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Digestion 2021 May 10:1-9. Epub 2021 May 10.

Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.

Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a higher risk of infection and are frequently not up to date with their immunizations.

Objectives: This study aims to review vaccination status and evaluate whether age, disease type, or treatment regimen could predict the absence of seroprotection against selected vaccine-preventable infection in adults with IBD.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using questionnaire, immunization records review, and assessment of tetanus-specific, varicella-specific, and measles-specific immunoglobulin G concentrations. Read More

J Child Adolesc Trauma 2021 Apr 24:1-6. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Surveillance Medical Unit Office, World Health Organization, Panchkula, Haryana India.

The cross-sectional observational study evaluated the prevalence and predictors of needle-fear among school-going children during mass Measles-Rubella (MR) immunization campaign (year 2017) in the north Indian city of Chandigarh. Fear of needle was assessed using a single-item self-report global question, anxiety was assessed using the Likert scale (score 1-5) and the standardized "Children Faces Scale" where facial responses were graded from 0 to 4. Out of a total sample of 2568 school children, 1225 (47. Read More

Euro Surveill 2021 Apr;26(17)

Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The Juliane Marie Centre, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCW) have been identified as index cases in disease outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) in hospitals.AimWe investigated whether Danish paediatric HCW were protected against selected serious VPD.MethodsWe included 90% of staff members from two paediatric departments. Read More

Vaccine 2021 May 12;39(19):2643-2651. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

GSK, Wavre, Belgium. Electronic address:

Background: We assessed the 10-year efficacy, immunogenicity and safety of two doses of a combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV) or one dose of a monovalent varicella vaccine (V) in children from Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Methods: This was a phase IIIB follow-up of an observer-blind, randomized, controlled trial (NCT00226499). In phase A, healthy children aged 12-22 months from 10 European countries were randomized in a 3:3:1 ratio to receive two doses of MMRV (MMRV group), one dose of MMR followed by one dose of V (MMR + V group), or two doses of MMR (MMR; control group), 42 days apart. Read More

Transplant Cell Ther 2021 Apr 28;27(4):317-326. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.

Following hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), patients are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and experience worse outcomes of VPDs compared to immunocompetent patients. Therefore, patients are routinely vaccinated post-HSCT to restore VPD immunity. Published guidelines recommend revaccination based on time post-HSCT, although optimal revaccination timing and the value of using other clinical and laboratory variables to guide revaccination remain unclear. Read More

Epidemiol Infect 2021 Apr 5;149:e90. Epub 2021 Apr 5.

Global Clinical Sciences, Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, PA, USA.

Invasive meningococcal disease has high morbidity and mortality, with infants and young children among those at greatest risk. This phase III, open-label, randomised study in toddlers aged 12-23 months evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of meningococcal tetanus toxoid-conjugate vaccine (MenACYW-TT), a tetanus toxoid conjugated vaccine against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W and Y, when coadministered with paediatric vaccines (measles, mumps and rubella [MMR]; varicella [V]; 6-in-1 combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b [DTaP-IPV-HepB-Hib] and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine [PCV13])(NCT03205371). Immunogenicity to each meningococcal serogroup was assessed by serum bactericidal antibody assay using human complement (hSBA). Read More

Viruses 2021 03 22;13(3). Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Pediatrics Department, Jundiaí Medical School, Jundiaí 13202-550, Brazil.

Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Some sequelae, particularly neurodevelopmental problems, may have a later onset. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 799 high-risk pregnant women who were followed up until delivery. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 03 10;18(6). Epub 2021 Mar 10.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition of the central nervous system (CNS) that presents with severe communication problems, impairment of social interactions, and stereotypic behaviours. Emerging studies indicate possible associations between viral infections and neurodegenerative and neurobehavioural conditions including autism. Viral infection during critical periods of early in utero neurodevelopment may lead to increased risk of autism in the offspring. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2021 Mar 27. Epub 2021 Mar 27.

Department of General Pediatrics, CHI at Temple Street, Dublin, Ireland.

Vaccine hesitancy is defined as a delay in acceptance, or refusal, of vaccines, despite availability. It is a complex and context specific phenomenon and identified as a global health priority. The "Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines" (PACV) questionnaire is a validated tool for identifying vaccine hesitancy. Read More

Vaccine 2021 Apr 13;39(15):2117-2123. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada; School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Objectives: Children with epilepsy are at increased risk of complications from vaccine-preventable infections, yet information on vaccine coverage in these children is scarce. We aimed to compare vaccine coverage among children with epilepsy to children without epilepsy.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including all 2005-2013 births in Manitoba and Ontario, Canada, creating two cohorts: 2-year-olds and 7-year-olds (followed to age 2 and 7 years). Read More

Indian Pediatr 2021 Feb;58(2):137-139

Department of Pediatrics, University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Delhi, India.

Objective: To compare the mumps antibody titers in Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)-vaccinated and vaccine naive children.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary-care public hospital in Delhi from November, 2016 to April, 2018 among 78 healthy children (aged 16 month-12 years) attending the pediatric outpatient department. Serum IgG and IgM rubella antibodies were measured by ELISA for confirmation of MMR vaccination status. Read More

Clin Exp Vaccine Res 2021 Jan 31;10(1):44-46. Epub 2021 Jan 31.

Department of Paediatrics, Kamla Raja Hospital, Gajra Raja Medical College, Gwalior, India.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the various adverse reactions caused post measles and rubella vaccination done during measles rubella (MR) vaccine campaign in India.

Materials And Methods: Prospective, observational study was done in a government tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit. Children aged between 9 months to 15 years, who presented with adverse effects (severe enough to warrant admission) within 7 days of MR vaccine administration. Read More

Inflamm Bowel Dis 2021 Feb 20. Epub 2021 Feb 20.

Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Background: Pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of developing complications from vaccine-preventable infections. We investigated the factors influencing vaccine administration in pregnant women with IBD and their infants, in addition to the safety of vaccination in the infants.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study identified individuals from a tertiary referral clinic whose records were linked to a provincial vaccine database. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2021 02;72(3):515-518

Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory + Children's Pediatric Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

While the role of children in the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains to be defined, children likely play an important role based on our knowledge of other respiratory viruses. Children are more likely to be asymptomatic or have milder symptoms and less likely to present for healthcare and be tested for SARS-CoV-2. Thus, our current estimates are likely under-representative of the true burden of SARS-CoV-2 in children. Read More

Lancet Infect Dis 2021 Jan 27. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Background: A rubella vaccine was licensed in China in 1993 and added to the Expanded Programme on Immunization in 2008, but a national cross-sectional serological survey during 2014 indicates that many adolescents remain susceptible. Maternal infections during the first trimester often cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and, among livebirths, congenital rubella syndrome. We aimed to evaluate possible supplemental immunisation activities (SIAs) to accelerate elimination of rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. Read More

BMC Complement Med Ther 2021 Jan 26;21(1):46. Epub 2021 Jan 26.

Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Luisenstr. 57, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Background: Physicians who include complementary medicine in their practice are thought to have an understanding of health and disease different from that of colleagues practicing conventional medicine. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the thoughts and concepts concerning infectious childhood diseases (measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, pertussis and scarlet fever) of physicians practicing homeopathic, anthroposophic and conventional medicine.

Methods: This qualitative study used semistructured interviews. Read More

N Engl J Med 2021 Feb 20;384(7):589-591. Epub 2021 Jan 20.

From the Department of Journalism, New York University (P.K.), and the Departments of Pediatrics (P.K., A.J.R.) and Microbiology (A.J.R.), and the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (A.J.R.), Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York.

Medicine (Baltimore) 2021 Jan;100(2):e24316

Department of Pediatrics.

Introduction: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in infants is usually overlooked and it might result in important complications if left untreated. MP-induced arthritis is probably the least common extrapulmonary manifestation and frequently leads to delays in the diagnosis.

Patient Concerns: We report the case of a 2-year-old female child admitted in our clinic for prolonged fever (onset 2 weeks before the admission), for which the general practitioner established the diagnosis of acute pharyngitis and recommended antibiotics. Read More

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2021 Jan 13;3(3):100309. Epub 2021 Jan 13.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY.

Background: In October 2018, a measles (rubeola) outbreak was identified in New York City and Rockland County, and a public health campaign and hospital policy changes were made to increase awareness of the importance of vaccination and increase vaccination rates.

Objective: We describe the prevalence of rubeola immunity in pregnant women and the change in uptake of postpartum measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination before and during the measles outbreak.

Study Design: A multipronged intervention was developed by the health system with the intent of raising awareness of the outbreak, identifying patients at risk of contracting measles during pregnancy, and limiting exposure of inpatients to the disease. Read More

Clin Rheumatol 2021 Jan 13. Epub 2021 Jan 13.

Department of General Pediatrics, Versailles Hospital, 177 rue de Versailles, 78150, Le Chesnay, Paris, France.

Introduction/objectives: To determine vaccination coverage among a French cohort of children with recurrent autoinflammatory fever syndromes (RFS).

Method: All RFS children aged 2 to 19 years from the Juvenile Inflammatory Rheumatism cohort and followed at the French Reference Center for Autoinflammatory Diseases, Versailles Hospital, were included in our observational study. Immunisation status at ages 2, 7 and 15 years and at the last outpatient visit was evaluated according to the standard French vaccine schedule and recommended supplementary vaccines for patients with immunosuppressive therapy. Read More

Nat Med 2021 01 11;27(1):125-135. Epub 2021 Jan 11.

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Most of what we know about adaptive immunity has come from inbred mouse studies, using methods that are often difficult or impossible to confirm in humans. In addition, vaccine responses in mice are often poorly predictive of responses to those same vaccines in humans. Here we use human tonsils, readily available lymphoid organs, to develop a functional organotypic system that recapitulates key germinal center features in vitro, including the production of antigen-specific antibodies, somatic hypermutation and affinity maturation, plasmablast differentiation and class-switch recombination. Read More

Vaccine 2021 Jan 8. Epub 2021 Jan 8.

Division for Experimental Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, University Medical Center of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Electronic address:

Neonatal passive immunity, derived from transplacental transfer of IgG antibodies from mother to fetus during pregnancy, can mitigate the risk for severe infections in the early postnatal period. Understanding the placenta as the gateway organ in this process, we aimed to evaluate the influence of specific factors modulating the transplacental IgG transfer rate (TPTR) in 141 mother/neonate pairs. We further evaluated the potential health advantage elicited by maternal IgG with regard to respiratory tract infections during infancy and early childhood. Read More

Turk Pediatri Ars 2020 16;55(4):418-424. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.

Aim: Viral infections commonly affect kidney transplant recipients and may lead to graft failure and death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibody seroprevalence against viral agents in kidney transplant recipients.

Material And Methods: The records of children who underwent kidney transplantation between 2008 and 2018 in Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine were retrospectively reviewed. Read More

Vaccine 2021 01 26;39(5):780-785. Epub 2020 Dec 26.

Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore.

Although the direct health impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on child health is low, there are indirect impacts across many aspects. We compare childhood vaccine uptake in three types of healthcare facilities in Singapore - public primary care clinics, a hospital paediatric unit, and private paediatrician clinics - from January to April 2020, to baseline, and calculate the impact on herd immunity for measles. We find a 25. Read More

PLoS One 2021 6;16(1):e0244945. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.

This study aimed to investigate the long-term changes in awareness of and knowledge about mother-to-child infections across 6 years in Japan. A questionnaire survey was conducted at our facility from October 2012 to January 2018, and the study periods were divided into 4 phases comprising 16 months each. A multiple-choice questionnaire assessed participants' awareness of the following 13 pathogens of mother-to-child infections: cytomegalovirus (CMV), Toxoplasma gondii (T. Read More

Paediatr Child Health 2020 Mar 16;25(2):72-76. Epub 2019 Mar 16.

Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario.

A term, growth-restricted newborn presented with a sepsis-like picture, persistent pulmonary hypertension and bilateral cataracts. Initial review of prenatal and family history, as well as microbiological investigations were noncontributory. Following lenticular extraction, viral examination of the lenses confirmed the presence of rubella. Read More

J Pediatr 2021 01;228:154

Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore, Maryland.

Cereb Cortex 2021 Mar;31(5):2309-2321

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA.

Zika virus is a teratogen similar to other neurotropic viruses, notably cytomegalovirus and rubella. The goal of these studies was to address the direct impact of Zika virus on fetal development by inoculating early gestation fetal rhesus monkeys using an ultrasound-guided approach (intraperitoneal vs. intraventricular). Read More

Br J Ophthalmol 2020 Dec 2. Epub 2020 Dec 2.

Advanced Eye Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Background: Neonatal-onset glaucoma (NOG) is a severe form of childhood glaucoma and is not always due to primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). Due to advances in neonatal care, the incidence of NOG is rising, but it remains an under-reported entity. The objective of the paper was to study the clinical profiles, surgical and visual outcomes of NOG at least 1 year following early surgery. Read More