• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.129-138
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• 2014

목적: A군 연쇄구균은 소아에서 인두염, 연조직염을 일으키며 드물게 침습성 질환을 일으키는 중요한 원인균이다. 그리하여 본 연구에서는 한국 소아에서 A군 연쇄구균 침습성 감염증의 임상 양상 및 예후에 대해 조사하고자 하였다. 방법: 1992년 3월부터 2012년 12월까지 서울대학교 어린이병원 및 2003년 3월부터 2012년 12월까지 분당 서울대학교병원에 입원한 환자 중 A군 연쇄구균 침습성 감염증으로 치료받은 18세 이하의 소아를 대상으로 하였다. 의무기록을 후향적으로 분석하여 대상환자들의 임상양상, 검사결과, 치료방법 및 예후와 합병증에 대해 조사하였다. 결과: A군 연쇄구균 침습성 감염증으로 진단 받은 총 36명의 환자 중 30명에 대해 의무기록을 확인할 수 있었다. 남자가 많았으며(남:여=2.75:1) 환자들의 중앙연령은 4년 2개월(생후 12일부터 15세까지)로 그 중 53.3%가 5세 미만이었다. 질환은 피부 및 연조직감염증(9/30, 30.0%), 국소 감염부위가 없는 균혈증(4/30, 13.3%) 그리고 관절염 및 골수염(6/30, 20.0%)가 가장 많은 것으로 확인되었다. 연쇄구균 독소쇼크증후군(3/30, 10.0%), 호흡기, 복부 및 중추신경계 감염증도 확인되었다. 전체기간 중 2012년에 환자발생이 가장 많았으며(9/30, 30.0%), 사망한 사례는 없었다. Erythromycin 및 clindamycin에 대한 항생제 내성률은 각각 3.8% 및 7.5%로 확인되었다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 소아에서 A군 연쇄구균 침습성 감염증으로 입원치료 받은 환자들의 임상양상을 확인할 수 있었으며 주로 5세 미만의 어린 연령층에서 발생하는 것을 알 수 있었다. 지난 20년 동안 한국 소아에서 발생한 A군 연쇄구균 침습성 감염증의 임상적 특성 및 예후를 조사함으로써 향후 임상에서 환자를 빠르게 인지하고 적절하게 치료하는데 본 연구결과가 도움이 될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.109-112
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• 2001

Hiccups, also known as singultus, are spasmodic involuntary contractions of respiratory muscles that shorten respiration. The characteristic sound is caused by rapid closure of the glottis. In oriental medicine, the mechanism of hiccups is "reversed flow of Ki". Hiccups have been associated with neoplasm, infections, seizures, diabetes. renal failure, alcohol ingestion, various drugs, and ischemic events of the myocardium or central nervous system. We present a case of chronic hiccups after cerebral infarction that was successfully treated using moxibustion therapy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.325-333
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• 2012

Objective : The indications and optimal surgical treatments for intracranial cysts are controversial. In the present study, we describe long-term clinical and neuroimaging results of surgically treated intracranial cysts in children. The goal of this study is to contribute to the discussion of the debate. Methods : This study included 110 pediatric patients that underwent surgeries to treat intracranial cysts. Endoscopic cyst fenestrations were performed in 71 cases, while craniotomies and cyst excisions (with or without fenestrations) were performed in 30 patients. Cystoperitoneal shunts were necessary for nine patients. Long-term results were retrospectively assessed with medical and neuroimaging records. Results : Clinical and radiological improvement was reported in 87.3% and 92.8% of cases, respectively, after endoscopic neurosurgery, and in 93.3% and 100% using open microsurgery whereas 88.9% and 85.7% after shunt operation. There were no statistical differences in clinical outcomes (p=0.710) or volume reductions (p=0.177) among the different surgeries. There were no mortalities or permanent morbidities, but complications such as shunt malfunctions, infections, and subdural hematomas were observed in 56% of the patients that had shunt operations. A total of 13 patients (11.8%) underwent additional surgeries due to recurrences or treatment failures. The type of surgery performed did not influence the recurrence rate (p=0.662) or the failure rate (p=0.247). Conclusion : Endoscopic neurosurgeries are less invasive than microsurgeries and are at least as effective as open surgeries. Thus, given the advantages and complications of these surgical techniques, we suggest that endoscopic fenestration should be the first treatment attempted in children with intracranial cysts.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.132-137
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• 2015

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-producing pheochromocytoma has been rarely reported, whereas only a few cases of Cushing syndrome accompanied by opportunistic infections have been reported. We experienced a patient with pheochromocytoma with ectopic Cushing syndrome complicated by invasive aspergillosis. A 35-year-old woman presented with typical Cushingoid features. Her basal plasma cortisol, ACTH, and 24-hour urine free cortisol levels were significantly high, and 24-hour urine metanephrine and catecholamine levels were slightly elevated. The endogeneous cortisol secretion was not suppressed by either low- or high-dose dexamethasone. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a heterogeneous enhancing mass measuring approximately 2.5 cm in size in the left adrenal gland. No definitive mass lesion was observed on sellar magnetic resonance imaging. On fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT, a hypermetabolic nodule was observed in the left upper lung. Thus, we performed a percutaneous needle biopsy, which revealed inflammation, not malignancy. Thereafter, we performed a laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, and its pathologic finding was a pheochromocytoma with positive immunohistostaining for ACTH. After surgery, the biochemistry was normalized, but the clinical course was fatal despite intensive care because of the invasive aspergillosis that included the lungs, retina, and central nervous system.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.102-107
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• 2015

Purpose: Human parechovirus (HPeV) and enterovirus (EV) are causative agents of a sepsis-like illness in neonates and of infections of the central nervous system in young children. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of HPeV3 and EV infection in young children with a sepsis-like illness or with meningitis in Jinju, Korea. Methods: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from 267 patients (age range, 1 day to 5 years) and assessed for HPeV and EV by performing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. Amplification products of the VP3/VP1 region of HPeV and of the VP1 region of EV were sequenced to identify the virus type. Results: HPeV and EV were detected in 3.4% and 7.5% of the total CSF samples assessed, respectively. The age distribution of EV-positive patients (median age, 1.4 months) had a significantly broader range than that of HPeV-positive patients (median age, 7.8 months). The peak seasons for HPeV and EV infection were spring and summer, respectively. The clinical symptoms for HPeV and EV infection were similar, and fever was the most common symptom. Pleocytosis was detected in 22.2% of HPeV-positive patients and 35.5% of EV-positive patients. The VP3/VP1 gene sequence of the nine Korean strains clustered most closely with the Japanese strain (AB759202). Conclusion: The data indicate that HPeV infection is predominant in young infants (<6 months) and that meningitis without pleocytosis was caused by both HPeV and EV infection in children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.135-139
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• 2014

Purpose: Adult Korean patients on chronic dialysis have a 9-year survival rate of 50%, with cardiovascular problems being the most significant cause of death. The 2011 annual report of the North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies group reported 3-year survival rates of 93.4% and relatively poorer survival in younger patients. Methods: In this study, we have reviewed data from Korean Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Registry from 2002 to 2010 to assess survival rates and causes of death in Korean children on chronic dialysis. Results: The overall estimated patient survival rates were 98.4%, 94.4%, and 92.1% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. No significant difference was observed in survival rates between patients on peritoneal dialysis and those on hemodialysis. Patients for whom dialysis was initiated before 2 years of age (n=40) had significantly lower survival rates than those for whom dialysis was initiated at 6-11 years of age (n=140). In all, 26 patients had died; the mortality rate was 19.9 per 1,000 patient years. The most common causes of death were infections and comorbidities such as malignancy and central nervous system (CNS) or liver diseases. Conclusion: The outcomes observed in this study were better than those observed in adults and comparable to those observed in pediatric studies in other countries. To improve the outcomes of children on chronic dialysis, it is necessary to prevent dialysis-related complications such as infection, congestive heart failure, or CNS hemorrhage and best control treatable comorbidities.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.229-239
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• 2012

Cronobacter spp. (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii), a Gram-negative bacillus, is a rare cause of meningitis and central nervous system infections. In England, the first case infected by this organism occurred in 1958. By July 2008, approximately 120 documented cases of Cronobacter spp. infection and at least 27 deaths have been identified from all around the world in the published literature and in reports submitted by public health sectors. In 2007, it was proposed by European organizations that the original taxonomy of E. sakazakii would be revised, to consist of five new species moved to a new genus, and identified as "Cronobacter". E. sakazakii has thus now been reclassified as 6 separate species in the new genus, Cronobacter, gen. nov., within the Enterobacteriaceae family. The new species are presently Cronobacter sakazakii, C. turicensis, C. malonaticus, C. muytjensii, and C. dublinensis; the sixth species is identified simply as genomospecies I, as currently including only two representative strains. The objectives of this review are to provide insight on (1) the classification and taxonomy of Cronobacter spp., (2) its clinical etiology and pathogenicity, (3) prequency of Cronobacter spp. in different categories of ready-to-eat food other than infant formula, (4) methods for detecting, isolating and typing Cronobacter spp., and (5) recent research trends for detecting Cronobacter spp.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제58권11호
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• pp.446-450
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• 2015

Purpose: Meningitis is among the most common infections affecting the central nervous system. It can be difficult to determine the exact pathogen responsible for the infection and patients are often treated with empiric antibiotics. This study was conducted to identify the most common clinical characteristics of enteroviral meningitis in children and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for early detection of an enterovirus. Methods: We analyzed the medical records of children admitted to Korea University Medical Center and diagnosed with meningitis on the basis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and RT-PCR from CSF and other samples from January 2010 to August 2013. Results: A total of 333 patients were enrolled and classified into four groups based on diagnosis: enteroviral meningitis (n=110), bacterial meningitis (n=23), other viral meningitis (n=36), and unknown etiology (n=164). Patients with bacterial meningitis were younger than those in the other groups (P<0.001). Pleocytosis in CSF was similar across all groups. Of patients in the enteroviral meningitis group, 92.7% were diagnosed based on RT-PCR findings. Mean length of hospital stay for patients with enteroviral meningitis was 6.08 days, which was significantly shorter than that for patients with meningitis of bacterial etiology (19.73 days, P<0.001). Conclusion: Diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis before viral culture results are available is possible using RT-PCR. Accurate diagnosis reduces the length of hospital stay and helps to avoid unnecessary empiric antibiotic treatment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제55권10호
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• pp.377-382
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• 2012

Purpose: This single-center study aimed to assess the clinical features and surgical approaches and outcomes of complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Methods: TGA patients who had undergone surgical correction at the Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2010, were retrospectively evaluated for patient characteristics, clinical manifestation, preoperative management, intraoperative findings, postoperative progress, and follow-up status. Results: Twenty-eight patients (17 boys and 11 girls, mean age=$10.6{\pm}21.5$ days) were included and were categorized as follows: group I, TGA with intact ventricular septum (n=13); group II, TGA with ventricular septal defect (VSD, n=12); and group III, TGA/VSD with pulmonary stenosis (n=3). Group I underwent the most intensive preoperative management (balloon atrial septostomy and prostaglandin E1 medication). Group II showed the highest incidence of heart failure (P<0.05). Usual and unusual coronary anatomy patterns were observed in 20 (71%) and 8 patients, respectively. Arterial and half-turned truncal switch operations were performed in 25 and 3 patients (Group III), respectively. Postoperative complications included cardiac arrhythmias (8 patients), central nervous system complications (3 patients), acute renal failure (1 patient), infections (3 patients), and cardiac tamponade (1 patient), and no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Group II showed the mildest aortic regurgitation on follow-up echocardiograms (P<0.05). One patient underwent reoperation, and 1 died. The overall mortality rate was 4%. Conclusion: Our study showed favorable results in all the groups and no significant difference in postoperative complication, reoperation, and mortality among the groups. However, our results were inadequate to evaluate the risk factors for reoperation and mortality owing to the small number of patients and short follow-up duration.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.92-96
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• 2009

Mycoplasma pneumoniae는 소아 및 청소년에게 발병하는 폐렴의 주요한 원인균으로, 중추신경계, 피부나 점막, 소화기계 등의 합병증을 자주 동반하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 하지만 M. pneumoniae와 관련된 심장의 합병증은 비교적 흔하지 않은 것으로 알려져 있고 특히 소아에서는 드문 것 로 알려져 있다. 이에 저자들은 M. pneumoniae 폐렴으로 입원하여 치료 중에 속발한 심근염으로 사망한 47개월 여아에 관한 증례를 보고하는 바이다.