• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.30-44
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• 2014

Objectives By analyzing data of the pediatric patients who had visited the emergency room of the oriental medical hospital, we can understand their characteristics and diseases. The purpose of this study was to introduce the excellence of the Oriental medicine, to develop various treatments, and to revitalize pediatric emergency care at the oriental medical hospital. Methods The study was composed of 334 pediatric patients who had visited the emergency room of the ${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ university oriental hospital from January 2011 to December 2013. Results 1. It has showed that between 7 to 12 years old patients (27.8%) were the most common age populations. 2. The number of pediatric patients was increased during February. According to the weekly distribution data, the number of pediatric patients who had visited on Sunday was the highest (28.7%). Also, the number of pediatric patients who had visited the ER between 21 to 24 hours (29.0%) was the highest. 3. The two major reasons for inpatient hospitalization were digestive and nerve-related symptoms. Nerve-related symptoms were the most common in infants while digestive symptoms were the most common in other child development stages. 4. The duration of time interval from the onset of symptoms to the ER visit was most commonly within 6 hours (50.3%). An acupuncture and herbal medication treatment (70.1%) were the most common medical treatments. The majority of the pediatric patients (95.5%) were discharged after their medical treatments. Conclusions A serious acute illness was not the most common reason for the ER visit among the pediatric patients. The most common disease states that have preferred to be treated with the oriental medicine were dyspepsia, crying, facial palsy, and ankle sprain. We have to introduce the excellence of the oriental medicine. We also need to try developing other treatments such as magnetic acupuncture, aromatherapy, and revitalizing pediatric emergency care at the oriental medical hospital.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.8
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• pp.843-850
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• 2009

A recent High Court's decision regarding the withdrawal of life supporting medical treatment (artificial ventilator) from an elderly female patient in the terminal stage has opened up a new era of the "euthanasia dispute" in Korea. With this decision, the legitimate withdrawal of life supporting treatment became possible under certain conditions and the Korean Medical Association is working toward the establishment of practical guidelines for the terminal-stage patients. However, there are still very few debates on the cases of pediatric patients in the terminal stage or suffering from fatal diseases. For pediatric patients, the core principle of autonomy and following procedure of "advance directives" are hardly kept due to the immaturity of the patients themselves. Decisions for their lives usually are in the hands of the parents, which may often bring out tragic disputes around "child abuse", especially in Korea where parents have exclusive control of the destiny of their children. Some developed countries such as the U.S.A., the U.K. and Canada have already established guidelines or a legal framework for ensuring the rights of the healthcare system regarding children suffering from severe illness, permitting the withdrawal of Life supporting medical treatment (LSMT) in very specific conditions when the quality of life of the children is severely threatened. For the protection of the welfare and interest of the children, we should discuss this issue and develop guidelines for the daily practice of pediatricians.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.484-489
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• 2021

Black staining of the teeth in children and adolescents does not cause pain or serious illness, but it can be socially debilitating for esthetic reasons. Black staining is easily removed through periodic professional mechanical tooth cleaning and ultrasonic scaling, but it can easily recur within few months. Using essential oil-containing mouth rinses diluted at 50% twice per day could prevent the black staining from returning after it is removed, reducing the need for mechanical treatments and improving esthetics.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1047-1050
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• 2003

Maternal varicella resulting in viremia may transmit the virus to the fetus by either transplacental spread, or by ascending infection from lesion in the birth canal. The characteristic symptoms consist of skin lesions in dermatomal distribution, eye diseases, neurological defects, and limb hypoplasia. Varicella of the newborn is a life-threatening illness that may occur when a newborn is delivered either within five days of the onset of the illness or after postdelivery exposure to varicella. The severity of neonatal disease is dependent upon the timing of maternal illness. The clinical approach to varicella of newborns should emphasize prevention. Our patient was the first child of a 31-year-old mother who had varicella-zoster ten days before delivery. The child showed muscular hypotonia, poor feeding but no skin lesions.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.147-150
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• 2012

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) may be suspected when a young child presents with abrupt onset of altered mental status, seizures, or both. Definitive clinical diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results. ANE is associated with influenza virus infections. Preliminary data suggests that up to 25% of ANE patients die, and up to 25% of ANE survivors develop substantial neurologic sequelae. Here, we describe a case of a comatose 22-month-old girl who was admitted to our hospital because of febrile illness and seizures. On day 13 of her illness, she died from ANE associated with infection from parainfluenza virus. Brain MRI results indicated diffuse bilateral symmetric signal changes in both basal ganglia, thalami, periventricular white matter, pons, and cerebral white matter, as well as generalized swelling of the brain.

• Korean Parent-Child Health Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.80-88
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was done to investigate the level of uncertainty, transfer anxiety, and to identify the participant's characteristics those influence them by targeting the mothers of transferred patients from the pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) to the general ward. Methods: This study was a descriptive correlational study. The participants were 94 mothers of children who had been scheduled to transfer from the PICU. Results: The item mean score for uncertainty was 2.16 (4 scale), transfer anxiety was 2.15 (4 scale). There were statistically significant positive correlation between uncertainty and transfer anxiety (r=.591). The level of uncertainty significantly differed according to education level (p=.035), duration of marriage (p=.043), and monthly income (p=.022). The level of transfer anxiety significantly differed according to religion (p=.044), duration of marriage (p=.043), and severity of illness at transfer (p=.047). Conclusion: In order to reduce the transfer anxiety and uncertainty of the mothers of patients, efficient communication with medical staff and clear informations are needed to reduce ambiguity. Also, standard protocol should be developed for improving communication among medical staffs.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.154-165
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the concept of transfer anxiety in parents of children transferred from pediatric intensive care units to general wards. Methods: The hybrid model by Schwarz-Barcott and Kim was used to analyze the characteristics of transfer anxiety in parents of children transferred from pediatric intensive care units to general wards. Results: Transfer anxiety was defined by the following attributes: 1) stress concerning the adaptation process, 2) concern about the child's condition worsening due to the parent's caregiving, and 3) involuntary changes in daily life due to the treatment. Transfer anxiety has the following antecedents: 1) uncertainty; 2) a lack of knowledge about the illness, medical devices, and caregiving; and 3) a lack of social support. It resulted in 1) caregiver burden, 2) a decrease in the capacity for coping with caregiving, 3) delays in the child's physical and psychological recovery, and 4) decreased quality of life. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop an assessment scale that considers the attributes of transfer anxiety in parents of children transferred from pediatric intensive care units to general wards. Furthermore, an effective nursing intervention should be developed to reduce transfer anxiety.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2022

Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we conducted a Delphi survey that included the experts from the field of COVID-19 immunization in children aged 5-11 years. The aim was to organize collective expert opinions on COVID-19 vaccination in young children in the Republic of Korea, and so thus assist the vaccination policy. Methods: The panels included pediatric infectious disease specialists, preventive medicine experts, infectious disease physicians, and COVID-19 vaccine experts consulting the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Delphi survey was conducted online using a questionnaire from February 14 to February 27, 2022. Results: The Delphi panels agreed that children were vulnerable to COVID-19, and the severity of illness was modest. Furthermore the panels reported that children with chronic illness were more susceptible to a worsening clinical course. There were generally positive opinions on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years, and experts gathered a slightly positive opinion that the adverse events of pediatric COVID-19 were not numerous. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination were evaluated at a level similar to the potential risks in children. Currently, the only approved mRNA platform vaccine in children seemed to be sustainable; however, the recombinant protein platform COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated as better options. Conclusions: Due to the surge of the Omicron variant and an increase in pediatric cases, the COVID-19 vaccination in young children may have to be considered. Panels had neutral opinions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years. Thus monitoring of the epidemiology and the data about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination should be continued.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.171-176
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• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate hematologic features in Korean children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in order to determine appropriate management strategies. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the complete blood count (CBC) profiles and assessed the incidence of anemia in 25 children with IBD (Crohn disease, 16; and ulcerative colitis, 9). The correlation between hemoglobin (Hb) and duration of illness and the activity index of IBD were also investigated. Results: The incidence of anemia was 76% in IBD, 88% in Crohn disease, and 56% in ulcerative colitis. Leukocytosis and thrombocytosis were only found in Crohn disease (56% and 25%, respectively). No statistically significant correlation was observed between Hb and duration of illness in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis or between Hb and the activity index in Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis. Conclusion: The incidence of anemia found in this study was slightly higher than in previous reports. Additionally, there was no correlation between Hb and the duration of illness or the activity index. Therefore, even if the duration of illness is short, or the activity index is low, appropriate management of children with IBD should include careful evaluation for anemia.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.49
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• pp.327.1-327.10
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• 2018

Background: It is difficult to decide whether to inform the child of the incurable illness. We investigated attitudes of the general population and physicians toward prognosis disclosure to children and associated factors in Korea. Methods: Physicians working in one of 13 university hospitals or the National Cancer Center and members of the general public responded to the questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of the age appropriate for informing children about the prognosis and the reason why children should not be informed. This survey was conducted as part of research to identify perceptions of physicians and general public on the end-of-life care in Korea. Results: A total of 928 physicians and 1,241 members of the general public in Korea completed the questionnaire. Whereas 92.7% of physicians said that children should be informed of their incurable illness, only 50.7% of the general population agreed. Physicians were also more likely to think that younger children should know about their poor prognosis compared with the general population. Physicians who opposed incurable illness disclosure suggested that children might not understand the situation, whereas the general public was primarily concerned that disclosure would exacerbate the disease. Physicians who were women or religious were more likely to want to inform children of their poor prognosis. In the general population, gender, education, comorbidity, and caregiver experience were related to attitude toward poor prognosis disclosure to children. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that physicians and the general public in Korea differ in their perceptions about informing children of poor prognosis.