Clinical Medicine Insights. Pediatrics

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis is a serious blood bacterial infection in neonates at the age of equal to or less than 28 days of life, and it's still the major significant cause of death and long-term morbidity in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and related factors with neonatal sepsis among newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit at Hiwot Fana Comprehensive Specialized University Hospital, Harar, Ethiopia...

BACKGROUND: Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 (HT1), a rare autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, arises from fumarylacetoacetate (FAH) enzyme deficiency, resulting in toxic metabolite buildup. It manifests in acute, subacute, and chronic forms, with early diagnosis and Nitisinone treatment being vital. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to highlight the different clinical presentations of Hereditary Tyrosinemia type 1 in a cohort of Pakistani children. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study...

Methemoglobinemia is due to oxidization of divalent ferro-iron of hemoglobin to ferri-iron of methemoglobin (MetHb) which is incapable of transferring oxygen to tissues. This disease may be acquired by intoxication with oxidizing agents or inherited with a mutation of CYB5R3, the gene coding for the methemoglobin reductase or cytochrome B5 reductase 3 responsible for the reduction of MetHb to hemoglobin. We report the case of 2 sisters aged respectively of 15 and 8 months. They were born to a second-degree consanguineous marriage with a history of precocious and unexplained deaths in 3 relatives...

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting results in the existing studies regarding the association between depression and subclinical hypothyroidism in adolescents. Subclinical hypothyroidism is defined as elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels above the reference range without signs or symptoms of hypothyroidism. OBJECTIVES: The focus of this study is to determine whether there is any association between depression and subclinical hypothyroidism, (as defined by the serum TSH levels) in a population of healthy adolescents...

BACKGROUND: Nutrition among children under 5 plays an important role in the overall development of children physically and psychologically. Nutritional deficiencies and malnutrition generally affect children. In this study, we estimate the prevalence of 3 malnutrition indicators underweight, stunting and wasting and to assess factors associated with them. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the study was to assess the factors contributing to malnutrition among children under 5 years old...

A 1 year and 7 months old girl presented to the medical genetic clinic as a referral from the pediatrics clinic. Upon examining the patient and assessing past medical history, an autosomal recessive disorder was suspected. The family underwent whole exome sequencing, which resulted in the diagnosis of Kaufman oculocerebrofacial syndrome (OMIM #244450) in the patient due to the fact that both parents were heterozygous carriers of a novel pathogenic variant in the gene UBE3B that lies on 12q24. It has been recommended for the family that preimplantation genetic testing should be considered for future pregnancies...

BACKGROUND: Muslim Arab immigrants are a fast-growing, under-studied, and underserved minority population in the United States. Little is known about breastfeeding practices in this population. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe infant feeding practices and factors associated with these practices among immigrant Muslim Arab women. DESIGN: A nonexperimental-one group, cross-sectional, descriptive, prospective design was used to identify infant feeding practices among immigrant Muslim Arab women...

BACKGROUND: Ethiopia ranked fourth in the world in terms of neonatal mortality rates, with birth asphyxia accounting for the majority of neonatal deaths. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of birth asphyxia and associated factors among newborns delivered in government hospitals of the Eastern Amhara region, Northeastern Ethiopia, 2022. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 4 government hospitals between March 10, 2022, and May 8, 2022...

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intestinal obstruction is a challenging issue, especially in developing countries. There is an apparent difference in the etiology, complications, and mortality of intestinal obstruction in neonates in different countries. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe the causes, early postoperative outcomes, and predictors of morbidities in neonates with intestinal obstruction in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Iran. DESIGN & METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study on neonates who were admitted with intestinal obstruction requiring surgery in the NICU of Boo-Ali Sina Hospital in northern Iran during 2018 to 2022...

Primary immune deficiency (PID) is a large group of diseases characterized by defective immune function, leading to recurrent infections, and immune dysregulation. Clinical presentations, severity, and complications differ for each disease, based on the components of the immune system that are impacted. When patients with PID present with respiratory symptoms, infections should be initially suspected, investigated, and promptly managed. However, non-infectious complications of PID also frequently occur and can lead to significant morbidity and mortality...

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral cutaneous infection common in children. It is characterized by umbilicated, skin-colored papules that typically resolve without treatment over several months to years. Immune response to the virus may cause inflammatory reactions, including molluscum dermatitis, inflamed molluscum, Gianotti-Crosti syndrome-like reaction, erythema annulare centrifugum, or even a generalized id reaction (a reactive inflammatory process driven by a separate condition that stimulates the immune system)...

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy outcomes that differ from normal live births are known as adverse pregnancy outcomes. Adverse pregnancy outcomes also have significant effects on the infant's family and society. There is limited data on adverse outcomes in eastern Ethiopia, particularly in the Somali region. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the determinants of adverse birth outcomes in the Somali Region Hospitals. DESIGN: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted to conduct this study...

BACKGROUND: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is a widespread and significant clinical problem among neonates worldwide. Globally, every year about 1.1 million babies develop it and the vast majority reside in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Studies on the magnitude and factors associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia are limited in Ethiopia. So this study was aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated factors of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia among hospitalized neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit of Jimma Medical Center (JMC), Jimma, South West Ethiopia...

BACKGROUND: The RAM cannula® consists of nasal prongs that can be used to administer oxygen, continuous, and bilevel positive airway pressure therapies. Studies have reported the efficacy and utility of the RAM cannula in inpatients requiring noninvasive ventilation (NIV); however, there is limited literature on the use of the RAM cannula to provide NIV in the outpatient setting. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the clinical features and outcomes of children who used NIV via RAM cannula in the outpatient setting...

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis has been a major cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity globally. Late onset sepsis is on the rise mostly due to better health care services and improved survival of premature neonates. Gram-negative sepsis has emerged as a major public health problem constituting significant morbidity and mortality. There is limited data on gram-negative late onset sepsis from the central part of India, therefore this study was conducted at a tertiary care center from rural part of India...

BACKGROUND: The pattern of paediatric kidney diseases across different regions is influenced by genetic, racial, and environmental differences. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to review the current spectrum and outcome of childhood kidney diseases at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and highlight the challenges of care. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. METHODS: Data on all children below 16 years of age hospitalised for any kidney disease over an 8-month period (1 January-31 August 2022) were retrieved and retrospectively analysed...

Duodenal webs are a rare clinical entity with the presentation of a double duodenal web being exceedingly uncommon. Management of duodenal webs traditionally involves duodenal web excision with duodenoduodenostomy, which is usually performed via a laparoscopic or an open approach. We report the case of a 6-month-old child who presented with progressively worsening bilious emesis with imaging findings concerning for a duodenal web. Endoscopic evaluation was performed that identified 2 webs in the fourth portion of the duodenum...

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by severe dyspraxia, hand stereotypies, and sensory processing issues for which there is no known treatment. This case describes a child with classic RTT and the child's responses to an Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) treatment intervention (36 one-hour sessions, 3 per week). We coded and analyzed 36 detailed treatment notes to answer the following questions: What strategies and factors facilitated or interfered with participation in the intervention? What critical elements of treatment documentation might detect small changes in praxis and participation? How do patterns of motor or praxis milestones that emerge over time relate to this child's level of participation? We observed an increase in participation when the therapist incorporated elements of neurodevelopmental treatment (NDT) and motor learning theory- treatment strategies commonly used with children who have neuromotor conditions...

BACKGROUND: Globally, neonatal mortality remains a serious catastrophic problem for newborns, particularly in a low-resource setting. There were no neonatal mortality trend studies in the study area. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the trends and risk factors of neonatal mortality at the neonatal intensive care unit of Felege Hiwot Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 870 admitted neonates from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020 in the neonatal intensive care unit by a stratified simple random sampling technique...

INTRODUCTION: Jaundice is one of the most common problems during infancy. It is believed that breast milk jaundice is one of the reasons for the persistence of jaundice after 14 days of prolonged jaundice. This study evaluates the effect of Clofibrate and phototherapy on prolonged jaundice originating from breast milk in term and healthy neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This double-blind clinical trial study was performed on 100 randomly divided neonates in the neonatal ward of Besat Hospital...