Jenny Royle

Hypersensitivity reactions to human papillomavirus vaccine in Australian schoolgirls: retrospective cohort study

Objective To describe the outcomes of clinical evaluation, skin testing, and vaccine challenge in adolescent schoolgirls with suspected hypersensitivity to the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine introduced in Australian schools in 2007. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Two tertiary paediatric allergy centres in Victoria and South Australia, Australia. Participants 35 schoolgirls aged 12 to 18.9 years with suspected hypersensitivity reactions to the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine. Main outcome measures Clinical review and skin prick and intradermal testing with the quadrivalent vaccine and subsequent challenge with the vaccine. Results 35 schoolgirls with suspected hypersensitivity to the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine were notified to the specialised immunisation services in 2007, after more than 380 000 doses had been administered in schools. Of these 35 schoolgirls, 25 agreed to further evaluation. Twenty three (92%) experienced reactions after the first dose. Thirteen (52%) experienced urticaria or angio-oedema, and of these, two experienced anaphylaxis. Thirteen had generalised rash, one with angio-oedema. The median time to reaction was 90 minutes. Nineteen (76%) underwent skin testing with the quadrivalent vaccine: all were skin prick test negative and one was intradermal test positive. Eighteen (72%) were subsequently challenged with the quadrivalent vaccine and three (12%) elected to receive the bivalent vaccine. Seventeen tolerated the challenge and one reported limited urticaria four hours after the vaccine had been administered. Only three of the 25 schoolgirls were found to have probable hypersensitivity to the quadrivalent vaccine. Conclusion True hypersensitivity to the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in Australian schoolgirls was uncommon and most tolerated subsequent doses.

The diagnosis and management of Kawasaki disease

Abstract:  Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis of childhood with a predilection for the coronary arteries. It is the predominant cause of paediatric acquired heart disease in developed countries. The aetiology of KD remains unknown and consequently there is no diagnostic test. The diagnosis is made using a constellation of clinical criteria that in isolation have poor sensitivity and specificity. Early treatment prevents overt coronary artery damage in the majority of children. The long‐term effects of childhood KD on later cardiovascular health remain unknown. A recent study showed that treatment of KD in Australia is suboptimal, with late diagnosis occurring in approximately half of the cases and an unacceptably high incidence of acute cardiac involvement. These guidelines highlight the difficulties in the diagnosis of KD and offer some clues that may assist early recognition of this important paediatric disease. They also detail current treatment recommendations and the evidence on which they are based. Increased awareness of the epidemiology and spectrum of the clinical presentation of KD is essential for early recognition and optimal management.

Neurologic complications of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Surveillance in 6 pediatric hospitals

Objective: We sought to determine the range and extent of neurologic complications due to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection (pH1N1′09) in children hospitalized with influenza. Methods: Active hospital-based surveillance in 6 Australian tertiary pediatric referral centers between June 1 and September 30, 2009, for children aged <15 years with laboratory-confirmed pH1N1′09. Results: A total of 506 children with pH1N1′09 were hospitalized, of whom 49 (9.7%) had neurologic complications; median age 4.8 years (range 0.5–12.6 years) compared with 3.7 years (0.01–14.9 years) in those without complications. Approximately one-half (55.1%) of the children with neurologic complications had preexisting medical conditions, and 42.8% had preexisting neurologic conditions. On presentation, only 36.7% had the triad of cough, fever, and coryza/runny nose, whereas 38.7% had only 1 or no respiratory symptoms. Seizure was the most common neurologic complication (7.5%). Others included encephalitis/encephalopathy (1.4%), confusion/disorientation (1.0%), loss of consciousness (1.0%), and paralysis/Guillain-Barré syndrome (0.4%). A total of 30.6% needed intensive care unit (ICU) admission, 24.5% required mechanical ventilation, and 2 (4.1%) died. The mean length of stay in hospital was 6.5 days (median 3 days) and mean ICU stay was 4.4 days (median 1.5 days). Conclusions: Neurologic complications are relatively common among children admitted with influenza, and can be life-threatening. The lack of specific treatment for influenza-related neurologic complications underlines the importance of early diagnosis, use of antivirals, and universal influenza vaccination in children. Clinicians should consider influenza in children with neurologic symptoms even with a paucity of respiratory symptoms.

Changes in patterns of hospitalized children with varicella and of associated varicella genotypes after introduction of varicella vaccine in Australia

Background: Varicella in children, although usually mild, can cause hospitalization and rarely death. This study examined patterns of hospitalized children with varicella, and associated varicella genotypes, in 4 tertiary children’s hospitals throughout Australia before and after varicella vaccine was introduced. Methods: We obtained coded data on discharge diagnoses from each hospital before (1999 to 2001) and after (2007 to 2010) varicella vaccine introduction in 2005, adding active surveillance to capture clinical features, complications and immunization history in the latter period. Varicella vesicles were swabbed, and genotyping of varicella strains was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification. Results: Overall, a 68% reduction in coded hospitalizations (varicella, 73.2% [P < 0.001]; zoster, 40% [P = 0.002]) occurred post-vaccine introduction. Of children with detailed clinical data (97 varicella and 18 zoster cases), 46 (40%) were immunocompromised. Only 6 of 32 (19%) age-eligible immunocompetent children were immunized. Complications, most commonly secondary skin infections (n = 25) and neurologic conditions (n = 14), occurred in 44% of children. There were no deaths; but 3 immunocompetent unimmunized children had severe multiple complications requiring intensive care. All strains genotyped were “wild-type” varicella, with Clade 1 (European origin) predominating. Conclusions: After the introduction of varicella vaccine, coverage of greater than 80% at 2 years of age was achieved, with varicella hospitalizations reduced by almost 70%. Of hospitalized children age-eligible for varicella vaccine, 80% were unimmunized, including all cases requiring intensive care.

Pain management strategies used during early childhood immunisation in Victoria

The study aims to identify pain management practices used during scheduled childhood immunisation.

Respiratory syncytial virus immunoprophylaxis in high-risk infants with heart disease.

Aim:  Passive immunisation with palivizumab is recommended in many countries for children with haemodynamically significant cardiac disease. We trialled respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) immunoprophylaxis in such infants during 2008–2009.

Recurrence of extensive injection site reactions following DTPa or dTpa vaccine in children 4–6 years old ☆

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to compare the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a lower dose diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine (dTpa) with the recommended vaccine (DTPa) given as a fifth dose to 4-6-year old children who previously experienced an extensive injection site reaction (ISR). MATERIAL AND METHODS Children aged 4-6 years who had experienced an extensive ISR following a 4th dose of DTPa were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either the recommended DTPa or the lower dose dTpa vaccine. Parents recorded local reactions and systemic events for 15 days following vaccination. Immunogenicity was assessed pre and post vaccination by ELISA for diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA), and pertactin (PRN). RESULTS A total of 53 participants were vaccinated. There was a 72% recurrence rate of ISR, with a trend (p=0.055) towards fewer ISR in the dTpa (61.5%) compared with the DTPa group (85.2%). There was no difference in reports of pain or irritability between groups. All participants had seroprotective levels of antibody to D and T and seroresponse to each of the 3 pertussis antigens following vaccination with higher GMCs in DTPa vs dTpa group. There was no increase in antibody avidity observed post vaccination, regardless of vaccine given. CONCLUSION Recurrence of ISR with the 5th dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccination in children who have previously experienced an extensive ISR is high. Vaccination with a dTpa vaccine may reduce the risk of fifth dose ISR.

Optimizing immunization in pediatric special risk groups

This article analyzes the current recommended practices and evidence in the immunization of pediatric ‘special risk groups’. Special risk group patients are at higher risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and hence require additional strategies to maximize protection against these diseases. The special risk groups include those with an underlying chronic disease, some of whom are on immunosuppressive therapy to treat that condition. The article uses four special risk groups (acute lymphoblastic leukemia; preterm birth; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; and inflammatory bowel disease), to highlight the management considerations and potential vaccination strategies. The risks, benefits and timing of vaccination in the setting of immunosuppression require detailed discussion with treating clinicians, in particular the use of live-attenuated vaccines. The immunogenicity of vaccines in these special risk groups helps provide the evidence base for their immunization guidelines. Protection can include ‘cocooning’ (i.e., ensuring appropriate immunizations within the immediate family; e.g., varicella, influenza and pertussis vaccination). Improving timeliness and minimizing missed opportunities to vaccinate individuals with these special risk conditions will also optimize protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Clinical epidemiology and predictors of outcome in children hospitalised with influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in 2009: a prospective national study

There are few large‐scale, prospective studies of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in children that identify predictors of adverse outcomes.

Ethical issues in preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B by immunisation

Without intervention, a pregnant woman who is a chronic hepatitis B carrier is at risk of transmitting hepatitis B and of her infant becoming a chronic carrier and having a significantly increased lifetime risk of developing liver cancer or cirrhosis. Hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin reduce the risk of the baby becoming a carrier, but with only a short window period after birth to deliver this potentially life-saving intervention. We reviewed the evidence on the magnitude of the risk. If the carrier mother is e antigen positive (highly infective), the calculated risk to the infant without intervention is 75.2%, reduced to 6.0% by giving vaccine and immunoglobulin at birth. If the mother is surface antigen positive but e antigen negative, the risk to the infant without intervention is 10.3%, reduced to 1.0% by giving vaccine and immunoglobulin. If vaccine is accepted but immunoglobulin refused, as for example by some Jehovahs Witnesses, the risk to babies of e antigen positive mothers is reduced to 21.0% and to babies of e antigen negative mothers to 2.6%. These figures can be used to inform parents and as a possible basis for child protection proceedings if parents decline vaccine and/or immunoglobulin. We argue from the perspective of the best interests of the child that the severity of the condition justifies initiating child protection proceedings whenever a baby is born to a hepatitis B carrier mother and, despite concerted attempts to persuade them, the parents refuse vaccine and/or immunoglobulin.