• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.156-161
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• 2008

Purpose : Neutropenic enterocolitis is an acute, life-threatening inflammation of the small and large bowel, often seen in children with malignancies during periods of prolonged or severe neutropenia. The optimal management for typhlitis in pediatric oncology patients has been debateful between operative and nonoperative approaches. The purpose of this study was to review the outcome of medical management of patients who were diagnosed as typhlitis. Methods : The records of 207 pediatric cancer patients who were diagnosed and treated at the pediatric department of Yeungnam University Hospital for cancer between August, 2002 and July, 2007 were reviewed. Results : Among 207 patients, 12 (5.7%) children aged 9 to 14 years, were diagnosed clinically to have typhlitis. Clinical symptoms and signs of patients were fever, abdominal pain and tenderness, diarrhea, vomiting and rebound tenderness. Bowel-wall thickening (> 4mm) was seen on CT or ultrasonography. All patients were treated with antibiotics combinations of teicoplanin, carbapenem, aminoglycoside, or other third generation cephalosporin and metronidazole or clindamycin. Eight patients were treated with additional antifungal agents. Other supportive management included bowel rest, total parenteral nutrition, and G-CSF administration. All patients recovered completely and did not need any surgical management. Conclusion : Early diagnosis and aggressive supportive treatment appears to be important for complete recovery and survival of typhlitis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 2003

Purposes : Recently, acute gastroenteritis broke out among the neonates transferred from postpartum care centers located in Seoul, and Gyeounggi area. Thus, we researched the cause, progress and characters of the disease by analyzing the cases from 9 hospitals in Seoul and Gyeounggi area. Methods : We conducted retrospective study of 33 neonates transferred from postpartum care centers from October 2001 to July 2002 : we divided the neonates into 2 groups. The severe group had any of following 5 conditions : blood pH <7.20, respiratory difficulty, mechanical ventilation, shock, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. And the rest were classified into the moderate group. Results : The severe group was significantly more aged than the moderate group(P= 0.005). Weight loss was significantly severe in the severe group(P=0.0512). In blood gas analysis, bicarbonate was less in the severe group than the moderate group(P=0.032). In the virus examination, rotavirus was detected in 7 cases, and astrovirus was detected in 1 case. In the severe group, 4 neonates were dead. Conclusion : In acute gastroenteritis of neonates, early diagnosis and treatment are important. Thus, the legislation of postpartum care center is needed, and the medical specialists should be stationed in postpartum care center. We assume that the severe group had severe conditions because they were treated comparatively late. However, to find out the cause of the disease and to cope with it, the nationwide epidemiologic study on acute gastrenteritis of neonates is needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.7
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• pp.622-628
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• 2007

Purpose : While pediatric observation units (POU) have become a common practice in hospitals throughout developed countries, there has been no report about POUs in Korea so far. The aims of this study were to analyze our one-year's experience of the POU and to decide which disease entities are suitable for the POU. Methods : All children admitted from March 2006 to February 2007 to the POU at the Department of Pediatrics in Our Lady of Mercy Hospital were included in this study. Data were collected from retrospective reviews of their medical records. Results : There were a total of 1,076 POU admissions. Median age of patients was 2.4 years and median length of hospital stay 14.0 hours. The most common diagnoses were gastroenteritis (42.7%), pharyngotonsillitis (19.1%), bronchiolitis (7.8%), pneumonia (5.5%) and febrile seizure (5.2%). Overall, 7.5% of the POU patients required subsequent inpatient admissions due to hospital stays of longer than 48 hours. The disease entities that were most likely to require inpatient admission were pneumonia (17.0%), febrile seizure (12.5%) and asthma (11.5%). Diseases that allowed successful discharge from the POU were gastroenteritis (4.6%), upper respiratory tract infection (5.8%), such as otitis media and pharygnotonsillitis and seizure disorder (6.4%). Compared with the previous year when the POU was not in operation, there was a statistically significant reduction in the average length of hospital stays (from 4.69 to 3.75 days), as well as a rise in the bed turnover rate (from 78.8 to 98.2 patients/bed). Conclusion : Our study shows that the POU is efficient for the management of children with certain acute illnesses. Based on this study, we suggest that the POU be used as a new modality which links between the outpatient, inpatient, and emergency departments in the field of pediatrics in Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2011

Purpose : In this study, we listed common diseases in pediatric inpatients and evaluated the distribution of diseases by period and age group, in order to estimate the epidemiologic trend. Methods : Patients who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics between 1997 and 2008 were included. Demographic characteristics, date of admission, and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) code of patients were indentified. Study period was divided into two; early (1997-2002) and late (2003-2008), and age of patients were grouped into four; infancy, early childhood, late childhood, and adolescence. Results : A total of 33,513 patients were admitted for 12 years. In the list of ICD code, Pneumonia (J12-J18; 21.2%) was the most prevalent, followed by gastroenteritis (A00-A09; 17.8%), bronchiolitis (J21; 11.9%), and so on. Common diseases ranked from 1 to 10 comprised the majority (79.1%) of all the inpatients. There was increase in the number of inpatients with respiratory infectious disease (bronchiolitis, otitis media, and sinusitis), enlarged lymph node, or impetigo/cellulitis, but decrease in the number of inpatients with aseptic meningitis, intussusceptions, measles, or nephritic/nephrotic syndrome. The distribution of diseases also showed age group-specific difference. Conclusion : The distribution of diseases by period and age group was different. The epidemiologic trend should be considered in developing the management of strategy for the Department of Pediatrics.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.222-226
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• 1999

Segmental necrotizing jejunitis is characterized by severe abdominal pain of acute onset, bilious vomitings and foul smelling loose stools containing blood. Pathologic features include circumferential intestinal wall inflammation ranging from edema with minimal congestion to severe congestion, hemorrhage with necrosis, ulceration, and gangrene with perforation. Early diagnosis and suitable supportive measures prevent unnecessary laparatomy and complications. There was no report of this disease entity in children in Korea. We experienced a case of segmental necrotizing jejunitis with fever, abdominal pain and bloody stools, which was diagnosed by exploration and was treated successfully by antibiotics and supportive measures.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2008

Purpose : The seasonality of influenza virus and rotavirus are well recognized in winter and so viral surveillance and laboratory-based diagnostics are important to guide the timing of prophylaxis and other interventions. Yet the seasonality of these two viruses are changing in Korea. We evaluated the prevalence and clinical features of influenza virus and rotavirus. Methods : From September 2001 to August 2005, nasopharyngeal aspirates were cultured from the hospitalized patients with lower respiratory infections and the stools from hospitalized patients with gastroenteritis were tested for rotavirus. We retrospectively analysed the medical records. Results : During the study period, respiratory virus was isolated in 578 (18.5%) out of 3,121 patients. Influenza virus was isolated in 143 cases. The seasonal distribution of influenza infection was from December to June of the next year. The ratio of males to females was 1.3:1 and the median age was 17 months. The most common diagnosis of influenza infection was bronchiolitis. Fever and cough were present in 94.4% and 83.9% of the patients, respectively. During the same period, 3,850 patients were admitted for gastroenteritis and 1,047 (27%) patients were positive for rotavirus. Rotavirus was prevailed from December to June of the next year and it presented in year-round. The ratio of males to females was 1.1:1 and the median age was 16 months. Diarrhea and vomiting were the most common symptoms. Conclusion : The recent peak prevalence of influenza virus and rotavirus in Korea was in winter and the late spring, respectively. So we need to expand surveillance and carefully consider the correct period to vaccinate people.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2003

동물과 사람의 연구에서 위장관 영양 인자는 위장관 점막이 점막손상으로부터의 회복에 중요하고 출생 후 경구 영양에 적응할 수 있게 하는 데에 중요하다. 경구적으로든 전신적으로 투여된 성장 인자들은 위장관의 성장과 발달을 촉진시킨다. 신생아 혈중의 영양인자들이 장관 세포의 수용체를 통해 작용하여 위장관의 성장을 조율한다. 위장관 영양인자들은 체내에서 합성될 수도 있고 모유를 통해 공급된다. 사람에서 출생 후 위장관이 장관영양에 신속히 적응할 수 있도록 위장관 영양 인자들이 중요한 작용을 한다. 모유 내의 성장 인자들이 신생아 생존에 필수적인 것들은 않아도 모유를 먹은 영아들이 조제분유를 먹은 영아들에 비하여 급성 설사, 괴사성 장염, 크론씨 병과 같은 위장관 질환의 위험율이 낮다. 위장관 영양 인자들의 대부분이 시판 조제분유에는 존재하지 않고 주로 모유에 존재함을 앎으로써 모유의 장점을 설명하는 데에 적용할 수 있을 것이다. 그리고 위장관 영양인자는 위장관 점막 손상된 경우 치료 목적으로 사용될 수 있는 여지가 높다. 이러한 임상적 이용은 특히 미숙아, 수술 후의 영아 등에서 적용될 수 있다. 그러나 향후 더욱 연구되어야 할 항목들로는 작용기전, 경구 및 정맥 투여 방법에 의한 효과의 차이, 체내 성장 인자들과의 상호 작용, 외부적 투여가 체내 인자에 대한 영향, 위장관 이외의 타 기관에 대한 영향, 그리고 안전성과 약물 역동학적인 특성 등이다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.77-81
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• 2003

Diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome is rarely accompanied by complications requiring surgical intervention. We report a case of the diarrhea-associated hemolytic uremic sydrome which developed simultaneously with an acute appendicitis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.991-997
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• 2005

Purpose : Cow's milk protein-induced enterocolitis(CMPIE) is a symptom complex of vomiting and/or diarrhea caused by delayed hypersensitivity and may result in serious complications. This study was undertaken to identify high risk factors to facilitate the early recognition of CMPIE. Methods : We reviewed the data of 101 patients, aged 15 to 45 days, admitted due to vomiting and/or diarrhea between 2003 and 2004. After excluding 13 patients absolutely breast-fed and 2 patients transferred from other hospitals with the impression of CMPIE, the 86 study subjects were divided into three groups based on the underlying etiologies; CMPIE, infectious and non-infectious group. Results : CMPIE was diagnosed in 11 patients(12.8%). On admission, failure to gain weight(P=0.003), hypoalbuminemia(P=0.003), peripheral leukocytosis(P=0.015), and metabolic acidosis(P=0.014) were more significant in the CMPIE group than in the others. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictors of high risks for CMPIE were failure to gain weight <10 g/day(OR, 10.25[95% CI, 1.62-65.06]) and serum hypoalbuminemia <3.5 g/dL(OR, 9.18[95% CI, 1.69-49.74]). Cow's milk challenges were performed in the 11 CMPIE patients; vomiting(81.8%), abnormal stool test(80.0%), peripheral leukocyte count and absolute neutrophil count(ANC) increase(100.0%) (P<0.05), and enteropathy(100.0%). Conclusion : CMPIE is not a rare clinical disease in early infancy. The high risk factors of CMPIE were identified as follow : failure to gain weight below 10 g/day, hypoalbuminemia on admission and a rapid decrease during admission. Cow's milk challenge test with endoscopic duodenal biopsy was helpful to confirm CMPIE.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.576-584
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• 2003

Purpose : For the early diagnosis of Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP) presenting with acute abdominal pain preceding skin rash. Methods : The clinical, endoscopic and radiological records of 23 cases of HSP, presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms preceding skin rash were reviewed. Results : The intervals from the onset of abdominal pain to the development of the skin rash were one day to 30 days(median five days), most of them were within two weeks. The presenting abdominal symptoms were abdominal pain(23 cases), vomiting(16 cases), hematochezia or melena(eight cases) and hematemesis(three cases). The abnormal endoscopic findings include coalescing erythematous lesions, areas of submucosal hemorrhage and superficial erosions and ulcers. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed the abnormalities in 21 of 23 cases, which were observed in the duodenum( 21 cases), the stomach(12 cases) and the esophagus(one case). Duodenitis with hemorrhage and/or erosions in the descending duodenum was the sole endoscopic abnormality in two cases and was the most marked finding in three cases. Sigmoidoscopy showed the abnormalities in six of eight cases. The abdominal ultrasonogram showed abnormalities in 12 of 17 cases, which included small bowel wall thickening(eight cases) and intramural hemorrhage(three cases). Recurrences after three months of symptom free intervals developed in four cases; three of them had persistent nephritis beyond one year. Conclusion : The erosive hemorrhagic duodenitis in the descending duodenum in the upper endoscopy and the small bowel wall thickening in the abdominal ultrasonogram can be useful findings in the diagnosis of HSP presenting with acute abdomen.