scholarly journals Clinical and Laboratory Findings of 12 Children with Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Eylem Kiral ◽  
Ayse Filiz Yetimakman
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Invasive Meningococcal Disease ◽  
High Morbidity ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Meningococcal Vaccines

Introduction. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a serious infectious disease requiring stay in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) that continues to be associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Prompt recognition, early antibiotic therapy, and aggressive supportive therapies can reduce mortality. We aimed to assess the clinical and laboratory characteristics of children with IMD. Patients and Methods. We retrospectively evaluated the medical records of 12 children with IMD requiring PICU stay between January 2018 and July 2019. Results. We followed up 12 patients (five girls and seven boys, 5–168 months of age, and four below one year of age) with IMD (nine patients have meningococcemia with meningitis, and three patients have meningococcemia) in PICU. All children were previously healthy and have not received meningococcal vaccines. Their pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) scores varies between 5 and 37, four of the patients required mechanical ventilation, and the predicted mortality was 39% at admission. Seven patients had catecholamine refractory septic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Three of the patients required extracorporeal treatment. The predominant serogroup is Men B (5/12). The mortality rate was 16.6% with early use of antibiotics, fluids, and other interventions. Conclusion. Mortality related to IMD is higher among children with severe meningococcemia despite early interventions in PICU. Routine use of meningococcal vaccines during childhood would be a better strategy for controlling IMD in both developing and developed countries.

scholarly journals Clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of COVID-19-infected children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit: a single-center experience

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heba Mostafa Ahmed ◽  
Rehab Muhammad Abd El Kareem ◽  
Faten Mohamed Ali ◽  
Ahmed Reda Sayed ◽  
Yasmen Awadalh Mohamed
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Pediatric Intensive Care ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Single Center Experience ◽  
Inflammatory Syndrome ◽  
Second Wave

Abstract Background During the second wave of COVID-19, there is an increasing incidence of reported cases in children compared to the early wave. Data on the clinical and laboratory characteristics of COVID-19 in children are evolving, and reports on the characteristics and outcomes of severe COVID-19 in children are still under evaluation. We aimed to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and outcomes of children with COVID-19 infection admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Results The study included 27 children with COVID-19 infection. Fever, respiratory, and gastrointestinal (GIT) symptoms were predominant presenting symptoms in our patients. The median age of our patients was 9 months (2 m–12 years). Comorbidity was reported in 59.3%. The typical laboratory findings were leukocytosis, lymphopenia, elevated C-reactive proteins levels, and elevated d-dimer levels. The most frequent radiological findings were ground-glass opacities in 100% of patients and bilateral findings in 96%, while cardiomegaly was found in 44% of patients. The multisystem inflammatory syndrome was reported in 33% of patients with GIT symptoms were the most frequent presenting symptoms. Myocarditis was reported in 22% of patients. The mortality rate in this cohort was 14.8%. On multivariate analysis, the only predictor of mortality was the development of MIS-C. Conclusions COVID-19 is more severe in children with comorbid conditions. Fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal (GIT) symptoms were predominant presenting symptoms. MIS-C is of increasing concern in children with high mortality rates.

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