• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.298-302
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• 2019

A previously healthy 2.5-year-old male child presented with vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. During hospitalization he developed odynophagia and refusal to eat. His symptoms did not respond to acid suppressant therapy. He underwent upper endoscopy which showed severe inflammation, ulcerations and abundant necrosis. Histopathological features and serological testing were consistent with herpetic esophagitis. He had no history of recurrent infections or history of sick contacts. His immunological work up showed normal level of immunoglobulins and his White Blood Cells subpopulations were normal. His HSV serology was positive. The patient was started on acyclovir 5 mg/kg q 8 hours. He resolved his symptoms within 24 hours of treatment.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.387-395
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• 2022

Purpose: Toxins produced by Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) can cause enteritis and diarrhea. Although the number of pediatric CDI cases is increasing, the clinical management of pediatric CDI, including patient characteristics and prognosis, remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the background and clinical course of patients with CDI and evaluate the reliability of diagnostic tests in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Japan. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of children diagnosed with CDI between 2011 and 2021 at the Saitama Children's Medical Center in Saitama, Japan. Results: During the study period, 1,252 C. difficile antigen/toxin tests were performed, and 37 patients were diagnosed with CDI. The main underlying diseases among the patients were hematological and malignant disorders and gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (59.4%). Two patients (5.4%) had an unremarkable medical history. Among the 37 patients, 27 (73.0%) were immunocompromised, 25 (67.6%) had a history of antibiotic use within the past two months, and 6 (16.2%) were negative on the initial test but were positive on the second test. Finally, 28 patients (75.7%) required primary antibiotic therapy only, and two patients with IBD required additional antibiotic therapy as secondary treatment. Conclusion: The number of pediatric patients with CDI is increasing. Both a comprehensive interview, including underlying diseases and history of antibiotic use, and an understanding of the features of clinical examinations should be emphasized to appropriately diagnose and treat CDI.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.98-104
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• 2000

Pseudomembranous colitis, thought to be uncommon in children, is a bacterial, toxin-mediated inflammatory process resulting in acute or chronic diarrhea and is characterized by colonic pseudomembranes. It is mediated by toxins produced by Clostridium difficile and is increasingly recognized in pediatric population. Diagnosis is based on positive culture of C. difficile in selective media and positive test of C. difficile toxin. Oral metronidazole or vancomycin are the main treatment options but avoidance of further antibiotics should also be encouraged where possible. We have experienced a case of pseudomembranous colitis in a 4-year-old female presented with septic shock and colitis. This case was diagnosed with positive test of C. difficile toxin B and confirmed by isolation of the organism on cultire in selective media. Symptoms have been ameliorated by discontinuation of antibiotics and administration of metronidazole and oral vancomycin, and ICU care.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.232-238
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• 2014

Purpose: This study investigated the clinical presentations of symptomatic Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 43 children aged <20 years who showed either positive C. difficile culture or C. difficile toxin test results between June 2010 and April 2014. Results: Of the 43 patients (mean age 6.7 years), 22 were boys. Sixteen patients (37.2%) showed both positive C. difficile culture and toxin test results. Seventeen out of 43 children (39.5%) had preexisting gastrointestinal diseases, and 26 children had other medical conditions that were risk factors for CDI. Twenty-eight children had a history of antibiotic treatment for >3 days, and the most frequently prescribed antibiotic was amoxicillin-clavulanate (35.7%). Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with CDI despite taking probiotic supplements, most commonly Lactobacillus acidophilus (53.6%). The most common symptom was diarrhea (72.1%) at the time CDI was diagnosed. C. difficile was eradicated in 11 patients (25.6%) after treatment with oral metronidazole for 10-14 days, and in the two patients (4.6%) who required two courses of oral metronidazole. Sixteen patients (37.2%) showed clinical improvement without any treatment. Conclusion: This study showed the various clinical characteristics of CDI in children and that preexisting clinical conditions favored the development of CDI. In addition, CDI was found to occur in a number of patients even after probiotic prophylaxis given in conjunction with antibiotic therapy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.190-196
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• 2013

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.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2014

Purpose: The etiology of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) has changed since the introduction of the rotavirus vaccination. The aim of this study was to clarify which common pathogens, both bacterial and viral, are currently causing AGE in infants. Methods: Infants with acute diarrhea were enrolled. We tested for 10 bacterial pathogens and five viral pathogens in stool specimens collected from infants with AGE. The clinical symptoms such as vomiting, mucoid or bloody diarrhea, dehydration, irritability, and poor oral intake were recorded, and laboratory data such as white blood cell count and C-reactive protein were collected. The clinical and laboratory data for the cases with bacterial pathogens and the cases with viral pathogens were compared. Results: Of 41 total infants, 21 (51.2%) were positive for at least one pathogen. Seventeen cases (41.5%) were positive for bacterial pathogens and seven cases (17.1%) were positive for viral pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus (13 cases, 31.7%) and Clostridium perfringens (four cases, 9.8%) were common bacterial pathogens. Norovirus (five cases, 12.2%) was the most common viral pathogen. Fever and respiratory symptoms were common in the isolated viral infection group (p=0.023 and 0.044, respectively), whereas other clinical and laboratory data were indistinguishable between the groups. Conclusion: In our study, S. aureus (41.5%) and norovirus (12.2%) were the most common bacterial and viral pathogens, respectively, among infants with AGE.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.197-213
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate chief complaints of pediatric outpatients .Fin the oriental hospital and search for a trend of patients and their symtoms. Method : The study was composed of 2,915 new patients aged between 0 and 20 who had been visited pediatrics in ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ university oriental hospital from 2001 to 2004. Results : The percentage of new patients decreased every year with 30.7% in 2001, 25.5% in 2002, 24.1% in 2003, 17.8% in 2004. The age distribution showed 9.9% in infancy patients, 62.6% in early childhood, 16.8% in late childhood, 10.6% in adolescence. The percentage of infants decreased every year with 13.3% in 2001, 9.4% in 2002, 8.8% in 2003, 7.1% in 2004. The percentage of adolescents increased every year with 8.0% in 2001, 9.6% in 2002, 12.8% in 2003, 13.5% in 2004. Systemic division of chief complaints was respiratory symtoms(37.6%), general symtoms(26.1%), digestive symtoms(19.2%), skin symtoms(6.8%), nervous and mental symtoms (6.1%), urinary symtoms(2.2%), musculoskeletal symtoms(1.3%) and others(0.7%) in order of frequency. The main chief complaints were nasal mucus/obstruction(17.5%), weakness(16.9%), cough(12.8%), loss of appetite(9.8%), inappropriate growth(4.3%), atopic skin problem(3.4%), repeated common cold(2.4%), abdominal pain(2.4%), vomiting (2.2%), diarrhea(2.0%) and fever (1.9%). Loss of appetite, inappropriate growth and repeated common cold increased every year. Diarrhea and convulsion decreased every year. Conclusions : The two main causes of visit of patients were respiratory problems and improvement of general condition. More data of patients should be accumulated for further study. Not only analysis according to chief complaint, but also analysis according to diagnosis will accomplish more aaccurate information about disease of childrens in the future.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 1999

Acrodermatitis enteropethica (AE) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of zinc absorption leading to chronic diarrhea and characteristic skin lesion. The term is also applied to any acquired zinc deficiency state resulting in the same clinical pictures. We experienced one case of AE in 1 month old male infant who had bacterial enterocolitis. The skin around mouth, anus, eyes, ears, hands and legs became reddish, vesicular and eczematoid. Serum zinc level was decreased to $51.4\;{\mu}g/dL$ (N=70~150). Endoscopic finding revealed pale gastric mucosa and villous atrophy of small intestine. Biopsy finding of small intestine showed no villi due to mucosal atrophy. On 13 day of admission jaundice with DIC were noted and AST & ALT were elevated to 110 & 36.8 IU/L, respectively. Diarrhea was improved but jaundice and liver function were not recovered until discharge from hospital. After discharge when the patient was 4 months of age serum bilirubin and AST/ALT had not been normalized. CMV shell vial culture of urine and CMV Ig G antibody were positive. So intravenous ganciclovir injection of 7.5 mg/kg, two times a day for 2 weeks and then 10 mg/kg/day for 3 months was done from 4 to 6 months of age. No virus was found in the urine and AST & ALT were normalized at 2 months after stopping ganciclovir treatment.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2012

Purpose : This study attempted to investigate the frequency, duration, and risk factors of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in infants hospitalized due to febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). This is a basic research on the probiotics used in the prevention and treatment of AAD in infants. Methods : Medical records of the infants aged 3-6 months hospitalized in Gachon University Gil Hospital from January 2008 to September 2010 due to the febrile UTI were retrospectively reviewed. The episodes of loose or watery stool were investigated for frequency, onset, and duration. Those who had AAD and those who did not (non-AAD) were compared. The antibiotic regimens and the episodes of diarrhea were investigated in AAD group. Result : Total 147 infants were included. Fifty-four (36.7%) showed AAD. Intravenous third-generation cephalosporin ($3^{rd}$ CS) single therapy was used for 102 patients (69.4%), the $3^{rd}$ CS and non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy for 24 (16.3%), and non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy for 21 (14.3%). There was no significant difference in the dose of cefotaxime between AAD and non-AAD group (P=0.601). According to the antibiotic therapies above, in AAD group, there was no significant difference in the onset and duration of diarrhea respectively (P=0.717, P=0.830). Although the frequency of diarrhea was higher for the $3^{rd}$ CS and non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy subgroup with $9.25{\pm}5.30$ times/day than the other two subgroups ($7.58{\pm}2.97$ times/day in $3^{rd}$ CS single therapy subgroup, $6.75{\pm}4.40$ times/day in non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy subgroup), there was no statistical significance (P=0.078). Conclusion : AAD seems common to the infants aged 3-6 months with febrile UTI, regardless of regimen and amount of antibiotics in usual dosage. Further research on the effects of probiotics used in the prevention and treatment of AAD in infants is warranted.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.145-150
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• 2010

In order to investigate the antibiotic prescription pattern for upper respiratory infections (URI), the prescription sheets for outpatients from July 2008 to June 2009 were collected from 7 community pharmacies in Ulsan City, and the prescription pattern of Pediatric and ENT physicians was analyzed. The antibiotic prescription rates of Pediatric and ENT physicians were 63.8% and 61.7%, respectively. It was also observed that the oral antibiotic prescription was 95.6% in Pediatrics and 97.6% in ENT. The most favorable antibiotics by Pediatric physicians were penicillins (21.5%) penicillin-clavulanate (36.4%) and cephalosporins (16.5%), macrolides (11.6%), quinolones (3.5%), and nifuroxazide (3.5%). In case of ENT, the commonly prescribed antibiotics were also penicillin-clavulanate (47.6%), cephalosporins (31.6%), macrolides (11.9%) and sulfonamide (1.3%). The antibiotic combination rate was 7.6% in Peditrics and 1.9% in ENT, among antibiotic prescriptions. The combination of more than two oral antibiotics was examined as 66.8% in Pediatrics and 44.2% in ENT. The common oral antibiotic combination in Pediatrics was prescriptions of two ${\beta}$-lactam antibiotics (54.3%). Among them 83% was the combination of amoxicillin-clavulanate (7:1) and amoxicillin, which could be judged as antibiotic overuse. The next highly prescribed oral antibiotic combination was ${\beta}$-lactam/macrolide antibiotic combination probably for URI (11.3%) and ${\beta}$-lactam/nifuroxazide combination (10.0%) presumably for acute diarrhea. Comparatively the oral antibiotic combination prescribed by ENT physicians was negligible except one physician. In conclusion, the antibiotic over-prescription rate by antibiotic combination was much higher in Pediatrics than ENT, even though both clinical departments showed nealy the similar antibiotic prescription rates.