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Song-Chei Huang

Publications and source records attributed to Song-Chei Huang.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Diagnostic approach to recurrent bacterial meningitis in children.

Recurrence of bacterial meningitis in children is not only potentially life-threatening, but also involves or induces psychological trauma to the patients through repeated hospitalization and multiple invasive investigations if the underlying cause remains undetected. Bacteria migration, along congenital or acquired pathways from the skull or spinal dural defects, gains entrance into the central nervous system (CNS) and should be taken into consideration when children face recurrent bacterial meningitis, however, symptoms and signs of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea or otorrhea are rare in such patients. Without evidence of CSF leakage, a cranial symptom/sign or coccygeal cutaneous stigmata may suggest the approximate lesion site, diagnosis and detection remains difficult. To detect an occult dural lesion along the craniospinal axis, such as basal encephalocele, dermal sinus tract, or neurenteric cyst, a detailed clinical evaluation and the use of the modern diagnostic imaging methods is necessary. Because of the possibility of concomitant occurrence of more than one malformation, both the frontal and the lateral skull base should be carefully evaluated. Precise localization of the dural lesion is a prerequisite for successful surgical repair. In addition, the bacteria specificity could leave significant clues: Pneumoccocus or Hemophilus suggests cranial dural defects, E. coli or other gram negative bacilli suggests spinal dural defects, and meningococci suggest immunologic deficiency. Asplenia or immunodeficiency such as complement or immunoglobulin deficiency rarely causes recurrent meningitis without a history of frequent infection of non-CNS areas. Salmonella meningitis or brain abscess should not be treated incompletely or inadequately and could lead to recrudescence, relapse or recurrence of bacterial meningitis. Antibiotic (penicillin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) induced meningitis may repetitively occur on occasion.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea↗
PubMed2004

Seizures complicating infantile and childhood bacterial meningitis.

In this study, 116 patients, at least 1 month of age but younger than 5 years, were identified with culture-proven bacterial meningitis. A comparison was made between the clinical data of the patients with and without seizures during hospitalization. Seizures during acute bacterial meningitis accounted for 47% (55/116) of the episodes. Time interval between the onset of bacterial meningitis and that of seizures was 1 to 20 days (mean, 4 days). Twelve of these 55 patients had one or more afebrile seizures after completing the treatment. At follow-up of at least 1 year after completing treatment, 26 patients had good outcomes, whereas the other 29 patients had poor outcomes. A strong correlation between the findings of abnormalities through neuroimaging and the occurrence of seizures during hospitalization was observed. The long-term outcomes of patients with infantile and childhood bacterial meningitis, who had seizures during the acute phase of bacterial meningitis, were worse than the outcomes of those who did not have such seizures. No child developed late seizures unless there were acute seizures. Factors associated with seizures during acute bacterial meningitis include disturbed consciousness on admission, abnormal neuroimaging findings, and low glucose and high concentration of total proteins in cerebrospinal fluid.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2004

Bacterial meningitis in infants: the epidemiology, clinical features, and prognostic factors.

This 16-year (1986-2001) retrospective study enrolled 80 infantile patients (aged, 30-365 days old) with culture-proven bacterial meningitis. The most prevalent pathogens were Salmonellaspecies, Streptococcus (S.) agalactiae, Escherichia (E.) coli, and Haemophilus (H.) influenzae, accounting for about 59% of the episodes. Meningitis caused by Salmonella species, E. coli and H. influenzae occurs more often in the older infants, while that caused by S. agalactiae occurs more often in young infants. Our study revealed a decrease in the proportion of Salmonella meningitis from 27% in the first 8 years to 9% in the second 8 years with E. coli replacing Salmonella species as the leading pathogen of this disease during the second period. Overall mortality rate for both periods of time was 11%. However, if we take those with undesirable poor outcomes into account, 43% of patients could be considered treatment failures. The study also reveals a high prevalence of neurological complications when this disease is caused by H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and Salmonella species. Stepwise logistic regression analysis revealed that only initial changing levels of consciousness (P = 0.006) were independently associated with treatment failure. The most frequent neurological complications associated with this disease included subdural empyema, hydrocephalus, cerebral infarctions, and seizures. Because therapeutic regimens may require attention to the eradication of bacterial pathogen but also the neurological complications, early diagnosis and choice of appropriate antibiotics are essential to increasing the possibility of survival.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

A clinical and electrophysiologic survey of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome.

In this 16-year (1986-2001) retrospective study, 23 childhood patients were identified with Guillain-Barré syndrome. According to clinical and electrophysiologic findings, 18 patients manifested acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, 2 had Miller Fisher syndrome, 1 had axonal forms, and 2 were unclassified. Seasonal preponderance was evident in 39% of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, developing the disease in the winter (November to January) with upper respiratory infection the most frequent preceding event. The most common manifestation was limb weakness, with various degrees of motor weakness in 22 patients. Bulbar involvement was the most common cranial palsy, and it was evident in 30% of the episodes. Only one of these progressed to mechanical ventilation during hospitalization. Altogether, approximately 61% of the episodes exhibited sensory symptoms. At a follow-up of 1 year or more, 20 patients recovered and 3 had residua. Furthermore, no fatality occurred in our study. Our study also demonstrates that the clinical course of childhood Guillain-Barré syndrome has a shorter recovery time as compared with an adult patient group. Therapeutic outcome is favorable for patients who receive prompt treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges of pediatric patients in Taiwan.

Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges are special electroencephalographic abnormalities present in adults with stroke, brain tumor, intracranial hemorrhage, or other rare etiologies. Few reports focused on the etiologies in pediatric patients. We retrospectively reviewed 8002 of our pediatric electroencephalographic records for the past 12 years and listed all associated illness and their outcomes. Forty-four children with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges were collected. We found that there was an obvious difference in etiologies of our pediatric patients from those reported in the literature. Nearly two thirds of our patients (28 children) were associated with central nervous system infections. The other etiologies included head injury, encephalopathy, epilepsy, and others. Herpes simplex virus was responsible for two thirds (12) of the 18 children with identified pathogens causing a central nervous system infection. Ten patients failed to have a defined pathogen. Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges have a different clinical significance in pediatric patients than in adults. In Taiwan, central nervous system infection is the most common etiology of periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges in pediatric patients. Herpes simplex virus, although the most common pathogen, should not be considered to be the only cause of encephalitis in children with periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Neonatal bacterial meningitis in southern Taiwan.

To determine the epidemiologic trends, prognostic factors, and therapeutic results of neonatal bacterial meningitis, 60 neonatal patients with culture-proven neonatal bacterial meningitis were enrolled in this study. To compare changes over time, the appearance of disease among the patients was divided into two equal periods (1986-1993 and 1994-2001). Group B streptococci were the most common causative pathogens, accounting for approximately 32% of the episodes. Escherichia coli, the next most common pathogen, was more frequently observed in the second period. Seventy-seven percent of gram-negative bacilli isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Moreover, oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus and ampicillin-resistant group B streptococci strains occurred in the second periods as late-onset neonatal bacterial meningitis. The overall mortality rates for the first and second study period were 17% and 8%, respectively. However, if individuals with poor outcomes were taken into account, 38% of patients were considered treatment failures. Significant prognostic factors included the presence of seizures, thrombocytopenia, and high cerebrospinal fluid protein and low cerebrospinal fluid glucose concentration. Although the mortality rate was significantly reduced in the second period, there has been increasing incidence of the emergence of resistant strains presenting a therapeutic challenge. The presentation in neonatal bacterial meningitis might be nonspecific, and blood culture results were negative in 45% of the episodes. Early diagnosis, choice of appropriate antibiotics, and correction of metabolic derangement are essential to improving outcomes.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Echocardiographic guidance for transcatheter coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in the catheterization laboratory.

The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of transthoracic echocardiography as a guide to monitor the completeness of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion immediately after coil implantation. In all, 52 patients who underwent Gianturco coil implantation for PDA occlusion were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography within 15 minutes after the first coil implantation in the catheterization laboratory. According to Doppler echocardiographic findings, these patients were classified into 3 groups: group 1, complete occlusion without residual shunt; group 2, a residual PDA diameter < 1 mm and no continuous waveforms detected; and group 3, a residual PDA diameter >or= 1 mm or continuous waveforms. There were 34 patients in group 1, 10 patients in group 2, and 8 patients in group 3. In a 12-month follow-up the complete occlusion rate was 100%, 90%, and 87.5% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. We conclude that immediate Doppler echocardiography is useful in assessing the status of residual PDA just after coil implantation. Residual shunt < 1 mm and lack of continuous waveform on Doppler scan indicate sufficient ductal closure of PDA.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Transcranial ultrasound diagnosis of intracranial lesions in children with headaches.

The diagnostic value of transcranial ultrasound for intracranial lesions in children with headaches was evaluated. From January 1995 to December 1998, 444 children with headaches for more than 2 weeks visited our Pediatric Neurologic and Neurosurgical Outpatient Clinics. A 2-MHz-sector sonographic transducer was used to perform transcranial ultrasound. Nineteen patients were lost to follow-up. Two patients, both 15 years of age, failed to have a successful examination. Thirteen of the enrolled 423 patients presented with headaches and other symptoms and positive neurologic signs and had positive magnetic resonance imaging findings of intracranial lesions correlating with their transcranial ultrasound findings. Twelve of the remaining 410 children complaining of isolated headache had abnormal transcranial ultrasound findings. Nine of the 12 patients were confirmed to have intracranial lesions by magnetic resonance imaging studies. Among the nine patients, five had brain tumors, two patients had hydrocephalus, one patient had intracerebral hematoma, and one patient had temporal arachnoid cyst. The other three patients were misinterpreted to have a suprasellar lesion by transcranial ultrasound. These three patients and the remaining 398 children were regularly followed for at least 12 months. All revealed no evidence of an intracranial lesion. The sensitivity and specificity of transcranial ultrasound to detect intracranial lesions for children with isolated headaches were 75% and 99.7%, respectively. The average saving from utilizing this technique was $222 U.S. dollars per person. We suggest that transcranial ultrasound study is a reliable, convenient, time-saving, and economic diagnostic tool in detecting intracranial lesions in children with headaches.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Tuberculous meningitis in infancy.

The lack of specific symptoms and signs in patients with tuberculous meningitis makes early diagnosis difficult. To our knowledge, there has been no report in the literature focusing on tuberculous meningitis patients younger than 1 year of age. In this report, we reviewed the clinical features and laboratory findings of seven infants with tuberculous meningitis encountered during a 15-year period. All patients had fever, cough, and alternation of consciousness at presentation. Five patients had bulging anterior fontanel, and five had generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The purified protein derivative skin test was positive in six patients. Six patients had hyponatremia. All seven patients had abnormal cerebrospinal fluid findings, and six of them demonstrated cell counts less than 500 cells/mm(3) with lymphocytic predominance. Brain sonography examination revealed hydrocephalus in all seven patients. Therefore we conclude that antituberculosis therapy should be promptly initiated in any young infant with a clinical impression of meningitis in the context of cerebrospinal fluid white cell count of less than 500 cells/mm(3) and lymphocytic predominance, hyponatremia, and hydrocephalus.

Antitubercular Agents↗
PubMed2002

Oral wooden stick injury complicated by meningitis and brain abscess.

Meningitis is rarely seen following oral injury. We describe a 3-year-old boy developing meningitis and brain abscess following a penetrating oral wooden stick injury. There was no cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea noted. A cerebrospinal fluid culture yielded viridans streptococcus. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography revealed a multiloculated ring-enhancing mass. This patient underwent surgical drainage and completed 8-week antibiotic therapy. The patient demonstrated a late and dismal complication of a penetrating oral injury. At 2-year follow-up the patient was in good condition. A penetrating oral wooden stick inury should be regarded as potentially serious.

Brain Abscess↗