M.J. Mellado Peña

Diagnostico de la tuberculosis en la edad pediatrica

Tuberculosis is one of the most important health problems worldwide. There are an increasing number of cases, including children, due to different reasons in developed countries. The most likely determining cause is immigration from highly endemic areas. Measures to optimise early and appropriate diagnosis of the different forms of tuberculosis in children are a real priority. Two Societies of the Spanish Paediatric Association (Spanish Society of Paediatric Infectology and Spanish Society of Paediatric Pneumology) have agreed this Consensus Document in order to homogenise diagnostic criteria in paediatric patients.

Conocimiento sobre el uso de fármacos off-label en Pediatría. Resultados de una encuesta pediátrica nacional 2012-2013 (estudio OL-PED)

INTRODUCTION Off-label drug use is a common practice in paediatrics. The aim of the present study was to estimate the knowledge of Spaniard paediatricians on off-label use. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cross-sectional, multicentre, descriptive and national study from July 2012 to March 2013 using an on-line questionnaire on off-label use in children. An e-mail was sent to paediatricians who were members of the Spanish Association of Paediatrics (AEP) or its Regional or Paediatric Specialties Societies. RESULTS Out of 673 responses were received, 75.1% of Spanish paediatricians knew the meaning of off-label use, 61% of them prescribed medicines outside the conditions authorised in their Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) and 47% knew of the importance of noting the off-label use in the medical record. However, just under half of paediatricians informed parents, and only 22% wrote it down in the medical record. CONCLUSIONS Most Spanish paediatricians do not meet current regulations regarding off-label use. This regulation demands: justifying the decisions when off-label use is needed, and to write down in the medical record that, at least an oral consent from the parents has been obtained. This study reveals a fact that Spanish paediatricians must change. Meanwhile, it is a priority to continue with the implementation of consensus and clinical guidelines, to obtain more data on the efficacy and safety of off-label drug use in children, and to incorporate them into the SPC.

Diagnostico de la tuberculosis en la edad pediatrica. Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Espanola de Infectologia Pediatrica (SEIP) y la Sociedad Espanola de Neumologia Pediatrica (SENP)

Tuberculosis is one of the most important health problems worldwide. There are an increased number of cases, including children, due to different reasons in developed countries. The most likely determining cause is immigration coming from high endemic areas. Measures to optimize early and appropriate diagnosis of the different forms of tuberculosis in children are a real priority. Two Societies of the Spanish Pediatric Association (Spanish Society of Pediatric Infectology and Spanish Society of Pediatric Pneumology) have agreed this Consensus Document in order to homogenize diagnostic criteria in pediatric patients.

Documento de consenso sobre el tratamiento de la exposición a tuberculosis y de la infección tuberculosa latente en niños

La pobreza, la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH), la resistencia a fármacos y la diseminación a partir de pacientes con infección latente son las causas más importantes de la pandemia actual de tuberculosis. En los países industrializados, la población inmigrante procedente de países en desarrollo y la falta de programas eficaces de control son las causas principales del incremento de la enfermedad.

Documento de consenso de la Sociedad Española de Infectología Pediátrica sobre la tuberculosis resistente a fármacos

Drug resistant tuberculosis (TB-R), and in particular, multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global public health problem, as well as a problem in our country. Cases of TB-R and MDR-TB have increased mainly in HIV, immigrant and socially disadvantaged populations, but a notable increase in the general population has also been observed. This aspect reinforces the need for a systematic study of sensitivity of all the isolates in a reference laboratory to optimally guide the treatment. Children are especially vulnerable to this severe disease due to the limited knowledge of second line anti-tuberculous drugs, in terms of their pharmacokinetic data, optimal doses, or their long term toxicity, all this eventually resulting in the compassionate use of drugs. Another aspect which further complicates the management of R-TB in children is the limited yield of cultures, which frequently leads to clinician designing drug combinations according to the sensitivity of the initial strain. The epidemiological pattern in our country has currently changed. There is a reported increase in isoniazid-resistant strains; therefore, a four drugs regime is mandatory for the initial period in children, until reliable sensitivity results are available. Treatment should be directly observed or at least supervised by paediatricians. The management of latent infections or exposure to a resistant TB case also requires an accurate, strict and prolonged supervision by expert paediatricians. Authorities and health care professionals who deal with TB should be prepared to face this new phenomenon with appropriate measures. The knowledge of second line drugs for children, as well as mechanisms to ensure the therapeutic adherence and long term control of disease, are essential.

Exposición a tuberculosis multirresistente: estudio y seguimiento de nueve niños

A world increase in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has been reported over the last few years. A larger number of diagnoses are being seen in Spain, due to the increase of immigration from high endemic TB countries. Articles published on this are anecdotal in children, and there is no clear directives for treatment of MDR-TB, or latent tuberculosis infection (ITBL) or on prophylaxis after exposure to active pulmonary MDR-TB. We present the initial management and progression of nine children after close contact exposure to an Ecuadorian woman diagnosed with active pulmonary TB, resistant to Isoniazid, Rifampicin and Pyrazinamide.

Actualización en el tratamiento antirretroviral en la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana

In recent years, major advances have been made in the care of HIV-infected children, particularly in antiretroviral treatment, which have dramatically improved survival and quality of life. The goal of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), which includes at least three potent drugs, is the maximal and most durable suppression of viral replication possible, which is often not achieved despite clear immunologic and clinical improvement. There are still major barriers to achieving this goal, mainly the difficulty of permanent adherence to complex regimens and treatment-related toxicities. Adverse events are frequent, including a high prevalence of metabolic complications with unknown consequences in the future. These drawbacks of antiretroviral treatment are leading to a more conservative initial approach, as well as to research into simpler and less toxic therapeutic options. New strategies should continue to be developed to overcome the still important limitations of current antiretroviral treatment.

Retención urinaria secundaria a ciproheptadina

dio de los genes asociados con factores de virulencia del SARM-AC aislado, es probable su presencia dadas las manifestaciones clínicas descritas. La clindamicina, en combinación con un adecuado drenaje quirúrgico, ha sido usada con éxito en el tratamiento de infecciones cutáneas e invasivas por SARM-AC en niños, como ocurrió en el presente caso9. Sin embargo, hay que tener en cuenta la posibilidad de aparición de resistencias inducidas a la clindamicina en cepas resistentes a eritromicina de tipo ermB, que debe ser evaluada por el test de difusión de doble disco10. Como conclusión, este caso nos recuerda que debemos reforzar la vigilancia epidemiológica para detectar la posible emergencia de las cepas de SARM-AC en nuestro medio.

Vacunación frente a la encefalitis centroeuropea o encefalitis transmitida por garrapatas en niños viajeros

En mayo del año 2002 el Ministerio de Sanidad acreditó al Hospital Carlos III como centro de vacunación internacional, con dos consultas: consulta del niño y del adulto viajero. En la consulta pediátrica se evaluaron, sólo en el año 2007, 528 niños con edades comprendidas entre los 15 días y los 16 años. La mitad de los niños viajeros que acudieron a la consulta precisaron quimioprofilaxis antipalúdica y las vacunas más prescritas fueron contra la hepatitis A y la fiebre amarilla. Recientemente, ha surgido la alarma en los medios de comunicación sobre la indicación de vacunar frente a encefalitis centroeuropea a viajeros que van a zonas boscosas de Europa central esta primavera. El Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Carlos III, como en años anteriores, recomienda: La vacuna frente a la encefalitis centroeuropea transmitida por garrapatas es una vacuna de virus inactivados cultivados en células de embrión de pollo. Se indica en los niños viajeros campistas a zonas boscosas del centro, norte y este de Europa en primavera y verano cuando el viaje tiene una duración superior a 3 semanas. La pauta son 3 dosis administradas con un intervalo de 1-3 meses entre la primera y la segunda (mínimo 15 días) y de 9-12 meses entre la segunda y la tercera. Existe, no obstante, una pauta acelerada: 0,7 y 21 días. En este caso la protección comienza a los 15 días de la segunda dosis. En niños de entre 1 y 11 años se administrará la dosis pediátrica (la mitad de la dosis de adultos) y en los mayores de 11 años, la dosis completa. Se recomienda un recuerdo cada 3-5 años si el niño se mantiene en zona de riesgo. La vacuna está comercializada como FSME-inmun inject. Júnior o Encepur Children dosis pediátrica (jeringa precargada de 0,25 ml) para niños menores de 11 años. Esta vacuna se administra únicamente en los centros de vacunación internacional autorizados por el Ministerio de Sanidad en cada comunidad autónoma. Los países con riesgo elevado de encefalitis centroeuropea son: Alemania, Austria, Bielorrusia, Croacia, Eslovaquia, Eslovenia, Finlandia, Hungría, Lituania, Polonia, Republica Checa, Rusia, Suecia, Suiza y Ucrania. Los países con riesgo bajo de encefalitis centroeuropea son Albania, Bosnia, China, Dinamarca (solo la isla de Bornholm), Francia, Grecia, Italia, Japón, Kazajstán, Moldavia, Mongolia, Noruega, Rumanía y Serbia1. Puede consultarse el mapa de distribución de los casos comunicados a la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS)2 (CDC Health Information for Internacional Travel 2008) disponible en http://www.isw-tbe.info/tbe.aspx.

Dengue importado: arbovirosis emergente en España

Dengue is caused by one of 4 serotypes of dengue virus. Only imported cases have been reported in Spain. The main clinical findings are fever and exanthema, although there may be severe forms, particularly in secondary infections. Five children with a primary, non severe dengue infection are presented. The diagnosis was based on clinical suspicion and epidemiological history, and confirmed by immunochromatography and ELISA tests. The outcome was favourable in all cases. It is important to consider this diagnosis in international travellers that present with fever within the 14 days of returning from an endemic area, in order to get an early diagnosis, adequate treatment and a good prognosis.