With millions upon millions of journal articles being published every year, it is impossible to keep up. Every month we ask some of our friends from PERUKI (Paediatric Emergency Research in the UK and Ireland) to point out something that has caught their eye.
With millions upon millions of journal articles being published every year it is impossible to keep up. Every month we ask some of our friends from PERUKI (Paediatric Emergency Research in UK and Ireland) to point out something that has caught their eye.
Here is our latest Bumper BubbleWrap Plus, combining October and November’s paediatric Journal Club Lists provided by Professor Jaan Toelen & his team of the University Hospitals in Leuven (Belgium). This comprehensive list of ‘articles to read’ from the last two months comes from 34 journals, including Pediatrics, The Journal of Pediatrics, Archives of Disease in Childhood, JAMA Pediatrics, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, NEJM, and many more.
This bumper list features answers to intriguing questions such as: ‘What are the outcomes for oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy?’, ‘Is lung ultrasound a useful investigation in preterms with RDS?’, ‘Does a gluten-free diet lead to improved headache in children with celiac disease?’, ‘ Which mental health conditions are associated with hyperthyroidism?’, ‘Do commonly available round facemasks fit near-term and term infants?’, ‘Does formula feeding increases the risk of antibiotic prescriptions?’, ‘Is foot-length growth a good early marker for puberty?’ and ‘Is chocolate consumption good for your telomeres?’
You will find the list is broken down into four sections:
1.Reviews and opinion articles
Clinical Approach to Lactose Intolerance.
Micic D, et al. JAMA. 2019 Sep 26.
Challenges and controversies in childhood tuberculosis.
Reuter A, et al. Lancet. 2019 Sep 14;394(10202):967-978.
Neonatal Hypoglycemia: A Review.
Alsaleem M, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Sep 26:9922819875540.
School-aged Children Who Are Not Progressing Academically: Considerations for Pediatricians.
Rey-Casserly C, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 23.
A perfect storm: fetal inflammation and the developing immune system.
Sabic D, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Sep 19.
What I Learned From the Antivaccine Movement.
Ju AC. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 16.
Friedman A. Pediatr Nephrol. 2019 Oct 25.
Review of bilirubin neurotoxicity I: molecular biology and neuropathology of disease.
Riordan SM, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 10.
Shapiro SM, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 3.
Kawasaki disease: origins and evolution.
Kainth R, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Oct 18.
The Spartacus Problem: Diagnostic Inefficiency of Neonatal Sepsis.
Cantey JB. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
The promise of a prophylactic Epstein-Barr virus vaccine.
Balfour HH Jr, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 3.
Imaging surveillance for children with predisposition to renal tumors.
Srinivasan AS, et al. Pediatr Radiol. 2019 Oct;49(11):1453-1462.
Clinical Features of Tourette Syndrome.
Gill CE, Kompoliti K. J Child Neurol. 2019 Oct 14:883073819877335.
Seeking a Second Opinion on Social Media.
Caruso Brown AE, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Tinanoff N, et al. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2019 May;29(3):238-248.
Soccer Injuries in Children and Adolescents.
Watson A, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
2. Original clinical studies
Step-Up Therapy in Black Children and Adults with Poorly Controlled Asthma.
Wechsler ME, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Sep 26;381(13):1227-1239.
Chinthrajah RS, et al. Lancet. 2019 Sep 12.
Sustained unresponsiveness in peanut oral immunotherapy.
van Ree R. Lancet. 2019 Sep 12.
Can children predict psychological recovery after injury?
Alisic E, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Sep 26.
Depression, Anxiety, and Emergency Department Use for Asthma.
Bardach NS, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 25.
Stahl A, et al. Lancet. 2019 Sep 12.
A Randomized Trial of Prenatal n-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation and Preterm Delivery.
Makrides M, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Sep 12;381(11):1035-1045.
Risk stratification to improve Pediatric Early Warning Systems: it is all about the context.
Teheux L, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Oct;178(10):1589-1596.
Pediatric Hemoptysis without Bronchiectasis or Cardiac Disease: Etiology, Recurrence, and Mortality.
Chiel L, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 17.
Probiotics for paediatric functional abdominal pain disorders: A rapid review.
Ding FCL, et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Sep;24(6):383-394.
Accuracy of Autism Screening in a Large Pediatric Network.
Guthrie W, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 27.
Hum SW, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 24.
Cognata A, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 24.
Nutrition, Growth, Brain Volume, and Neurodevelopment in Very Preterm Children.
Power VA, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 24.
Diversity of Serotype Replacement After Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Implementation in Europe.
Levy C, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Oct;213:252-253.e3.
Sachs N, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Sep 26:9922819877881
The Impact of Physical Activity on Brain Structure and Function in Youth: A Systematic Review.
Valkenborghs SR, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 25. pii: e20184032.
A Single Institution’s Experience of Primary Headache in Children With Celiac Disease.
Hom GL, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Sep 25:883073819873751.
The Importance of Language-Learning Environments to Child Language Outcomes.
Feldman HM. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 24.
Parenting Behavior and Child Language: A Meta-analysis.
Madigan S, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 24.
Adelantado-Renau M, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Sep 23.
Do commonly available round facemasks fit near-term and term infants?
Haase B, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Sep 21
Increase of body mass index is a useful predictor of childhood obesity.
Ichikawa G, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 18.
Acute Management of Pediatric Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome: A Systematic Review.
Gui S, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 17.
Pneumonia Prevention Strategies for Children With Neurologic Impairment.
Lin JL, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 19.
Manso MA, et al. Paediatr Anaesth. 2019 Sep 20.
Feasibility and Accuracy of Fast MRI Versus CT for Traumatic Brain Injury in Young Children.
Lindberg DM, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 18.
The Feasibility of Fast MRI to Reduce CT Radiation Exposure With Acute Traumatic Head Injuries.
Burstein B, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 18.
Chronotype, Social Jet Lag, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Early Adolescence.
Cespedes Feliciano EM, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Sep 16.
Nguyen P, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Sep 15.
Di Mario S, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 6.
Foot Length Growth as a Novel Marker of Early Puberty.
Balzer BWR, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Sep 14:9922819875531.
Lam R, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 10.
Reducing Streptococcal Testing in Patients <3 Years Old in an Emergency Department.
Ahluwalia T, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 11.
Dai AI, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Sep 10:883073819871854.
Predicting Long-Term Survival Without Major Disability for Infants Born Preterm.
Bourke J, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 4.
Celiac Disease Autoimmunity and Emotional and Behavioral Problems in Childhood.
Wahab RJ, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 6.
Further Support for Psychological Symptoms in Pediatric Celiac Disease.
Smith LB, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 6.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae Carriage With De Novo Macrolide-Resistance and Breakthrough Pneumonia.
Alishlash AS, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 5.
Changes in the Management of Children With Brief Resolved Unexplained Events (BRUEs).
Ramgopal S, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep 5
Nebulised hypertonic saline in moderate-to-severe bronchiolitis: a randomised clinical trial.
Jaquet-Pilloud R, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Sep 5.
Cardoen F, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 5.
Prada-Arias M, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Sep 4.
Poletto E, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Oct;178(10):1577-1587.
Flavored E-cigarette Use and Progression of Vaping in Adolescents.
Leventhal AM, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Use of Intraosseous Needles in Neonates: A Systematic Review.
Scrivens A, , et al. Neonatology. 2019 Oct 28:1-10.
Gregorio-Hernández R, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Oct 26.
Seigel A, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Oct 26.
Strengthening Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children: The Role of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra.
Zar HJ, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
A Test for More Accurate Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis.
Sun L, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Accelerating diagnosis for childhood brain tumours: an analysis of the HeadSmart UK population data.
Shanmugavadivel D, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Oct 25.
Predicting intestinal recovery after necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants.
Kuik SJ, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 24.
Bührer C, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 23.
Newborn Antibiotic Exposures and Association With Proven Bloodstream Infection.
Schulman J, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Defining and distinguishing infant behavioral states using acoustic cry analysis: is colic painful?
Parga JJ, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 4.
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Safe Infant Sleep Practices.
Hirai AH, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Gross-Hodge E, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Oct 17.
Factors Associated With Fast Recovery of Bell Palsy in Children.
Lee Y, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Oct 17:883073819877098
Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017.
Burstein R, et al. Nature. 2019 Oct;574(7778):353-358.
Stojanovic JR, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Oct 17:883073819879835.
Genetic Disorders in Prenatal Onset Syndromic Short Stature Identified by Exome Sequencing.
Homma TK, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Oct 17.
Roberts CT, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Oct 11
Giordano V, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Oct 14.
Effect of Exercise Recommendation on Adolescents With Concussion.
Stumph J, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Oct 10:883073819877790.
Kumar A, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Oct 7.
Mansbach JM, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 4.
Mental Health Conditions and Hyperthyroidism.
Zader SJ, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Head circumference at birth and intellectual disability: a nationwide cohort study.
Aagaard K, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 2.
Unintentional Symptom Intensification by Doctors.
Schechter NL, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Higher chocolate intake is associated with longer telomere length among adolescents.
Chen L, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Oct 1.
20-Year Follow-up of Statins in Children with Familial Hypercholesterolemia.
Luirink IK, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Oct 17;381(16):1547-1556.
Controlled Trial of Two Incremental Milk-Feeding Rates in Preterm Infants.
Dorling J, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Oct 10;381(15):1434-1443.
3. Guidelines and Best Evidence
Digital media: Promoting healthy screen use in school-aged children and adolescents.
Canadian Paediatric Society Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Sep;24(6):402-417
Swanson JM. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Oct;58(10):936-938.
Coghill D. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Oct;58(10):938-939
Overtesting and overtreatment-statement from the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP).
Størdal K, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Sep 10
Campbell-Yeo ML. Pediatr Res. 2019 Sep 6.
The Use of Nonnutritive Sweeteners in Children.
Baker-Smith CM, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5).
Howes A, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Oct;55(10):1269-1278.
Concussion Management for Children Has Changed: New Pediatric Protocols Using the Latest Evidence.
DeMatteo C, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Oct 18:9922819879457.
McConnell B, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Oct 4:883073819876473.
Postnatally acquired cytomegalovirus infection in extremely premature infants: how best to manage?
Kadambari S, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Oct 15.
Diagnostic values of the femoral pulse palpation test.
Khammari Nystrom F, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Oct 9.
Wolraich ML, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Oct;144(4).
Zwaigenbaum L, et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Nov;24(7):421-423.
Acute Treatment of Migraine in Children and Adolescents.
Pediatrics. 2019 Nov;144(5). (AAP endorsement of: https://www.aan.com/Guidelines/Home/GetGuidelineContent/970 and https://www.aan.com/Guidelines/Home/GuidelineDetail/967)
4. Case Reports
Di Lorenzo C, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Sep 19;381(12):1159-1167.
A Rare Case of Fetal Onset, Food Protein-Induced Enterocolitis Syndrome.
Ichimura S, et al. Neonatology. 2019 Sep 25:1-4.
A 5-year-old girl with recurrent fever.
Uruthirakumar R, et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Sep;24(6):368-370.
12-Year-old Female with Mucocutaneous Lesions.
Marujo F, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Nov;38(11):1159.
Three-year-old girl with progressive leg pain, weakness and refusal to ambulate.
Gallagher J, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Oct 17.
A 15-Year-Old Girl with a Squint.
Tan GH. J Pediatr. 2019 Oct 11.
The Case of a Twitchy Tongue: An Uncommon Presentation of a Common Childhood Epilepsy.
Khalid R, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Oct 9.
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments!
This quality improvement project aimed to develop guidelines and education materials for implementing the neonatal sepsis calculator published by Kaiser Permanente in 2017 in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The calculator predicts the probability of neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) in babies ≥34 weeks gestation, based on maternal risk factors for chorioamnionitis and the baby’s clinical presentation.
The calculator then makes a clinical recommendation (no blood culture or antibiotics, blood culture but no antibiotics, or blood culture and antibiotics), and recommends the frequency of recording vital signs for the baby. The calculator relies on users knowing the incidence of early- onset sepsis for their particular hospital/neonatal unit. The calculator is gaining in popularity (certainly in my recent experience), but guidelines for its implementation in individual neonatal units are lacking. One of the concerns is that the calculator will take the place of clinical judgement. The researchers were based at a Level III NICU in the USA. They evaluated current blood culture collection and antibiotic use for suspected EOS in their unit, then developed guidelines and education materials for implementing the neonatal sepsis calculator, and then re-evaluated rates of blood culture collection and antibiotic use.
Neonatal early-onset sepsis (EOS) is culture-positive invasive infection that presents in the first 72 hours of life, with Group B streptococcus (GBS or S. agalactiae) the main culprit. Guidelines for screening for and treating suspected neonatal EOS vary, with the conventional wisdom suggesting at least 48 hours of empirical antibiotics for treatment of suspected EOS due to maternal chorioamnionitis. The definition of maternal chorioamnionitis also varies based on maternal symptoms, including intrapartum and postpartum fever and clinical instability. EOS guidelines vary for and within each state and territory in Australia, with some units implementing the neonatal sepsis calculator, and others using stricter guidelines for evaluation and treatment of suspected neonatal EOS. NICE Guidelines from the UK do not refer to the calculator, but use risk factors, clinical indicators, and red flags to guide antibiotic management decisions (https://pathways.nice.org.uk/pathways/early-onset-neonatal-infection).
In the study, in the 4 months prior to implementing the neonatal sepsis calculator, antibiotic use for suspected EOS was 11%, and blood culture was done on 14.8% of live births. The calculator was subsequently implemented for 6 months. In the 4 months post-implementation, neonatal sepsis calculator use was more than 95%, antibiotic use decreased significantly to 5%, and blood culture use dropped to 7.6%.
Importantly, the researchers considered the management of asymptomatic neonates, for whom the implementation of the neonatal sepsis calculator represented the greatest change in practice. The calculator uses the highest antepartum maternal temperature to indicate chorioamnionitis. In asymptomatic infants, if there is no maternal fever, but a clinical diagnosis of chorioamnionitis is made, the neonatal sepsis calculator may recommend observation only, with no blood culture or antibiotics. By contrast, the neonatologists in the study agreed that in these cases, a full blood count and blood culture should be done, with antibiotics withheld.
The researchers did not advocate blanket implementation of the neonatal sepsis calculator in the absence of clinical reasoning. Indeed, part of their research required clinicians to document the recommendations from the calculator, and then document their reason/s for accepting or rejecting the recommendations.
In this quality improvement project around implementation of the neonatal sepsis calculator, high uptake was achieved (>95%). In comparision at 4 months pre and post implementation, there was an associated reduction in antibiotic use from 11% to 5%, with blood cultures taken dropping from 14.8% to 7.6% of live births. The neonatal sepsis calculator provides objective data that can be used along with clinical judgement to make decisions about investigations and treatment of EOS.
Reviewed by: Katie Nash
Rotavirus gastroenteritis is a frequently encountered and unpleasant illness. In 2007, a monovalent live attenuated vaccine covering for several G1 strains was introduced into the Australian Immunization schedule. Vaccine effectiveness (VE) is the percentage reduction of disease when comparing immunized and unimmunized patients. 3 years after the introduction, hospitalization in children less than 5 years due to rotavirus gastro declined by 71% – so just how effective is the vaccine?
A retrospective cross-sectional study looked at laboratory confirmed cases of rotavirus in NSW from January 1 st 2010 to December 31 st 2017. A total of 9517 cases were identified, and age, gender, ATSI status, immunization status and rotavirus genotype recorded. VE was calculated based on the 2017 dataset, a year where there was a significant rotavirus gastro outbreak, and looked at children aged 0 – 16 years, born after 2008. It appears that 2 doses of Rotarix are effective, with VE estimates of 88% for the 6 – 11month age group, 83% for the 1 – 3 year old age group and 78% for the 4 – 9 year old age group. It is notable that VE significantly reduced from 89.5% at 1 year post vaccination to 77% at 5-10 years post vaccination.
The vaccine (Rotarix) appears to be effective, especially in children under 12 months who are exposed to those G1 strains, however the emergence of new strains and the waning immunity with age raises 2 questions: should a new and improved vaccine be developed and do adults (particularly those who work in healthcare) need booster doses?
Reviewed by: Tina Abi Abdallah
Effective treatment of wheeze requires an appropriate inhalation technique but inhalers are often used incorrectly. Such errors can hinder deposition of the active compound into the lungs, thus diminishing treatment efficiency, which can lead to inadequate treatment or control of the disease. To overcome this problem, the Global Initiative for Asthma report recommend that patients be asked to demonstrate their inhaler device technique at every visit to enable improper use to be corrected and ongoing use technique to be monitored. Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals who are charged with providing instruction and monitoring aimed at optimizing inhaler use are not well versed with the use of these devices themselves.
The aim of the study was to assess the ability and knowledge of physicians and nurses to use a pMDI with a masked VHC in paediatric emergency units. They conducted a 2 centre observational study, in Switzerland, with a total of 100 participants (50 nurses and 50 physicians). Their inhaler technique instructions were checked using a manikin and were video recorded. Using a 9 point operational checklist the recordings were reviewed and marked by 3 experts in aerosol therapy. The second part of the study evaluated health care professionals inhaler user knowledge by using a semi-structured questionnaire.
49% of the healthcare professionals performed all nine steps of the inhalation technique perfectly, with about a third performing eights steps correctly, and less than a fifth performing five, six, or seven steps correctly. The most frequent errors were forgetting to shake the pMDI before the second dose and incorrect patient or VHC positioning.
|
|
Site 1 (Lausanne) |
Site 2 (Geneva) |
Nurse |
Doctors |
|
Mean Sore (Range) |
8.6 (7-9) |
8.0 (5-9) |
8.6 (7-9) |
8.0 (5-9) |
Only 18% of physicians and 64% of nurses reported having had specific training on inhalation technique. A notable portion of the healthcare professionals lacked practical knowledge about pMDI and VHC use. Differences between sites, professions and grades were statistically significant but probably not clinically relevant. The mean score being 8.3 (out of 9) and differences between groups being no more than 0.6 (Nurses performed better than Doctors, Registered Nurses better than nurses with a diploma in emergency care but there was no difference between junior and senior doctors)
This study has several limitations. Participants were recruited during their work time. Thus, it is possible that their inhalation technique and survey responses were influenced by stress. On the other hand, the participants may have exhibited better performance because they knew that the study was underway and that they were being observed (Hawthorne effect).
Healthcare professionals’ practical skills and knowledge related to inhalation therapy were not completely mastered. In light of their results, they provided information to participating healthcare professionals to help them observe good practices and provide suitable inhalation technique support.
Overall this study demonstrates that some professionals lack knowledge on inhaler technique which could lead to ineffective administration of medication to children with wheeze. It is recommended that health care professionals receive brief repeated training programmes on inhaler technique to provide optimal advice to patients. Do you know how good your unit’s education of inhaler technique is?
Reviewed by: Suzannah Johnson
Tuohino T et al. Short Sleep Duration and Later Overweight in Infants. J Paediatr [Internet]. 2019 Sep [cited 2019 Nov 4];212:13-19. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.05.041.
The longitudinal study examined the relationship between sleep duration and excess weight gain in infants. Sleep data (N=1679) was reported by parents at 3, 8, 18 and 24 months of age in Finland from 2011 to 2017. In 3-month-old infants, short sleep is associated with lower weight-for-length/height (p≤0.026) and body mass index (p≤0.038). Short sleep duration in 3-month-old infants was associated with greater risk for excess weight-for-length/height at 24-month-old (aOR 1.56; 95% CI 1.02- 2.38) and a predisposition to gain excess weight between 3 and 24-month-old (aOR 2.61; 95% CI 1.75-3.91). Short night-time sleep duration in 8-month-old infants was associated with greater weight-for-length at 24-month-old (aOR 1.51; 95% CI 1.02-2.33)
Numerous factors contribute to the obesity epidemic in children, such as sedentary behaviour and the increasing use of electronic devices. Previous studies have explored potential mechanisms for infant weight gain, which include parental obesity and feeding practices. Studies have associated short sleep with a heavier weight profile in older children and adults, although negative results also have been reported.
Short total sleep duration at 3 months and short night-time sleep duration at 8 months are associated with the risk of gaining excess weight at 24 months. Sleep is important for child growth and development. To prevent the childhood obesity epidemic in the future, parents are encouraged to be aware of their child’s circadian rhythm, bedtime routines and sleep hygiene.
Reviewed by: Jessica Wong
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments! We are also looking to expand the Bubble Wrap team so please contact us if you’re interested in this! That’s it for this month. Many thanks to all of our reviewers who have taken the time to scour the literature so you don’t have to.
Here is September’s Bubble Wrap Plus, our monthly paediatric Journal Club List provided by Professor Jaan Toelen & his team of the University Hospitals in Leuven (Belgium). This comprehensive list of ‘articles to read’ comes from 34 journals, including Pediatrics, The Journal of Pediatrics, Archives of Disease in Childhood, JAMA Pediatrics, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, NEJM, and many more.
This month’s list features answers to intriguing questions such as: ‘When may influenza lead to severe pneumonia?’, ‘Do IVF babies have an abnormal vascular health?’, ‘Should we have a talk with our anesthesiologists about prolonged fasting in pediatric anesthesia?’, ‘Is there an association between UTIs and renal scarring?’ and ‘Prednisolone or Dexamethasone, which one is best for Croup?’.
You will find the list is broken down into four sections:
1.Reviews and opinion articles
Social media and children: what is the paediatrician’s role?
Hadjipanayis A, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 30.
Ultrafine particles and children’s health: Literature review.
da Costa E Oliveira JR, et al. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2019 Jun 26.
An introduction to clinical trial design.
Schultz A, et al. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2019 Jun 26.
Janus looks both ways: How do the upper and lower airways interact?
de Benedictis FM, et al. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2019 Jun 26.
Decision-making for pediatric allergy immunotherapy for aeroallergens: a narrative review.
Tortajada-Girbés M, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 14.
Leaving me speechless: how an early encounter with a doctor influenced my work as a paediatrician.
[No authors listed] Arch Dis Child. 2019 Aug 13.
Does It Matter if This Baby Is 22 or 23 Weeks?
Janvier A, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Gold MA, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Aug 5.
van Druten J, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Sep;104(5):F551-F559.
2. Original clinical studies
Risk Factors for Influenza Virus Related Severe Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Children.
Eşki A, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Aug 27.
Mazzi S, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Aug 29.
van Markus-Doornbosch F, et al. Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2019 Aug 9.
Chou IC, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Aug 28.
Prenatal Opioid Exposure: Neurodevelopmental Consequences and Future Research Priorities.
Conradt E, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Enterovirus, parechovirus, adenovirus and herpes virus type 6 viraemia in fever without source.
L’Huillier AG, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Aug 28.
Pennesi M, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Aug 28.
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Marketing and Initiation Among Youth and Young Adults.
Loukas A, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Prenatal paracetamol exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in preschool-aged children.
Trønnes JN, et al. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2019 Aug 25.
Two new chest compression methods might challenge the standard in a simulated infant model.
Rodriguez-Ruiz E, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 24.
Can intussusceptions of small bowel and colon be transient? A prospective study.
Wang Q, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 24.
Roy A, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Aug 22.
Should we look for Hirschsprung disease in all children with meconium plug syndrome?
Buonpane C, et al. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Jun;54(6):1164-1167.
Necrotizing enterocolitis in term neonates: A different disease process?
Overman RE Jr, et al. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Jun;54(6):1143-1146.
Sequeira L, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Sep;58(9):841-845.
Vascular Health of Children Conceived via In Vitro Fertilization.
Zhang WY, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 20. pii: S0022-3476(19)30885-6.
Symptom Burden and Quality of Life Over Time in Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis.
Klinnert MD, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019 Aug 20.
Beck CE, et al. Paediatr Anaesth. 2019 Aug 22.
Reducing Variability in the Infant Sepsis Evaluation (REVISE): A National Quality Initiative.
Biondi EA, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
An End in Sight: Shorter Duration of Parenteral Antibiotics in Neonates.
Leva NV, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy Duration in Young Infants With Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infections.
Desai S, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Aoybamroong N, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Aug 20:9922819870248.
Long-term vs. recent-onset obesity: their contribution to cardiometabolic risk in adolescence.
Burrows R, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Aug 19.
Environmental determinants associated with acute otitis media in children: a longitudinal study.
van Ingen G, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Aug 17.
Prednisolone Versus Dexamethasone for Croup: a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Parker CM, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Maternal Voice and Infant Sleep in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Shellhaas RA, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Hanci F, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Aug 13:883073819865682.
Chadi N, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Aug 12:e192574.
Association of Cereal, Gluten, and Dietary Fiber Intake With Islet Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes.
Hakola L, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Aug 12.
Shared Reading at Age 1 Year and Later Vocabulary: A Gene-Environment Study.
Jimenez ME, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 8.
Gaither TW, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 8.
Use of paediatric early warning scores in intermediate care units.
Lampin ME, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Aug 10.
Przybylski AK, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Aug 7.
Delivery Room Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Pneumothorax.
Smithhart W, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3). pii: e20190756.
Understanding the Risks and Benefits of Delivery Room CPAP for Term Infants.
Claassen CC, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Quality of Life in Children with Functional Constipation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Vriesman MH, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 6.
Testing for Meningitis in Febrile Well-Appearing Young Infants With a Positive Urinalysis.
Wang ME, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Undifferentiated Abdominal Pain in Children Presenting to the Pediatric Emergency Department.
Harris BR, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Aug 6:9922819867459.
Roberts KB. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Aug 5.
Association of Renal Scarring With Number of Febrile Urinary Tract Infections in Children.
Shaikh N, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Aug 5.
Panciatici M, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Aug 1.
Andrén Aronsson C, et al. JAMA. 2019 Aug 13;322(6):514-523.
3. Guidelines and best evidence
Surfactant Administration via Thin Catheter: A Practical Guide.
Vento M, et al. Neonatology. 2019 Aug 28:1-16.
HLA-DQ2/DQ8 typing for non-biopsy diagnosis of coeliac disease: is it necessary?
Paul SP, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Aug 2.
4. Case reports
Superior mesenteric artery syndrome mimicking cyclic vomiting syndrome in a healthy 12-year-old boy.
Dimopoulou A, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Aug 13.
An 8-year-old boy with ataxia and abnormal movements.
Hanes I, et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Aug;24(5):297-298.
A 10-year-old boy with fever, arthritis, and a painful rash.
Erdle SC, et al. Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Aug;24(5):295-296.
Abdominal Pain and Intermittent Fevers in a 16-Year-Old Girl.
Penberthy K, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Sep;144(3).
Case 27-2019: A 16-Year-Old Girl with Head Trauma during a Sailboat Race.
Iaccarino MA, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Aug 29;381(9):863-871.
Mittens and Booties Syndrome: A Unique Manifestation of Human Parechovirus Infection in Infants.
Ristagno EH, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Sep;38(9):e223-e225.
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments!
There is a lack of data comparing prednisolone and low-dose dexamethasone for the treatment of childhood croup. Early trials have shown the safety and efficacy of 0.6mg/kg of oral dexamethasone and there have been some studies showing potential efficacy of 0.3mg/kg and 0.15mg/kg dosing. These studies however have not been adequately powered to detect clinical significance. It is known that 1mg/kg of prednisolone is effective in croup patients requiring intubation and shortens the time to extubation for patients with croup in intensive care1.
A prospective, double-blind, noninferiority randomised controlled trial was conducted over two urban emergency centres in Perth, Australia. 1252 children >6 months old, and <20kg with croup were randomised to oral dexamethasone (0.6mg/kg; n=410), low-dose dexamethasone (0.15mg/kg; n=410), or oral prednisolone (1mg/kg; n= 411).
The Westley Croup Score (WCS), a clinical score based on stridor, retractions, air entry and level of consciousness was assessed at baseline, and then hourly up to 6 hours, and again at 12 hours, if the patients were not yet discharged. Results showed no statistically significant difference between the 3 groups for the WCS at the 1-hour assessment: 0.03 (95% CI- 0.09 to 0.15; p=0.62) for low-dose dexamethasone and 0.05 (95% CI -0.07 to 0.17; p=0.40) for prednisolone. Both of these groups fell within the prescribed noninferiority margin of 0.5. Interestingly, WCS for low-dose dexamethasone was 0.11 higher at 2 hours and 0.23 higher at 3 hours compared to 0.6mg/kg dexamethasone group. The difference was significant at 3 hours (p=0.04), however, the upper limit of 95% CI (0.45) was within the noninferiority margin. Authors propose that the “ceiling effect,”2 theory, where steroid effect above a certain threshold does not have additional benefit, may be at a dose higher than 0.15mg/kg for a minority of patients.
Re-attendance rates (to GP and ED) within 7 days after treatment were 17.8% for 0.6mg/kg dexamethasone, 19.5% (p=0.59) for low-dose dexamethasone and 21.7% (p=0.19) for prednisolone.
Noninferiority was demonstrated for both low-dose dexamethasone (0.15mg/kg) and single dose prednisolone (1mg/kg) compared with 0.6mg/kg dexamethasone. There was no clinically significant difference on efficacy in the acute period, as well as re-attendance rates to both GP and ED.
Reviewed by: Lorraine Cheung
The e-cigarette was released in 2003, being marketed as safer for smokers and everyone around them. The use and popularity amongst adolescents continues to rise, despite new information about Vaping Associated Lung Injury (VALI), as well as injuries related to malfunctioning devices. In Australia, e-cigarettes containing nicotine liquid have been banned, but the base composition of a fruit flavour, vegetable glycerine (VG) and propylene glycol (PG) may still have harmful effects.
An in vitro study which compared the effects of cigarette smoke extract to apple flavoured E liquid and nicotine (in a VG and PG base). The authors looked at cytokine release, cell necrosis, apoptosis and efferocytosis in healthy bronchial epithelial cells.
The results show that all individually (glycol bases alone, apple flavouring alone, nicotine alone) and combination (apple + nicotine) had significant toxic effects, when compared with the control of cigarette smoke extract. E cigarette components caused apoptosis and necrosis, reduced efferocytosis by down regulation of receptors, and reduced the production of certain inflammatory cytokines.
To the surprise of nobody, e-cigarettes are not harmless. Ongoing research into the effects of first hand and second hand E- Cigarettes vapour, both containing nicotine and nicotine free, will be crucial in determining new policies and regulations, especially to curb the rise of use amongst our young population.
Reviewed by: Tina Abi Abdallah
Unfortunately, prolonged fasting times before a general anaesthesia is still common in paediatrics. The authors of this article hypothesised that shortened fasting times could improve the child’s condition during induction of anaesthesia and improve children’s and parental satisfaction. This prospective observational study in Germany looked at real fasting times and proposed reduced fasting times, but an (adapted) national guideline is lacking. Over 3000 children were included at 10 paediatric centres in Germany. Surprisingly, the real fasting times were 14 hours for large meals, 9 hours for light meals, 6 hours for formula, 5 hours breast milk and 3 hours for clear fluids. The authors report a prolonged fasting (defined as over 2 hours deviation from guideline) for large meals in 88%, for light meals in 55%, for formula milk in 44%, for breast milk in 26% and for clear fluids in 34%.
Eleven cases (0.33%) of regurgitation, four cases (0.12%) of suspected pulmonary aspiration and two cases (0.06%) of confirmed pulmonary aspiration were reported, without any prolonged anaesthetic.
Children having an anaesthetic should not be fasted longer than necessary as this negatively impacts tolerability of the child, the parents and their environment. This study shows that prolonged fasting is very common, from large meals to clear fluids. All cases could be extubated after the end of the procedure and recovered without any incidents which may suggest we are too strict with our fasting times.
This study shows that prolonged fasting is still common in paediatric anaesthesia and that complications related to not fasting are rare and that improvements to current local fasting regimens and national fasting guidelines are urgently needed. Short fasting guidelines for children could potentially improve anaesthetic tolerance and satisfaction.
Reviewed by: Anke Raaijmakers
This cohort study focused on 223 children (5 to 16 years-old) of low-income minority background with poorly-controlled asthma in the United States. The study explored the relationship between asthma severity and psychosocial factors such as parental and child depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and family functioning. Both parents and children showed higher rates of depression and PTSD symptoms compared to the general population. Parental and child depression symptoms were associated with poor asthma control, asthma severity and limitations of activity (P<0.001). PTSD symptoms were unrelated to child asthma outcomes. Family chaos serve as a predictor of poor asthma outcomes and a mediator for the relationship between parental depression and child asthma (P<0.05).
Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of poorly-controlled asthma among school-aged children (6 to 17 years old). Studies have found increased rates of parental depression and anxiety, associated with poor child asthma outcome. Child depression and anxiety symptoms are predictors of poor asthma outcomes, including increased functional impairment, asthma severity and frequency of emotional triggers.
Child and parent depression and family chaos are predictors of uncontrolled asthma. Family chaos also serves as the mediator between parent depression and asthma outcomes. To optimise asthma care, measures to screen youth and parent depression in community settings should be made aware and become part of the clinical guideline.
Reviewed by: Jessica Wong
The “apple juice” paper highlighted that treatment of gastroenteritis can be simple but led many to question why some of the children recruited needed any formal fluid trials at all. This study by the same author (Stephen Freedman) was designed to compare the treatment and outcomes of children with gastroenteritis seen in the Emergency Department with those who were managed at home.
The recruitment strategy was dependent on a national helpline, those in the UK will know this as similar to 111, which triages and directs parents to call to either self-care at home or suggest onward referral.
A cohort of patients presenting to the Emergency Department with gastroenteritis (1317 children, median age 20.8 months) were compared with those who were managed at home (296 children, median age 17.4 months). The groups were essentially similar (both had a high rate of having a rectal swab for bacteria.viruses performed, in the ‘at home’ cohort this was taken by the parents).
Isolated vomiting was higher in the ED group but isolated diarrhea more frequent at the home cohort. While the median dehydration scores in the ED (3 IQR 2-4) were significantly different from at home (1 IQR 0-2) the clinical significance is not clear as both would rank as ‘some dehydration’ and the scale goes up to 8.
This could have been a ‘so-what’ study. You would expect that a group of children presenting to an ED with symptoms of gastroenteritis would vomit more than those staying at home and would be more clinically dehydrated. However this study again shows how minor dehydration generally is with gastroenteritis and how isolated vomiting causes concern in parents. Of most interest was over 35% of the at home group had norvovirus. This means if we can direct public health efforts to further educating parents on managing gastroenteritis it is possible we can further safely reduce ED attendance.
Children are more unwell with gastroenteritis if their parents choose to bring them to hospital. But not by a massive amount and they do successfully look after children with infections often associated with need for admission.
Reviewed by: Damian Roland
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments! We are also looking to expand the Bubble Wrap team so please contact us if you’re interested in this! That’s it for this month. Many thanks to all of our reviewers who have taken the time to scour the literature so you don’t have to.
Campbell G, Bland RM, Hendry SJ. Fever after meningococcal B immunisation: A case series. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019; 55: 932-937. doi:10.1111/jpc.14315
Meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia remain is one of the most serious bacterial infections (SBI). In Australia, the government subsidised vaccine schedule includes Meningococcal ACWY however Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) can be purchased ($250-$500) for children 6 weeks to 11 years. It is an immunogenic vaccine, and paracetamol is recommended on the day of immunisation, but how can we be sure the fever is due to the infection and not something more sinister?
A prospective case series from the ED at Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow was performed on patients presenting between 2016-17. They identified 92 eligible infants under 3 months presenting with fever within 72 hours of Bexsero immunisations. The youngest infant was 7 weeks old.
Of these patients, 76 infants were discharged within 24 hours with majority undergoing at least one investigation (FBC, CRP, Urine MCS, NPA). Only 16 children of the 66 admitted remained in hospital for > 24 hours, with 12 undergoing an LP and completing 48 hours of IV antibiotics.
In this study, 26 children had an NPA performed with 12 positive for at least 1 virus, and one child represented with bronchiolitis.
Only one child in the cohort had SBI with an E.coli UTI. This infant also had a significantly elevated CRP and WCC compared with the other patients, and their fever started 54 hours after immunisation. The remainder had negative CSF, urine and blood cultures.
Fever in the first 24 hours following the 2 month Meningococcal B vaccine is expected, and depending on the clinical exam and partial septic work up results, may be discharged home with reassurance. The key is to always be weary of the unwell looking infant and those whose fevers persist, as a full septic work up and IV antibiotics should be considered.
Reviewed by: Tina Abi Abdallah
Iron deficiency anaemia in infancy has long-term effects on the developing brain. It is the most common nutrition disorder in the world. Therefore, many countries routinely supplement infant formula with iron. Recommendations for iron concentrations in infant formulas differ between guidelines, ranging from 4-12mg/L.1 Australian formulas generally contain between 6.7-9 mg/L. There has been no study comparing the effects of iron-fortified formula vs low-iron formula on cognitive outcomes.
Six-month old infants who did not have iron deficiency anaemia, were recruited from community clinics in Santiago, Chile. They were randomised to iron-fortified (12mg/L) or low-iron (2.3mg/L) formula for 6 months and were followed-up at 16 years of age. Of the 405 participants, those who randomised to iron-fortified formula (n=216) had lower scores than those randomised to low-iron formula (n=189) in 8 of the 9 tests. Three of the 8 were statistically significant, and were in the domains of visual memory (p=0.02), arithmetic achievement (p=0.02) and reading comprehension achievement (p=0.02). For visual motor integration, it was found that those with low haemoglobin at 6-months of age who received iron-fortified formula, outperformed those with low-iron formula. The opposite was also true, with those with high haemoglobin at 6 months, receiving iron-fortification underperforming those with low-iron formula. Animal studies have shown concern regarding the possibility of iron neurotoxicity in the growing infant, as well as the effects of iron exposure in early life on brain aging and neurodegenerative disease outcomes.
This study from Chile suggests that adolescents who received iron-fortified formula as infants from 6 to 12 months of age had poorer cognitive outcomes compared with those who received a low-iron formula. This could be related to iron neurotoxicity and there is a need for further studies to investigate the optimal level of iron supplementation in infancy. Although on a public health level it may not be feasible, it may be ideal to individualise the optimal amount of iron for supplementation based on baseline haemoglobin or iron measures.
Reviewed by: Lorraine Cheung
Since its introduction, much research has demonstrated the safety and benefit of paediatric procedural sedation (when used with the proper monitoring). The benefits of procedural sedation include reduced procedure time and error rates; increased comfort of patients, parents and health care professionals; and reduced need for general anaesthesia for minor procedures. While paediatric procedural sedation is part of routine practice in high-income countries (HIC), it is almost non-existent in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). The paper claims this is mainly due to a lack of skilled providers, not for lack of need. Providing proper clinical training to health providers in LMIC would help provide safe and adequate analgesia for children undergoing minor procedures.
The authors of the paper have devised a paediatric procedural sedation curriculum, which was piloted at John F. Kennedy Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. The pilot curriculum focuses solely on the use of ketamine, as it is cheap, widely available in Africa, has multiple routes of administration and is safe for use in children. The curriculum also allows for a single-practitioner method of procedural sedation, which is key in LMIC where there are limited number of health providers compared to the patient load. The curriculum is divided in three 2-hour sessions which consist of (1) introduction to procedural sedation, (2) resuscitation and management of adverse effect, and (3) monitoring and conclusion. All required teaching supplies were restricted to printed handouts, poster paper, markers and low-fidelity simulation equipment, thus eliminating the need for computers, software and electricity. Participants of this curriculum were 15 paediatric and surgical residents.
I was fascinated with how the authors came up with this pilot curriculum for the Liberian hospital. Not only did they have to think about the costs of the individual piece of equipment in the sedation kit, but they also took into consideration the variable availability of electricity, the type of possible monitoring during sedation, and the scarcity of personnel. Too often we forget how lucky we are to have access to so many resources! The rollout of safe and routine paediatric procedural sedation is ongoing in Liberia and this is an initial step toward enabling safe procedural sedation for children living in LMIC.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Moon
Exposure of children to secondhand and even thirdhand smoke (from toxins absorbed in clothing, carseats) is a serious public health issue. Smoke from cigarette smoke contains about 4000 chemicals, over 50 of which are known carcinogens. Second hand smoke increases the risk of children having SIDS, ear and respiratory infections, asthma exacerbations and teeth problems.
What’s it about?
The CEASE intervention (Clinical Effort Against Secondhand Smoke Exposure Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial) was developed between the AAP and Massachusetts Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program, and the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Child and Adolescent Health Research and Policy. It focuses on 3 of the 5 As of tobacco cessation – Ask, Assist and Arrange Follow Up.
In this cluster RCT study run by the AAP, the CEASE intervention was delivered in paediatric clinics in 5 American states. The CEASE intervention included a smart tablet questionnaire, educational pamphlets and aids and training for staff to help screen for tobacco use and offer treatment to parents. Treatments were referral to a Quitline and/or provision of nicotine replacement therapy.
The study looked at the effectiveness and sustainability of this CEASE intervention 2 weeks and 2 years post start of intervention.
In a population of 8184 parents screened, 27.1% in the intervention group and 23.9% in the control group were smokers. Engagement in a treatment practice was 44.3% in the group vs 0.1% in the control. In the 2 year follow up of 9794 parents screened, 24.4% and of the parents were smoking in the intervention and control practices respectively. There was a reduction in smoking prevalence in the intervention practices of 2.7% compared to an increase of 1.1% in the usual care control group. The NNT to treat to reduce one smoker was 27 individuals. For confirmed cessation (saliva tested, at least quit for 1 week), the NNT was 18.
We might take a smoking history routinely, but how often do we reach the next step of advising or assisting parents to quit? This trial shows that simple interventions can help improve uptake of treatment. Every parent who quits is one less child exposed to dangerous chemicals from tobacco smoke. The CEASE resources are freely available for use and adaptation https://www.massgeneral.org/children/cease-tobacco So why not move from contemplation to action and take the time to adopt a meaningful change in your own practice? There’s help on hand and it may be easier than you think to start!
Reviewed by: Grace Leo
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments! We are also looking to expand the Bubble Wrap team so please contact us if you’re interested in this! That’s it for this month. Many thanks to all of our reviewers who have taken the time to scour the literature so you don’t have to.
Here is our latest Bumper BubbleWrap Plus, combining July’s and August’s paediatric Journal Club Lists provided by Professor Jaan Toelen & his team of the University Hospitals in Leuven (Belgium). This comprehensive list of ‘articles to read’ from the last two months comes from 34 journals, including Pediatrics, The Journal of Pediatrics, Archives of Disease in Childhood, JAMA Pediatrics, Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, NEJM, and many more. This list features answers to intriguing questions such as: ‘Which oxygen saturation leads to ROP?’, ‘How much do parents actually use their smartphones?’, ‘Does teaching of parents lead to less urine contamination rates?’ and ‘Is delayed cord clamping beneficial in elective caesarians?’. We hope you enjoy it!
You will find the list is broken down into four sections:
1.Reviews and opinion articles
Cortese S, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Jun 26
Continuous Noninvasive Carbon Dioxide Monitoring in Neonates: From Theory to Standard of Care.
Hochwald O, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 27.
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia-an overview of a complex clinical condition.
Kostopoulou E, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 26.
Food allergy desensitisation: a hard nut to crack?
Chong KW, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 26.
The two extremes meet: pediatricians, geriatricians and the life-course approach.
Cesari M, et al.Pediatr Res. 2019 Jun 25.
What I Learned From My Childhood as a Patient: Internalized Messages About Bodies.
Robertson AD. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jun 24
Group B Streptococcus: Trials and Tribulations.
Davies HG, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun;38(6S Suppl 1):S72-S76
Parasites in Human Stool: To Ignore or Not To Ignore?
Butters C, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun;38(6S Suppl 1):S47-S51.
Dilemmas With Rotavirus Vaccine: The Neonate and Immunocompromised.
Chiu M, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun;38(6S Suppl 1):S43-S46.
To LP or not to LP? Identifying the Etiology of Pediatric Meningitis.
Mijovic H, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun;38(6S Suppl 1):S39-S42
Viral Bacterial Interactions in Children: Impact on Clinical Outcomes.
Diaz-Diaz A, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun;38(6S Suppl 1):S14-S19.
Biomarkers for Infection in Children: Current Clinical Practice and Future Perspectives.
Stol K, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun;38(6S Suppl 1):S7-S13.
Innate immunity and urinary tract infection.
Ching C, et al.Pediatr Nephrol. 2019 Jun 13
Stranded on Antipsychotics: Role of the Pediatric Clinician.
Ballard R, et al.Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Jun 10:9922819853774
Update on adrenal steroid hormone biosynthesis and clinical implications.
Bacila IA, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 7.
Stimulating and maintaining spontaneous breathing during transition of preterm infants.
Dekker J, et al.Pediatr Res. 2019 Jun 19.
Williams PG, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 22.
Controversies Surrounding the Pathophysiology of Tics.
Singer HS, et al. J Child Neurol. 2019 Jul 18:883073819862121.
Hardikar W. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul 17.
Two centuries of immunisation in the UK (part 1).
Lang S, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jul 4.
Two centuries of immunisation in the UK (part II).
Lang S, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jul 13.
Family Chaos and Asthma Control.
Weinstein SM, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 9.
Torsion of an Undescended Testis – A Surgical Pediatric Emergency.
Kargl S, et al. J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Jun 28.
Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA): chances and limitations.
Herting E, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Jul 11.
2. Original clinical studies
Gahagan S, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 25.
Benefits of medical clowning in the treatment of young children with autism spectrum disorder.
Shefer S, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 26.
Social Robots for Hospitalized Children.
Logan DE, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 26.
Tic Suppression in Children With Recent-Onset Tics Predicts 1-Year Tic Outcome.
Kim S, et al.J Child Neurol. 2019 Jun 26:883073819855531.
Delays in diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome in children: A survey study.
Hollis A, et al.Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul;24(4):258-262.
Shared decision making during antenatal counselling for anticipated extremely preterm birth.
Barker C, et al.Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul;24(4):240-249.
Parental preferences on diagnostic imaging tests for paediatric appendicitis.
Martinez-Rios C, et al.Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul;24(4):234-239
Neurologic Outcome After Prematurity: Perspectives of Parents and Clinicians.
Lemmon ME, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 27.
Development of the Serum α-Fetoprotein Reference Range in Patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann Spectrum.
Duffy KA, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 21
Positional plagiocephaly/brachycephaly is associated with later cognitive and academic outcomes.
Knight S. J Pediatr. 2019 Jul;210:239-242.
Confidentiality in the Doctor-Patient Relationship: Perspectives of Youth Ages 14-24 Years.
Zucker NA, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 20.
Characteristics Associated with Successful Weight Management in Youth with Obesity.
Gorecki MC, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 20.
Achieved oxygen saturations and retinopathy of prematurity in extreme preterms.
Gantz MG, et al.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Jun 22.
Tullus K. Pediatr Nephrol. 2019 Jun 20.
Cervical Spine Injury Risk Factors in Children With Blunt Trauma.
Leonard JC, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 20.
Immature neutrophils in young febrile infants.
Ramgopal S, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 20.
Recurrent Pneumococcal Meningitis in Children: A Multicenter Case-Control Study.
Darmaun L, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun 17.
Jacob R, et al.J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jun 19.
Short Sleep Duration and Later Overweight in Infants.
Tuohino T, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 14.
Assessing the Efficacy of Very Early Motor Rehabilitation in Children with Down Syndrome.
Okada S, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 14.
Assessment and management of tic disorders and Tourette syndrome by Australian paediatricians.
Efron D, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jun 17.
Mori C, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jun 17.
Mental Illness Among Youth With Chronic Physical Conditions.
Adams JS, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 14. pii: e20181819.
Predicting risk of underconfidence following maternity leave.
van Boxel E, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 14.
Children’s views on taking medicines and participating in clinical trials.
Nordenmalm S, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 14.
The Right Stuff: Priming Students to Focus on Pertinent Information During Clinical Encounters.
Stuart E, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 13.
Chan M, et al.Pediatr Res. 2019 Jun 13.
Yuan N, et al.Pediatr Res. 2019 Jun 13.
Neurodevelopmental and Academic Outcomes in Children With Orofacial Clefts: A Systematic Review.
Gallagher ER, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 12.
Diaphragm electromyography results at different high flow nasal cannula flow rates.
Jeffreys E, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 11.
Challenges to Pertussis Control.
Edwards KM. Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 10.
Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Effectiveness Over Time.
Zerbo O, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 10.
Leitz G, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2019 Jun 7.
Endotracheal intubation skills of pediatricians versus anesthetists in neonates and children.
van Sambeeck SJ, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 8.
Acid Suppression Therapy and Symptom Improvement (or Lack Thereof) in Children.
Boruta M, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 7.
Early Acid Suppression Therapy Exposure and Fracture in Young Children.
Malchodi L, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 7.
Fatigue in childhood chronic disease.
Nap-van der Vlist MM, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 7.
Patterns of Electrolyte Testing at Children’s Hospitals for Common Inpatient Diagnoses.
Tchou MJ, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 6.
A Prediction Model to Identify Febrile Infants ≤60 Days at Low Risk of Invasive Bacterial Infection.
Aronson PL, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 5.
Prediction Models for Febrile Infants: Time for a Unified Field Theory.
Kuppermann N, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 5.
The etiological evaluation of sensorineural hearing loss in children.
van Beeck Calkoen EA, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 May 31.
Exome sequencing in the assessment of congenital malformations in the fetus and neonate.
Mone F, et al.Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Jul;104(4):F452-F456.
Clinical Metagenomic Sequencing for Diagnosis of Meningitis and Encephalitis.
Wilson MR, et al. N Engl J Med. 2019 Jun 13;380(24):2327-2340.
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants With Retinopathy of Prematurity by Treatment.
Natarajan G, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 23.
Masud S, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jul 16.
Under-immunization of pediatric transplant recipients: a call to action for the pediatric community.
Feldman AG, et al. Pediatr Res. 2019 Jul 22.
Secular Trends in Pubertal Growth Acceleration in Swedish Boys Born From 1947 to 1996.
Ohlsson C, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jul 22.
Male Pubertal Timing-Boys Will Be Men, but When?
Curtis VA, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jul 22.
Association of Sleep Problems and Melatonin Use in School-aged Children.
Koopman-Verhoeff ME, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jul 22.
Nocerino R, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 18.
Observational study of cytomegalovirus from breast milk and necrotising enterocolitis.
Patel RM, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Jul 20.
Pyuria as a Marker of Urinary Tract Infection in Neurogenic Bladder: Is It Reliable?
Su RR, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Aug;38(8):804-807.
Does caffeine prevent incubation in babies with bronchiolitis who present with apnoea?
Hosheh O, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jul 20.
Martínez-Azcona O, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 19.
Koehler U, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 18.
Clay-Williams R, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul 17.
Predictors for hospital admission of asymptomatic to moderately symptomatic children after drowning.
Cohen N, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 16.
van Esso DL, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Aug;38(8):e187-e189.
Hasegawa K, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Aug;38(8):e180-e183.
Association of Screen Time and Depression in Adolescence.
Boers E, et al. JAMA Pediatr. 2019 Jul 15.
DNA Viremia Is Associated with Hyperferritinemia in Pediatric Sepsis.
Simon DW, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 11.
Ghirardi L, et al. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2019 Jul 11.
Hyponatremia in children under 100 days old: incidence and etiologies.
Storey C, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 13.
Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and Associated Neonatal and Maternal Mortality and Morbidity.
Lisonkova S, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 12.
Effect of intrapartum antibiotics on the intestinal microbiota of infants: a systematic review.
Zimmermann P, et al. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed. 2019 Jul 11.
Management of Infants at Risk for Group B Streptococcal Disease.
Puopolo KM, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 8.
Abbas S, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul;55(7):860-866.
Problems of feeding, sleeping and excessive crying in infancy: a general population study.
Olsen AL, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jul 3.
Hearing Loss With Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection.
Foulon I, et al. Pediatrics. 2019 Jul 2.
Cavallin F, et al. Neonatology. 2019 Jul 2:1-8.
Prematurity as an Independent Risk Factor for the Development of Pulmonary Disease.
Fierro JL, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 28.
Clinical Characteristics of Primary HHV-6B Infection in Children Visiting the Emergency Room.
Hattori F, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun 20.
3. Guidelines and Best Evidence
Nugent J, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 20.
Schrier L, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 26.
King BC, et al.Neonatology. 2019 Jun 4:1-15.
Heart Rate Monitoring in Newborn Babies: A Systematic Review.
Anton O, et al.Neonatology. 2019 Jun 27:1-12.
Impact of Cystic Fibrosis on Unaffected Siblings: A Systematic Review.
Chudleigh J, et al.J Pediatr. 2019 Jul;210:112-117.e9.
Probiotics for cow’s milk protein allergy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Qamer S, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 22.
Do probiotics help babies with infantile colic?
Rivas-Fernández M, et al.Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 22.
Di Bonito P, et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 18.
A Simpler Prediction Rule for Rebound Hyperbilirubinemia.
Chang PW, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 13.
What evidence-based strategies have been shown to improve breastfeeding rates in preterm infants?
Hilditch C, et al.J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jun 22.
Dewez JE, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jul 20.
Phuong LK, et al. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jul 3.
4. Case Reports
Acute ataxia in a healthy 19-month-old girl.
Jia JL, et al.Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul;24(4):218-220.
Recurrent Acute Septic Arthiris caused by Kingella Kingae in a 16-month-old boy
Chosidow A, et al.Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2019 Jun 20.
Hypotonia and Lethargy in a Two-Day-Old Male Infant.
Long AH, et al.Pediatrics. 2019 Jun 21.
‘A bugging feeling’: a live foreign body in the ear.
Calleja T. Arch Dis Child. 2019 Jun 8.
Somatic symptom disorder should be suspected in children with alleged chronic Lyme disease.
Peri F, et al.Eur J Pediatr. 2019 Jun 29.
When Acute Stridor Is More Than Croup.
Miller MR, et al. J Pediatr. 2019 Jul 11.
Spontaneous mediastinal abscess of curious causation.
Stratton H, et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2019 Jul;55(7):873-874.
An Unusual Presentation of Failure to Thrive.
Baldwin KP, et al. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Jul 3:9922819857738.
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments!
At DFTB19, we had three great talks during the Bubble Wrap Live session. Whilst the videos and podcasts from these talks are still in the works, here’s the list of articles referenced for you to check out ahead of time.
Edward Snelson @sailordoctor
PREDICT: Head Injury and Delayed Presentations to ED
Oral Prednisolone for preschool viral induced wheeze
Foster SJ, et al. Oral prednisolone in preschool children with virus-associated wheeze: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. 2018;6(2):97-106
Clinical Prediction Rule for Febrile Infants under 60 days
Whole body CT for children with Trauma
ECLIPSE study
Susie Piper @chookiemama
Probiotics and Gastroenteritis
Acetaminophen and Febrile Seizure Recurrence
Hi flow vs CPAP in SCN (HUNTER trial)
Manley BJ, et al. Nasal High‐Flow for Early Respiratory Support of Newborn Infants in Australian Non‐Tertiary Special Care Nurseries (The Hunter Trial): A Multicentre, Randomised, Non‐Inferiority Trial. J Paediatr Child Health. 2018;54:4-4. doi:10.1111/jpc.13882_4
Rudeness and Medical Performance
Katz D, et al. Exposure to incivility hinders clinical performance in a simulated operative crisis.
LEGO and poo!
Tagg A, et al. Everything is awesome: Don’t forget the Lego. J Paediatr Child Health. 2018 Nov 22. doi: 10.1111/jpc.14309. [Epub ahead of print]
Craig McBride @paedsurg
Tissue Paper: Paediatric Burn Wound Care
Brown E.A, et al. Impact of Parental Acute Psychological Distress on Young Child Pain-Related Behavior Through Differences in Parenting Behavior During Pediatric Burn Wound Care. J Clin Psychol Med Settings (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-018-9596-1
Paper Planes: Telehealth in Paediatrc Surgery
Crebbin, W. , Campbell, G. , Hillis, D. A. and Watters, D. A. (2015), BDSH in surgery in Australasia. ANZ J Surg, 85: 905-909. doi:10.1111/ans.13363
Watters, D. A. (2015), Apology for discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment by the President of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. ANZ J Surg, 85: 895-895. doi:10.1111/ans.13362
DFTB20 will be held in Brisbane, Australia. If you want our podcasts delivered straight to your listening device then subscribe to our iTunes feed or check out the RSS feed. If you are more a fan of the visual medium then subscribe to our YouTube channel. Please embrace the spirit of FOAMed and spread the word.
What’s it about?
Childhood stunting is contributed to by both biological factors and environmental factors such as poverty. The World Health Assembly has set a global target to reduce childhood stunting by 40% by 2025. Previous interventions to improve growth have included fortification of food and dietary supplementation. Utilising locally available nutritious food is an important step improving outcomes. Eggs have high nutritional value and contain high concentrations of choline, a nutrient previously found to promote growth in animal models. There has been no previous study investigating the use of eggs as a complementary nutrition source for infants.
Why does it matter?
The study was completed in Cotopaxi Providence, a rural, indigenous population in Ecuador. This population is estimated to have a baseline prevalence of stunting of 38%. Children aged 6 to 9 months were randomised to treatment (1 egg per day for 6 months [n=83], and control (no intervention [n=80]). Children were excluded if they had a medical condition, severe malnutrition or egg allergy. Eggs were delivered on a weekly basis and a log report egg consumption, morbidities, and anthropometric measures were taken after 6 months. Egg intervention increased length-for-age z score by 0.63 (93% CI, 0.38-0.88, p<0.001), and weight-for-age z score by 0.61 (95% CI 0.45-0.77, p<0.001). There was a reduced prevalence of stunting by 47% (prevalence ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.37-0.77). Children in the treatment group also had reduced intake of sugar-sweetened foods compared with control (PR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51-0.97 p=0.032).
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
This study found that supplementing the diet 6 to 9-month-olds with an egg a day significantly improves linear growth and reduces stunting within a population from a developing country with a high prevalence of stunting (38%). There were no reports of allergic reactions. Care must be taken in applying this study to different contexts and cultural backgrounds.
Reviewed by: Lorraine Cheung
Why does it matter?
Influenza can cause serious illness in children, especially infants younger than 6 months of age. Immunisations are strongly recommended to pregnant woman and any child over 6 months of age. Maternal immunisation during pregnancy induces high levels of maternal antibodies that can be transferred to the foetus and prevents influenza virus infection both in pregnant women and their infants during their first few months of life.
What’s it about?
This randomised controlled trial assessed the safety and efficacy of maternal influenza immunisations in mothers and infants in Nepal, where Influenza viruses circulate perennially. They recruited 3693 women in 17 to 34 weeks of gestation between 2011 to 2013. Maternal influenza immunisations were offered throughout the year, with 3629 infants included in the immunisation efficacy analysis.
The study found that influenza immunisation reduced maternal febrile influenza-like illness with an overall efficacy of 19% (95% CI 1-34). Among infants followed from birth to six months of age, immunisation had an overall efficacy of 30% (95% CI 5-48. There was also a 42g increase in birth weight (95% CI: 8-76) among infants born to immunised mothers (with an overall decrease in low birth weight infants by 15%). There were no differences noted in the rates of small for gestational age infants or preterm birth. Both groups had a similar number of adverse events.
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
Maternal influenza immunisation reduced maternal influenza-like illness, influenza in infants and rates of low birth weight in Nepal. Maternal immunisation should be considered in subtropical regions where the virus is present for many months.
Reviewed by: Jessica Win See Wong
What’s it about?
This was a randomised controlled trial where the researchers identified children with septic shock in paediatric ED and ICU in a tertiary hospital in northern India, and compared intravenous fluid boluses of 40-60mL/kg per hour in 20mL/kg aliquots delivered over 15-20 minutes versus over 5-10 minutes. Primary outcomes were the need for mechanical ventilation and/or impaired oxygenation. There were several other secondary objectives.
Subjects were aged 9 months to 12 years and included children with suspected infection with two or more clinical signs of decreased perfusion. They excluded children with dengue, malaria, severe anaemia, severe malnutrition, primary cardiac illness, those on non-invasive ventilation before developing shock, those who had already received fluids or inotropes, and those with contraindications to central line insertion.
This was a small RCT, with only 96 children randomised. The study was terminated after about 50% enrolment after interim analysis suggested harm in the 5-10 minute group. They found that children who received fluid boluses over 5-10 minutes were at higher risk of intubation and mechanical ventilation, had higher rates of intubation due to fluid overload, and had higher percentages of fluid overload in 24 hours. There was no difference in the mortality rate.
Why does it matter?
Recognition and treatment of sepsis is huge in acute paediatrics. Guidelines around the world recommend treating septic shock with fluid resuscitation of up to 60mL/kg as boluses, although the 2011 FEAST trial highlighted the potential harms of fluid boluses, suggesting a cautious approach to fluid bolus administration.
Instead of looking at different fluid volumes or types of fluid, this study compared infusion times. Unlike in the FEAST study, they excluded children vulnerable to the effects of fluid overload, allowing for more broad applicability of the results. Both groups of children received almost identical volumes of fluid as boluses; it was only the infusion times that differed.
The researchers suggested that rapid fluid bolus administration is difficult in developing countries due to a shortage of staff to administer the boluses, and fear of fluid overload and need for ventilation, which is not easy to achieve in resource-restricted settings.
The Bottom Line
Research is yet to identify the optimal fluid management of septic shock in developing and developed countries, so in the meantime caution is prudent.
Reviewed by: Katie Nash
Why does it matter?
Coeliac disease is characterised by gluten intolerance which leads to damage to the small bowel mucosa via an autoimmune process in genetically susceptible individuals. Partial or total villous atrophy affects the maintenance of nutrients. Zinc is implicated in the improvement of mucosal healing and faster normalisation of micronutrient status in susceptible patients. Therefore, zinc supplementation may prove to be beneficial in patients with coeliac disease.
What’s it about?
This study compares the serum zinc, iron and copper status in paediatric patients following a gluten-free diet with or without zinc supplementation. All children aged <18 years with newly diagnosed coeliac disease were randomised to either the gluten-free diet (GFD) group or the glute-free diet + zinc supplementation (GFD+Zn) group via computer-generated random sequences. Patients were assessed with clinical history, examination and blood tests at baseline and various follow-up review up to 3 months. Unsurprisingly, iron, zinc and copper levels were below the normal range at baseline in all patients. The rise in haemoglobin, serum iron and ferritin levels was better in the GFD+Zn group than the GFD alone group. Otherwise, there was no significant difference in the rise of zinc, copper and weight gain in the two groups.
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
The study has shown that zinc supplementation significantly improves iron status but does not affect serum zinc or copper levels. The authors speculate this may be secondary to the contributory effect of zinc towards mucosal healing and improvement of intestinal absorption. Although interesting, it would have been helpful to couple these biochemical results with endoscopic findings with zinc supplementation. Nevertheless, the mainstay of treatment for coeliac disease remains the gluten-free diet and you may think of supplementing zinc if you want a faster improvement in iron status
Reviewed by: Jennifer Moon
Why does it matter?
A child’s development is dependent on social, economic and environmental factors. In third world countries where children are brought up in extreme poverty, a multitude of factors negatively impacts their development. We know that early intervention can prevent developmental loss, in both developed and developing countries. The challenge is finding a sustainable way to deliver effective intervention.
What’s it about?
The study looked at foster children aged between 3 and 59 months, living with foster mothers in Jimma, a town in Ethiopia. The children were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups at a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group received home-based play stimulation once a week for 6 months, which focused on activities to promote developmental skills and mother-child interactions. The therapy was provided by a trained nurse, however, they also spent time teaching the foster mothers, so they could provide ongoing play therapy at home.
The assessors, who were blinded to the children’s allocations, used culturally specific and standardized developmental screening tools, at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. The study found that intervention was beneficial for language, social-emotional and personal-social performances (statistically significant for language [P = 0.0014], personal-social [P = 0.0087] and social-emotional [P < 0.0001] performances).
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
The study showed positive effects on multiple domains of development in the 6 months of follow up for children who received home-based play therapy. This approach is highly sustainable, as the foster mother’s acquired skills means they can continue to provide play therapy and hopefully, continue to have positive effects on children living in resource-limited settings.
Reviewed by: Tina Abi Abdallah
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments! We are also looking to expand the Bubble Wrap team so please contact us if you’re interested in this! That’s it for this month. Many thanks to all of our reviewers who have taken the time to scour the literature so you don’t have to.
What’s it about?
UTI remains the most common serious bacterial infection in infants, and infants under 28 days routinely undergo a complete septic work up when presenting to ED with a fever. For infants aged between 29 – 90 days, the decision to LP is guided by clinical findings and left up to the treating physician. So, what are the chances that febrile baby with the positive urinalysis also has meningitis?
Why does it matter?
This systematic review looked at the pooled prevalence of co-existing meningitis, bacterial or aseptic. The authors searched 3 databases for studies reporting on the rates of meningitis in infants aged 29 – 90 days who had abnormal urinalysis or culture results (but were not necessarily febrile at presentation) who also had LPs performed as part of their work up. A total of 20 studies (3 prospective and 17 retrospective) were identified.
The review found the pooled prevalence of concomitant bacterial meningitis in infants with UTI was 0.25% (95% CI, 0.09%-0.70%). This translates to a number needed to investigate with LP for 1 diagnosis of meningitis of 400. The pooled prevalence for aseptic meningitis over the 20 studies was not able to be calculated, but in some studies the prevalence was as high as 29%.
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
Based on this systematic review, the risk of bacterial meningitis in infants aged 29-90 days with evidence of UTI is low, but the decision to LP should always take into consideration the clinical picture, as opposed to a calculated pre-test probability.
Reviewed by: Tina Abi Abdallah
What’s it about?
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and/or mental health problems are unfortunately very common, but the impact and extent of these events may differ from person to person. This article addresses whether team sports may influence well being in adulthood after ACEs. ACEs were defined as physical and sexual abuse, emotional neglect, parental alcohol misuse, parental incarceration, and living with a single parent extracted from the data of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (National Population sample of US adolescents – 1994 and 2008). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to score factors associated with team sport participation. About half of the participants (9668 individuals included in the study – 4888 (49.3%)) reported 1 or more ACEs. Among those with ACEs, team sports participation during adolescence was significantly associated with lower odds of receiving a diagnosis of depression, anxiety or having current depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratios, 0.76, 0.70 and 0.85 respectively).
Why does it matter?
Adverse childhood experiences can have long-term mental health consequences, but the knowledge of factors improving mental health after these events is lacking. This study showed an association with team spots and improved mental health and could be an ‘easy’ tool to improve well being in traumatised children.
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
Team sport participation in adolescence was associated with better mental health outcomes in children with ACEs. As suggested by the authors, team sports may be an important and scalable resilience builder.
Reviewed by: Anke Raaijmakers
What’s it about?
Four tertiary care hospitals which are part of the USA based Paediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) ran a prospective observational study to look at risk factors of cervical spine injury in children with blunt trauma. They then compared the PECARN model with a de novo model of risk factors. After screening 11809 children with blunt trauma, approximately were found to be eligible and 4144 children were enrolled. Of 4091 children, 1.8% (74) had a cervical spine injury. Children who didn’t receive cervical spine imaging had medical record and subsequent call follow up (if no imaging) to verify the absence of injury. Treating ED providers filled out electronic questionnaire prior to knowledge of cervical spine image results. These questionnaires assessed for risk factors including injury mechanism, patient variables and physical findings.
Fourteen risk factors were identified as having significant association with CSIs in this study. PECARN criteria currently include 8 risk factors (high-risk MVC, diving mechanism, conditions predisposing for CSI, neck pain, reported inability to move neck, altered mental status, limited neck range of motion on exam, substantial torso injury and focal neurological deficits). Three of these variables were not found to be independently associated with CSIs in the analysis of data collected: high risk MVC, conditions predisposing for CSI and limited neck range of movement on examination
A de novo model was proposed of 7 variables: diving mechanism, axial load, neck pain, reported inability to move neck, altered mental status, respiratory distress, and intubation.
Comparing PECARN with this de novo model slightly increased the sensitivity (90.5 to 91.9%) and specificity (45.6% to 50.3%). Extrapolated imaging rates using the PECARN and de novo risk model would decrease from 78.2% to 55.1% and 50.5% respectively and roughly halve CT scan. Both models missed children with CSIs – 7 in PECARN and 6 with the de novo model however on retrospective chart review 6 of the 7 missed children had a PECARN risk factor. None of those missed had surgical intervention but two were managed with medical devices (brace or rigid cervical collars).
The Bottom Line
This study presents data from 4 US trauma centres to improve identification of cervical spine injury risk factors in children. A de novo model with 7 risk factors has been examined and compared with the existing PECARN model and would yield slightly improved results and would have missed one less child with CSI in the group of over 4000 children studied.
Reviewed by: Grace Leo
Why does it matter?
Australia is an island with 85% of its population living within 50 km of the coastal line. Thanks to a mostly temperate climate, many families and young people enjoy spending time at beaches, rivers and lakes, as well as many households having swimming pools. Therefore, drowning becomes a very real problem, especially for children and young people. In fact, drowning is a leading killer of young people, however children and adolescents aged 5-17 years have one of the lowest rates. This could be due to the protective effect of time spent in formal schooling and this study shows how the risk of drowning differs during time spent at school versus school holidays.
What’s it about?
The investigators extracted the data from the Australian Royal Life Saving National Fatal Drowning Database over 2005-2014. A total of 188 children/adolescents aged 5-17 years drowned during the study period. There was a significant difference between drowning incidence during school holidays (including public holidays) and school days (P value <0.01), with relative risk (RR) of drowning on a holiday being 2.40 times higher than on a school day (CI 1.82-3.18). The risk was higher for children 5-9 years (RR = 3.05; CI 1.98-4.72) than adolescents 10-17 years (RR = 2.02; CI 1.38-2.93). The risk was similar for males and females in this age group. Most drowning incidents occurred at a river, creek or stream, as opposed to a beach or swimming pool.
Clinically Relevant Bottom Line:
As might be expected the rate of drowning in children and adolescents is much higher during school holidays than during formal schooling (with this study finding a relative risk 2.4 times higher). Although there are limitations to this study, it advocates for ongoing drowning risk reduction strategies but particularly in the lead-up to school holiday periods in school-aged children and adolescents.
Reviewed by: Jennifer Moon
Why does it matter?
In 2015, Rotavirus gastroenteritis accounted for an estimated 250,000 deaths and 1·9 million episodes per year of severe acute gastroenteritis requiring hospital admission in the under 5 year old age group. This paper cites that rotavirus vaccination has an efficacy of ranging from 57% to 85% for RV1 and from 45% to 90% for RV5 based on countries’ mortality strata. WHO recommends rotavirus vaccination as part of the national immunisation scheme for all countries. This study helps to assess the impact of introduction of rotavirus vaccinations.
What’s it about?
This paper presents the findings of the World Health Organisation (WHO) co-ordinated Global Rotavirus Surveillance Network (GRSN) to examine the rates of rotavirus confirmed hospital admissions prior to and following introduction of rotavirus vaccine globally between 2008-16 across 69 countries. Whilst it covers areas in Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and European region, some of the countries the GRSN does not include are UK, American, Canadian, Russia, Australia or New Zealand. As China joined after 2016 it was also not included in the assessed population.
The prospective study looked at children under 5 years old admitted to hospital across the GRSN sites with acute gastroenteritis who subsequently had stool PCR within 48 hours to assess for rotavirus infection. It assessed the difference in cases pre and post-vaccine periods. The was a main analysis of data included sites with over 1 year of enrolment and over 100 specimens tested per year (305789 cases across 69 countries). Three further sensitivity analysis looked at cases 1) that did not have both pre and post vaccine data 2) regions with vaccine coverage <60% or vaccine not introduced, 3) Slightly relaxed lab inclusions to account for smaller labs. There was insufficient data to be able to combine these three groups. The study reports one third of children (32.9%) included had confirmed rotavirus gastroenteritis. Presentations of rotavirus gastroenteritis reduced 38% pre-vaccination to 23% post vaccination of cases included (with a relative reduction of 39.6%, CI 35.4-43.8). This data uses the mean proportion of children who were positive and the actual range between the two groups overlapped. The three other sensitivity analysis showed similar rates of overall reduction in rotavirus presentations.
The Bottom Line
This WHO-GSRN large impact analysis of rotavirus vaccination in children under 5 included 305,789 children, of which one third had confirmed rotavirus gastroenteritis. Between pre and post-vaccination periods, there was a relative decline in rotavirus gastroenteritis hospital presentations of almost 40%. Rotavirus vaccination is effective in reducing hospital admissions for rotavirus gastroenteritis and should be considered for introduction in countries not yet covered such as part of Africa and southeast Asia.
(Ed note: If you’re interested in gastroenteritis, you may also be interested to know that Archives of Disease of Childhood has just published a systematic review and meta-analysis looking at Gelatin tannate (a protective gelatin with astringent, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties) in the use of acute diarrhoea and gastroenteritis in children. There was no difference with placebo).
Reviewed by: Grace Leo
If we have missed out on something useful or you think other articles are absolutely worth sharing, please add them in the comments! We are also looking to expand the Bubble Wrap team so please contact us if you’re interested in this! That’s it for this month. Many thanks to all of our reviewers who have taken the time to scour the literature so you don’t have to.
The 37th Bubble Wrap
Leo, G. The 37th Bubble Wrap, Don't Forget the Bubbles, 2020. Available at:
https://dontforgetthebubbles.com/the-37th-bubble-wrap/
With millions upon millions of journal articles being published every year, it is impossible to keep up. Every month we ask some of our friends from PERUKI (Paediatric Emergency Research in the UK and Ireland) to point out something that has caught their eye.