PURPOSE: Campylobacter species are common causes of bacterial enteritis. There is limited knowledge on its prevalence and clinical features because of its fastidious culture conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical features of Campylobacter enteritis in children. METHODS: We obtained stool specimens from patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis in the Department of Pediatrics, Nowon Eulji Medical Center (NEMC) and identified the pathogens by performing cultures or polymerase chain reactions (PCR). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with Campylobacter enteritis at NEMC between January 2012 and December 2017. RESULTS: Overall, 123 patients were diagnosed with Campylobacter enteritis (60 by culture and PCR in EnterNet and 110 by multiplex PCR). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of patients was 12 years (IQR, 8 to 16 years). The disease occurred all year round, but 69.9% from June to September. Symptoms included diarrhea (97.6%), fever (96.7%), abdominal pain (94.3%), vomiting (37.4%), and headache (34.1%). Compared with other treatments, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a shorter hospitalization period (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter enteritis is common during summer and mostly infects adolescent patients. It causes severe abdominal pain and fever preceding the onset of diarrhea. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics reduces the duration of the disease.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Azithromycin ; Campylobacter ; Child ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Enteritis ; Fever ; Gastroenteritis ; Headache ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Pediatrics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency, presentation, management, and outcome of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 70 patients under the age of 18, who underwent renal transplantation between January 1990 and November 2014. A diagnosis of CMV infection was based on serology, molecular assays, antigenemia assays, and culture. CMV infection was defined as detection of virus and CMV disease was diagnosed when clinical signs and symptoms were present. RESULTS: The number of patients with CMV infection was 18 (25.7% of renal transplant recipients). Twelve were male (66.7%), and the mean±standard deviation (SD) age at infection was 13.3±3.9 years. Median time of infection after renal transplantation was 4 months (range 1.0-31.0 months). Pretransplantation CMV status in the infected group was as follows: donor (D)+/recipient (R)+, 11 (61.1%); D+/R-, 7 (38.9%); D-/R+, 0; and D-/R- 0. Nine patients had CMV disease with fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or organ involvement such as enteritis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. The age of disease occurrence was 13.1±3.9 years and the median time to disease onset after renal transplantation was 8 months (range 1.0-31.0). Immunosuppressive agents were reduced or discontinued in 14 patients (77.8%), antiviral agents were used in 11 patients (61.1%), and all patients with CMV infection were controlled. CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of the patients had CMV infection about 4 months after renal transplantation. CMV infection was successfully treated with reduction of immunosuppressants or with antiviral agents.
Antiviral Agents ; Child ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Enteritis ; Fever ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Leukopenia ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tissue Donors ; Transplant Recipients*

PURPOSE: To investigate the frequency, presentation, management, and outcome of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of 70 patients under the age of 18, who underwent renal transplantation between January 1990 and November 2014. A diagnosis of CMV infection was based on serology, molecular assays, antigenemia assays, and culture. CMV infection was defined as detection of virus and CMV disease was diagnosed when clinical signs and symptoms were present. RESULTS: The number of patients with CMV infection was 18 (25.7% of renal transplant recipients). Twelve were male (66.7%), and the mean±standard deviation (SD) age at infection was 13.3±3.9 years. Median time of infection after renal transplantation was 4 months (range 1.0-31.0 months). Pretransplantation CMV status in the infected group was as follows: donor (D)+/recipient (R)+, 11 (61.1%); D+/R-, 7 (38.9%); D-/R+, 0; and D-/R- 0. Nine patients had CMV disease with fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or organ involvement such as enteritis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. The age of disease occurrence was 13.1±3.9 years and the median time to disease onset after renal transplantation was 8 months (range 1.0-31.0). Immunosuppressive agents were reduced or discontinued in 14 patients (77.8%), antiviral agents were used in 11 patients (61.1%), and all patients with CMV infection were controlled. CONCLUSIONS: A quarter of the patients had CMV infection about 4 months after renal transplantation. CMV infection was successfully treated with reduction of immunosuppressants or with antiviral agents.
Antiviral Agents ; Child ; Cytomegalovirus Infections* ; Cytomegalovirus* ; Diagnosis ; Enteritis ; Fever ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney Transplantation ; Leukopenia ; Male ; Pneumonia ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombocytopenia ; Tissue Donors ; Transplant Recipients*

BACKGROUND: Although Escherichia coli is a common cause of bacterial enteritis in Korea, reports on community-acquired E. coli enteritis in Korean children are scarce. This study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics and pathotype distribution of community-acquired E. coli enteritis diagnosed by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in Korean children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of children aged 18 years or less who were diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis by the attending physician between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical characteristics of children diagnosed with E. coli enteritis were investigated and compared with those diagnosed with Salmonella enteritis. E. coli and Salmonella infections were diagnosed by a stool PCR assay. RESULTS: Among 279 children, in whom PCR assays for E. coli and Salmonella spp. were performed, Salmonella enteritis and E. coli enteritis were diagnosed in 43 (15.4%) and 39 (14.0%) children, respectively. Among the 39 children with E. coli enteritis, enteropathogenic E. coli (n=21, 53.8%) and enteroaggregative E. coli (n=15, 38.4%) were the most common causative agents. Empirical antibiotics were administered to 33 (84.6%) children. A total of 31 (79.5%) children developed fever, and 25 (80.6%) of them had the fever for 3 days or less, which resolved a median of 1 day (range 0-3 days) after hospitalization. The most frequent gastrointestinal symptom was diarrhea (n=36, 92.3%). Significantly more children with E. coli enteritis were aged 2 years or less as compared with those with Salmonella enteritis (41.0% vs. 21.9%, P = 0.021). Children with Salmonella enteritis more frequently complained of fever (97.7% vs. 79.5%, P = 0.012), abdominal pain (90.7% vs. 64.1%, P = 0.004), and hematochezia (46.5% vs. 10.3%, P < 0.001) than those with E. coli enteritis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in children with Salmonella enteritis than those with E. coli enteritis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Enteropathogenic E. coli was the most frequent pathotype in Korean children with E. coli enteritis that caused mild clinical symptoms. A stool PCR assay for E. coli may be useful for epidemiological purpose and for an early diagnosis of E. coli enteritis.
Abdominal Pain ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child* ; Diarrhea ; Early Diagnosis ; Enteritis* ; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Fever ; Gastroenteritis ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella ; Salmonella Infections

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) for diagnosis of small intestinal diseases in children.

METHODA total of 92 children who received MRE from July 2009 to January 2014 were included into this study. The clinical value of MRE in children was evaluated by describing the image presentation of MRE based on clinical diagnosis.

RESULTAll the 92 cases (average age was nine year and one month, among whom 61 were boys, and 31 were girls) received MRE examination with good tolerance and had no complications. Eleven cases (12%) did not show good distension of small bowel loop during MRE and could not evaluate the bowel wall pathologies correctly. A total of 66 cases (72%) showed pathological MRE images. All patients with Crohn's disease showed pathological gut and 53% (16/30) showed extramural changes with MRE, 97% (29/30) showed colon lesions with colonoscopy, 73% (20/22) showed small intestine lesions with capsule endoscopy. All patients with intestinal obstruction (7 cases) showed abnormal gut distension, 4 of whom showed obstruction point. Five patients with small intestinal neoplasms showed the mass with MRE. One of the patients with intestinal tuberculosis showed enlarged lymph nodes with ring strengthening. Nine cases with eosinophilic gastroenteritis (75%) and 1 case of gastrointestinal bleeding showed increased contrast enhancement for small bowel. The main finding of MRE were abnormal wall thickening and enhancement, gut stricture, bowel expansion, etc.

CONCLUSIONMRE for children was safe and reliable. It can be a suitable method for determining the location and extent of gut for small intestinal diseases, especially suitable for Crohn's disease in children.

Capsule Endoscopy ; Child ; Colonoscopy ; Crohn Disease ; diagnosis ; Enteritis ; diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; diagnosis ; Intestine, Small ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnostic Errors ; Enteritis ; diagnosis ; Eosinophilia ; diagnosis ; Female ; Gastritis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a disorder characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall and various gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of EGE in infants and children. A total of 22 patients were diagnosed with histologic EGE (hEGE) or possible EGE (pEGE). Serum specific IgE levels, peripheral eosinophil counts, and endoscopic biopsies were carried out. In the hEGE group (n = 13), initial symptoms included hematemesis, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Three of the subjects had normal endoscopic findings. Eight patients were categorized into the infant group and 5 into the child group. All patients in the infant group showed clinical improvement after switching from cow's milk feeding to special formula or breast feeding. The infant group showed a higher eosinophil count in the gastric mucosal biopsy than the child group. In the pEGE group (n = 9) initial symptoms included hematemesis, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Seven patients in this group showed a good response to treatment with restriction of the suspected foods and/or the administration of ketotifen. Both hEGE and pEGE groups showed clinical improvement after restriction of suspected foods in the majority of cases and also showed a similar clinical course. EGE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis of unknown cause. The infant group may have a better prognosis than the child group if treated properly.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Disease Progression ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal/*methods ; Enteritis/*pathology/*therapy ; Eosinophilia/*pathology/*therapy ; Female ; Gastritis/*pathology/*therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Mucosa/*pathology ; Male ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome

Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) is presented with nonspecific and variable clinical manifestations such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever and weight loss. Diagnosis of tuberculous enteritis may be missed or confused with many other chronic gastrointestinal disorders such as the Crohn disease and intestinal neoplasms. The diagnosis should be based on careful clinical evaluations, such as extra-intestinal signs and colonoscopic and histologic findings. Newer techniques such as PCR tests from the specimens through colonoscopic biopsy may be helpful to confirm diagnosis of tuberculous enteritis. The treatment regimens for pulmonary tuberculosis are generally effective for tuberculous enteritis as well. If not treated early, the prognosis of intestinal tuberculosis is poor. We report a case of tuberculous enteritis diagnosed by colonoscopic biopsy and TB PCR which was presented with diarrhea, abdominal pain, intermittent fever and weight loss in a 12-year-old girl with active pulmonary tuberculosis. The patient was treated successfully with antituberculosis agents for 11 months without any complications.
Abdominal Pain ; Biopsy ; Child* ; Crohn Disease ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Enteritis* ; Female* ; Fever ; Humans ; Intestinal Neoplasms ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prognosis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary* ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of CT for the diagnosis of the cause and localization of small bowel obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of a group of children who underwent a CT examination for a suspected small bowel obstruction, 19 patients with confirmed underlying disorders were identified and included in the study. Neonates and patients with duodenal obstruction were excluded from the study. The CT findings were analyzed for the location of obstruction site, abnormalities of the mesentery and mesenteric vessels, bowel wall thickening, closed loop obstruction, and strangulation. The obstruction site was divided into five parts. The preoperative CT diagnosis was compared with the final diagnosis. RESULTS: Causes of small bowel obstruction were intussusception (n = 6), appendiceal perforation (n = 4), transmesenteric internal hernia (n = 2), postoperative bands (n = 1), idiopathic multiple bands (n = 1), a foreign body (n = 1), a small bowel adenocarcinoma (n = 1), Meckel's diverticulitis (n = 1), tuberculous peritonitis (n= 1) and Salmonella enteritis with bowel perforation (n = 1). The CT findings showed mesenteric vascular prominence (n = 13), omental or mesenteric infiltration (n = 10), localized bowel wall thickening (n = 7), closed loops obstruction (n = 3) and strangulation (n = 1). The obstruction site was identified in all cases. The causes of obstruction could be diagnosed preoperatively in 14 cases, but a preoperative diagnosis was difficult in 5 cases. CONCLUSION: The causes of small bowel obstruction in children are variable, and CT is useful for evaluating the cause and localization of small bowel obstruction.
Adenocarcinoma ; Child* ; Diagnosis* ; Diverticulitis ; Duodenal Obstruction ; Enteritis ; Foreign Bodies ; Hernia ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intestine, Small ; Intussusception ; Mesentery ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous ; Salmonella ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: A full view of the spectrum of all bacterial diseases in healthy children is essential to the establishment of public health priorities. Accurate information on the relative importance of the various pathogens in terms of the age of the affected patients, the site of infection and the case fatality rate are valuable to the clinician in choosing antimicrobial treatments. METHODS: Fifty-nine episodes of bacteremia were analysed. Data were collected at Ilsan Paik Hospital from January 2000 to December 2003. Analysis of each collected episode included isolating pathogen from blood culture, diagnosis, hospital course, isolating pathogens from other tissue sites, and studying results of antimicrobial sensitivity tests. RESULTS: Fifty-nine cases of community-acquired bacteremia were reviewed. The most common pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (11 cases, 18.6 percent), followed by Salmonella (10 cases, 16.9 percent), E. coli (7 cases, 11.9 percent), Streptococcus pneumoniae (five cases, 8.5 percent), Streptococcus viridans (5 cases 8.5 percent). The most common diagnosis was bacteremia without an indentified focus (61 percent), followed by meningitis (12 percent), bacteremia with enteritis (10.2 percent) and bacteremia with urinary tract infection (8.5 percent). Salmonella was still an important causative agent of bacteremia. The relative importance of Haemophilus influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae was lower than in other studies. The most common organism responsible for bacteremia without an identified focus was Staphylococcus aureus The case-fatality was 3.4 percent for all cases of bacteremia. CONCLUSION: We reviewed the etiology of community-acquired bacteremia. These data may be useful in the establishment of public health priorities and serve as a reference for selection of antibiotics in the empirical therapy of suspected invasive bacterial infection.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacteremia* ; Bacterial Infections ; Child* ; Community-Acquired Infections ; Diagnosis ; Enteritis ; Haemophilus ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; Meningitis ; Mortality ; Public Health ; Salmonella ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Viridans Streptococci