Current Pediatric Reviews - Volume 4, Issue 3, 2008

Background: Many neonatal intensive care units have introduced restrictive transfusion policies for preterm infants. The justification for such an approach is debatable. Objective: To systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the benefit to risk ratio of lower versus higher red blood cell transfusion thresholds in preterm infants. Methods: Systematic review based on an electronic literature sear Read More

Congenital choledochal malformations (a.k.a. choledochal cysts) are uncommon but must be considered in the differential diagnosis of conjugated jaundice in both infant and child. They are also an important cause of recurrent abdominal pain due to the presence of a common pancreatic biliary channel and predisposition to pancreatitis. We present an updated Kings College Hospital classification based on morphology deri Read More

Pediatric thoracic masses are usually found in the mediastinum. The three anatomic compartments each have distinct differential diagnoses. Castleman's Disease, a rare form of giant lymph node hyperplasia has been described in children with mediastinal masses. While most forms are localized, multicentric disease can also occur. This review provides a summary of pediatric mediastinal disease.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is the most common form of the childhood muscular dystrophies. It follows a predictable clinical course marked by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, lost of ambulation before teen- age and death in early adulthood secondary to respiratory or cardiac failure. Becker muscular dystrophy is less common and has a milder clinical course but also results in respiratory and cardiac failure. Female ca Read More

Biliary Atresia (BA) is one of the most common cause of neonatal cholestasis with unclear pathogenesis currently. Virological investigations had proved that BA might be closely connected with the pathogen infections especially viral infection. In this article, we have summarized the recent advancements in viral etiology and epidemiology of BA, presented the possible etiological factors such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), reovir Read More

Severe Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) is a public health care problem affecting toddlers and preschool children worldwide. S-ECC is an infectious disease most frequently characterized by an overwhelming mutans streptococci infection. The current community standard of care for S-ECC calls for the removal and restoration of carious teeth, application of topical fluoride agents, oral hygiene instruction, and counseling regardin Read More

Celiac disease (CD) is a permanent intolerance to gluten that results in damage of the small intestinal mucosa, and it is one of the common causes of chronic malabsorption in Caucasian children. In CD children, short stature could be the only presenting clinical feature, even in absence of gastroinstestinal symptoms. Generally, withdrawal of gluten from the diet leads to a rapid catch-up growth of body weight within 6-12 m Read More

Malignant brain tumors are characterized by high local aggressiveness and tendency to metastasize within the central nervous system (CNS), and rarely outside it. Surgical approach represented and still represents the mainstay of treatment strategies. However, in the majority of cases, gross total resection is recommended to achieve long event-free survival and eventually the cure. In recent years neoadjuvant chemotherapy Read More

Children with cerebral palsy are at increased risk of fracture. Factors that may increase risk include decreased bone mineral density, older age, increased severity of disease, immobility, poor nutritional status, anticonvulsant medication use, and abnormal serum factor levels. Still, it is not clear which patients with cerebral palsy would most benefit from risk reduction strategies and exactly what those strategies should be. T Read More

We report the effect of Gastrografin on thyroid function in 7 neonates. Levels of free thyroxine and thyroid stimulating hormone, serum and urine iodine concentrations were determined before and after using gastrografin. Transient hypothyroidism was seen in 3 patients. No thyroid gland dysfunction was detected in the Neonatal Screening Program for congenital hypothyroidism before the administration of Gastrografin a Read More

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are currently the mainstay of therapy in persistent childhood asthma. However, systemic adverse effects of various available agents - particularly on growth, bone metabolism, and the hypothalamicpituitary- adrenal (HPA) axis - continue to concern the families of asthmatic children, and are debated within the medical community. Although there is short- and medium-term suppressive effect of usu Read More