Preschool Group Research Articles

Clinical analysis of 124 cases of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection with conjunctivitis in children

Objective: To explore the distribution characteristics of symptoms and signs of respiratory mycoplasma pneumoniae infection complicated with conjunctivitis in children of different age groups. Methods: A retrospective case series study was conducted. Data of children who were treated in Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from September 20, 2023 to November 30, 2023, had definite mycoplasma pneumoniae infection as confirmed by mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid or mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM antibody test, and had conjunctivitis as the first diagnosis in ophthalmology department were continuously collected. The included children were divided into infant group (age<4 years), preschool group (age 4 to 6 years), and school-age group (age>6 years) for analysis. Information such as the time of ocular symptoms onset, the time of systemic symptoms onset, conjunctival sac secretion, subconjunctival hemorrhage, conjunctival congestion, corneal epithelial damage, co-infection with other pathogens, and treatment of all children was collected and compared among children of different age groups. Results: During this period, there were a total of 31 133 children with positive laboratory test results for mycoplasma pneumoniae. Among them, 835 children visited the ophthalmology department during the same period, and 124 cases (229 eyes) had conjunctivitis as the first diagnosis. The age was (5.43±2.83) years, including 72 males and 52 females. There were 37 cases (69 eyes) in the infant group, 48 cases (92 eyes) in the preschool group, and 39 cases (68 eyes) in the school-age group. Among the 229 eyes, 179 eyes (78.16%) had conjunctival secretion, all manifested as mucopurulent secretion; 12 eyes (5.24%) had corneal epithelial defect; and 26 eyes (11.35%) had subconjunctival hemorrhage. There was 1 eye (1.45%) with subconjunctival hemorrhage in the infant group, 16 eyes (17.39%) in the preschool group, and 9 eyes (13.24%) in the school-age group. The proportion of subconjunctival hemorrhage in the preschool group and school-age group was higher than that in the infant group (both P<0.05). Thirty-nine cases (31.45%) were found to have co-infection with viruses in laboratory tests, including influenza A virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and coxsackievirus. The proportion of children in all age groups with ocular symptoms first was higher than that with systemic symptoms first. There was no statistically significant difference among children in the three age groups in terms of whether there was conjunctival secretion, whether there was corneal epithelial damage, whether there was co-infection with viruses, and the interval between ocular symptoms and systemic symptoms onset (all P>0.05). Conclusions: The characteristic ocular manifestations of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae infection complicated with conjunctivitis are conjunctival congestion and subconjunctival hemorrhage, and the signs are more obvious in preschool children. The conjunctival sac secretion of such children with conjunctivitis is mostly manifested as mucopurulent. Ocular symptoms may be the first manifestation of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

IMPAIRED RESPIRATORY FUNCTIONS IN CHILDREN WITH CAT SENSITIZATION IN THE EARLY AGES OF CHILDHOOD

ABSTRACT Background To evaluate the respiratory functions in children with cat sensitization accompanying allergic respiratory diseases and to compare these with those of healthy controls, as well as within themselves by classifying according to their diseases, domestic cat exposure, age groups’ Methods This prospective case-control study included 130 children aged 3-17 years with cat sensitization (CS group) accompanying respiratory allergic diseases and 70 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC group). The cases’ demographic parameters were recorded, and respiratory functions were analyzed using IOS and spirometry. Results At IOS evaluation, zR5, R5-20, Fres, and AX values ​​were higher in children in the CS group compared to the HC group (p = 0.029, p = 0.008, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively), while zX5 and zX20 values ​​were lower (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001). R5-20 and AX were higher in asthma compared to allergic rhinitis (p = 0.008, p = 0.015), but were insignificant compared to asthma and allergic rhinitis coexistent group (p > 0.05). R5-20, Fres, and AX were higher, and zX20 was lower in the pre-school age group (p < 0.001). No correlation was found between zFEV1, zFVC, zFEV1/FVC, zFEF25-75 and zR5 values in the CS group (p > 0.05). Conclusions Pulmonary resistance was higher and reactance was lower in the entire and peripheral airways in children with cat sensitization accompanying respiratory allergic diseases compared to the healthy controls. Peripheral airway resistance and reactance were more impaired in asthma group compared to allergic rhinitis. However, peripheral airway resistance and main airway reactance were more impaired in the pre-school age group than the older ones.

The impact of the type of playful massage movements on the perception of tactile stimulation in children: EEG study

Tactile play and playful massage are a normal interaction between adults and children in many cultures. Experimental data show that activation of the C-tactile system during such playful touches contributes to children’s socialization and the establishment of psychoemotional bonds in the parent-child dyad. However, comprehensive studies of the effects of different types of touch on perception of tactile stimulation in children have not been conducted before. Twenty-three children participated in the present study: 10 in the preschool age group and 13 in the elementary school age group. Children in both groups received play massage containing different types of touch with simultaneous recording of electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate. EEG processing included determination of spectral power, alpha rhythm peak frequency and fractal dimension. Analysis of the results showed that the relaxing effect of the procedure was more pronounced in children of primary school age, which can be explained both by the greater maturity of the CNS and the greater need for tactile contact, which is not realized in the school environment.

Temporal trend of the global prevalence rate of tension-type headache in children and adolescents in 1990-2021

To investigate the prevalence of tension-type headache (TTH) in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years globally in 1990-2021, and to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of TTH. Based on the Global Burden of Disease Study data, the age-standardized prevalence distribution of TTH and its changing trend were analyzed among the children and adolescents aged 0-19 years, with different sexes, age groups, sociodemographic index (SDI) regions and countries/territories. The age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) of TTH in children and adolescents aged 0-19 globally in 2021 was 17 339.89/100 000, which was increased by 1.73% since 1990. The ASPR in females was slightly higher than that in males (1990: 17 707.65/100 000 vs 16 403.78/100 000; 2021: 17 946.29/100 000 vs 16 763.09/100 000). The ASPR in adolescence was significantly higher than that in school-aged and preschool periods (1990: 27 672.04/100 000 vs 10 134.16/100 000; 2021: 28 239.04/100 000 vs 10 059.39/100 000). Regions with high SDI exhibited a higher ASPR than the other regions, with significant differences in prevalence rates across different countries. From 1990 to 2021, there was a slight increase in global ASPR, with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 0.06%. Females experienced a smaller increase than males based on AAPC (0.04% vs 0.07%). There was reduction in ASPR in preschool and school-aged groups, with an AAPC of -0.02%, while there was a significant increase in ASPR in adolescence, with an AAPC of 0.07%. ASPR decreased in regions with low-middle and low levels of SDI, with an AAPC of -0.02% and -0.04%, respectively, while it increased in regions with middle SDI, with an AAPC of 0.24%. There is a consistent increase in the ASPR of TTH in children and adolescents aged 0-19 years globally, with significant differences across sexes, age groups, SDI regions and countries/territories.

Diversity in perceptual, social, and executive functions in preschoolers from Germany and Iran

The cultural background and age shape the cognitive and social development of children. This study aimed to compare perceptual, executive, and social functioning in two age groups of preschoolers from Germany and Iran. One hundred sixty-five children (83 Iranian and 82 German) participated in the study, with 87 children aged three years and 78 children aged four years. The participants completed a series of tasks to assess different cognitive functions, including the theory of mind as a measure of social cognition, picture mental rotation test to evaluate spatial ability, and several tests including digit span, Corsi block tapping, day-night, grass-snow, dimensional change card sort, and active and passive vocabulary tests to assess executive functions. The findings revealed that German children performed better than their Iranian peers regarding spatial ability and theory of mind. Additionally, German children outperformed Iranian children in working memory, cognitive flexibility, and verbal fluency, while Iranian children demonstrated better inhibitory control. Furthermore, the correlational analysis indicated that in German children, executive function correlated with the theory of mind, whereas in Iranian children, executive function was associated with perceptual functions. Age impacted the results. These results highlight the role of cultural factors in shaping cognitive functioning and emphasize the need to consider cultural influences when examining cognitive development in different populations.

Clinical characteristics and toxicological spectrum analysis of 493 cases of acute poisoning in children

ObjectiveThis retrospective study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and toxicological spectrum of acute poisoning in children treated at our pediatric intensive care unit. The findings provide a basis for the treatment and prevention of acute poisoning in children.MethodsClinical data of hospitalized children aged 0 to14 years with acute poisoning, treated between January 2015 and December 2023, were collected and analyzed. The analysis included the types of poisoning, sex and age distribution of children, routes and causes of poisoning, time from poisoning to medical consultation, length of hospital stays, and treatment outcomes.ResultsAmong the 493 cases of acute poisoning in children, pesticide poisoning (n = 252, 51.1%) was the most common type, followed by medication poisoning (n = 182, 36.9%). Chemical poisoning accounted for 7.7% (n = 38), while food poisoning and inhalation of harmful gases accounted for 3.0% (n = 15) and 1.2% (n = 6), respectively. The main route of poisoning was oral ingestion (n = 477, 96.8%), while accidental ingestion accounted for a large proportion (n = 379, 79.4%), and adolescents aged 11 to 14 years accounted for 20.6% (n = 98).Apart from the predominance of girls attempting suicide by self-administering antipsychotic medications (n = 88, 75.9%) due to depression, there was no significant difference in sex distribution among other types of poisoning children. The highest incidence of poisoning except children who self-administer antipsychotic drugs occurred in children aged 1–3 years (n = 267, 54.2%) and 8–14 years (n = 135, 27.4%), with the highest proportion in the preschool age group. The average time from poisoning to medical consultation was 33.4 ± 54.9 h, and majority of children received treatment within 48 h after poisoning (n = 423, 85.8%). The overall effective treatment rate was 96.8%.ConclusionAcute poisoning in children has complex and diverse causes, with accidental ingestion being the main route. Prevention should be emphasized, including strengthening child safety education and improving parental supervision. Moreover, psychological health education is crucial for adolescents during their puberty. In the event of acute poisoning, prompt medical consultation and appropriate treatment are necessary to mitigate adverse outcomes.

Postoperative complications in the pediatric population. Malnutrition or phase angle? Which one do we use?

Malnutrition increases post-operative risks like infections and prolonged stays. Pediatric assessment challenges require using anthropometric measurements and phase angle, which reflects body cell mass and health outcomes. Phase angle varies by maturation stages, making it crucial for pre-surgical evaluations alongside BMI. This study aimed to determine the relationship between nutritional status, phase angle, and postoperative complications in pediatric patients who underwent surgery. Prospective study with patients aged 3-17 undergoing major non-ambulatory surgery. Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI Z-scores) hand grip strength, dietary intake and body composition via bioimpedance to assess phase angle were recorded. Postoperative complications were monitored, including surgical site infections, morbidity (pneumonia, inotropic support, infections, thromboembolism), and mortality. Surgical risks and pre- and postoperative conditions were documented. After the application of the selection criteria, a total of 391 patients who underwent surgery were included; 60% (n = 235) were within the range of the preschool and school-age groups. During the follow-up period, 51 (13%) patients developed at least one postoperative complication, with surgical site infections being the most common. Moreover, as phase angle decreased, the length of stay (LOS) increased in all the participants. Among children aged ≤12 years old, malnutrition was a risk factor for complications [OR 3.86 (1.61-9.27 95%CI)], whereas among adolescents, phase angle served as a protective factor [OR 0.63 (0.42-0.94 95%CI)]. Significant associations were observed between nutritional status, by BMI z-score, and post-surgical complications in younger patients. Additionally, in adolescents, the phase angle emerged as a protective factor against these complications.

Etiologic and demographic characteristics of syncope in children and adolescents: a nationwide population-based study in Korea.

Syncope is common among children and adolescents. Although it is most commonly caused by vasovagal syncope, it can also be due to undiagnosed, potentially serious, or even life-threatening conditions. We aimed to investigate the distribution of subsequent sinister diagnoses, such as heart disease (HD) and epilepsy, and analyze their demographic characteristics in children presenting with syncope. This nationwide, population-based study was conducted using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. Patients aged <19 years at the time of their first visit between January 2010 and December 2014, who had primary, secondary, or additional diagnostic codes for syncope, were selected and followed up for a minimum of 5 years from the index date to investigate subsequent diagnoses of HD or epilepsy. Patient demographics, diagnostic codes, and prescriptions were retrieved from the database. A total of 75,839 patients with new-onset syncope were identified, of which 239 (0.3%) and 2,516 (3.3%) were subsequently diagnosed with HD and epilepsy, respectively. In the infant, toddler, and preschool age groups, the proportions of patients with subsequent diagnoses of HD and epilepsy were relatively lower (5/5,353, 0.1%) and higher (206/5,353, 3.8%), respectively, than the proportions in the other age groups. A male preponderance was noted for patients with syncope who were later diagnosed with HD or epilepsy (P<0.001). The proportion of patients experiencing syncope with a subsequent diagnosis of HD was relatively high in the summer. The subsequent diagnosis of potentially life-threatening diseases in pediatric syncope, including HD and epilepsy, is relatively low in all age groups. In addition to comprehensive history taking and physical examination, demographic data such as age and sex, and season of occurrence, can aid in diagnosing the underlying cause of pediatric syncope by helping to identify patients who may require further investigations.

ACTUAL PROBLEMS OF DEVELOPING SAFE BEHAVIOR SKILLS IN CHILDREN OF THE SENIOR PRESCHOOL GROUP

In the article, the authors consider the problems that hinder the development of safe behavior skills of children of the senior preschool group. A literary review of the works of foreign and Kazakhstani teachers and scientists on the safe behavior of older preschool children is made. The definitions of “safety” and “safe behavior” are analyzed. The current state of work on the development of safe behavior skills in a preschool organization, at home, on the street is studied; the characteristic of behavioral reactions of senior preschool children is given; the normative legal documents, the State mandatory standard of preschool education and training of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Standard curriculum of preschool education and training of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the educational direction “Formation of socio-emotional skills” are analyzed. The purpose of the study is to identify current problems that hinder the development of safe behavior skills in children of the senior preschool group. The authors analyzed the types of child safety (social, physical and psychological, information, transport, educational, environmental, medical, legal and others), which are currently debatable. Based on the analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature, the current problems of ensuring and threatening the safety of children at home, on the street, in a preschool organization are identified. The ways of solving the problems reflected in foreign and Kazakhstani studies on ensuring the safety of older preschool children are considered. In the perspective of our research, determining the effectiveness of “playful learning” in the development of safe behavior skills and its implementation in the educational process of a preschool organization.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE FORMATION OF INTELLECTUAL SKILLS OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN THROUGH DEVELOPMENTAL GAMES

In this article, the theories of the formation of intellectual skills of preschool children are substantiated and presented from a practical point of view through the results of practice. In the preschool period, they revealed the possibilities of developing intellectual skills of the child through developing games. The concept of intelligence and intelligence is currently in widespread use and is becoming one of the most relevant topics. In accordance with the period of technological rapid development and globalization of our time, in accordance with demographic growth, new changes are observed in our society. In this regard, the types of skills and abilities that should be present in the younger generation are increasing. In the upbringing and training of preschool children, the focus is on the problem of educating a competitive generation through the development of the child`s physical, communicative, cognitive, intellectual, creative skills, research abilities. In the period from four to five years, the child experiences an important stage, perception and desire to learn the new, the author notes the scientifically sustained theories, the features of the experimental research are analyzed quantitatively and qualitively. The article presented a list of developmental games as effective tools for the development of intellectual skills of children of the adult group. It is written on the basis of the state program for the development of educational system Republic of Kazakhstan and the concept, and for the correct organization of intellectual skills, it is necessary To know the laws and possibilities of physiological development in a child. As noted in the article, the analysis of the content and methods of sensory education scientifically substantiated the development of perception and institution, the sequence of formation of logical thinking, revealed the psychological and pedagogical features of developing games in the formation of intellectual skills of children of preschool age group.

Characteristics of childhood anaphylaxis in different age groups.

Anaphylaxis is a severe systemic hypersensitivity reaction that usually has a rapid onset and can be fatal. Presentations of childhood anaphylaxis vary widely in accordance with the triggers and the patient's age, geographical region and dietary and lifestyle habits. The medical records of 177 paediatric patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis between January 2021 and January 2024, whose disease progression was monitored at a single tertiary care centre, were reviewed retrospectively. The study included 177 patients diagnosed with anaphylaxis (107 males and 70 females with a median age of 48 months). The most common allergen responsible was food (53.7%). Egg allergy was the most common source of anaphylaxis, afflicting 35 patients (19.3%), while beta-lactam provoked the most common drug allergy, affecting 24 patients (13.6%). The most common organ involved was the skin (92.7%). When the patients were analysed by age group, there were more males in the infancy, preschool and school age groups, while there were more females in the adolescent group (p = 0.44). Food-induced anaphylaxis became less common with increasing age, whereas the rate of drug-induced anaphylaxis increased (p = 0.01 and p = 0.01, respectively). Cardiovascular system findings were observed more frequently in adolescents compared to other age groups (p = 0.003). Most cases stemming from a food allergy were mild, whereas most drug-induced cases were moderate or severe (p < 0.05). When severity was analysed by age group, mild cases in infants were more common than moderate to severe cases. The aetiological and clinical manifestations of childhood anaphylaxis vary among different age groups.

Evaluation of Tracheostomy Patients in Our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Single-Center Study.

A tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that can be performed on critically ill patients of all ages in intensive care units as indicated, and its use has been increasing in recent years.The most common indications are prolonged mechanical ventilation and upper airway obstruction. This study aimed to examine the indications for tracheostomy, assess the outcomes of patients who underwent the procedure, and identify the factors affecting these outcomes. Material and method: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent tracheostomy between 2013 and 2019 at Dicle University Faculty of Medicine Hospital Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The patients' age, gender, distribution by age, primary diagnosis at admission to the intensive care unit, indication for tracheostomy, presence of additional disease, type of respiratory support before and after tracheostomy, development of complications (perioperative/postoperative), decannulation status, mortality, and discharge status were recorded. Results:A total of 61 patients were enrolled into the study.The average age of the patients was 81.72 months (SD = 17.5), with the youngest being eight months old and the oldest being 203 months old.Of the 61 patients included in the study, 32 (52%) were male and 29 (48%) were female. The majority of patients (32 patients) were in the preschool age group (25-84 months). The primary diagnosis of 27 patients (44.3%) who underwent tracheostomy was neuromuscular diseases, and the most common indication for tracheostomy was prolonged intubation (24 patients, 39.3%). Concomitant chronic diseases were present in 54 patients (88.5%). Patients received mechanical ventilation support for an average of 47.34 days before tracheostomy. Early tracheostomy (0-21 days after initiation of mechanical ventilation) was performed on 14 patients, and late tracheostomy (21 days and later) was performed on 47 patients. Complications developed in nine patients (14.8%) in the perioperative period and in 19 patients (31.1%) in the postoperative period, while no complications developed in 39 patients (63.9%). Six patients (9.8%) were decannulated. Furthermore, 28 patients (45.9%) died.No tracheostomy-related mortality was documented. Despite most patients being of preschool age, having prolonged intubation prior to tracheostomy, and having accompanying chronic illnesses, tracheostomy remains a frequently used procedure in paediatric intensive care units due to its low complication rates, making it an essential intervention that facilitates discharge from paediatric intensive care.

Morphological and Inhibitory Skills in Monolingual and Bilingual Children With and Without Developmental Language Disorder.

This study examined the language and nonverbal inhibitory control skills of Italian monolingual and bilingual typically developing (TD) preschoolers with Italian as their second language and of age-matched monolingual and bilingual peers with developmental language disorder (DLD). Four groups of preschoolers were enrolled: 30 TD Italian monolinguals, 24 TD bilinguals, 19 Italian monolinguals with DLD, and 19 bilinguals with DLD. All children were assessed in Italian on vocabulary, receptive morphosyntax, and morphological markers for DLD in the Italian language (i.e., third-person verb inflections, definite articles, third-person direct-object clitic pronouns, simple prepositions) and nonverbal inhibitory control skills. Group performance was compared using a series of one-way analyses of variance. Monolingual and bilingual children with DLD achieved significantly lower performance in all language measures compared to both TD monolingual and bilingual children. However, TD bilinguals, although comprehensively showing better language skills than monolinguals with DLD, achieved a performance closer to that of monolinguals with DLD but significantly higher than that of bilinguals with DLD. Both TD monolinguals and bilinguals showed better results than both DLD groups in inhibitory control tasks, particularly in the interference suppression task. This study provides a picture of language and inhibitory control characteristics of children with various language profiles and adds to the literature on potential markers of DLD among bilingual children. These results suggest that the assessment of nonlinguistic markers, which are associated with language impairment, could be a useful approach to better specify the diagnosis of DLD and reduce cases of misdiagnosis in the context of bilingualism.

Detection of the levels of immune cytokines (IL4, IL5, TNF-α) in school-age and preschoolers with an Ascaris lumbricoides infection.

Gastrointestinal parasite infections have been identified as a significant public health concern in regions with high humidity levels globally. Ascaris lumbricoides, a prevalent human pathogen, is widely distributed throughout several regions globally. It is estimated that around 1.5 billion cases are attributed only to A. Lumbricoides. These types of disorders are associated with a wide range of diseases. Several animal studies have demonstrated the significance of T helper cell type 2 responses to helminths in the digestive system, as well as the crucial role of specific interleukins (ILs), such as IL-4 and IL-5, in eliminating parasites and combating infections. However, there is a limited body of research examining the response of human cytokines to gut helminths, particularly in relation to the cellular reactions to Ascariasis in populations where it is prevalent. This is a case-control study and included 100 children suffering from Ascaris infection, aged between 4 and 15 years, and 50 healthy children as a control group. Samples were collected at Al-Habobbi Teaching Hospital after ethical approval. The children were diagnosed by stool examination and the concentration method was performed. Five milliliter of blood was collected from each participant, and the levels of interleukins 4, interleukins 5 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. The levels of TNF-α and IL-5 exhibited statistically significant variance between the preschool and school-age groups at P = <0.01. The difference in the level of IL-4 was non-significant between preschool and school-age groups at P > 0.05. The difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-5 was significant between control and moderate infection (P = <0.05), while that of IL-4 was non-significant (P > 0.05). When comparing control, the modest groups showed significantly higher IL-5 and IL-4 levels (P = >0.05). The difference in TNF-α, IL-5 and IL4 levels between mild and control groups was significant (P < 0.001), except for TNF-α which was not significant (P = 0.86). The difference in levels of interleukins in children according to age group and severity of infection indicates the role of the cellular immune response in the emergence and development of the disease and its severity in children.

A comparative study of early childhood education and care national documents between China and Finland

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) serves as a crucial foundation for children’s holistic growth and lifelong learning. Despite its significance, comparative analyses of leading ECEC documents across cultures remain limited. To address this gap, our study conducts a comparative analysis to identify key aspects and examine similarities and differences in national ECEC documents from China and Finland. Methodologically, we used a triangle of researchers from China and Finland. We employed qualitative content analysis to systematically identify, examine, and compare the key aspects in these two countries from the leading ECEC documents, i.e., the Chinese national ECEC guidelines and the Finnish ECEC national core curriculum. The findings reveal numerous similarities alongside notable differences. Both countries place a high value on ECEC, emphasizing principles that shape the learning environment and use diverse pedagogical methods. However, nuanced variations exist in the approaches. The Chinese documents feature more specific guidelines tailored to different age groups, accompanied by detailed pedagogical suggestions, while the Finnish national core curriculum offers general guidelines for all preschool age groups, complemented by the unique feature of individual development plans for each child. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, ECEC educators, and practitioners in international contexts. Future studies are needed to further explore the specific pedagogies in ECEC between these two nations and to analyze how the curriculum and educational guidelines are implemented in pedagogical practices.

Epidemiological characteristics of common respiratory pathogens in children

Children's respiratory tract infection is a common disease affecting children's health, our purpose is to describe the epidemiological characteristics of common pathogens of children's respiratory tract infection in central Shandong, China, and compare them with those in other parts of world, so as to summarize the rules of children's respiratory tract infection in central Shandong, and provide scientific basis for health departments to prevent and treat local children's respiratory tract infection. Sputum, tracheal aspirate, alveolar lavage fluid and other samples of 4804 children admitted to wards of Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital for treatment of respiratory tract infection from June 2019 to December 2022 were collected, and 12 common respiratory tract pathogens were detected by PCR capillary electrophoresis fragment analysis, two bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae), two atypical pathogens (Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, Chlamydia Pneumoniae) and eight viruses (Human rhinovirus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Influenza A Virus, Parainfluenza Virus, Human metapneumovirus, Human boca virus, Human coronavirus, Influenza B virus) were included, the positive detection rate of single pathogen, the proportion of each type of respiratory tract mixed infection and the positive detection rate of single pathogen in different ages and seasons were analyzed statistically. (1)Among 4804 children with respiratory tract infection, the total positive rate was 77.87% (3741/4804), the positive rate of single pathogen was 43.40% (1656/4804), Streptococcus pneumoniae, Rhinovirus and Respiratory syncytial virus were the highest, there were 2085 cases of mixed infection with two or more pathogens, the positive rate was 43.40%. (2) The positive rates of infection in infant group (0–1 years old), infant group (1–3 years old), preschool group and school age group (3 years old-) were roughly the same, the infection rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Respiratory syncytial virus and Parainfluenza virus in infant group, Rhinovirus in infant group, Influenza A virus, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in school age group were higher than those in other groups, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). (3) The positive detection rates of spring, summer, autumn and winter groups were 43.58%, 38.64%, 33.73% and 29.27%, respectively, the positive rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in spring group, Mycoplasma pneumoniae in summer group, Rhinovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus and Influenza A virus in autumn group, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Boca virus and Influenza B virus in winter group were higher than those in other seasons, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The pathogen detection rate of children varies with age and season, and the prevention and treatment of a certain respiratory pathogen infection must be combined with its raging season and age rule.

No Impairment in Bone Turnover or Executive Functions in Well-Treated Preschoolers with Phenylketonuria-A Pilot Study.

Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) present signs of impaired executive functioning and bone health in adolescence and adulthood, depending in part on the success of therapy in childhood. Therefore, nine children with well-treated PKU (4-7 years old, 22.2% ♀, seven with a full set of data, two included into partial analysis) and 18 age-, gender- and season-matched controls were analyzed for differences in executive functioning and bone parameters in plasma. Plasma was analyzed with commercially available kits. Cognitive performance in tonic alertness, visuo-spatial working memory, inhibitory control and task switching was assessed by a task battery presented on a touch screen. Regarding cognition, only the performance in incongruent conditions in inhibitory control was significantly better in children with PKU than in controls. No further differences in cognitive tests were detected. Furthermore, no significant difference in the bone turnover markers osteocalcin, undercarboxylated osteocalcin and CTX were detected between children with PKU and controls, while children with PKU had a significantly higher vitamin D concentration (69.44 ± 12.83 nmol/L vs. 41.87 ± 15.99 nmol/L, p < 0.001) and trended towards lower parathyroid hormone concentrations than controls (48.27 ± 15.16 pg/mL vs. 70.61 ± 30.53 pg/mL, p = 0.066). In this small group of well-treated preschoolers with PKU, no impairments in cognitive performance and bone turnover were observed, while vitamin D supplementation of amino acid supplements seems to be sufficient to achieve good vitamin D status.

Comparison of safety of acetaminophen and ibuprofen in minors: based on the FAERS database

ABSTRACT Objective To investigate adverse events(ADEs) associated with the use of paracetamol and ibuprofen in people under 18 years of age. Background The use of NSAIDs reached a peak as a result of the spread of COVID-19 in previous years. Minors, as a special population, need to pay more attention to the use of corresponding drugs and the occurrence of adverse events (ADEs). Methods The population was divided into four age groups: infant group, preschool group, children group, and adolescent group. ADE report data of the two drugs were extracted from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System(FAERS) from the first quarter of 2014 to the third quarter of 2022. The reporting odds ratio(ROR) method and the medicine and health products regulatory agency(MHRA) method were used for data mining and analysis. Results The two drugs mainly involved in injuries, poisoning and operational complications in the infant group, preschool group and adolescent group. The use of the two drugs in this population was primarily associated with injury, poisoning and surgical complications. The psychiatric disorders produced by the use of acetaminophen(12.6%) and ibuprofen(9.2%) in the adolescent group were significantly higher than those in the other age groups. The use of acetaminophen in the four age groups involved hepatobiliary disorders was more significantly (10.3%, 8.1%, 9.1%, 11.5%), while the use of ibuprofen was more obviously involved in renal and urinary disorders(5.0%, 6.2%, 9.6%, 7.1%). Conclusions The use of acetaminophen and ibuprofen in children of different age groups has different characteristics. Pediatric clinical pharmacists can provide medication monitoring to minimize ADEs based on these characteristics.

Early Treatment of Nevus of Ota in Children is More Effective and Beneficial to Mental Health: Observation on the Efficacy of Q-Switched Ruby Laser in Treating 159 Cases of Nevus of Ota in Children.

Nevus of Ota (NO), also known as "brownish-blue nevus of the palate of the eye", is a benign dermal pigmentation that increases skin disease. The Q-switched ruby laser is a classic treatment for nevus of Ota in children, but the optimal age for treatment is still controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment effect of Q-switched ruby laser in children with nevus of Ota at different ages and the effect on psychological health status. Children with nevus of Ota treated with Q-switched ruby laser in the Department of Dermatology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from June 2015 to June 2019 were retrospectively analysed. And the mental health status was assessed using the CDI scale. In the preschool children group (0-7 year age), the significant efficacy rates was 93.1%, the average number of treatments was 3.6, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 4.7%. The significant efficacy rates in the school-age children group (7-14 year age) was 90.3%, the average number of treatments was 5.1, and the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 13.7%. The mean post-treatment CDI score in the preschool children group was 10.8, and 9.7% of children exceeding 19 points. The mean pre-treatment CDI score in the school-age children group was 17.3, and 24.6% of children exceeding 19 points. The mean post-treatment CDI score was 13.6 and 15.1% of children exceeded 19 points. The chi-square test for the significant efficacy rate of the two groups showed P>0.05, which was not statistically significant. The significant efficacy rate of the preschool group and that of the school-age children group. The t-test for the number of treatments in the two groups showed P<0.05, which was statistically significant. Adverse reactions in the two groups showed a statistically significant P<0.05. The mean CDI scores and the percentage of depressed individuals in the school-age children group were significantly lower after treatment than before treatment (p<0.05). Q-switched ruby laser is safe and effective in treating nevus of Ota in children. Early treatment can reduce the number of treatments and the incidence of adverse reactions. In addition, early treatment can reduce children's depression, which is beneficial to mental health.

The 90% minimum effective concentration of ropivacaine for ultrasound‐guided interscalene brachial plexus block in children aged 1–10 years: A biased coin design up‐and‐down sequential allocation trial

AbstractRopivacaine is a commonly used local anesthetic for brachial plexus blocks in children, but the minimum effective dose of ropivacaine for interscalene brachial plexus blocks has not been reported. The aim of this study was to determine the 90% minimum effective concentration (MEC90) of ropivacaine for an ultrasound‐guided interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB). A total of 155 patients, aged from 1 to 10 years, underwent unilateral surgical procedures on areas of the upper extremity not innervated by the ulnar nerve. The biased coin design up‐and‐down sequential method (BCD‐UMD) was used to determine the MEC90 of ropivacaine for ultrasound‐guided ISB. In our study, the initial concentration of ropivacaine was 0.07% in the toddler group and 0.09% in the preschool and school‐age groups. During the trial, the concentration of ropivacaine for each subsequent patient was determined by the blocking effect of the previous patient. In case of failure, the concentration for the next patient was increased by 0.01%. Otherwise, the concentration was either decreased by 0.01%, with a probability of 0.11, or kept the same, with a probability of 0.89. Overall, the MEC90 of ropivacaine was 0.104% (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.070%–0.106%) in the toddler group, 0.114% (95% CI, 0.090%–0.117%) in the preschool group, and 0.133% (95% CI, 0.099%–0.136%) in the school‐age group. No adverse events occurred. Our study showed that lower concentrations of ropivacaine could provide effective nerve blocks and reduce the risk of local anesthetics.