Seung Taek Yu

Acute viral gastroenteritis in children hospitalized in Iksan, Korea during December 2010-June 2011.

Purpose Viral etiology is common in cases of children with acute diarrhea, and antibiotic therapy is usually not required. Therefore, it is important to determine the distribution of common viruses among children hospitalized with acute diarrhea. Methods We included 186 children who suffered from acute diarrhea and were hospitalized at the Wonkwang University Hospital Pediatric ward from December 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011 in this study. Stool samples were collected and multiplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (multiplex RT-PCR) was used to simultaneously determine the viral etiology such as rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, or adenovirus. Results Causative viruses were detected in 72 of the 186 cases (38.7%). The mean age of the virus-positive cases was 1 year and 9 months (range, 1 month to 11 years). Rotavirus was detected in 50/186 (26.9%); norovirus, in 18/186 (9.7%); and astrovirus, in 3/186 cases (1.6%). Adenovirus was not detected in any of the cases. Proportions of norovirus genogroups I and II were 21.1% and 78.9%, respectively. Four of the 51 rotavirus-positive cases (7.8%) had received rotavirus vaccination at least once. The mean duration of diarrhea was 2.8 days (range, 1 to 10 days) and vomiting occurred in 39 of the 72 cases (54.2%). Conclusion Viral etiology was confirmed in about one-third of the children with acute diarrhea, and the most common viral agent was rotavirus, followed by norovirus.

A Case of Acute Myopericarditis Associated With Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Infection in a Child

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) primarily causes respiratory tract infections in persons aged 5-20 years. Tracheobronchitis and bronchopneumonia are the most commonly recognized clinical symptoms associated with M. pneumoniae infection. Complications of this infection are unusual; in particular, cardiac involvement is very rare and is generally accompanied by pneumonia. Nonrespiratory illness can therefore involve direct invasion by M. pneumoniae or autoimmune mechanisms, as suggested by the frequency of cross reaction between human antigens and M. pneumoniae. Herein, we report a case of severe acute myopericarditis with pneumonia caused by M. pneumoniae in a healthy young child who presented with fever, lethargy, oliguria and dyspnea. She survived with aggressive therapy including clarithromycin, intravenous immunoglobulin, inotropics, and diuretics. The patient was discharged on the 19th day after admission and followed up 1 month thereafter at the outpatient clinic without sequelae.

Diphyllobothrium latum infection in a child with recurrent abdominal pain

Diphyllobothrium latum infection in humans is not common in Republic of Korea. We report a case of fish tapeworm infection in a 10-year-old boy after ingestion of raw perch about 8 months ago. The patient complained of recurrent abdominal pain and watery diarrhea. A tapeworm, 85 cm in length, without scolex and neck, was spontaneously discharged in the feces of the patient. The patient was treated with 15-mg/kg single dose praziquantel, and follow-up stool examination was negative after one month. There was no evidence of relapse during the next six months.

A Case of Mesenteric Cyst in a 4-Year-Old Child with Acute Abdominal Pain

Mesenteric cysts are rare intra-abdominal lesions occurring during childhood, which were first described in 1507. Cases of mesenteric cysts have been continuously reported, but these cases were very small in number. They are often asymptomatic and incidentally found while patients are undergoing work-up or receiving treatment for other conditions such as appendicitis, small-bowel obstruction, or diverticulitis; however, patients may still have lower abdominal pain and symptoms that are frequently associated with other abdominal conditions. The symptoms are variable and non-specific, including pain (82%), nausea and vomiting (45%), constipation (27%), and diarrhea (6%). An abdominal mass may be palpable in up to 61% of patients. We are to report the clinical course and literature of a child with mesenteric cysts who complained of acute abdominal pain, distension, and vomiting and were surgically treated after being diagnosed with mesenteric cysts based on radiological examination.