Asian Journal of Pediatric Research

The Role of Increased Physical Activities in Enhancing the Academic Achievements of Children

Ehab Aly Kilany Aly — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The main focus of this study lies in assessing the impact of increased physical activities and fitness of children on their studies. Parents and teachers are seen to play a very important role in the upbringing of toddlers. It is their positive or negative influence that shapes the confidence level, activity, and social standing of these children among their peers. Over the past few years, it has been observed that children are seen to be more inclined towards using their gadgets, smartphones, and other video games that keep them occupied for hours. While at one hand, this is somewhat comforting for the parents that their children are tending themselves, this has seen to have a very negative impact on the developing brains of these children. These increased unhealthy activities and sedentary lifestyles make them dull, less focused, and discouraged from their academics and studies. To resolve this problem, experts have found that increasing the physical activity of young children could help enhance their productivity and performance in their academics. Not only can physical activities help in achieving the desired goals of increased performance, but can also strengthen the brain and its capabilities to enable them to perform better in life.

The Effectiveness of Combining Ipratropium Bromide and Salbutamol for the Treatment of Acute Severe Exacerbation of Asthma in Children: A Literature Review

Ehab Aly Kilany Aly — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The most common symptoms of asthma include episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, and cough. When a person develops asthma in their childhood, it is usually seen to arise as a consequence of hay fever or allergic rhinitis and eczema, or atopic dermatitis. Maternal factors during the prenatal period have been found to be responsible to some extent in some infants, however, the role of breastfeeding and other nutritional allergies as the causes of asthma stands out to be unclear and controversial. The maintenance therapy of asthma in children comprises the following options, which are recommended to be used symptom-wise and only after keeping all the safety guidelines in mind. The combination therapy has been found to be very useful in treating asthma and reducing the complications that arise due to it.

Research Progress on the Role of Inflammation in Kawasaki Disease

Li Huirong, Jia Kunpeng, Gao Chunyan, Jiao Fuyong — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

As the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease continues to evolve, researchers have proposed a number of hypotheses, from viral infections, genetic and environmental influences, to toxin-mediated autoinflammatory responses.More and more attention has been paid to the role of inflammation in KD (Kawasaki disease) pathogenesis.Objective: To explore the role of inflammation in Kawasaki disease and to provide a new idea for the diagnosis and treatment of KD.Methods: A systematic search was conducted from PubMed and CNKI databases (last updated on March 31, 2023) for relevant and qualified articles evaluating the role of inflammation in KD. Results: The research results of the last five years were selected from these articles for meta-analysis.Conclusion: Through comprehensive analysis, we conclude that inflammatory response is the main process of vascular damage in Kawasaki disease, especially the NLRP3 inflammasome which plays an important role.However, the etiology and pathogenesis of KD are very complex, and inflammation is only one manifestation. More and more studies have shown that inflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease, which has been recognized,and we comprehensively describe some important roles and latest research perspectives of inflammation in Kawasaki disease.

Diode Laser Aided Frenectomy for Severe Ankyloglossia – A Case Report

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ankyloglossia is a congenital disorder that develops when the inferior lingual frenulum is excessively short and attaches to the tip of the tongue, restricting its movements. It results in limited tongue mobility, which in turn affects speech and also leads to growth discrepancies. Diode lasers can be utilized as a secure surgical tool for correcting tongue tie using a minimally invasive dentistry technique and for also easing young patients' anxiety towards dental treatment. The use of a diode laser with a 976 nm wavelength for frenectomy procedures has been reported only in a few numbers till date. Hence, this paper describes the case of 13 year old male patient with the complaint of restricted tongue movements and speech difficulties and its management. Early detection and appropriate surgical intervention are the crucial factors to avoid problems related with Ankyloglossia and help the patients to lead a better life.

Spinal Muscle Atrophy (SMA) in a 5 Years Old Girl from Macedonia: Case Report

Stefan Bittmann , Elisabeth Luchter, Lara Bittmann, Aysel Shirinova — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Spinal muscular atrophies are inherited diseases in which nerve cells in the spinal cord and brainstem regress, causing progressive muscle weakness and wasting. There are five main types of spinal muscular atrophy, which are classified according to the severity of muscle weakness and wasting. Depending on the type, one may be confined to a wheelchair, and life expectancy may also be limited. Based on symptoms, the diagnosis can be proven through family history, muscle and nerve function studies, and blood tests to determine the location of the defective gene. Spinal muscular atrophies are usually inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Thus, for a person to inherit the disease, two genes are necessary, one from each parent. The group of SMA disease in childhood can affect the brain and spinal cord as well as the peripheral nerves. We present a case of a 5 years old girl with spinal muscle atrophy and analyze the different new therapeutical options and future research in the field of spinal muscular atrophy in childhood.

“Watch them Young – Treat them Grow”: Management of Developing Anterior Cross Bite in Mixed Dentition Period Using Versatile 2x4 Appliance

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The primary care of the Paediatric dentist is guidance of the child’s developing dentition, in accordance with the stage of orofacial growth and development . Anterior dental crossbite results from the lingual position of the maxillary anterior teeth in relationship with mandibular anterior teeth. In any type of crossbite correction, the practitioner must be able to delineate whether crossbite is of dental origin or skeletal origin . Dental Crossbite involves the localized tipping of a tooth or teeth, does not involve the basal bone . In case of simple anterior dental crossbite, the patient presents a normal skeletal pattern with abnormalities presenting in the axial inclination of the affected teeth. According to Profitt, first adequate space needs to be opened to bring the displaced tooth or teeth across the occlusion into its proper position for anterior dental crossbite correction. Certain malocclusions should be corrected during the mixed dentition period which aids in the normal growth of jaws and surrounding structures. This article describes successful management of anterior segmental cross bite case treated using 2 x 4 appliance. The 2 x 4 appliance is a partially fixed orthodontic appliance that is used in children in a mixed dentition period to correct simple malocclusions associated with permanent anterior teeth.

Ectopic Testis, Pubo-Penile: A Rare Entity

Nitin Jain , Simmi K. Ratan — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Pubo-penile ectopic testis is a rare congenital anomaly in which the testis is situated along the penile shaft or along its root. We are reporting a rare case of penile testicular ectopia whose etiopathogenesis is poorly understood. We describe one case of Pubo-penile ectopic testis in a Eleven-years-old child. The diagnosis was made on physical examination alone. The condition was present since birth but child presented late and successfully treated.

Clinical Description: 9 yrs old male child presented with swelling along base of penis since birth. On examination, left hemi-scrotum was empty with poorly developed scrotal sac. External genitalia was normal and appropriately developed. There was a single, firm, well defined, non-tender, mobile, oval shaped swelling of size 3.5 X 2.5cms, palpable at the base of the penis. Right sided testis was normally placed in scrotum. Testicular sensations were intact.

Management: Ultrasound abdomen and inguino-scrotal region was done & it confirmed the ectopic location of the testis. Incision was given over the swelling at the base of penis to mobilise the testis along with spermatic cord and it was taken through the superficial ring in to the scrotum by small inguinal incision. Orchidopexy was done & testis was anchored in the left extra dartos pouch. Postoperative period was uneventful and child was doing good in follow-up.

Conclusion: Pubo-penile ectopic testis is rare. Examination of a child with an empty scrotum should include examination of all potential ectopic sites. The diagnosis is based on physical examination. Treatment is surgical and long-term prognosis is excellent.

EFMR Syndrome: Epilepsy and Mental Retardation Restricted to Females in Childhood

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Epilepsy with intelligence impairment, restricted to the female sex, is a rare X-linked epilepsy syndrome. It is characterized by febrile or afebrile seizures, mainly tonic-clonic, but also absence, myoclonic, and atonic beginning in the first years of life. In most cases, developmental delay and intelligence impairment of varying severity is present. Behavioral disorders, autistic traits, hyperactivity, and aggressiveness are commonly associated. This disease exclusively affects females. Male carriers are not affected despite an X-linked inheritance.

Liver Organoid Research: Present Situation, limiting Factors and Future Therapeutical Potential in Pediatric Diseases

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Organoids are three-dimensional, organ-like cell assemblies in which different cell types have organized themselves in a way that is approximately typical for the corresponding organ in the body. They show three characteristics: self-organization, multicellularity and functionality. The range of organs that can be studied with organoids is growing rapidly and includes the brain, intestine, kidney, stomach, pancreas, lung, liver, prostate, esophagus, gallbladder, and the female reproductive tract, among others, and also the embryo. Organoids are grown either from pluripotent stem cells or from tissue-specific adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are present in a large number of tissues and are responsible for renewing the cells in these tissues. They can only give rise to the cell types that are present in the particular tissue, the stem cell of the intestinal epithelium only produces cells of the intestinal epithelium, but not muscle cells or nerve cells. They are thus multipotent. Today, it is possible to reconstruct organ-like tissue organoids in the laboratory. Stem cells are thereby induced to differentiate by molecular signals and grown in culture systems that promote their three-dimensional self-organization. Rapidly developing organoid technology makes it possible to phenotypically copy cell structure. To some extent, this is also true for the functions of various human organs (for example, brain, thyroid, thymus, intestine, liver, pancreas, stomach, lung, kidney) and even early-stage embryos. As near-physiological 3D culture systems, organoids open up new possibilities to study the development of healthy and diseased organs and offer great potential for translational research.

Aims and Objectives: This manuscript concentrates on liver organoid research and its future role in different pediatric diseases.

Hyaline Membrane Disease in Premature Infants: A Retrospective Study

S. Benracon , M. A. Redouani , I. Ouadghiri , A. Barkat — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Hyaline membrane disease (HMD) is an anatomoclinical entity related to a quantitative or qualitative insufficiency of pulmonary surfactant.

Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Reference Center for Neonatology and Nutrition, spread over a period of one and a half years.

Results: Antenatal corticotherapy was given in only 20% of cases. Pregnancy pathology was divided between preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension. 66.6% of deliveries were by caesarean section before the onset of labour. Mean gestational age was 33.9± 1.5 weeks' amenorrhea, with 10% of patients less than 30 weeks' amenorrhea of gestational age. Mean weight was 1677 ± 463 g. The very low birth weight population (birth weight< 1500) represented 46.6%. Females predominated, with a sex ratio of 1.12. Tracheal intubation with respiratory assistance was used in 66.6% of cases. 73% of neonates received exogenous surfactant, due to the extent of hypoxemia. Progression was favourable in only 26% of cases.

Conclusion: In Morocco, Hyaline membrane disease is a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, requiring rapid diagnosis and early management.

Tuberculous Osteomyelitis Presenting as a Sternal Mass in Paediatric Patient: A Case Report

C. Nasmi , A. Radi , R. Abilkassem , A. Agadr — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Sternal tuberculosis is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and it can be a diagnostic challenge for pediatricians.

Case Presentation: We report the case of a young 14-year-old boy, who had a gradually increasing swelling of the sternum over the past 2 months preceded by weight loss, asthenia and night sweats. Radiological, histological, and microbiological investigations confirmed it as a case of sternal tuberculosis (TB). He was managed with surgical debridement during the sternal biopsy and quadruple antituberculosis therapy with good response.

Discussion: Tuberculosis (TB) of sternum is one of the rarest forms of skeletal tuberculosis. The incidence of sternal tuberculosis has been calculated to be <1.5% amongst osteo-articular tuberculosis, with very few cases reported in infants. The diagnosis is based on histological and bacteriologic arguments.

Conclusion: Tuberculous osteomyelitis of the sternum is a rare finding in children. Our aim is to increase awareness around atypical presentations and the uncommon involvement of the sternum in musculoskeletal tuberculosis.

A Case Report on Congenital Nasal Pyriform Aperture Stenosis

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis is a rare cause of neonatal respiratory distress.

Observation: A female neonate was born by cesarean section at 39 SA for hydramnios, triple scarred uterus and macrosomia. He was macrosomic and had no facial dysmorphia, he presented at H1 of life with respiratory distress and noisy mouth breathing. He cyanosed with each feeding attempt. On facial CT, the choanae were patent with a median central incisor and piriformis orifice stenosis. Nasal breathing gradually normalized. The hospitalization lasted 8 days with a good evolution.

Discussion: Congenital piriformis stenosis is a rare cause of congenital nasal obstruction. The association with median incisor syndrome is not exceptional. Diagnosis must be made early for proper management. Cyanosis and false airway can be life threatening. Associated abnormalities should be investigated by CT and MRI. Treatment is variable and may be surgical if the stenosis is severe. The prognosis is good in the absence of severe malformations or associated mental retardation.

Conclusion: In case of neonatal respiratory distress, the Congenital pyriformis stenosis must be among the causes, a rapid diagnostic assessment and management are necessary.