Online First
June 21, 2021
- Original researchChild mortality in England during the COVID-19 pandemic
Child mortality was lower in 2020 than in 2019 . Older children and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups were more likely to have a SARS-CoV-2 positive test.
- Original researchMental healthcare for children with chronic conditions: a qualitative study
Parents of children with chronic illness want paediatricians to proactively discuss mental health issues when physical illness is being reviewed in clinic. they also identified barriers to accessing mental health services in this qualitative study.
June 17, 2021
- Original researchImpaired grip strength in children with congenital heart disease
Physical fitness is an important aspect of wellness. In 569 long term survivors of CHD surgery both grip strength & health-related physical fitness (a 5 parameter composite) were reduced but the reductions were unrelated. Grip strength is easily assessed but is not a surrogate for the more complex tool.
- Original researchListeria infection in young infants: results from a national surveillance study in the UK and Ireland
Who needs empirical treatment for Listeria infection? This national surveillance study found that invasive listeriosis in young infants in the UK and Ireland is rare and presented only in the neonatal period. Use of amoxicillin as part of empiric treatment for sepsis and meningitis in infants over 1 month of age may be unnecessary.
June 16, 2021
- Original researchPrevalence of monogenic disease in paediatric patients with a predominant respiratory phenotype
This manuscript reports on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of monogenic disease in paediatric patients with a predominant respiratory phenotype. And that exam sequencing is a valuable tool for this with 140 positive cases in a cohort of 971.
June 14, 2021
- Original researchImpact of genetic tests on survivors of paediatric sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden cardiac death / resuscitated survival is rare and distressing, with implications for siblings and parents too. In 32 Taiwanese survivors of SCD with previously negative gene testing, state-of-the-art composite genetic panel testing provided new, useful information for 85%. Test, now and test again later.
June 10, 2021
- ReviewUse of rituximab in paediatric nephrology
This review provides a comprehensive overview of the B-cell depleting monoclonal antibody rituximab and its efficacy in the treatment of various immune mediated renal diseases and after transplantation. It describes major indications and addresses open questions and missing data.
May 27, 2021
- Original researchNew-onset type 1 diabetes in Finnish children during the COVID-19 pandemic
A Finnish retrospective cohort study of two datasets: children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) admitted to PICU and children with T1D registered to the Finnish Pediatric Diabetes Registry. They found that more children with T1D had severe DKA at diagnosis during the pandemic. This stems from delay in presentation and diagnosis rather than a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
May 25, 2021
- Short reportPrevalence of thrombotic complications in children with SARS-CoV-2
A very timely paper on the Spanish experience of SARS-CoV-2. Over 500 infected children from 49 hospitals across Spain were recorded between 1st March - 30th Sept 2020, with 4 cases of thrombosis (1.1% of hospitalised cases). Half had thrombotic risk factors, 3/4 were adolescent females. Authors to be commended for collecting and collating these data during this difficult time, so providing our readers with some valuable insights into the incidence of thrombosis.
May 24, 2021
- Original researchOxygen saturation reference ranges and factors affecting SpO2 among children living at altitude
This study of children living at 2600m in Papua New Guinea identified risks for lower saturations within the overall population. Saturations were lower in certain groups within the well population of infants and children, pointing to vulnerabilities not previously recognized.
May 20, 2021
- Original researchRisk factors for asthma attacks and poor control in children: a prospective observational study in UK primary care
Children who have had a previous attack and those with high levels of exhaled nitric oxide are at risk of a future attack. This study highlights the importance of measuring and recording these factors at asthma reviews in primary care.
- Original researchImproved renal allograft survival for pre-emptive paediatric renal transplant recipients in the UK
The debate about the benefit of pre-emptive kidney transplantation in paediatric patients gets support by recent data from the UK Transplant Registry. Five years graft survival rate was significantly better in pre-emptive transplantation, and dialysis's time negatively impacted.
May 14, 2021
May 12, 2021
- Original researchFacilitators and barriers to the delivery of palliative care to children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions: a qualitative study of the experiences and perceptions of healthcare professionals
Interviews with healthcare professionals explored facilitators and barriers to the use of palliative care. Implications for future practice are discussed.
May 11, 2021
- Original researchNovel strategy to personalise use of ibuprofen for closure of patent ductus arteriosus in preterm neonates
This study examines the pharmacokinetics of ibuprofen given to neonates for patent ductus arteriosus closure. Low concentrations of ibuprofen can be identified, which moves studies comparing individualised dosing a step closer.
- ReviewPaediatric narcolepsy: a review of diagnosis and management
The authors present a comprehensive review of narcolepsy in childhood, including details on our current understanding of pathophysiology, how to investigate a child when a diagnosis is suspected and suggestions for management.
May 07, 2021
- Short reportAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: parent/carer perceptions of barriers to healthcare access
Interviews with parents and carers of young people with ADHD highlight a range of barriers to accessing services and situate these difficulties in a wider network of disjointed and hard to navigate services. Solutions to improve access are proposed.
May 06, 2021
- ReviewBibliography of published COVID-19 in children literature
A paper that describes the dynamic changes in global volume of literature relating to Covid-19 in children and young people published over the first six months of the pandemic. Two thirds of all papers published described just nine patients or fewer.
May 05, 2021
May 03, 2021
April 30, 2021
- Original researchDecision-making for children requiring interhospital transport: assessment of a novel triage tool
Deciding on interhospital transport of unwell and potentially critically ill children is not necessarily straightforward. The authors describe a new tool to help decision making and communication in this process.
April 27, 2021
- Original researchBlood enterovirus polymerase chain reaction testing in young febrile infants
Using an observational design, the authors explored the utility of PCR diagnosis of enterovirus in the assessment of risk for invasive bacterial infection (IBI) in febrile infants. They found that Blood ev-PCR identifies a subset of <90 day old infants very unlikely to have IBI.
April 21, 2021
- Original researchIntimate partner violence and child outcomes at age 10: a pregnancy cohort
In an Australian pregnancy cohort, maternal report of intimate partner violence is associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes for their children at age 10 years.
April 20, 2021
- Original researchUltrasound for the diagnosis of malrotation and volvulus in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review and meta-analysis of the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis of intestinal malrotation and volvulus found moderate quality evidence for ultrasound as the first-line diagnostic test for this emergency condition in children.
April 16, 2021
- Original researchFeeding disorders in children with oesophageal atresia: a cross-sectional study
This study of patients from the French national network oesophageal atresia (OA) registry used a standardised questionnaire to investigate the frequency of feeding disorders. These were diagnosed in 42%, of whom over a third had failed to thrive. The authors advocate systematic feeding assessment in follow up of children operated on for OA.
April 15, 2021
- ReviewRecommendations by the European Network of Paediatric Research at the European Medicines Agency (Enpr-EMA) Working Group on preparedness of clinical trials about paediatric medicines process
Clinical trials in children require careful preparation, or they risk avoidable delays. This report provides a structured approach to clinical trial preparation for paediatric populations, and includes practical suggestions to improve the process based on learning from industry, regulators, sites, and patient advocates.
April 14, 2021
- ReviewEthical issues in treatment of babies born at 22 weeks of gestation
Ethical examination of current guidance and practice with respect to resuscitating 22 weekers.
- Images in paediatricsImportance of the arc of Riolan in children with severe middle aortic syndrome
- Clinical law for clinical practiceRemote consultations and patient images: actual pitfalls in virtual practice
- Original researchIntrathecal baclofen pumps in the management of hypertonia in childhood: a UK and Ireland wide survey
All twelve centres in Great Britain and Ireland that provide intrathecal baclofen therapy report results over a 5 month period. There is considerable variation in referral criteria and the way it is used. There is a need for greater standardisation of ITB therapy to ensure equality of provision.
April 12, 2021
- Original researchRecovery from chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review—heterogeneity of definition limits study comparison
Significant differences in definitions of recovery, result in highly varied reported recovery rates for chronic fatigue syndrome. Consensus definitions of recovery are needed, the authors recommend that recovery may be best defined from the child's own perspective.
April 08, 2021
March 30, 2021
- Original researchMelatonin for non-operating room sedation in paediatric population: a systematic review and meta-analysis
This systematic review evaluates the evidence supporting melatonin's efficacy and safety for sedation, alone and in combination.
March 19, 2021
- Original researchExperiences of adolescents living with Silver-Russell syndrome
In depth qualitative interviews with young people growing up with Silver- Russell syndrome identified multiple psychosocial challenges. Currently young people are discharged and not monitored into adulthood. This may need to change
March 18, 2021
- Original researchSharing a household with children and risk of COVID-19: a study of over 300 000 adults living in healthcare worker households in Scotland
Many parents know that having young children in the house means they get frequent respiratory viral infections. Is this the same for COVID, which is less frequent and less severe in children? This cohort study finds that having young children in the house reduces the risk of COVID.
March 16, 2021
- Original researchPost-COVID-19 paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome: association of ethnicity, key worker and socioeconomic status with risk and severity
In a cohort of children from South East England, there was some evidence for potentially higher risk & severity in groups with higher deprivation and in ethnic minoritys. The finding warrant further investigation.
- Original researchInfluence of agents and mechanisms of injury on anatomical burn locations in children <5 years old with a scald
This cross-sectional study collected standardised data from 20 hospital sites in England and Wales on over 1000 children presenting acutely with scalds. Mechanisms of injury and distribution of scalds are described, with data on referrals to child protection agencies.