in children, and the relationship between its effect on the lower esophageal sphincter pressure and its effect on reflux, we studied 31 consecutive children with pathologic reflux, using manometry and pH probe, both before and after administration of bethanechol. The initial sphincter pressure was subnormal in only 35% of the patients. The bethanechol-treated sphincter pressure was increased in 97% of the patients (from 13.4 +/- 1.3 to 34.1 +/- 2.6 mm Hg) and was normal in 97% of the patients, yet bethanechol did not improve any measure of postprandial reflux in the patient group as a whole. Furthermore, the 20 patients with normal sphincter pressures had significant worsening of their percent of postprandial time with reflux (from 21.8 +/- 5.3 to 33.8 +/- 6.0%, p = 0.009). Thus, this study demonstrates a failure of the acute administration of bethanechol to improve postprandial gastroesophageal reflux and raises the issue of whether the widespread use of bethanechol to treat reflux in children is appropriate.     

儿童急性白血病合并真菌血症相关危险因素的病例对照研究

目的 探讨急性白血病患儿合并真菌血症的危险因素。方法 以首都医科大学附属北京儿童医院血液肿瘤中心2002年1月至2014年6月收治的急性白血病且2次血培养真菌阳性的病例为真菌血症组;以同期住院、同性别、既往无真菌感染、且未发生真菌血症的急性白血病患儿为对照组,样本量对照组与真菌血症组1∶1。采集年龄、白血病状态（缓解与否）、复发情况、住院时间、是否应用含激素的化疗方案、中性粒细胞缺乏（＜0.5×109·L-1）及其持续时间、中心静脉置管、广谱抗生素应用和合并败血症等因素,行真菌血症组和对照组单因素和多因素分析。结果 真菌血症组纳入48例,男32例,应用化疗药物累计中位时间98（3~300） d,中位年龄5.6（1.4~13.8）岁;对照组纳入96例,应用化疗药物累计中位时间201（4~1 080）d,男64例,中位年龄6.7（1~15）岁。①真菌血症组48例均有发热,中位发热时间8.6（1~42）d。住院至出现真菌血症的中位时间17.6（1~115）d;既往有真菌感染5例（10.4%）,合并脏器功能衰竭7例（14.6%）;10例（20.8%）合并细菌败血症;死亡或临终放弃治疗11例（22.9%）。③血培养结果示,近平滑念珠菌和热带念珠菌各17例（35.4%）,白色念珠菌8例（16.7%）,季也蒙念珠菌2例（4.2%）,光滑念珠菌、青霉菌、镰刀菌属和阿萨希毛孢子菌各1例（2.1%）。④单因素分析显示,白血病未缓解、中性粒细胞缺乏及其持续时间＞7 d、应用广谱抗生素、静脉应用抗生素>7 d和合并败血症是急性白血病合并真菌血症的危险因素;多因素Logsitic分析显示,应用广谱抗生素是急性白血病合并真菌血症的独立危险因素,OR=28.3(95%CI: 5.9~136.2)。结论 念珠菌属为急性白血病合并真菌血症的主要病原体,非白色念珠菌占优势。应用广谱抗生素是急性白血病合并真菌血症的独立危险因素。     

Risk factors for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric patients: a case-control study

Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) because of the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is a major concern after pediatric transplantation. The group at greatest risk is EBV-seronegative recipients who receive EBV-seropositive organs. Additional risk factors remain to be determined, including those among EBV-seropositive recipients. In this case-control study, PTLD cases were biopsy-proven over a period of 4 yr (1997-2000, inclusive). Each case was matched with 2 controls, based on the type of organ transplanted and the period of transplantation (+/-1 yr). Variables compared between cases and controls included those relating to the clinical and virologic profiles and immunosuppressive therapy. Twenty-two cases of PTLD were diagnosed during the study period. PTLD cases occurred at a median of 22.8 months post-transplantation (range 1-131). The median age of cases was 26.2 months (range 6.1-194) compared with 47.4 months (range 0.8-202.2) for controls (p = 0.93). Cases had a higher mean baseline EBV load compared with controls (3.1 log(10) (s.d. +/- 1.0) vs. 1.6 log(10)/10(6) PBMCs (s.d. +/- 1.4), with every 1 log increase in viral load resulting in a three times increase in the likelihood of PTLD (p < 0.007). Close to one in four cases of PTLD were EBV-seropositive pretransplantation. These seropositive recipients tended to be older patients with a trend to a worse outcome compared with their seronegative counterparts. The occurrence of PTLD was not associated with the use of any specific immunosuppressants. A significant proportion of PTLD cases occurred among EBV-seropositive transplant recipients, with a tendency towards an unfavorable outcome. Besides EBV-seronegative recipients who receive seropositive organs, some EBV-seropositive pediatric patients are at risk of PTLD. Additional studies are warranted to further define the factors associated with PTLD in EBV-seropositive transplant recipients.     

Medico-legal child deaths in Istanbul: data from the Morgue Department

BACKGROUND: Before determining health policies, finding solutions to problems and taking precautions, one should define the problems and their regional and national dimensions. Data about causes of death vary from country to country and, therefore, it is clear that precautions should be based on regional data and needs, which will be more effective. METHOD: The authors reviewed deaths among children aged 1 month to 18 years, whose autopsies were performed in the Morgue Department, State Institute of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, between 2000 and 2002. RESULTS: The authors evaluated autopsy reports about 736 child deaths. The mean age of the children was 8.77 +/- 6.25 years and 62.8% of the children were male. As to causes of death, the most frequent was asphyxia. Almost half of them were caused by mechanical asphyxia due to drowning. A total of 48.5% of the deaths were accidental. There was a significant difference in causes of death between children aged 11 years or younger and those aged over 11 years. Death due to nontraumatic conditions and poisoning was predominant among children aged 11 years and younger, while death due to gunshot wounds and stab wounds was predominant among children aged more than 11 years. There was a significant difference in causes of death between females and males. CONCLUSION: Asphyxia, poisoning and blunt traumatic injuries were found to be the leading causes of death, which can be prevented or decreased by certain precautions. As a result, new regulations should be enacted to protect children against accidents, injuries and hazards and a child protection program is needed in Turkey.     

Risk factors for pediatric tumors of the central nervous system: results from a German population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: From 1993 to 1997 we conducted two population-based case-control studies on childhood cancer and a variety of potential risk factors in Germany. One case group involved children under the age of 15 years having a tumor of the central nervous system (CNS). PROCEDURE: For both studies, one conducted in the northwestern area of Germany, the other covering the whole of West Germany, incident cases were identified from the nationwide German Childhood Cancer Registry, and controls were randomly selected from complete population registration files. RESULTS: In total 466 pediatric CNS tumor cases and 2,458 controls were available for analyses. We observed only few positive associations, namely, between CNS tumors and low birth weight [<2,500 g; odds ratio (OR), 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-2.84], between ependymoma and maternal smoking during pregnancy (>10 cigarettes per day: OR, 4.71; 95% CI, 1.69-13.1), and between astrocytoma and exposure to wood preservatives (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.22-3.01). CNS tumors were not associated with high birth weight, duration of breast feeding, maternal age at time of delivery, duration of gestation, previous fetal losses, paternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal alcohol consumption, the child's exposure to pesticides, maternal diagnostic X-ray examinations during pregnancy, X-ray examinations of the child, or exposure to residential magnetic fields. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the large study population, we found only few factors that were associated with CNS tumors or one of the morphological subgroups. Therefore, our results suggest that aspects of the prenatal and neonatal period play only a minor role in the etiology of pediatric CNS tumors.