Cough and reflux esophagitis in children: their co-existence and airway cellularity

BACKGROUND: There are no prospective studies that have examined for chronic cough in children without lung disease but with gastroesophageal reflux (GER). In otherwise healthy children undergoing flexible upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (esophago-gastroscopy), the aims of the study were to (1) define the frequency of cough in relation to symptoms of GER, (2) examine if children with cough and reflux esophagitis (RE) have different airway cellularity and microbiology in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) when compared to those without. METHODS: Data specific for chronic cough (>4-weeks), symptoms of GER and cough severity were collected. Children aged <16-years (n = 150) were defined as 'coughers' (C+) if a history of cough in association with their GER symptoms was elicited before BAL were obtained during elective esophago-gastroscopy. Presence of esophagitis on esophageal biopsies was considered reflux esophagitis positive (E+). RESULTS: C+ (n = 69) were just as likely as C- (n = 81) to have esophagitis, odds ratio 0.87 (95%CI 0.46, 1.7). Median neutrophil percentage in BAL was significantly different between groups; highest in C+E- (7, IQR 28) and lowest in C-E+ (5, IQR 6). BAL positive bacterial culture occurred in 20.7% and were more likely present in current coughers (OR 3.37, 95%CI 1.39, 8.08). Airway neutrophilia (median 20%, IQR 34) was significantly higher in those with BAL positive bacterial cultures than those without (5%, 4; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In children without lung disease, the common co-existence of cough with symptoms of GER is independent of the occurrence of esophagitis. Airway neutrophilia when present in these children is more likely to be related to airway bacterial infection and not to esophagitis

Chronic Intestinal Failure in Children : An International Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism database for chronic intestinal failure (CIF) was analyzed to investigate factors associated with nutritional status and the intravenous supplementation (IVS) dependency in children. Methods: Data collected: demographics, CIF mechanism, home parenteral nutrition program, z-scores of weight-for-age (WFA), length or height-for-age (LFA/HFA), and body mass index-for-age (BMI-FA). IVS dependency was calculated as the ratio of daily total IVS energy over estimated resting energy expenditure (%IVSE/REE). Results: Five hundred and fifty-eight patients were included, 57.2% of whom were male. CIF mechanisms at age 1-4 and 14-18 years, respectively: SBS 63.3%, 37.9%; dysmotility or mucosal disease: 36.7%, 62.1%. One-third had WFA and/or LFA/HFA z-scores 125%. Multivariate analysis showed that mechanism of CIF was associated with WFA and/or LFA/HFA z-scores (negatively with mucosal disease) and %IVSE/REE (higher for dysmotility and lower in SBS with colon in continuity), while z-scores were negatively associated with %IVSE/REE. Conclusions: The main mechanism of CIF at young age was short bowel syndrome (SBS), whereas most patients facing adulthood had intestinal dysmotility or mucosal disease. One-third were underweight or stunted and had high IVS dependency. Considering that IVS dependency was associated with both CIF mechanisms and nutritional status, IVS dependency is suggested as a potential marker for CIF severity in children.Peer reviewe

A case of prolonged hyperbilirubinaemia in a neonate

[Extract] A girl aged one week presented to the general practitioner (GP) for a routine baby check. She was born at term following an uncomplicated vaginal delivery. The antenatal period was uneventful, the morphology scan was normal, and maternal serology was negative. Clinical examination prior to hospital discharge was unremarkable. Her birth weight was 3650 g (80th percentile) with adequate weight gain to date. She had been fully breastfed with no feeding concerns. On examination, she was jaundiced with an otherwise unremarkable physical examination. Her urine output had been adequate, with normal-coloured urine and stool

Bone Mineral Density of Very Long-term Survivors After Childhood Liver Transplantation

Liver transplant patients are at risk of osteopenia and fractures but limited information is available in long-term survivors after childhood transplantation. This study aimed to assess bone mineral density (BMD) of very long-term, >5 years, survivors after liver transplantation in childhood.Patients aged 5 years after transplant were potentially eligible but only those with ongoing review in our state were included. Dual-energy absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure BMD. Patients age

Comparing swallowing of capsule to endoscopic placement of capsule endoscopy in children

Background and Aim: Capsule endoscopy (CE) offers a method of directly visualizing areas of the small bowel not accessible by conventional endoscopy. Some children are unable to swallow the capsule requiring endoscopic placement under general anesthesia. The aim of the present study was to identify any differences between children requiring endoscopic placement and those able to swallow the capsule. Methods: Retrospective chart review of consecutive CE in a tertiary pediatric center was conducted. Patient demographics, outcomes, and complications between the two groups were noted. Paired t-test comparing continuous variables and Fisher exact test for categorical data were used. Results: A total of 104 CEs were performed in 88 patients, median age 12.8 (range: 1.6–18.5) years. Almost half, 49% (51/104), swallowed the capsule. Children requiring endoscopic placement were significantly younger (9.8 vs 14.2 years; P < 0.001), lighter (34.5 vs 54.9 kg; P < 0.0001), and had longer small intestinal transit time (308 vs 229 min; P < 0.0001). Positive findings were more likely in those who swallowed the capsule (50% vs 30%, P = 0.017), likely a reflection of the indications for procedure. Poor views were found in 30% (16/53) of patients in the endoscopic placement group due to iatrogenic bleeding from biopsies taken from concurrent procedures but did not affect outcome or subsequent patient management. Conclusions: CE is safe and well tolerated in children. Children requiring endoscopic placement were significantly younger, lighter, had longer small intestine transit time, and less likely to have positive findings. Concurrent biopsies during capsule placement increase the likelihood of inadequate views but did not affect outcome or management

Long-term effect of childhood liver transplantation on body cell mass

Malnutrition is common in end-stage liver disease, but a correction after transplantation is expected. Body cell mass (BCM) assessment using total body potassium (TBK) measurements is considered the gold standard for assessing nutritional status. The aim of this study was to examine the BCM and, therefore, nutritional status of long-term survivors after childhood liver transplantation. © 2014 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases