Infant influenza

Reports on the symptoms of infant influenza (less than 1 year of age) are very few. From 1989 to 1996, 105 infants with influenza were examined. The symptoms, nutrition and source of infection of the 105 patients were investigated in Sakuma Pediatric Clinic and viral studies were performed at the Kitakyushu City Institute of Environmental Sciences. The symptoms of patients under 6 months old are very mild, with a low maximum body temperature and a short duration of fever. Other complications are few. The symptoms gradually become more severe with each month of age. The ratio of patients displaying a diphasic fever with two peak temperatures increases with each month of age. Over 50% of patients over 9 months old have this diphasic fever with two peak temperatures. It is inconclusive whether an anti-infective factor in human milk exists or not. Of the 105 patients in this study, 28 were under 4 months of age; of these 28, all but 3 were infected by family members.     

Three cases of pyogenic sacro-iliitis,and factors in the relapse of the disease

Pyogenic sacro-iliitis (PS) is a rare disease in childhood. Three cases of PS are reported that were difficult to diagnose. Scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were useful for diagnosis. One patient suffered from an episode of relapse. Seventeen other cases of PS were reviewed in the literature to investigate the incidence of abnormal imaging findings and various factors in disease relapse. It was found that the incidence of abnormal findings by scintigraphy was significantly higher than that by computed tomography (P = 0.0057). The duration of intravenous antibiotic administration of the relapse group (14.7 ± 4.7 days) was significantly shorter than that of the non-relapse group (24.3 ± 10.7 days; P = 0.0376). The statistical analysis suggested that intravenous antibiotic administration is necessary at least for 20 days to prevent a relapse of PS.     

Ureaplasma urealyticum, erythromycin and respiratory morbidity in high-risk preterm neonates

We investigated colonization with Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) in infants <30 weeks gestation and assessed the relationship to other risk factors influencing respiratory morbidity, plus the effect of treatment with erythromycin. Ventilated preterm infants [ n = 155; median GA 26 (23–29) weeks] were cultured for Uu in endotracheal aspirate and nasopharynx. Colonized infants were randomly assigned to treatment with erythromycin 40mg/kg/d, intravenously or orally. The rate of colonization was 29/155 (19%) and the Uu-colonized infants had lower mean gestational ages than the culture-negative infants (25 vs 26 weeks). For the colonized infants PROM (48% vs12%), chorioamnionitis in the mother (46% vs 17%) and vaginal delivery (71% vs 29%) were more common. More colonized infants needed supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks'postconceptual age ( p < 0:05). Erythromycin treatment was effective in reducing colonization with negative control cultures in 12/14 (86%) of treated infants. No significant differences were found between the colonized treated infants ( n = 14) and those not treated ( n = 14) in time with supplemental oxygen. Oxygen requirement at 36 weeks was related to lower gestational age, late appearance of PDA, late onset sepsis and signs of chorioamnionitis in the mother. We conclude that the Uu colonization is related to increasing immaturity, the presence of prolonged rupture of membranes, signs of chorioamnionitis and vaginal delivery. Treatment with erythromycin reduced colonization but did not significantly alter length of time with supplemental oxygen.     

Neurodevelopmental outcome after prenatal exposure to opiates

To study the developmental effects of prenatal exposure to opiates, a prospective follow up study of 34 drug-exposed (opiates and nicotine) and 42 reference infants (nicotine exposure only) was conducted from January 1992 to September 1995. At the time of delivery, 12 of 34 mothers used opiates without medical control. Twenty-two mothers participated in a methadone maintenance programme. At 1 year, the average Griffiths Developmental Quotient (DQ) was lower in the drug-exposed group (mean: 100.5 vs. references 107.9; P < 0.001). This difference was mainly due to lower subscales “locomotor” (mean 100.8 vs. 111.4; P < 0.05) and “intellectual performance” (mean 100.8 vs. 108.5; P < 0.05) in the drug-exposed group. Severe developmental retardation mean DQ (−2 SD) was diagnosed in 2 drug-exposed infants. Mild developmental retardation (mean DQ: 1 SD– > 2 SD) was found in 7 drug-exposed and in 3 reference infants (P < 0.05). Neurological abnormalities were found more frequently in the drug-exposed group (11 vs. 3 infants; P < 0.01). Among the opiate-exposed infants, the subscales “hearing and speech” and “intellectual performance” were lower in the uncontrolled drug-using than in the methadone group. The 17 fostered infants showed no difference in developmental outcome compared with the 10 infants living with their biological parents (mean DQ: 100.0 versus 101.3). Conclusions At 1 year infants prenatally exposed to opiates are at risk for mild psychomotor developmental impairment. Received: 1 August 1997 / Accepted in revised form: 15 January 1998     

Effect of Dexamethasone Therapy on the Neonatal Ductus Arteriosus

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is believed to be a contributing factor in the etiopathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We studied the effects of early dexamethasone therapy on persistent ductal patency and the role of PDA in the etiopathogenesis of BPD during the course of a randomized double-blind trial of dexamethasone to prevent BPD. Infants, who weighed between 700 and 999 g, had severe RDS, and had been given surfactant, were randomized to receive a 12-day course of dexamethasone (n= 13) or placebo (n= 17) starting within the first 12 hours of postnatal life. The diagnosis of PDA was made clinically and was confirmed by cardiac ultrasound. The incidence of clinically significant ductus in infants who weighed less than 1000 g was 23% in the dexamethasone-treated group, as compared with 59% in infants who were given placebo. This difference was marginally significant, p= 0.05, odds ratio 0.21, 95% confidence interval 0.04–1.05. None of the infants in the dexamethasone group had recurrence of PDA after indomethacin therapy as compared with three infants in the placebo group. Dexamethasone significantly reduced the number of days infants required ventilator and supplemental oxygen as compared with infants who received placebo. Dexamethasone, as compared with placebo, also reduced the incidence of BPD, p= 0.025, odds ratio 0.08, 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.58. Dexamethasone may reduce the incidence of PDA in premature infants who weigh less than 1000 g at birth and thereby reduce the incidence of BPD.     

孕妇乳母二十二碳六烯酸摄入水平对母婴脂肪酸状况的影响

目的:追踪观察孕妇、乳母膳食二十二碳六稀酸(DHA)不同摄入水平对母体及婴儿血浆、红细胞膜DHA水平的影响。方法: 选取孕妇146名,在孕妇22 w、孕38 w、产后3月进行膳食调查。同时随机抽取48名及其母乳喂养婴儿出生、3月时用毛细管气相色谱法测定血浆、红细胞中DHA水平。按3次平均膳食DHA摄入量分成三组,A组14例,80 mg/d,B组22例,80～159 mg/d,C组12例,≥160 mg/d。 结果:孕妇、乳母日均DHA摄入量 为103.17±51.43 mg/d。C组母体孕38 w时血浆、红细胞、产后3月时血浆及脐血浆、脐血红细胞、婴儿3月龄时红细胞中DHA水平均显著高于A组。产后3月时A组和B组血浆 DHA水平均显著低于孕22 w时 ,而C组与孕22 w时无显著差异。结论: 摄入DHA<80 mg/d组孕妇、乳母孕38 w时血和婴儿脐血DHA不能达到摄入DHA≥160 mg/d组同等水平。孕妇、乳母DHA摄入在≥160 mg/d时,能遏制产后DHA水平的下降。     

Evaluation and treatment of the human immunodeficiency virus-1-exposed infant

In developed countries, care and treatment are available for pregnant women and infants that can decrease the rate of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection to 2% or less. The paediatrician has a key role in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1 by identifying HIV-exposed infants whose mothers’ HIV infection was not diagnosed before delivery, prescribing antiretroviral prophylaxis for these infants to decrease the risk of acquiring HIV-1 infection, and promoting avoidance of HIV-1 transmission through human milk. In addition, the paediatrician can provide care for HIV-exposed infants by monitoring them for early determination of HIV-1 infection status and for possible short- and long-term toxicities of antiretroviral exposure, providing chemoprophylaxis for Pneumocystis pneumonia, and supporting families living with HIV-1 infection by providing counselling to parents or caregivers.     

妊娠期糖尿病对母婴影响的临床分析

目的探讨早期诊断妊娠糖尿病(GDM)对母婴的影响。方法回顾分析2001年6月~2005年6月期间GDM患者45例和正常妊娠组40例的妊娠结局。结果GDM组中各种病理妊娠的发生率、手术产率以及各种胎婴儿并发症的发生率均明显高于正常孕妇组,差别具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论早期诊断GDM及控制血糖是减少母婴并发症的关键。     

婴幼儿期反复呼吸道感染与维生素D缺乏性佝偻病的关系

目的探讨婴幼儿期反复呼吸道感染与维生素D缺乏性佝偻病的关系。方法选自2004年6月至2005年5月，本院儿科门诊及住院患者中，年龄≤3岁，符合反复呼吸道感染诊断标准的患者共53例作为观察组，同时选取同期年龄分布与观察组无差别的非反复呼吸道感染患者共86例，作为对照组，作临床评估及BAIP检查，必要时作腕骨X线摄片检查。依据病史，临床表现，结合BALP，判定有无佝偻病及是否为维生素D缺乏亚临床状态。结果观察组中佝偻病患病率明显高于对照组，维生素D缺乏亚临床状态发生率高于对照组，差异有显著性（X^2=15．0315，P〈0．01）。结论婴幼儿期反复呼吸道感染，与维生素D缺乏性佝偻病及维生素D缺乏亚临床状态有关，对于婴幼儿期反复呼吸道感染的患者，在诊治过程中应注意佝偻病的防治。