Interferon Production in Children with Undue Susceptibility to Infections

ABSTRACT. The interferon-producing ability of peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes obtained from children with undue susceptibility to infections was investigated. Patients were grouped according to three clinical patterns, i.e. children with mainly upper respiratory tract infec-tions, with lower respiratory tract infections and with frequent middle ear infections. There WBS no evidence of impaired mean interferon-a responses to the inducers Sendai virus and beta-hemolytic Group G streptococci in patients compared with control children, and there were no differences in this respect between the patient subgroups. A tendency to increased Concanavalin A-induced interferon-y production was seen in patients, particularly those with middle ear infections. Leukocytes from patients displayed a higher proliferative response to the T cell mitogens Concanavalin A and Lens culinaris lectin. In a minority of patients (5128) reproducibly low interferon responses to Sendai virus were found but only one of these patients showed a response below the -2 SD limit for the control group. The results therefore indicate no major defects in the interferon responses of infection-prone children, and at the most suggest that a minority of such patients may be low responders to a viral interferon inducer. Key words: Integeron, lymphocytes, infection, children.     

Acute Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

ABSTRACT. Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in small children account for a considerable proportion of health care expenditure. In 113 children, followed for the first three years of life, we studied the frequency of acute RTI and its relationship to the factors: type of day-care, age, sex, family size, living conditions, allergic predisposition, family smoking habits, and season. To elucidate the influence of age, the frequency of acute RTI and its relationship to type of day-care was longitudinally studied on a quarterly basis. The frequency of acute RTI diagnosis increased gradually from birth culminating in a peak at the beginning of the second year. Besides age and season, type of day-care was the only factor studied to show any relationship with the frequency of acute RTI diagnosis. Up to the age of almost 2 1/2 years, children attending day-care centres accounted for more RTI diagnoses than did those in home care or family day-care, categories with comparable frequncies.     

慢性咳嗽儿童140例肺功能的特点

目的分析慢性咳嗽儿童肺功能,探讨慢性咳嗽病因与咳嗽变异性哮喘(CVA)的相关性。方法慢性咳嗽患儿140例,根据第1s用力呼气容积(FEV1)或最大呼气流量(PEF)分成二组:运动试验组93例,舒张试验组47例。二组分别予运动和舒张试验。检测二组患儿肺功能,包括用力肺活量(FVC)、FEV1、PEF、用力呼吸50%及75%肺活量时瞬间流量(FEF50及FEF75)。结果运动试验组阳性30例,其FEV1及PEF变异率分别为(18.30±10.50)%及(18.78±9.44)%;舒张试验组阳性35例,FEV1及PEF变异率分别为(30.36±27.27)%及(36.13±26.83)%。结论FEV1、PEF可用于评价CVA儿童的呼吸道阻塞程度。肺功能可客观评价慢性咳嗽呼吸道反应性及炎性反应程度。     

Respiratory Illness in Children: Do Deprived Children Have Worse Coughs?

ABSTRACT. Parents of a stratified random sample of 234 children from 21 general practices in North East England were interviewed at home. All these children had been reported in a postal questionnaire as having had a cough between six and ten weeks before the interview. Interviews covered social characteristics of the family, the severity of the child's cough and the reactions of the parents to hypothetical sets of symptoms. The parents of children in materially deprived circumstances appeared to report worse coughs than other parents. We confirmed this finding by constructing a scale of perceived cough severity. However, we found no evidence that the inequality was due to exaggeration of the severity of the cough by materially deprived parents. Our conclusion that materially deprived children suffer worse respiratory illness is the more important because previous evidence suggets that the after-effects persist into adulthood.     

ACTH in Normal Children and Children with Pituitary and Adrenal Diseases

ABSTRACT. During insulin hypoglycaemia (IH) reference values for plasma ACTH are 10 to 88 pg/ml at 0 min and 50 to 300 pg/ml at 40 min. Plasma Cortisol reference values are above 400 nmol/l at 40 min. A negative correlation between age and ACTH response was found in normal children. ACTH response during IH in 43 children and adolescents with deficient production of one or several pituitary hormones was significantly lower (median 81 pg/ml at 40 min), than the response in normal children (median 149 pg/ml). Thirty-six patients with idiopathic hypopituitarism could be grouped into 21 with normal, 6 with borderline (50 to 70 pg/ml at 40 min), and 9 with abnormal ACTH response. In 7 patients with intracranial tumour 2 had normal, 3 borderline, and 2 abnormal ACTH response. A good correlation between the ACTH peak at 40 min and the Cortisol value at 40 min was found in patients with idiopathic hypopituitarism. ACTH response also correlated well with the plasma growth hormone (GH) response in the patients. It is recommended to study ACTH together with GH when IH is performed, multiple disturbances are often found in children with GH deficiency and demonstration of an ACTH defect has therapeutic implications.     

ACTH in Normal Children and Children with Pituitary and Adrenal Diseases

ABSTRACT. During insulin hypoglycaemia (IH) reference values for plasma ACTH are 10 to 88 pg/ml at 0 min and 50 to 300 pg/ml at 40 min. Plasma Cortisol reference values are above 400 nmol/l at 40 min. A negative correlation between age and ACTH response was found in normal children. ACTH response during IH in 43 children and adolescents with deficient production of one or several pituitary hormones was significantly lower (median 81 pg/ml at 40 min), than the response in normal children (median 149 pg/ml). Thirty-six patients with idiopathic hypopituitarism could be grouped into 21 with normal, 6 with borderline (50 to 70 pg/ml at 40 min), and 9 with abnormal ACTH response. In 7 patients with intracranial tumour 2 had normal, 3 borderline, and 2 abnormal ACTH response. A good correlation between the ACTH peak at 40 min and the Cortisol value at 40 min was found in patients with idiopathic hypopituitarism. ACTH response also correlated well with the plasma growth hormone (GH) response in the patients. It is recommended to study ACTH together with GH when IH is performed, multiple disturbances are often found in children with GH deficiency and demonstration of an ACTH defect has therapeutic implications.     

Respiratory Tract Infections in Children with Recurrent Episodes as Preschoolers

ABSTRACT. The occurrence of respiratory tract infections (RTI) in 41 school-age children, who had recurrent RTIs treated with antibiotics as preschoolers, was followed prospectively for two years through diary reports by parents and medical consultations, and compared with that in 29 children of the same age and socio-economic background, who had few or no such infections as preschoolers. During the two-year follow-up, a greater number of episodes of RTI and a longer mean duration of such episodes were reported in the diaries concerning the children with recurrent bacterial RTIs as preschoolers compared with the controls ( p <0.01). The annual incidence of bacterial RTI from birth onwards decreased with age among the children with recurrent episodes as preschoolers, unlike in the control group, where the incidence remained consistently low, the difference in incidence being significant up to the age of eight years ( p <0.01). Acute otitis media was the predominant bacterial RTI in preschoolers, and acute tonsillitis in school-age children. There was a tendency toward a greater incidence of other types of disease and complication/sequelae of infections among the RTI-afflicted group than among the controls, both as preschoolers and as school children. Our findings suggest that certain children constitute a group with high morbidity, susceptible to RTIs and other illnesses over a rather long period of years.     

并呼吸道感染的轮状病毒肠炎的临床特点

目的　探讨并呼吸道感染的轮状病毒 (RV)肠炎临床特点。方法　对 32例并呼吸道感染的RV肠炎 (呼吸道感染组 )与 37例无肠道外表现的RV肠炎 (对照组 )进行回顾性分析。结果　 1 .呼吸道症状随腹泻好转而好转。 2 .平均腹泻持续时间 :呼吸道感染组 (7.0 6± 1 .50 )d ,对照组 (4.73± 1 .31 )d ,两组比较差异有非常显著性 (t=6 .90　P <0 .0 1 )。 3 .腹泻停止时大便RV转阴情况 :呼吸道感染组 1 5例 ,对照组 2 8例 ,两组转阴率比较差异有显著性 (χ2 =4.78　P <0 .0 5)。 4 .恢复正常乳类喂养时 ,继发性乳糖不耐受 (SLI)发生情况 :呼吸道感染组 8例 ,对照组 5例 ,两组SLI发生率比较差异有显著性 (χ2 =5 .72　P <0 .0 5)。结论　并呼吸道感染的RV肠炎的临床特点为病程较长、病情较重、腹泻停止时RV转阴率低、SLI发病率高。     

有益菌与儿童变应性疾病

有益菌为具有活性的微生物,一定数量的有益菌可调整肠道微生物组成,刺激免疫系统成熟,诱导Th1、Treg,抑制Th2,调节Th1/Th2平衡.多个试验研究提示有益菌对儿童变应性疾病有防治作用,但具体的疗效及临床应用的安全性还需进行深入的基础和临床研究.     

应用一氧化氮治疗小儿难治性呼吸衰竭(附三例分析)

目的　 探讨一氧化氮 (NO)配合治疗难治性呼衰的疗效。 方法 　经机械通气治疗无好转或进行性恶化 ,采用经气道吸入NO治疗严重呼衰患儿 3例 ,浓度为 5～ 2 0ppm ,给患儿持续吸入。 结果 　治疗后 3例脉搏氧饱和度 (SPO2 )均有好转 ,呼吸顺应性改善 ,肺水肿好转。未发现明显不良反应。 结论 　吸入NO可明显改善低氧性呼衰的SPO2 ,且起效快 ,适宜用于难治性呼衰的治疗。     

Mixed Infection Is Common in Children with Respiratory Adenovirus Infection

ABSTRACT. The presence of concomitant viral or bacterial infection was evaluated in 20 patients hospitalized for adenovirus infection of the middle or lower airways by using new serological methods for detection of both antigens and antibodies. Adenovirus infection was identified by measurement of antibodies with complement fixation test or by direct detection of viral antigen in nasopharyngeal aspirates. Mixed infection was present in 11 (55%) of the 20 patients. Viral coinfection was demonstrated in five (25%) and bacterial in nine (45%) patients. Bacterial coinfection was common, 67%, in children with an infection focus, pneumonia or acute otitis media, but rare, 13%, in those without it. Seroconversion to nontypable Haemophilus influenzae was indicated in six children; four of them were infants, four had pneumonia and three acute otitis media. Pneumococcal infection was indicated in two patients with pneumonia, both aged over two years. Chlamydia trachomatis was involved in one case. The results indicate that bacterial coinfection is common in respiratory adenovirus infection affecting lower airways, especially if pneumonia is present.     

北京地区住院急性呼吸道感染患儿的病毒病原检测分析

目的了解北京地区住院急性呼吸道感染(ARI)患儿的病毒病原情况。方法取1260例年龄14岁以下住院ARI患儿的鼻咽深部分泌物,用间接免疫荧光及病毒分离法检测呼吸道合胞病毒(RSV)、流感病毒A、B型、副流感病毒1、2、3型及腺病毒等7种常见呼吸道病毒。用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法对其中490例患儿标本进行肠道病毒(EV)检测。结果1.ARI1260例中,43.33%检测到了病毒病原,7种常见呼吸道病毒检出率36.19%,RSV阳性率最高(23.97%),以冬春季为著,88.08%的RSV阳性为3岁以下小儿。2.EV阳性率16.33%。3.19例存在2种病毒混合感染,均出现在冬春季,16例为RSV并EV感染。4.入选的510例急性呼气性喘息患儿中,3岁以下RSV阳性率最高(43.20%),3岁以上EV阳性率最高(36.11%)。结论1.RSV是北京地区冬春季婴幼儿ARI的主要病原。2.冬春季EV可并RSV等其他呼吸道病毒感染。3.RSV及EV是引起小儿急性喘息性疾病的主要病毒病原。     

儿童原发性免疫缺陷病的临床特点

目的了解儿童原发性免疫缺陷病(PID)的临床特点,以助于早期识别和诊断。方法对本院儿科住院诊断为PID的26例病例进行回顾性分析,记录病史、出生史、家族史、临床表现、实验室检查、诊断、治疗和转归等情况。结果PID中选择性IgA缺乏症6例,普通变异性免疫缺陷病、婴儿暂时性低丙种球蛋白血症各5例,T、B细胞联合免疫缺陷病、湿疹血小板减少伴免疫缺陷综合征各4例,慢性肉芽肿病2例。25例临床表现为反复感染,感染部位主要是呼吸道和消化道;确定有条件致病菌感染6例,自身免疫性疾病5例,有家族病史6例。住院期间死亡、放弃治疗各1例,其他病情好转出院。结论对反复感染、条件致病菌感染或伴自身免疫性疾病患儿,结合家族史,应尽早行免疫学检查,以早期识别和诊断PID。     

小儿急性下呼吸道感染的病原学研究

目的：探讨小儿急性下呼吸道感染的病原学特点及其与临床的关系。方法：采用痰细菌培养、痰支原体培养、APAAP法、酶联免疫法(ELISA)等对246例下呼吸道感染病儿进行多病原学研究。结果：单纯病毒感染占 50.4%,细菌感染 4.1%,支原体感染 5.7%,混合感染 27.2%,病原不明 12.6%。毛细支气管炎组中无单纯细菌或支原体感染;而支气管炎组中无1例是单纯细菌感染。<1岁组的混合感染率 37.6%高于1岁以上年龄组(16.53%)(P<0.05)。CRP的升高在细菌与病毒感染间差异显著(P<0.05)。结论：病毒感染和混合感染构成小儿急性下呼吸道感染的主要病原;婴儿中混合感染率高,而CRP的升高有助于早期判断细菌感染。     

小潮气量机械通气在小儿呼吸衰竭中的应用

目的探讨小潮气量机械通气的临床治疗及肺保护效果。方法选取48例呼吸衰竭患儿,原发疾病涉及严重感染、外伤和重大手术等。除综合治疗外,均采用小潮气量机械通气,观察上机前后的血气分析、呼吸机参数、机械通气相关并发症等指标。结果与大潮气量机械通气相比,小潮气量肺保护通气的呼吸性酸中毒纠正率与之无明显差异,而后者呼吸机相关性肺损伤(VILI)的发生率较前者有明显下降。结论小潮气量机械通气适用于儿童呼吸衰竭的治疗,有助于防止发生肺气肿、纵隔气肿或皮下气肿。