Watch out for malaria: still a leading cause of child death worldwide

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Due to the efforts in malaria control promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO), the reported malaria burden is being reduced throughout the world. Nevertheless, malaria remains a leading cause of child death worldwide.</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>purpose of the paper is to summarize the main historical steps in fighting malaria, from the first descriptions to the last ones.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>a case of probable autochthonous malaria has been recently described in Italy, raising concern over the possibility of resurgence of malaria in countries previously interested by this disease. Moreover, both the constant threat of the parasite and vector mosquito developing resistance to medicines and insecticides, and the on-going climate change make the challenge of eradicating malaria really difficult. Therefore, malaria is still an actual disease, requiring adequate programs of surveillance, stronger health systems in poor countries, and efforts in order to develop new and effective tools in malaria control. WHO has definitely demonstrated the effects of "social determinants" on health. So, eradication strategies cannot be based only on a scientific background, because culture, politics, power, resources and wars have a profound impact on health and disease. These elements should be introduced in all the programs of malaria control.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>malaria is still an actual disease with great public health implications, and the approaches for control and prevention should have the appropriate social and political context in addition to the science involved in order to save lives of children at risk.</p

Testicular haematoma

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Congenital syphilis in a two-month-old infant

This report describes a rare case of congenital syphilis in a two-month-old Romanian infant. Diagnosis was possible when the baby showed decrease in the left upper limb movements and a papular rash. Her father had been infected and transmitted the infection to the mother, who had two non-treponemal serological tests during pregnancy, both with negative results. Congenital syphilis was confirmed by serological tests and the newborn was successfully treated. A global overview on diagnosis and treatment of children with suspected congenital syphilis is presented

Vitamin D and Tuberculosis in Children: A Review Vitamin D and Tuberculosis

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Chest wall TB and low 25-hidroxy-vitamin D levels in a 15-month-old girl

Parietal chest wall tuberculosis is an extremely rare manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) in children. We present the case of a 15 month-old girl presenting with a chest wall lesion initially thought to be of neoplastic origin and eventually diagnosed as chest wall TB, which was treated with surgical debridement and specific antitubercular therapy. The girl had not-measurable 25-hidroxy-vitamin D levels, an increasingly recognized risk factor for the development of active TB. To our knowledge, in the English literature there are no similar described cases in such young infants. This case highlight the possibility of dealing with TB and its different manifestations also in low TB burden countries, due to continuously increasing migration flows. A detailed history is a key point to reach the diagnosis. Moreover, our case confirm the possible non casual relationship between TB and low 25-hidroxy-vitamin D levels, pointing out the importance of measuring its levels in all TB patients and considering its supplementation in addition to specific antitubercular therapy

Clinical characteristics, activity levels and mental health problems in children with long coronavirus disease: a survey of 510 children

Background: Whether long coronavirus disease pertains to children as well is not yet clear. Methods: The authors performed a survey in children suffering from persistent symptoms since initial infection. A total of 510 children infected between January 2020 and January 2021 were included. Results: Symptoms such as fatigue, headache, muscle and joint pain, rashes and heart palpitations and issues such as lack of concentration and short-term memory problems were particularly frequent and confirm previous observations, suggesting that they may characterize this condition. Conclusion: A better comprehension of long coronavirus disease is urgently needed

Potential Application of Lung Ultrasound in Children with Severe Uncontrolled Asthma: Preliminary Hypothesis Based on a Case Series

: In recent years, lung ultrasound (LUS) has been increasingly used for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in both adult and pediatric patients. However, asthma is a field in which the use of LUS is not yet well defined, or is in development. In the following case series, we describe clinical, laboratory, and radiological results, as well as detailed lung ultrasound findings of six children with asthma: some of them with acute asthma attack and with inadequately controlled allergic asthma or childhood asthma; others with acute asthma and allergic or infantile asthma adequately controlled by preventive therapy. Finally, we describe the clinical, laboratory, and imaging parameters of a child with severe allergic asthma in the absence of exacerbation. In these cases, albeit at different times, LUS played an important role in both the initial diagnostic process and follow-up. It also showed different ultrasound features depending on the severity of the individual asthma based on the type of asthmatic phenotype and control of it

Policies on children and schools during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Western Europe

COVID-19; Children; MitigationCOVID-19; Nens; MitigacióCOVID-19; Niños; MitigaciónDuring the pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), mitigation policies for children have been a topic of considerable uncertainty and debate. Although some children have co-morbidities which increase their risk for severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome and long COVID, most children only get mild COVID-19. On the other hand, consistent evidence shows that mass mitigation measures had enormous adverse impacts on children. A central question can thus be posed: What amount of mitigation should children bear, in response to a disease that is disproportionally affecting older people? In this review, we analyze the distinct child versus adult epidemiology, policies, mitigation trade-offs and outcomes in children in Western Europe. The highly heterogenous European policies applied to children compared to adults did not lead to significant measurable differences in outcomes. Remarkably, the relative epidemiological importance of transmission from school-age children to other age groups remains uncertain, with current evidence suggesting that schools often follow, rather than lead, community transmission. Important learning points for future pandemics are summarized

Increased levels of neurotrophins in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with Epstein–Barr virus meningoencephalitis

SummaryObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-induced meningoencephalitis (ME) in order to establish a possible correlation with laboratory findings and neurological manifestations.MethodsA prospective observational clinical study was performed on 10 children with viral ME, five of them with EBV-induced ME. As controls, we used CSF samples collected from children admitted with febrile seizures. Neurotrophin levels were measured using an enzyme immunoassay.ResultsSignificantly higher levels of BDNF and NGF were detected in all patients with viral ME compared to controls. Moreover, in patients with EBV-induced ME, the neurotrophin levels were higher than in those with other viral ME. Of note, in children with EBV-induced ME, we found a significant correlation between neurotrophic factor levels and the number of lymphocytes in the CSF (p<0.001). In these patients we also found a significant correlation between BDNF expression and the blood platelet count (p<0.001). Interestingly, two patients with EBV-induced ME showed a correlation between neurotrophin increase and persistent brain abnormalities, such as prolonged alteration of mental status, psychomotor agitation, and athetosis.ConclusionsViral ME induces an early and strong increased biosynthesis of neurotrophic factors. This neurotrophin over-expression is likely to play a key role in the mechanisms of neuronal inflammation and in the severity of brain damage, particularly in EBV-induced ME