Cases of incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD), wherein the patient does not fulfill the full diagnostic criteria for KD, are often detected in infants younger than 6 months of age. The clinical manifestations in infants with incomplete KD may resemble other infectious diseases, including meningitis. For this reason, clinicians may have difficulty differentiating incomplete KD from other infectious diseases in this population. Various neurological features are associated with KD, including aseptic meningitis, subdural effusion, facial nerve palsy, cerebral infarction, encephalopathy, and reversible corpus callosum splenial lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. We report a case of a 5-month-old girl with incomplete KD, associated with cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis and an epidural fluid collection. Echocardiography indicated dilatation of the main coronary arteries. The girl made a complete recovery, with resolution of both the epidural fluid collection and coronary artery aneurysms. In this case, the child is well, and showed normal developmental milestones at the 7-month follow-up.
Aneurysm ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Child ; Communicable Diseases ; Coronary Vessels ; Corpus Callosum ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography ; Epidural Abscess ; Facial Nerve ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant* ; Leukocytosis* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Paralysis ; Subdural Effusion

Typhoid fever can cause serious complications, such as enterobrosia, meningitis, pneumonia, myocarditis, hepatitis, osteomyelitis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation in 10-15% of the patients. Kidney complications are very rare, and a few cases have been reported in children. We are reporting a case of childhood typhoid fever complicated with acute nephritis present with albuminuria, hypertension, and renal failure.
Albuminuria ; Child ; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney ; Meningitis ; Myocarditis ; Nephritis* ; Osteomyelitis ; Pneumonia ; Renal Insufficiency ; Typhoid Fever*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcome of febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by community-acquired extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (CA-ESBL)-producing and -nonproducing bacteria. METHODS: We analyzed febrile UTIs in children hospitalized at Gachon University Gil Medical Center from January 2011 to December 2013 through retrospective data collection from their medical records. RESULTS: Among pathogens causing 374 episodes of UTIs, the proportion of ESBL-producing bacteria was 13.1% (49/374). The proportion of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. was 13.6% (48/354) and 5.0% (1/20), respectively. There was no significant difference between the CA-ESBL and CA non-ESBL groups in duration of fever (4.2+/-2.7 vs.3.7+/-2.1 days, P=0.10) and bacterial eradication rate with empirical antibiotics (100% vs. 100%). The risk of cortical defects on renal scan significantly depended on existence of vesicoureteral reflux rather than ESBL production of pathogen. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the CA-ESBL and CA non-ESBL groups in renal cortical defects and clinical outcome. Careful choice of antibiotics is important for treatment of community-acquired UTI in children.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria* ; beta-Lactamases ; Child ; Data Collection ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Humans ; Klebsiella ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical manifestations and laboratory characteristics of eosinophilic meningitis in Severance Children's Hospital. METHODS: We examined 6,335 children under the age of 18 years old who had visited the tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, and had received cerebrospinal study results between January 2007 and July 2012. The medical records of the patients identified as eosinophilic meningitis were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Eosinophilic meningitis was diagnosed in 39 patients (0.6%). The mean age was 6 years (range 0-18 years) and the sex ratio was 1.3:1 (22 males and 17 females). The underlying diseases and past history were neurologic disease (n=36, 92%). Eosinophilic meningitis was diagnosed in thirty-five patients who had undergone postoperation neurosurgery (90%). The most common symptoms were fever (50%), headache (20%), vomiting (15%), seizure (10%), and dizziness (5%). The average duration for recovery was five days, and intravenous antibiotics or steroids were used. CONCLUSIONS: Manifestations of eosinophilic meningitis are similar to other types of meningitis. The most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis in children was neurosurgery. Eosinophilic meningitis should be considered for patients showing fever and headache after neurosurgery. Through careful investigation, use of improper antibiotics could be avoided.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Dizziness ; Eosinophilia ; Eosinophils* ; Fever ; Headache ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Medical Records ; Meningitis* ; Neurosurgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Seizures ; Seoul ; Sex Ratio ; Spinal Puncture ; Steroids ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the spontaneous decolonization period of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) species in pediatric patients. METHODS: The medical records of patients presenting positive VRE cultures between January 2005 and November 2010 at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the average number of days for decolonization (325 days). Clinical characteristics were compared between shorter VRE colonization patients (<325 days, n=41) and prolonged VRE colonization patients (>325 days, n=110). RESULTS: There were 151 patients who had more than 1 year of follow up period or confirmed of VRE decolonization among patients who were identified with VRE. The average age at the time of initial VRE colonization was significantly younger in shorter decolonization group than in prolonged decolonization group (44.9 months vs 40.9 months, P=0.040). The prolonged decolonization group received more vancomycin treatments after VRE colonization in comparison with patients in shorter decolonization group (7.0% vs 27.2%, P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: For the duration of VRE colonization, it was found that the initial age of acquiring VRE and use of antibiotics were important factors. Antibiotics should be used properly and precisely in order to treat infectious diseases and to control the colonization of antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteria ; Child ; Colon ; Communicable Diseases ; Enterococcus ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Vancomycin*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate secondary infections within the households of newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients. METHODS: We collected data on household infections of tuberculosis patients by retrospective review of medical records and telephone surveys. RESULTS: Out of 321 newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases, a total of 253 patients who received telephone surveys were enrolled in this study. Less than 50% of the patients had household contacts screened for tuberculosis infection, and most of the patients were not aware of the necessity of testing. Out of 562 household contacts, there were 8 cases of secondary tuberculosis (1.4%, 8/562) in 7 households. There were 15 cases of latent infection (2.7%, 15/562) in 13 households. Out of 110 child and adolescent household contacts, there were no cases of secondary tuberculosis, and there were 8 cases of latent infection (7.3%) in 7 households, which was 20.5% among child and adolescent contacts screened for tuberculosis infection. In 3 of the cases (13.0%) that had secondary tuberculosis or latent infection in their households, the source of infection was extrapulmonary tuberculosis. There was no correlation between the frequency of household infections and the presence of pulmonary cavities, sputum AFB smear results, and microbiologically confirmed results. CONCLUSIONS: For effective investigation of tuberculosis contacts, it is necessary to raise general awareness on the necessity of investigating household contacts, and there should also be a continued assessment on tuberculosis contact investigation since government-supported programs.
Adolescent ; Child ; Coinfection* ; Family Characteristics* ; Humans ; Latent Tuberculosis ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum ; Telephone ; Tuberculosis*

PURPOSE: This study investigated an outbreak of mumps affecting students in a high school (S high school) in Seoul, with an evaluation of the diagnostic utility of the mumps polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. METHODS: S high school students that presented to health care providers with mumps symptoms between April 2013 and July 2013 were surveyed for the monthly distribution of symptom onset and their grade level. Mumps PCR assays were performed using buccal swabs from some of these students. RESULTS: During the survey period, 77 students presented with suspected cases of mumps. The monthly distribution of symptom onset was as follows: one in April, 17 in May, 54 in June, and five in July. With regard to grade level, 26 students were in their first year, 28 were in their second year, and 23 were in their third year. Of the 18 students tested with PCR assays, five had positive results. Samples were collected within 3 days of symptom onset in 15 of the 18 students, and positive PCR results were obtained in five of these 15 students. The PCR results of the remaining three students from whom samples were collected more than 3 days after the onset of symptoms were negative (P=0.24). CONCLUSIONS: We evaluated the epidemiological aspects of an outbreak of mumps in a high school. Mumps PCR might be epidemiologically useful if performed within 3 days of the onset of symptoms in suspected cases.
Adolescent ; Disease Outbreaks ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Mumps* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Seoul

Virus-associated immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) can occur following common viruses, but cases of ITP associated with influenza infection has seldom been reported. In this report we describe a previously healthy 5-year-old boy who admitted with fever, flu-like symptoms and a few bruises on both legs. Severe thrombocytopenia were found. Bone marrow aspirates and biopsy showed no abnormalities and results of coagulation tests were all in normal limit. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was positive for influenza B infection. The patient fully recovered with intravenous immunoglobulins and steroid therapy.
Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Child, Preschool ; Contusions ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; Influenza B virus* ; Influenza, Human* ; Leg ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Thrombocytopenia

Posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome is a clinical radiographic syndrome of many causative factors. Sudden onset headache, vomiting, altered mental status, blurred vision and seizures are main symptoms shown in posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome. In addition, it typically shows radiological findings of edema in the white matter of posterior cerebrum, being in commonly bilateral but asymmetric. We report a case of poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (PSGN) presenting as posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome. Immediate control of hypertension resulted in rapid and complete neurological recovery.
Cerebrum ; Edema ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Headache ; Hypertension ; Leukoencephalopathies* ; Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome ; Seizures ; Streptococcal Infections ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: The long-term administration of antibiotics interferes with bacterial culture in the middle ear fluids (MEFs) of young children with otitis media with effusion (OME). The purpose of this study is to determine whether molecular diagnostics can be used for rapid and direct detection of the bacterial pathogen in culture-negative MEFs. METHODS: The specificity and sensitivity of both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) to the lytA gene of Streptococcus pneumoniae were comparatively tested and then applied for pneumococcal detection in the clinical MEFs. RESULTS: The detection limit of the PCR assay was approximately 10(4) colony forming units (CFU), whereas that of LAMP was less than 10 CFU for the detection of S. pneumoniae. Both PCR and LAMP did not amplify nucleic acid at over 10(6) CFU of H. influenzae or M. catarrhalis, both of which were irrelevant bacterial species. Of 22 culture-negative MEFs from children with OME, LAMP positivity was found in twelve MEFs (54.5%, 12/22), only three of which were PCR-positive (25%, 3/12). Our results showed that the ability of LAMP to detect pneumococcal DNA is over four times higher than that of PCR (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: As a high-resolution tool able to detect nucleic acid levels equivalent to <10 CFU of S. pneumoniae in MEFs without any cross-reaction with other pathogens, lytA-specific LAMP may be applied for diagnosing pneumococcus infection in OME as well as evaluating the impact of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against OME.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Diagnosis* ; DNA ; Ear, Middle* ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Limit of Detection ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Pathology, Molecular ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stem Cells ; Streptococcus pneumoniae* ; Streptococcus*