Kawasaki disease: a comprehensive review

Introduction and purpose: Kawasaki disease is an acute, self-limited vasculitis of medium arteries, and it affects children under 5 years old. It can lead to coronary artery aneurysms. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease is unclear. The diagnosis is based on the clinical findings. The characteristic symptoms are polymorphous skin rashes, conjunctivitis, erythema, dryness, cracking and bleeding of the lips, erythema and swelling of palms and soles and cervical lymphadenopathy. Kawasaki disease is defined as a fever for 5 days accompanied by 4 or more of the diagnostic symptoms described above. The classic diagnosis is based on the exclusion of other diseases too. The diagnosis of incomplete Kawasaki disease is suggested if less than 4 main clinical features are found.  It is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children. Kawasaki disease can lead to coronary artery aneurysm, myocarditis and pericarditis so it is very important to treat this illness correctly. Basic treatment is a single infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin and high-dose aspirin. Recurrent Kawasaki disease (persistent fever after first line treatment with IVIG and aspirin) requires the same treatment as used for the first episode. Corticosteroids and immune-modulating therapies can be used as second and third line options. Quick recognition and early treatment result in a reduction of coronary artery abnormalities. Conclusion: This article reviews basic informations, history, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, complications and treatment of Kawasaki disease

Polska terminologia medyczna – spojrzenie diachroniczne

W wielojęzycznej i wielokulturowej Europie, z którą wiąże się wiele programów europejskich, ten tom młodych naukowców jest bardzo potrzebny. Świadczy o tym, że młodzi ludzie widzą sens Unii Europejskiej, doceniają programy europejskie i aktywnie w nich uczestniczą. Chcą również przybliżyć Polskę, jej język i kulturę innym narodom. Sprzyja temu aktywna wymiana naukowców i studentów między krajami Unii. W tym aspekcie podejmowane badania są jak najbardziej uzasadnione. Jest to już czwarty tom z cyklu „Bogactwo językowe i kulturowe Europy w oczach Polaków i cudzoziemców”. Są w nim przedstawione dwa ujęcia: spojrzenie Polaków na cudzoziemców i cudzoziemców na nas. Znaczna część artykułów poświęcona jest też glottodydaktyce języków obcych, a przede wszystkim nauczaniu języka polskiego jako obcego.Publikacja wydana dzięki wsparciu finansowemu Władz Rektorskich Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego oraz Pani Dziekan Wydziału Filologicznego Uniwersytetu Łódzkieg

Mothers' knowledge about urinary tract infections in children and their prevention

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a serious medical problem. The disease affects a significant percentage of children, including newborns, infants, older children and adolescents. Numerous factors influence the course of UTI and the manifestation of clinical symptoms. UTIs that are diagnosed too late, untreated or poorly treated are the cause of many complications that can pose a serious threat to the health and even life of a child. In the prevention of UTI, in their diagnosis and therapy, an important role is played by nursing staff, who have an obligation to educate child carers on the subject of risk factors, the importance of check-ups in early diagnosis of infections, and rules in force during therapy. It is not without significance to learn skills related to the care of the child's intimate areas, as well as the principles relevant for the prevention of relapses

Clinical manifestations of neuroborreliosis in children – review of literature

Introduction: The most common tick-borne disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi is Lyme disease. It is characterized by a variety of disorders: dermatological, rheumatological, cardiological and neurological. Neuroborreliosis is defined as an involvement of the nervous system, and it is the second most common form of infection in children (10-15% of those infected). The aim of the study: To review the available materials and presentation of the current state of knowledge on the various manifestations of neuroborreliosis in children. Material and method: Databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar were searched. Literature was searched using the keywords: Lyme disease, neuroborreliosis, borreliosis, facial nerve paralysis, and pediatric population. The materials obtained in this way were analyzed in terms of compliance with the subject of the work. Results: Typical clinical manifestations of neuroborreliosis in children are facial nerve palsy and meningitis. Neuroborreliosis is the cause of 50% of all cases of bilateral facial nerve palsy in children. Multiple cranial and peripheral neuritis, myelitis, cerebral vasculitis and, consequently, the formation of intracranial aneurysms are less common manifestations of infection. Conclusions: The symptoms of neuroborreliosis are non-specific. This makes it difficult to make an accurate diagnosis. Even if no information on tick bite or erythema migrans has been obtained from the clinical history, neuroborreliosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis, especially in Lyme-endemic areas

A brand new medical condition - 6 years old patient with neurological symptoms diagnosed with PIMS-TS (Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome – Temporally Associated with SARS-CoV-2) - case report

Children's multi-system inflammatory syndrome PIMS-TS is a completely new challenge for pediatricians, which has established a separate branch of the fight against the still active COVID-19 pandemic. It turns out that even a pediatric patient who has not suffered symptomatic infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as a result of contact with this pathogen, can develop a severe systemic inflammatory reaction rich in symptoms originating in almost every system of the human body. The first reports of the inflammatory syndrome that is the subject of this work come from May 2020. It is known that the symptoms of PIMS are caused by a multi-system inflammatory response in the body, potentially related to the immune system. The course of this disease may bring to mind other inflammatory diseases in children, such as Kawasaki disease, toxic shock syndrome and MAS macrophage activation syndrome

Acute tonsillopharyngitis - a review

Introduction and purpose: Acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis is the most common reason why people want to visit their primary care physician. Viruses are the most common cause of acute pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis in children and adults. The patient complains about pain with sudden onset and throat irritation, pain on swallowing, fever and headache, and in children also abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Most acute tonsillopharyngitis is due to rhinoviruses (35%), influenza (30%), RSV and parainfluenza. Bacteria causes 30% of the infections and S. pyogenes is the most common cause. Viral infections are seasonal. S.pyogenes infection is most often in winter and early spring. Changes in the pharyngeal mucosa look similar in both bacterial and viral etiologies. Because of that, scales have been developed to assess the probability of a bacterial infection. The most used is Centor / McIsaac scale. The gold standard of diagnostics is throat swab culture. In the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and tonsillitis, penicillins are used as first-line treatment. Antibiotic treatment reduces infectivity, lowers the risk of rheumatic fever and made symptoms disappear two days earlier. Tonsillectomy does not reduce the number of recurrent pharyngitis and tonsillitis, therefore it cannot be recommended. Conclusion: Acute tonsillopharyngitis can result in many complications, the most serious of them is rheumatic fever. Therefore, it is very important to properly diagnose and use antibiotic therapy when necessary

Urinary tract infection in children - short versus standard duration antibiotic therapy

Background: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a common infection in children. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are very important to reduce the morbidity. Pediatric urologists are now faced with a situation that requires appropriate action- antibiotic resistance of urinary tract pathogens is significantly increasing worldwide. Objective: The purpose of our work is to present the clinical aspects of antibiotic use in pediatric urology. To present the benefits of both short antibiotic therapy and standard antibiotic therapy.  Methods and materials: A literature review was conducted in the PubMed database, using the key words: "urinary tract infection", "children", "short-term antibiotics", "antibiotics", „nephrology”. Results: Short-term antibiotic therapy for lower urinary tract infections appears to be as effective as standard therapy. Studies show that shorter antibiotic therapy also works well for pyelonephritis in pediatric patients. Children who have received a short course of antibiotic therapy may also be less likely to get subsequent infections in the future with a more resistant strain of the same uropathogen. Conclusion: Tried to reconcile the latest reports on diagnosis, treatment and follow-up in pediatric UTIs with existing practice and opinions on the use of short as well as standard antibiotic therapy. However, more clinical trials are needed to confirm efficacy, and to assess side effects of the therapy&nbsp

Erythema nodosum as a manifestation of many systemic diseases

Introduction and purpose: Erythema nodosum is a most frequent form of panniculitis and it appears as erythematous, painful rounded, nodules typically localized on the pretibial area. The purpose of our review is to present diseases that can be underlying causes of erythema nodosum and to draw attention to accompanying symptoms that can guide us to the appropriate diagnosis. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Currently, erythema nodosum is thought to be a symptom associated with hypersensitivity reactions to various antigens. Although the majority of the causes are considered idiopathic, erythema nodosum may be caused by many etiological factors. Summary: Erythema nodosum is usually an acute condition that resolves without treatment. However, it can sometimes be the first sign of a serious condition - autoimmune diseases, infections or malignancy. In such cases it is essential to observe it carefully and implement appropriate diagnostics that allow us to make a correct diagnosis

Urinary tract infections in children - a review

Introduction and purpose: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is very common, mostly bacterial infection in childhood. UTI may affect the lower urinary tract or the upper urinary tract. Infection typically require antibiotics for treatment.  Brief description of the state of knowledge:   The prevalence of urinary tract infection is between 2 and 8% and it is more common in  female, infants and uncircumcised male infants. Most paediatric UTIs are caused by Gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E.coli). Symptoms of this infection are nonspecific and may be confused with signs of other clinical conditions. The most common symptoms are suprapubic pain, back pain, dysuria, urinary frequency and systemic symptoms such as fever, vomiting, lethargy.  Antibiotics are the standard treatment for urinary tract infections.  Conclusion:  This article reviews basic informations, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infection

Skin changes in the course of COVID-19 as the first symptom in a child - a case report

Atypical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection are of particular importance in the pediatric population. Due to the lower number of reports in this group, the scale and spectrum of symptoms are still unknown. Skin lesions may precede the onset of the general symptoms of COVID-19 by up to several days. This article describes the case of an 8-year-old girl with skin lesions in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.Atypical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection are of particular importance in the pediatric population. Due to the lower number of reports in this group, the scale and spectrum of symptoms are still unknown. Skin lesions may precede the onset of the general symptoms of COVID-19 by up to several days. This article describes the case of an 8-year-old girl with skin lesions in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection