Jamaree Teeratakulpisarn

Prediction of idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome by the stable microbubble test on gastric aspirate

We evaluated the usefulness and accuracy of the stable microbubble test (SMT) performed on gastric aspirates of neonates to predict idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) and compared the results with those of the shake test, using the clinical characteristics of IRDS as the gold standard for the diagnosis of IRDS. One hundred forty paired samples of gastric aspirates, obtained within 1 hour of delivery from neonates with gestational ages between 27 and 42 weeks (mean, 36.6 ± 3.5 weeks) and birth weights between 800 and 4,090 grams (mean 2,571 ± 826 grams) were evaluated.

Localized Melioidosis in Children in Thailand: Treatment and Long-term Outcome

Melioidosis, an infection caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, can present as severe septicemia or localized infection. Data on optimum antibiotic treatment regimen for localized melioidosis in children is limited. This is a report on localized melioidosis in children, regarding clinical presentation, treatment and the long-term outcomes. We reviewed 37 cases of localized melioidosis in children treated between 1994 and 2006 and followed up them prospectively until 1 October 2007. The two most common presentations were skin/soft tissue infections and suppurative parotitis. Oral eradication antibiotics after initial parenteral therapy included trimetroprim-sulfamethoxazole (10 patients) and trimetroprim-sulfamethoxazole in combination with doxycycline (four patients). Patients who did not get any parenteral antibiotics for B. pseudomallei were treated with oral trimetroprim-sulfamethoxazole (10 patients) and trimetroprim-sulfamethoxazole in combination with doxycycline (one patient). No adverse effects were reported. We were able to follow-up 32 patients, all recovered except one patient reported a history of possible relapse.

Rhinovirus infection in children hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis and its impact on subsequent wheezing or asthma: a comparison of etiologies.

BACKGROUD Children who suffer a viral lower respiratory infection early in life are prone to subsequent wheezing and asthma: RSV and rhinovirus are thought to be the primary causative pathogens. Epidemiologic and long-term data on these pathogens in Thailand are limited. OBJECTIVES To detect the causative pathogens in children hospitalized with a first episode of acute wheezing and to compare the respective impact on the recurrence of wheezing and development of asthma. METHOD We conducted a 5-year cohort study of children under 2 hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis at two tertiary hospitals. Nasopharyngeal secretions were collected at admission to determine the causative pathogens by RT-PCR. RESULTS 145/170 samples (85%) were positive for pathogens. RSV, rhinovirus, influenza, bacteria and hMPV was found in 64.7%, 18.2%, 17.6%, 12.9% and 3.5% of children respectively. The majority (94/152; 62%) of participants reported having recurrent wheezing within the first year of follow-up (mean duration 5.5 ± 7.2 months). Only 16% still had wheezing episodes after 5 years. Asthma was diagnosed in 41 children (45%), most of whom were treated with inhaled corticosteroid. There were no statistically significant differences among the various etiologies. CONCLUSION Rhinovirus ranked second after RSV as the cause of hospitalizations of children with acute bronchiolitis. More than half of these children had recurrent wheezing which mostly disappeared before the age of 6. Nearly half were subsequently diagnosed with asthma at the 5th year of follow-up. The specific pathogens did not account for a statistically significant difference in subsequent wheezing or asthma development.