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Biomedical subjects

P Ovetchkine

Publications and source records attributed to P Ovetchkine.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Delay in diagnosis of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children.

The study reported here prospectively evaluated the time-to-diagnosis of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children in seven French pediatric emergency departments during a 1-week period. For the 29 patients included, the mean patient, doctor and total delays were 3.1, 1.5 and 4.7 days, respectively. The late medical diagnosis for 11 patients was mainly due to the treating physician's failure to consider malaria, despite having been informed that the child had been in an endemic area, and erroneously making a diagnosis of viral infection. The five patients who were diagnosed correctly without delay had higher mean platelet counts than the others (206,000 vs 118,541/mm(3); p=0.008). The results indicate that greater awareness of the risk of malaria in returning travelers may help reduce delays in diagnosis and its consequences.

Adolescent↗

[Antibiotic therapy for lower tract infections in children].

Lower respiratory tract infections in children encompass mainly bronchiolitis and community acquired pneumonia. Severity of bronchiolitis is linked to the intensity of the respiratory distress and young age. This syndrome is caused by viral infection, thus, initial antibiotherapy is not justified. In community acquired pneumonia, prognostic is dependent on the nature of the infective agent. Eventhough viruses are mainly responsible for the illness, bacterial (and particularly pneumococcal) agent cannot be ignored. Initial antibiotics must be efficient on Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Multicentre study of the molecular epidemiology, serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae invasive isolated from children in the Ille de France area.

Between January 1997 and April 2002, 73 consecutive invasive strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated from children under 16 years of age in four hospitals in suburban Paris. Their genetic diversity was investigated by serotyping and analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis restriction patterns. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were analysed by disk susceptibility testing and determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations. The genetic basis of macrolide resistance was investigated by polymerase chain reaction. Studies of penicillin and vancomycin tolerance were performed for each strain. Despite the high prevalence (45.2%) of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae, resistance to amoxicillin (1.4%) was rare, and no strain was resistant to cefotaxime. Overall, 4.1% of pneumococcal strains were resistant to penicillin. Penicillin or vancomycin tolerance was not detected in any of the 73 strains studied. Of the erythromycin-resistant strains (48%), all but one carried the ermB gene. No strains showing a decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin (MIC, >4 mg/l) or overexpressing an efflux pump inhibited by reserpine were isolated. The serotypes found, in order of frequency, were as follows: 18C, 14, 6B, 19F, 19A, 9V, 23F, 1, 7F, 9A, 38. Strains of penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae belonged predominantly to serotypes 14, 6B, 9V, 9A, 23F, 19F and 19A. The seven-valent conjugated vaccine covered 85.5% of the serogroups isolated in children under 2 years of age and 65.6% of the serogroups identified in children over 2 years of age. The genetic analysis showed a high identity for some serotypes, such as 14/9V, 6B and 23F. The use of the seven-valent conjugated vaccine is a critical measure to prevent invasive pneumococci infections in children in the Ille de France area.

Adolescent↗

[Compliance with the vaccination recommendations for 0- to 24-month-old infants in general or paediatric practice].

PURPOSE: To describe the vaccine practice of general practitioners and paediatricians for the 0-24-month-old infants and their deviations to the official recommendations. RESULTS: One thousand three hundred and fifty-five practitioners, 46 +/- 8-year-old took part in the survey. Among them 42.7% were general practitioners and 57.3% were paediatrician. Only one third of them, strictly complied with the official vaccination recommendation (33.1%). This percentage was higher for the general practitioners (43.4%) than for the paediatricians (25.5% P < 0.001). When practitioners adapted the vaccination program, their modifications essentially concerned the first administration of the DTCP Hib vaccine, which was delayed of 1 or 2 months. Some vaccines were specifically concerned by the modifications. The ROR was delayed and the vaccination coverage reached only 75% at 18 months. General practitioners adapted the vaccination calendar more often than paediatricians (16.9 vs. 9.0%: P < 0.05). The B Hepatitis vaccination schedule was the most frequently adapted one by general practitioners as well as paediatricians to deal with multiple injections (53.5%), and the age of the infants (39.1%). CONCLUSION: The availability of hexavalent vaccination containing B Hepatitis should contribute to increase the vaccination coverage of the population against B Hepatitis and could allow an antipneumococcal vaccination through an heptavalent vaccine without increasing the number of injections. On the other hand, general practitioners and paediatricians must actively contribute to increase the ROR vaccination coverage.

Adult↗

[Secondary effects of vaccinations].

The adverse effects of vaccines include local reactions and systemic symptoms or illnesses. Local reactions are frequent, most often presenting as transient pain, redness, edema and/or nodule. Fever of short duration is the main systemic symptom, generally occurring within 24-48 hours following vaccination. Some vaccines have recognized specific adverse effects such as thrombocytopenic purpura for the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, and febrile convulsions for the pertussis vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine have been respectively suspected to be responsible for neurological demyelinating disease and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, but large-scale epidemiological studies have failed to confirm these allegations.

Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems↗

[Mortality due to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in children. A 5-year retrospective study in Ile-de-France].

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community acquired infections. We conducted a 5 years retrospective study to assessed mortality of pneumococcal infections in children in the area of Paris. Regarding the provided answers, the mortality rate is 0.3/100.000/year in the 0-15 years old children. The majority of them are toddlers. Only 30% of cases occurred in high-risk children. Meningitis was the main cause of death. Pneumococcal resistance to antibiotics did not appear as a risk factor of mortality.

Adolescent↗

Current approaches to otitis media.

Acute otitis media is the most commonly diagnosed illness in children, and is one of the most common reasons for antibiotic prescription. In many countries, antibiotic resistance is increasing among the bacteria that are implicated in acute otitis media, particularly Streptococcus pneumoniae. This evolution should stimulate changes in the management of acute otitis media, particularly the following: improvement in diagnostic accuracy; reduction in antibiotic use; selection of the most appropriate drugs at the appropriate dosage; reduction in duration of treatment, when possible; and implementation of new vaccines.

Acute Disease↗

[Marshall syndrome: results of a retrospective national survey].

Marshall's syndrome or periodic fever syndrome was first described in 1987 in the USA based on observations of 12 children under the age of five with periodic fever (> 38 degrees C) and accompanying aphtous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy (PFAPA). In 1998, a national retrospective study was carried out in France by the pediatric infectious pathology group, and a semeiological analysis was made of 22 cases. The main characteristics of Marshall's syndrome found in this patient population were in agreement with those reported in the literature. The onset of symptoms occurred between the age of 3 months and 12 years, with a mean age of 5 years; no geographical or ethnic predisposing factors were noted. The diagnosis of symptoms was subsequently established at an age ranging from 5 months to 16 years, with a mean age of 6.5 years. It was determined that following an initial phase of generalized clinical manifestations (asthenia, cranial neuritis, dysphagia, anorexia), the symptoms become stereotyped, with the sudden appearance of high fever (> 40 degrees C), shivering, aphtous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenopathy. Other symptoms such as cranial neuritis, arthralgia, and abdominal pain may also be present (50% of cases in the present study), but due to their variability of appearance they are of lesser diagnostic value. The main characteristic of Marshall's syndrome is its periodic aspect; with fever occurring every 6 to 9 weeks, with a mean interval of 66 days before recurrence of fever compared to the shorter interval of 21 to 28 days reported in the literature. After excluding the presence of an infection, the differential diagnosis includes the following: familial Mediterranean fever, hyper IgD syndrome, and feverish neutropenia. During the periods of fever, an inflammatory syndrome with hyperleucocytosis and a marked increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and sedimentation rate is observed. The most effective treatment seems to be the early administration of corticoids during the initial phase, prior to the appearance of more specific symptoms. The prognosis is excellent, with a progressive decrease in the incidence of periodic fever and an absence of complications. However, the etiology of Marshall's syndrome has not yet been determined.

Adolescent↗

[Recurrent otitis: what is the place of complementary examinations].

Recurrent otitis media is defined by the occurrence of three episodes of acute otitis media in a year. Several risk factors are now well recognized, particularly the occurrence before six months of age of a first episode of otitis media, day care centers, and upper respiratory tract infections (rhinopharyngitis). In most cases biological or radiological investigations are of little interest. They are only indicated in case of persistent recurrent episodes, despite eviction of all risk factors and adenoidectomy, and mainly in case of association with bronchopulmonary pathology.

Adenoidectomy↗

[Prevention of antibiotic resistance needs informed parents].

Antibiotic resistance is becoming worldwide a major challenge. Increasing rate of multidrug resistant bacteria is directly linked with the consumption of antibiotic. Children are the greatest consumers of antibiotics, but this large pediatric prescription is not justified, and responds, at least in part, to a "parental pressure". Therefore information to the parents about antibiotic is recommended. In order to promote this information the American Academy of Pediatrics recently wrote a booklet entitled "Your child and antibiotics" which is presented.

Adult↗

[Immunization schedule in the European Union].

All nations that are part of the European Union share the same aim for the control and eradication of vaccine-preventable diseases. However, there are differences in child immunization strategies and schedules between nations, depending upon health care systems, immunization habits and epidemiology of infectious diseases. All nations immunize children against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, measles, rubella and mumps. Immunization against pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae, hepatitis B and tuberculosis are not systematically applied.

Adolescent↗

[Acute tonsillitis: towards a new therapeutic strategy].

There is a need for revising the current practice for treatment of acute tonsillitis in France, i.e., systematic antibiotic treatment. There are three main reasons for this revision: 1) group A betahemolytic streptococcus is involved in only 20% of acute tonsillitis (80% being viral); 2) rheumatic fever has become very rare; 3) efficient rapid diagnostic tests are now available, allowing a selection of patients with streptococcal tonsillitis who must be treated.

Acute Disease↗

[Kawasaki syndrome].

Kawasaki disease or mucocutaneous lymph-node syndrome has been described in Japan in 1967. Diagnostic criteria are clinical. The diagnosis must be evoked when a child less than 5-year-old has fever lasting for 5 days or more, particularly if associated with conjonctivitis, cheilitis, rash, or adenomegaly. Kawasaki disease is a vasculitis and can lead to lesions of the coronary arteries which are more frequent in younger infants. Intravenous gammaglobulins (in the first 10 days) lower the frequency of coronary lesions. Aetiology is still unknown but recent advances support the hypothesis that bacterial superantigens are involved.

Child, Preschool↗

[Fast diagnostic tests in the management of group A beta-heamolytic streptococcal pharyngitis].

OBJECTIVE: Routine clinical diagnosis of Streptococcus pyogenes in pharyngitis is not always easy. The use in common practice of rapid diagnosis test (RDT), might offer a best control of the antibiotic treatments. The aim of this study is to present seven rapid diagnosis tests, to assess their feasibility and finally to determine the bacteriological correlation. METHOD: We propose to compare the results obtained with seven RDT, and to assess their interest in medical diagnosis for group A streptococcus pharyngitis. A prospective study was conducted for three months, a RDT was performed for children (n=75) between eight and fourteen years old presenting acute pharyngitis. Several throat sampling were performed to order cultures. RESULTS: The group A streptococcus was isolated in 33% (n=25) of throat sampling. Comparing cultures results, and for all studied tests, we obtained comparable performances with manufacturer data, specificity upper than 94% and sensitivity upper than 88%. CONCLUSION: All assessed RDT may offer to physicians a decision-making tool for rapid diagnosis. However, because of its complexity, the agglutination test can be used only in pathology laboratories.

Adolescent↗