Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

mSphere 2019 Feb 13;4(1). Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Tropical Diseases, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Group A (GAS) is a major cause of global infection-related morbidity and mortality. A modern controlled human infection model (CHIM) of GAS pharyngitis can accelerate vaccine development and pathogenesis research. A robust rationale for strain selection is central to meeting ethical, scientific, and regulatory requirements. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2019 Feb 6. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.

Background: Timely, accurate diagnosis of streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis prevents ARF and limits antibiotic overuse. The Illumigene® Group A Streptococcus assay (Meridian Bioscience) is a molecular test for GAS pharyngitis with high sensitivity and specificity. We sought to determine whether the Illumigene test is more likely than throat culture to be positive in patients without pharyngeal symptoms and explore the limits of detection of the test. Read More

Pediatr Int 2019 Jan;61(1):104-106

Second Department of Paediatrics, "P. & A. Kyriakou" Children's Hospital, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.

The aim of this study was to compare the immunogenicity and side-effects of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccination between periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis (PFAPA) patients and healthy controls who have not been previously exposed to HAV. A prospective observational study was carried out of 28 PFAPA patients and 76 controls who received two doses of the vaccine. Immunogenicity was expressed as seroconversion and seroprotection rates; mean HAV-immunoglobulin G concentration was measured at 0, 1, 7 and 18 months. Read More

Presse Med 2019 Feb 22;48(1 Pt 2):e77-e87. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

Department of Pediatrics, NU-Hospital Group, 45180 Uddevalla, Sweden; Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address:

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is a complex autoinflammatory disease with a clinical phenotype characterised by recurrent episodes of fever, systemic inflammation and symptoms and signs depicted in disease acronym. Although PFAPA is the most common autoinflammatory disease among children in many parts of the world, the condition is still an enigma, which include the regular episodes, the prompt responses to corticosteroids, the genetic bases for the familial clustering and therapeutic effects of tonsillectomy. This review explores PFAPA syndrome with the aim of describing the current clinical and scientific understanding of the condition. Read More

Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019 Mar 26;15(3):215-220. Epub 2019 Jan 26.

b Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu , Universitat de Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.

Introduction: Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (MKD) is a rare monogenic autoinflammatory disorder (AID) with autosomal recessive inheritance caused by mutations in the MVK gene. It includes hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome (HIDS) and mevalonic aciduria (a severe form). Patients have recurrent inflammatory attacks with high fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, arthralgia, rash, pharyngitis, aphtosis and constitutional complaints. Read More

J Infect Chemother 2019 Jan 11. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama 7008530, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-Naka, Kita-ku, Okayama, 7008530, Japan.

The application and clinical impact of rapid antigen detection test (RADT) in the treatment of acute pharyngitis is unknown in Japan. We aimed to examine the proportions of RADT usage to identify Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus (GAS) in outpatients with acute pharyngitis and evaluate the association between RADT and antibiotic treatment. We analyzed health insurance claims data from 2013 to 2015. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

PATH, Seattle.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections result in a considerable under-appreciated burden of acute and chronic disease, globally. A 2018 World Health Assembly resolution calls for better control and prevention. Providing guidance on global health research needs is an important WHO activity, influencing prioritization of investments. Read More

Pediatrics 2019 Jan 8. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

: media-1vid110.1542/5972296744001PEDS-VA_2018-1056 OBJECTIVES: To characterize and compare ambulatory antibiotic prescribing for children in US pediatric and nonpediatric emergency departments (EDs).

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study of patients aged 0 to 17 years discharged from EDs in the United States was conducted by using the 2009-2014 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey ED data. Read More

Rev Chil Pediatr 2018 Aug;89(4):521-524

Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, USA.

Introduction: Scarlet fever is a common illness in pediatrics caused by group A beta-hemolytic strep tococcus (GABHS), which usually occurs after an episode of pharyngitis, and has an overall excellent prognosis. Hepatitis secondary to scarlet fever is a rare complication described in adults and even less frequently in children. Our objective was to describe a case of hepatitis secondary to scarlet fever in a pediatric patient. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 Dec 6. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Marshfield, WI.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiology, clinical features, and antibiotic prescribing patterns for nongroup A streptococci (NGAS) in children.

Study Design: Throat cultures obtained for pharyngitis were assessed at a large community-based health system over 10 years. Epidemiologic and clinical features of children with NGAS were compared with children with group A Streptococcus (GAS) and negative cultures. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2019 Jan 28;38(1):11-17. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Research Center of Systemic Autoinflammatory Diseases and Behçet's Disease and Rheumatology-Ophthalmology Collaborative Uveitis Center, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is the most frequent non-hereditary autoinflammatory disorder in childhood: Its onset is usually observed before 5 years, though reports regarding adulthood are increasing. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is not completely understood, but a multifactorial origin, probably based on a polygenic pattern of susceptibility, is the most probable rational pathogenetic hypothesis. Treatment of PFAPA syndrome relies on the administration of low-dose corticosteroids, which promptly abort flares but cannot prevent subsequent disease episodes over time. Read More

Infect Drug Resist 2018 31;11:2063-2067. Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan,

was the main causative organism for acute epiglottitis in the pre- type b (Hib) vaccine era. However, with current widespread Hib vaccination, the causative organisms may have changed. Here, we report the case of a healthy infant with acute epiglottitis caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Read More

J Clin Microbiol 2019 Feb 30;57(2). Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Group A (GAS) is one of the leading causes of bacterial pharyngitis. Early GAS diagnosis is critical for appropriate antibiotic administration that reduces the risk of GAS sequelae and limits spread of the infection. The Aries Group A Strep (GAS) assay (Luminex, Austin, TX) is a fully automated PCR assay for direct detection of GAS in throat swab specimens in less than 2 h with minimum hands-on time. Read More

Mediterr J Hematol Infect Dis 2018 1;10(1):e2018067. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Institute of Pediatrics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Systemic autoinflammatory disorders (SAIDs) are inherited defects of innate immunity characterized by recurrent sterile inflammatory attacks involving skin, joints, serosal membranes, gastrointestinal tube, and other tissues, which recur with variable rhythmicity and display reactive amyloidosis as a potential long-term complication. Dysregulated inflammasome activity leading to overproduction of many proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), and delayed shutdown of inflammation are considered crucial pathogenic keys in the vast majority of SAIDs. Progress of cellular biology has partially clarified the mechanisms behind monogenic SAIDs, such as familial Mediterranean fever, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, mevalonate kinase deficiency, hereditary pyogenic diseases, idiopathic granulomatous diseases and defects of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Read More

Pharm Pract (Granada) 2018 Jul-Sep;16(3):1194. Epub 2018 Aug 12.

Faculty of Pharmacy & Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Hadat (Lebanon).

Objectives: to assess the knowledge of both parents and community pharmacists regarding antibiotics use and resistance in pediatrics in Lebanon.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and August 2017 in community pharmacies. A pre-established questionnaire targeting knowledge of parents and pharmacists regarding antibiotics use/misuse was carried out. Read More

Hong Kong Med J 2018 Dec 9;24(6):593-601. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Paediatrics, Alberta Children's Hospital, The University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Group A β-haemolytic or is a gram-positive coccus that tends to grow in chains. is the cause of many important human diseases, ranging from pharyngitis and mild superficial skin infections to life-threatening systemic diseases. Infections typically begin in the throat or skin. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2018 Dec;37(12):1248-1254

Medical and Clinical Pharmacy Policy, Anthem, Inc, Chicago, Illinois.

Background: Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for children with acute respiratory infections (ARIs). This study describes the distribution of ARI diagnoses and specifically quantifies antibiotic dispensing for bronchitis and upper respiratory infection (URI) by treatment setting and specialty.

Methods: This retrospective, observational cross-sectional study used data from the HealthCore Integrated Research Environment containing claims from 14 commercial health plans for 2012 to 2014. Read More

Dig Dis Sci 2019 Feb 2;64(2):493-502. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Takeda Development Center Americas, Inc, Deerfield, IL, USA.

Background: In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the frequency of heartburn symptoms and erosive esophagitis (EE) increases with age in children and adolescents. Proton pump inhibitor, dexlansoprazole, is approved for healing EE of all grades, maintenance of healed EE, relief of heartburn, and treatment of symptomatic non-erosive GERD in patients ≥ 12 years.

Aim: To assess safety and efficacy of dexlansoprazole dual delayed-release capsule in healing of EE and maintenance of healed EE in adolescents. Read More

J Pediatr 2019 Jan 22;204:270-274. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel; Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel.

Objectives: To describe a cohort of pediatric patients diagnosed with periodic fever aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis (PFAPA) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and compare them with children diagnosed solely with PFAPA (sPFAPA).

Study Design: Clinical, laboratory, and genetic data of all pediatric patients diagnosed with sPFAPA or PFAPA/FMF were retrospectively collected from 2 primary Israeli medical referral centers and compared.

Results: Of 270 patients with PFAPA, more than one-half were of Mediterranean ancestry. Read More

Natl Med J India 2018 Jan-Feb;31(1):8-10

Department of Paediatrics, Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital and The CHILDS Trust, Medical Research Foundation, 12-A, Nageswara Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600034, Tamil Nadu, India.

Background.: It is difficult to make a diagnosis of group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (GABHS) pharyngitis solely on clinical findings. The McIssac scoring system has been recommended as a reliable clinical tool for diagnosis. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2018 Sep 21;16(1):60. Epub 2018 Sep 21.

Unité Romande d'Immuno-rhumatologie Pédiatrique, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne and HUG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Diagnosis of Periodic Fever, Aphthous stomatitis, Pharyngitis and Cervical Adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome is currently based on the modified Marshall's criteria, but no validated evidence based classification criteria for PFAPA has been established so far.

Methods: A multistep process, based on the Delphi and Nominal Group Technique was conducted. After 2 rounds of e-mail Delphi survey involving 21 experts in autoinflammation we obtained a list of variables that were discussed in an International Consensus Conference. Read More

Ann Lab Med 2019 Jan;39(1):31-35

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.

Background: The SD Bioline Strep A Ultra (SD, Yongin, Korea) is a recently developed rapid antigen detection test (RADT) for diagnosing bacterial pharyngitis caused by Group A , We evaluated the performance of SD Bioline Strep A Ultra, using the number of colony forming units and color intensity.

Methods: Three throat swabs each were taken from 343 children with pharyngitis who visited pediatric clinics. We evaluated the performance of SD Bioline Strep A Ultra and compared its positive rate with the number of colony forming units, using the Fisher exact test. Read More

J Pediatr 2018 12 5;203:76-85.e8. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Tufts Medical Center, Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Boston, MA; Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA.

Objective: To evaluate variation in antibiotic prescribing between pediatric and nonpediatric providers for common upper respiratory illnesses.

Study Design: Patient encounters for children aged <18 years from a regional health care system were identified. Electronic medical records from 2011 to 2016 were extracted for diagnoses of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, acute otitis media, and sinusitis. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Care 2018 Sep;34(9):e161-e164

Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Hamad Medical Corporation.

Neck abscesses such as retropharyngeal, peritonsilar, and lateral pharyngeal are well described, typically cause a characteristic illness, and have a known epidemiology. We present a rare occurrence of case of confluent, mixed retropharyngeal, lateral pharyngeal, and peritonsilar abscess in a 9-month-old female infant. The symptoms at presentation were very mild and not expected in association with this extensive an abscess. Read More

Pediatr Infect Dis J 2018 Aug 30. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

Division of Infectious Diseases in the Departments of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

In this secondary analysis of the Randomized Intervention for Children with Vesicoureteral Reflux (RIVUR) cohort, we found that daily prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was not associated with an increased or decreased risk of skin and soft tissue infections, pharyngitis or sino-pulmonary infections in otherwise healthy children aged 2-71 months. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Aug 20;2018. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Internal Medicine, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Michigan, USA.

A 17-year-old man initially presented to his primary care physician with throat pain for 1 week and was started on amoxicillin. After four additional days of ongoing pain and difficulty swallowing with decreased oral intake, he presented to the emergency department. Exam showed fullness to the right posterior oropharynx and palpable mass in the right neck without stridor. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 3;9:1733. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.

Group A (GAS) is a human pathogen causing a wide spectrum of diseases, from mild pharyngitis to life-threatening necrotizing fasciitis. GAS has been shown to evade host immune killing by invading host cells. However, how GAS resists intracellular killing by endothelial cells is still unclear. Read More

J Cell Biochem 2018 Nov 4;119(11):8981-8995. Epub 2018 Aug 4.

Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Osteolysis is a serious complication of several chronic inflammatory diseases and is closely associated with a local chronic inflammatory reaction with a variety of causes. However, similarities exist in the mechanisms of their pathological processes. Inflammatory factors and oxidative stress-induced nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways play a center role in bone erosion. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jul 30;2018. Epub 2018 Jul 30.

Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

We report a previously well paediatric patient with two distinct presentations of invasive group A streptococcus (GAS) infection resulting in significant morbidity. The first episode, following GAS pharyngitis, involved multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. This included cardiorespiratory and acute hepatorenal failure and purpura fulminans that eventually necessitated four-limb amputation. Read More

Clin Med Insights Pediatr 2018 2;12:1179556518784300. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

Department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy Sciences, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA.

Objectives: Broad-spectrum antibiotics are frequently prescribed for children with upper respiratory tract infections (URI). Excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to the emergence of resistant bacteria. This study aimed to identify factors associated with prescribing broad-spectrum antibiotics among children younger than 18 years presenting with URI in outpatient settings. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jul 24;2018. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Women's & Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

We report the case of a 14-year-old man with unilateral peritonsillar swelling, airway compromise and fever. On physical examination, the patient was pyrexic with trismus, dysphonia, uvula deviation, exudative unilateral peritonsillar swelling and unilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. Attempts at aspirating the prominent peritonsillar region were unsuccessful. Read More

Case Rep Pediatr 2018 4;2018:9467131. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Department of Pediatrics, The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ, USA.

While the incidence of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in the United States has declined over the past years, the disease remains one of the causes of severe cardiovascular morbidity in children. The index of suspicion for ARF in health care providers may be low due to decreasing incidence of the disease and clinical presentation that can mimic other conditions. We present the case of a 5-year-old boy with a history of intermittent fevers, fatigue, migratory joint pain, and weight loss following pharyngitis. Read More

Korean J Fam Med 2018 Nov 4;39(6):375-378. Epub 2018 Jul 4.

Department of Pediatrics and Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea.

Benign acute childhood myositis (BACM) is a rare transient condition that occurs in children during the early convalescent phase of a viral upper respiratory infection. BACM is self-limiting and characterized by sudden-onset bilateral calf pain that leads to difficulty in walking. We report a case of a 5-year-old boy with BACM who presented with acute-onset bilateral calf pain after a resolved episode of viral pharyngitis and subsequently refused to walk. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2018 07 3;18(1):135. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Department of Paediatrics, Red Cross War Memorials Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: The large global burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has come to light in recent years following robust epidemiologic studies. As an operational research component of a broad program aimed at primary and secondary prevention of RHD, we sought to determine the current prevalence of RHD in the country's capital, Lusaka, using a modern imaging-based screening methodology. In addition, we wished to evaluate the practicality of training local radiographers in echocardiography screening methods. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Jun 21;2018. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

This case series is about four different foreign bodies lodged in different locations of the aerodigestive tract. All four cases had delayed diagnosis due to inconspicuous history. Radiology in the form of computed tomography aided the appropriate diagnosis in most of these cases. Read More

Pediatrics 2018 Jul 20;142(1). Epub 2018 Jun 20.

Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri.

Background And Objectives: Acute pharyngitis is a common diagnosis in ambulatory pediatrics. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) clinical practice guideline for group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis recommends strict criteria for GAS testing to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment of children who are colonized with group A . We sought to improve adherence to the IDSA guideline for testing and treatment of GAS pharyngitis in a large community pediatrics practice. Read More

Curr Opin Rheumatol 2018 Sep;30(5):506-513

Division of Rheumatology, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims at summarizing the current knowledge of A20 haploinsufficiency and other paediatric inflammatory disorders with mucosal involvement.

Recent Findings: A20 haploinsufficiency is a newly described autoinflammatory disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in TNFAIP3 that result in the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-kB pathway. Patients may present with dominantly inherited, early-onset systemic inflammation and a Behçet-like disease, or a variety of autoinflammatory and autoimmune features. Read More

Georgian Med News 2018 May(278):132-138

Kharkiv National Medical University, Department of Children's Infectious Diseases; V.N. Karasin Kharkov National University, Department of Pediatrics №2; Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Ukraine.

The article presents the results of our own studies to determine the criteria for the adverse variants of the course of infectious mononucleosis (IM) in children. The study was conducted in the regional children's infectious clinical hospital in Kharkov. 161 children aged three to fifteen years were under observation with diagnosis of infectious moninucleosis. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Jul 8;110:100-104. Epub 2018 May 8.

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, Cyprus.

Introduction: PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis) is the most frequent non-infectious cause of high fever observed among the European child population. While its cause is still not yet fully identified, PFAPA patients were previously shown to have altered tonsillar microbiome composition. Our study hypothesized that this is associated with a change in antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression levels, as in the case of Crohn's disease which is another autoinflammatory disorder. Read More

Cell Syst 2018 May 16;6(5):579-592.e4. Epub 2018 May 16.

Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Center for Microbiome Innovation, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address:

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) remains one of the top 10 deadliest human pathogens worldwide despite its sensitivity to penicillin. Although the most common GAS infection is pharyngitis (strep throat), it also causes life-threatening systemic infections. A series of complex networks between host and pathogen drive invasive infections, which have not been comprehensively mapped. Read More

Nephrol Ther 2018 Dec 4;14(7):518-522. Epub 2018 May 4.

Service de pédiatrie urgence et réanimation pédiatrique, CHU Hédi Chaker, Sfax, Tunisie.

Aim: Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) is a frequent cause of acute nephritis in children. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of PSGN and look for predictor's factors of severity.

Methods: A 12-year retrospective review of case notes and laboratory data was conducted at a department of pediatrics, pediatric emergency and intensive care, Hedi Chaker Hospital. Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2018 Aug;7(3):e145-e147

Department of Pediatrics, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Illinois.

Among throat swabs processed in the microbiology laboratory as back-up for negative rapid antigen detection test results, we found a significant increase in the proportion that tested positive for group A streptococci after changing from throat culture to a molecular test.For group A streptococcus testing, our hospital laboratory replaced throat cultures with a stand-alone molecular diagnostic test that takes no more than 1 hour to perform. The prevalence of positive laboratory test results increased significantly (P < . Read More

J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc 2018 Apr 27. Epub 2018 Apr 27.

Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.

Indian J Pathol Microbiol 2018 Apr-Jun;61(2):214-218

Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.

Context: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) causes up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia in children. It is impossible to identify M. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2018 Apr 18;16(1):27. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Unité Romande d'Immuno-rhumatologie Pédiatrique, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, and HUG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Diagnosis of Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) is currently based on a set of criteria proposed in 1999 modified from Marshall's criteria. Nevertheless no validated evidence based set of classification criteria for PFAPA has been established so far. The aim of this study was to identify candidate classification criteria PFAPA syndrome using international consensus formation through a Delphi questionnaire survey. Read More

Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2018 Apr 13;16(1):24. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

Biochemistry Department-Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Almokhayam Aldaem Street, 6th Province - 13465 Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt.

Background: Rheumatic fever (RF) is the result of an autoimmune response to pharyngitis caused by infection with Streptococcus pyogenes. RF is most prevalent in Africa and the Middle East. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most serious complication of RF. Read More

Glob Cardiol Sci Pract 2017 Oct 31;2017(3):e201725. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Pediatrics Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.

Kawasaki disease is an acute vasculitis of early childhood. Its incidence varies among different ethnic groups with higher rates among Asians. In this case series, we presented four cases of Kawasaki disease with incomplete or atypical presentations in Egyptian children. Read More

Diagnosis (Berl) 2017 Mar;4(1):51-54

2Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

We report a novel syndrome of aseptic myonecrosis in a child occurring after intramuscular (IM) benzathine penicillin G injection for the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis. Common side effects of IM injection, including transient injection site pain and inflammation, are common and well described. However, isolated myonecrosis following IM injection in the pediatric patient has not been previously reported. Read More

J Int Med Res 2018 May 8;46(5):1791-1800. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

1 Department of Paediatrics, 236610 Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine , Kobe, Japan.

Objectives To identify clinical features that predict Group A streptococcal (GAS) pharyngitis in a Japanese paediatric primary emergency medical centre. Methods The prevalence of GAS pharyngitis according to age and body temperature (BT) was calculated among 3098 paediatric patients with pharyngitis. The numbers of GAS-positive and -negative patients for each clinical parameter, and each point increase in the McIsaac score were compared and likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated. Read More

Pediatr Emerg Med Pract 2018 Mar 1;15(3):1-16. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics; Section Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Medical Director, Upstate Poison Center, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.

Corticosteroids have been used for over half a century to treat various inflammatory disorders; however, their use in many pediatric conditions remains controversial. This issue reviews evidence on corticosteroid treatment in acute asthma exacerbations, croup, acute pharyngitis, anaphylaxis, acute spinal injury, and bacterial meningitis. While corticosteroids are clearly indicated for management of asthma exacerbations and croup, they are not universally recommended for potential spinal cord injury. Read More