Early Caries Predicts Low Oral Health-Related Quality of Life at a Later Age

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) is the perceived impact of one's own oral health on daily life. Oral diseases influence children's OHRQOL directly, but OHRQOL might also be related to oral health experiences from the past. We investigate the relation between dental caries at the age of 6 with OHRQOL assessed at the age of 10. This study was conducted within the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. Caries experience was assessed with the decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (dmft) at a median age of 6.09 years (90% range: 5.73-6.80). OHRQOL was assessed with a short form of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile at the children's age of 9.79 years (9.49-10.44). In total, 2,833 children participated in this study, of whom 472 (16.6%) had mild caries (dmft 1-3) and 228 (8.0%) had severe caries (dmft >3). The higher the dmft score at the age of 6, the lower the OHRQOL at the age of 10 (p < 0.001). The children with severe caries at the age of 6 had significantly higher odds of being in the lowest OHRQOL quartile at the age of 10 (OR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.17-2.45). Our study highlights the importance of oral health during childhood, because those who get a compromised start to oral health are much more likely to follow a trajectory which will lead to poor oral health (-related QOL) later. OHRQOL is not only related to current oral health experiences but also to oral health experiences from the past.

Sirolimus for epilepsy in children with tuberous sclerosis complex: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibitors could reduce seizure frequency in children with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

METHODS

Due to slow inclusion rate, target inclusion of 30 children was not reached. Twenty-three children with TSC and intractable epilepsy (age 1.8-10.9 years) were randomly assigned (1:1) to open-label, add-on sirolimus treatment immediately or after 6 months. Sirolimus was titrated to trough levels of 5-10 ng/mL. Primary endpoint was seizure frequency change during the sixth month of sirolimus treatment.

RESULTS

Intention-to-treat analysis showed sirolimus treatment resulted in 41% seizure frequency decrease (95% confidence interval [CI] -69% to +14%; p = 0.11) compared to the standard-care period. Per protocol analysis of 14 children who reached sirolimus target trough levels in the sixth sirolimus month showed a seizure frequency decrease of 61% (95% CI -86% to +6%; p = 0.06). Cognitive development did not change. All children had adverse events. Five children discontinued sirolimus prematurely.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe a randomized controlled trial for a non-antiepileptic drug that directly targets a presumed causal mechanism of epileptogenesis in a genetic disorder. Although seizure frequency decreased, especially in children reaching target trough levels, we could not show a significant benefit. Larger trials or meta-analyses are needed to investigate if patients with TSC with seizures benefit from mTORC1 inhibition. This trial was registered at trialregister.nl (NTR3178) and supported by the Dutch Epilepsy Foundation.

CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE

This study provides Class III evidence that sirolimus does not significantly reduce seizure frequency in children with TSC and intractable epilepsy. The study lacked the precision to exclude a benefit from sirolimus.

Genotype and brain pathology phenotype in children with tuberous sclerosis complex

Structural brain malformations associated with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) are related to the severity of the clinical symptoms and can be visualized by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Tuberous Sclerosis Complex is caused by inactivating TSC1 or TSC2 mutations. We investigated associations between TSC brain pathology and different inactivating TSC1 and TSC2 variants, and examined the potential prognostic value of subdivision of TSC2 variants based on their predicted effects on TSC2 expression. We performed genotype-phenotype associations of TSC-related brain pathology on a cohort of 64 children aged 1.4-17.9 years. Brain abnormalities were assessed using MRI. Individuals were grouped into those with an inactivating TSC1 variant and those with an inactivating TSC2 variant. The TSC2 group was subdivided into changes predicted to result in TSC2 protein expression (TSC2p) and changes predicted to prevent expression (TSC2x). The TSC2 group was associated with more and larger tubers, more radial migration lines, and more subependymal nodules than the TSC1 group. Subependymal nodules were also more likely to be calcified. Subdivision of the TSC2 group did not reveal additional, substantial differences, except for a larger number of tubers in the temporal lobe and a larger fraction of cystic tubers in the TSC2x subgroup. The severity of TSC-related brain pathology was related to the presence of an inactivating TSC2 variant. Although larger studies might find specific TSC2 variants that have prognostic value, in our cohort, subdivision of the TSC2 group did not lead to better prediction.

Helicobacter pylori in children with asthmatic conditions at school age, and their mothers

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori prevalence in Western countries has been declining simultaneously with increases in childhood asthma and allergic diseases; prior studies have linked these phenomena.

AIMS

To examine the association between H. pylori colonisation in children and risk of asthma and related conditions at school age. We secondly examined additional effects of maternal H. pylori status by pairing with children's status.

METHODS

This study was embedded in a multi-ethnic population-based cohort in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. We measured anti-H. pylori and anti-CagA antibodies in serum of children obtained at age 6 years, and of their mothers obtained during midpregnancy. Asthma or related conditions were reported for children at age 6 years. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses among 3797 subjects.

RESULTS

In children, the H. pylori positivity rate was 8.7%, and 29.2% of these were CagA-positive. A child's colonisation with a CagA-negative-H. pylori strain was associated with an increased risk of asthma (Odds ratio 2.11; 95% CI 1.23-3.60), but this differed for European (3.64; 1.97-6.73) and non-European (0.52; 0.14-1.89) children. When taking into account maternal H. pylori status, only H. pylori-positive children with an H. pylori-negative mother had increased risk of asthma (2.42; 1.11-5.27), accounting for 3.4% of the asthma risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Colonisation of a European child with a CagA-negative-H. pylori strain at age 6 was associated with an increased prevalence of asthma, but there was no association for non-European children. The underlying mechanisms for the observed risk differences require further research.

Association between Bone Mass and Dental Hypomineralization

The aim of this study was to examine the association between the bone mass (bone mineral content [BMC]) and hypomineralized second primary molars (HSPMs)/molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) in 6-y-old children. This cross-sectional study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study, starting from fetal life until adulthood in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry criteria were used to score the intraoral photographs on the presence or absence of HSPMs and MIH. Bone mass was measured with a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. Intraoral photographs and DXA scans were available in 6,510 6-y-old children. Binary logistic regression models were used to study the association between the bone mass and HSPMs/MIH. In total, 5,586 children had their second primary molars assessed and a DXA scan made; 507 children were diagnosed with HSPM. Of 2,370 children with data on their permanent first molars, 203 were diagnosed with MIH. In the fully adjusted model, children with lower BMC (corrected for bone area) were more likely to have HSPMs (odds ratio, 1.13; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.26 per 1-standard deviation decrease). A lower BMC (corrected for bone area) was not associated with MIH (odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.87 to 1.20 per 1-standard deviation decrease). We observed a negative association between BMC (corrected for bone area) and HSPMs. No association was found between BMC (corrected for bone area) and MIH. Future research should focus on investigating the mechanism underlying the negative association between the bone mass and HSPMs. Our study, in a large population of 6-y-old children, adds the finding that BMC (corrected for bone size) is associated with HSPMs but not with MIH in childhood.

Behavioral and cognitive outcomes for clinical trials in children with neurofibromatosis type 1

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the appropriateness of cognitive and behavioral outcome measures in clinical trials in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) by analyzing the degree of deficits compared to reference groups, test-retest reliability, and how scores correlate between outcome measures.

METHODS

Data were analyzed from the Simvastatin for cognitive deficits and behavioral problems in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1-SIMCODA) trial, a randomized placebo-controlled trial of simvastatin for cognitive deficits and behavioral problems in children with NF1. Outcome measures were compared with age-specific reference groups to identify domains of dysfunction. Pearson r was computed for before and after measurements within the placebo group to assess test-retest reliability. Principal component analysis was used to identify the internal structure in the outcome data.

RESULTS

Strongest mean score deviations from the reference groups were observed for full-scale intelligence (-1.1 SD), Rey Complex Figure Test delayed recall (-2.0 SD), attention problems (-1.2 SD), and social problems (-1.1 SD). Long-term test-retest reliability were excellent for Wechsler scales (r > 0.88), but poor to moderate for other neuropsychological tests (r range 0.52-0.81) and Child Behavioral Checklist subscales (r range 0.40-0.79). The correlation structure revealed 2 strong components in the outcome measures behavior and cognition, with no correlation between these components. Scores on psychosocial quality of life correlate strongly with behavioral problems and less with cognitive deficits.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with NF1 show distinct deficits in multiple domains. Many outcome measures showed weak test-retest correlations over the 1-year trial period. Cognitive and behavioral outcomes are complementary. This analysis demonstrates the need to include reliable outcome measures on a variety of cognitive and behavioral domains in clinical trials for NF1.

Predicting prolonged duration of fever in children: a cohort study in primary care

BACKGROUND

Fever in children in primary care is commonly caused by benign infections, but often worries parents. Information about the duration of fever and its predictors may help in reassuring parents, leading to diminished consultation of health care.

AIM

To determine which signs and symptoms predict a prolonged duration of fever in febrile children in primary care and evaluate whether C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement has an additive predictive value for these symptoms.

DESIGN AND SETTING

A prospective cohort study at a GPs' cooperative (GPC) out-of-hours service.

METHOD

Children (aged 3 months to 6 years) presenting with fever as stated by the parents were included. Exclusion criteria were no communication in Dutch possible, previous enrolment in the study within 2 weeks, referral to the hospital directly after visiting the GPC, or no informed consent. The main outcome measure was prolonged duration of fever (>3 days) after initial contact.

RESULTS

Four-hundred and eighty children were analysed, and the overall risk of prolonged duration was 13% (63/480). Multivariate analysis combined model of patient history and physical examination showed that 'sore throat' (OR 2.8; 95% CI = 1.30 to 6.01) and 'lymph nodes palpable' (OR 1.87; 95% CI = 1.01 to 3.49) are predictive for prolonged duration of fever. The discriminative value of the model was low (AUC 0.64). CRP had no additive value in the prediction of prolonged duration of fever (OR 1.00; 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.01).

CONCLUSION

The derived prediction model indicates that only a few signs and symptoms are related to prolonged duration of fever. CRP has no additional value in this model. Overall, because the discriminative value of the model was low, the duration of fever cannot be accurately predicted.

Intergenerational reduction in Helicobacter pylori prevalence is similar between different ethnic groups living in a Western city

OBJECTIVE

Helicobacter pylori colonisation rates in childhood have declined in Western populations, but it is unknown whether this trend is similar in children of non-Western ethnic backgrounds, born in a Western country. We aimed to identify H. pylori status in children, and determine mother-to-child transmission and risk factors for colonisation.

DESIGN

Antibodies against H. pylori and cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) were measured in children participating in a population-based prospective cohort study in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Information on demographics and characteristics was collected using questionnaires.

RESULTS

We analysed the serum of 4467 children (mean age 6.2 years±0.4 SD) and compared the results with the H. pylori status of their mothers (available for 3185 children). Overall, 438 (10%) children were H. pylori-positive, of whom 142 (32%) were CagA-positive. Independent risk factors for colonisation were: maternal H. pylori positivity (OR 2.12; 95% CI 1.62 to 2.77), non-Dutch ethnicity (OR 2.05; 95% CI 1.54 to 2.73), female gender (OR 1.47; 95% CI 1.20 to 1.80) and lower maternal education level (OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.06 to 1.79). Comparing mothers and children, we found an intergenerational decrease of 76% and 77% for Hp(+)CagA(-) and Hp(+)CagA(+)-strains, respectively, consistent across all nine ethnic groups studied. Male gender, higher maternal educational level and no older siblings, were independently associated with absence of H. pylori.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the highest H. pylori and CagA prevalence was found in children of non-Dutch ethnicities, the decreased colonisation rates were uniform across all ethnic groups, implying the importance of environmental factors in H. pylori transmission in modern cities, independent of ethnicity.

Cytomegalovirus- and Epstein-Barr Virus-Induced T-Cell Expansions in Young Children Do Not Impair Naive T-cell Populations or Vaccination Responses: The Generation R Study

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) induce effector memory T-cell expansions, which are variable and potentially depend on the age at primary exposure and coinfections. We evaluated the T-cell compartment and herpesvirus infections in 6-year-old children.

METHODS

T-cell subsets and immunoglobulin G seropositivity for CMV, EBV, herpes-simplex virus 1, and varicella-zoster virus were studied in 1079 6-year-old children. A random subgroup of 225 children was evaluated for CMV and EBV seropositivity before 2 years of age and for vaccination responses against measles and tetanus.

RESULTS

CMV and EBV infections were associated with significant expansions of CD27(-) and CD27(+) effector memory T cells, respectively. These expansions were enhanced in CMV-EBV-coinfected children and were independent of varicella-zoster virus or herpes-simplex virus 1 coinfection. Naive and central memory T-cell numbers were not affected, nor were anti-tetanus and anti-measles immunoglobulin G levels. Children infected before 2 years of age showed smaller effector memory T-cell expansions than those infected between 2 and 6 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

CMV- and EBV-related T-cell expansions do not impair naive T-cell numbers or maintenance of protective responses against nonrelated pathogens. Duration of infection was not directly related to larger expansions of effector memory T cells in children, suggesting that other mechanisms affect these expansions at later age.

Impact of a clinical decision model for febrile children at risk for serious bacterial infections at the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

To assess the impact of a clinical decision model for febrile children at risk for serious bacterial infections (SBI) attending the emergency department (ED).

METHODS

Randomized controlled trial with 439 febrile children, aged 1 month-16 years, attending the pediatric ED of a Dutch university hospital during 2010-2012. Febrile children were randomly assigned to the intervention (clinical decision model; n = 219) or the control group (usual care; n = 220). The clinical decision model included clinical symptoms, vital signs, and C-reactive protein and provided high/low-risks for "pneumonia" and "other SBI". Nurses were guided by the intervention to initiate additional tests for high-risk children. The clinical decision model was evaluated by 1) area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic-curve (AUC) to indicate discriminative ability and 2) feasibility, to measure nurses' compliance to model recommendations. Primary patient outcome was defined as correct SBI diagnoses. Secondary process outcomes were defined as length of stay; diagnostic tests; antibiotic treatment; hospital admission; revisits and medical costs.

RESULTS

The decision model had good discriminative ability for both pneumonia (n = 33; AUC 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.90)) and other SBI (n = 22; AUC 0.81 (95% CI 0.72-0.90)). Compliance to model recommendations was high (86%). No differences in correct SBI determination were observed. Application of the clinical decision model resulted in less full-blood-counts (14% vs. 22%, p-value < 0.05) and more urine-dipstick testing (71% vs. 61%, p-value < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to our expectations no substantial impact on patient outcome was perceived. The clinical decision model preserved, however, good discriminatory ability to detect SBI, achieved good compliance among nurses and resulted in a more standardized diagnostic approach towards febrile children, with less full blood-counts and more rightfully urine-dipstick testing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Nederlands Trial Register NTR2381.

Infant dietary patterns and bone mass in childhood: the Generation R Study

Early life nutrition affects peak bone mass attainment. In this prospective cohort study, children with high adherence to a "dairy and whole grains" pattern in infancy had higher bone mineral density at the age of 6 years. Although the observed effects are small, our study provides insight into mechanisms linking early nutrition to bone acquisition in childhood.

INTRODUCTION

Nutrition in early life may affect peak bone mass attainment. Previous studies on childhood nutrition and skeletal health mainly focused on individual nutrients, which does not consider the cumulative effects of nutrients. We investigated the associations between dietary patterns in infancy and childhood bone health.

METHODS

This study included 2850 children participating in a population-based prospective cohort study. Dietary information was obtained from a food frequency questionnaire at the age of 13 months. Using principal component analysis, three major dietary patterns were extracted, explaining in total 30% of the variation in dietary intake. At the age of 6 years, a total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan was performed, and bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), area-adjusted BMC (aBMC), and bone area (BA) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Higher adherence score to a "dairy and whole grains" pattern was positively associated with BMD and aBMC, but not with BMC and BA. Accordingly, children in the highest quartile of the "dairy and whole grains" pattern had higher BMD (difference 3.98 mg/cm(2), 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36 to 7.61) and aBMC (difference 4.96 g, 95% CI 1.27 to 8.64) than children in the lowest quartile. Stratification for vitamin D supplementation showed that the positive associations between the "dairy and whole grains" pattern and bone outcomes were only observed in children who did not receive vitamin D supplementation. A "potatoes, rice, and vegetables" and a "refined grains and confectionery" pattern were not consistently associated with bone outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

An infant dietary pattern characterized by high intakes of dairy and cheese, whole grains, and eggs is positively associated with bone development in childhood. Further research is needed to investigate the consequences for bone health in later life.

Sugar-containing beverage intake in toddlers and body composition up to age 6 years: the Generation R study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Intake of sugar-containing beverages (SCBs) has been associated with higher body mass index (BMI) in childhood. The potential effect of SCB intake during infancy is unclear. We examined the association of SCB intake at 13 months with BMI development until 6 years and body composition at age 6 years.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

This study included 2371 Dutch children from a population-based prospective cohort study. SCB intake at 13 months was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire with validation against 24-h recalls and was standardized for total energy. BMI was calculated from repeated weight and height measurements, and age- and sex-specific s.d. scores were calculated. Adiposity was measured using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

RESULTS

In girls, higher SCB intake at 13 months was significantly associated with higher BMI at ages 2, 3, 4 and 6 years (at age 6 years BMI (s.d. score) increase 0.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) +0.00; 0.23), high versus low intake). We observed a tendency towards higher android/gynoid fat ratio in girls with high intake (s.d. increase 0.14 (95% CI -0.02; 0.29), versus low intake) but not with body fat percentage. In boys, there was no association with BMI or body composition, but boys with high SCB intake at 13 months were taller at age 6 years (s.d. increase 0.14 (95% CI +0.00; 0.27), versus low intake).

CONCLUSIONS

Higher SCB intake at 13 months was associated with higher BMI up to age 6 years in girls but not in boys. Our results imply that the unfavorable effects of SCB intake start early in life and that dietary advice regarding limiting SCB intake should already be given early in life.

The development of a diet quality score for preschool children and its validation and determinants in the Generation R Study

BACKGROUND

Although many studies have examined health effects of infant feeding, studies on diet quality shortly after the weaning and lactation period are scarce.

OBJECTIVES

Our aims were to develop and evaluate a diet score that measures overall diet quality in preschool children and to examine the sociodemographic and lifestyle determinants of this score.

METHODS

On the basis of national and international dietary guidelines for young children, we developed a diet score containing 10 components: intake of vegetables; fruit; bread and cereals; rice, pasta, potatoes, and legumes; dairy; meat and eggs; fish; oils and fats; candy and snacks; and sugar-sweetened beverages. The total score ranged from 0 to 10 on a continuous scale and was standardized to an energy intake of 1200 kcal/d with the residual method. The score was evaluated in 3629 children participating in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study. Food consumption was assessed with a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at a median age of 13 mo.

RESULTS

The mean ± SD diet score was 4.1 ± 1.3. The food-based diet score was positively associated with intakes of many nutrients, including n-3 (ω-3) fatty acids [FAs; 0.25 SD increase (95% CI: 0.22, 0.27) per 1 point increase in the diet score], dietary fiber [0.32 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.34)], and calcium [0.13 (95% CI: 0.11, 0.16)], and was inversely associated with intakes of sugars [-0.28 (95% CI: -0.31, -0.26)] and saturated fat [-0.03 (95% CI: -0.05, -0.01)]. A higher diet score was associated with several health-conscious behaviors, such as maternal folic acid supplement use during pregnancy, no smoking during pregnancy, and children watching less television.

CONCLUSION

We developed a novel food-based diet score for preschool children that could be applied in future studies to compare diet quality in early childhood and to investigate associations between diet in early childhood and growth, health, and development.

[Impact of a clinical decision model for febrile children at risk for serious bacterial infections at the emergency department: a randomized controlled trial]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of a clinical decision model for febrile children at risk for serious bacterial infections (SBI) attending the emergency department (ED).

METHOD

Randomized controlled trial with 439 febrile children, aged 1 month-16 years, attending the pediatric ED of a Dutch university hospital during 2010-2012. Febrile children were randomly assigned to the intervention (clinical decision model; n=219) or the control group (usual care; n=220). The clinical decision model included clinical symptoms, vital signs, and C-reactive protein and provided high/low-risks for "pneumonia" and "other SBI". Nurses were guided by the intervention to initiate additional tests for high-risk children. Primary patient outcome was defined as correct SBI diagnoses. Secondary process outcomes were defined as length of stay; diagnostic tests; antibiotic treatment; hospital admission; revisits and medical costs.

RESULTS

The decision model had good discriminative ability for both pneumonia (n=33; AUC 0.83 (95% CI 0.75-0.90)) and other SBI (n=22; AUC 0.81 (95% CI 0.72-0.90)). Compliance to model recommendations was high (86%). No differences in correct SBI determination was observed. Application of the clinical decision model resulted in less full-blood-counts (14% vs. 22%, p-value<0.05) and more urine-dipstick testing (71% vs. 61%, p-value<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In contrast to our expectations no substantial impact on patient outcome was perceived. The clinical decision model preserved however, good discriminatory ability to detect SBI, achieved good compliance among nurses and resulted in a more standardized diagnostic approach towards febrile children, with less full blood-counts and more rightfully urine-dipstick testing. Trial registration: Trialregister.nl: NTR2381.

[Is it time for mass screening for celiac disease?]

Celiac disease is a common condition with a variable presentation, and is frequently not recognized by the physician. Although a gluten-free diet has a positive effect on the health of the celiac patient, prevention would be even more beneficial. In this article we outline the different possibilities for primary and secondary prevention of celiac disease. Results of recent prospective studies show that at this moment primary prevention is not possible, but secondary preventive strategies can be applied to decrease the morbidity associated with this disease; mass screening is one option. Results of recent studies concerning this topic will be discussed.

Accuracy of a screening instrument to identify potential child abuse in emergency departments

Although screening for child abuse at emergency departments (EDs) increases the detection rate of potential child abuse, an accurate instrument is lacking. This study was designed to measure the accuracy of a screening instrument for detection of potential child abuse used in EDs. In a prospective cohort study at three Dutch EDs, a 6-item screening instrument for child abuse, Escape, was completed for each child visiting the ED. The data from the completed Escape instrument was used to calculate sensitivity, specificity, and the positive/negative predictive value per item. The clinical notes and conclusions of the screen instruments of all potentially abused children reported to the hospitals' Child Abuse Teams were collected and reviewed by an expert panel. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the predictors of potential abuse. Completed Escape instruments were available for 18,275 ED visits. Forty-four of the 420 children with a positive screening result, and 11 of the 17,855 children with a negative result were identified as potentially abused. Sensitivity of the Escape instrument was 0.80 and specificity was 0.98. Univariate logistic regression showed that potentially abused children were significantly more likely to have had an aberrant answer to at least one of the items, OR=189.8, 95% CI [97.3, 370.4]. Most of the children at high risk for child abuse were detected through screening. The Escape instrument is a useful tool for ED staff to support the identification of those at high risk for child abuse.

Alarming signs and symptoms in febrile children in primary care: an observational cohort study in The Netherlands

CONTEXT

Febrile children in primary care have a low risk for serious infection. Although several alarming signs and symptoms are proposed to have predictive value for serious infections, most are based on research in secondary care. The frequency of alarming signs/symptoms has not been established in primary care; however, in this setting differences in occurrence may influence their predictive value for serious infections.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the frequency of alarming signs/symptoms in febrile children in primary care.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study. Clinical information was registered in a semi-structured way and manually recoded.

SETTING

General practitioners' out-of-hours service.

SUBJECTS

Face-to-face patient contacts concerning children (aged ≤16 years) with fever were eligible for inclusion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Frequency of 18 alarming signs and symptoms as reported in the literature.

RESULTS

A total of 10,476 patient contacts were included. The frequency of alarming signs/symptoms ranged from n = 1 (ABC instability; <0.1%) to n = 2,207 (vomiting & diarrhea; 21.1%). Of all children, 59.7% had one or more alarming signs and/or symptoms. Several alarming signs/symptoms were poorly registered with the frequency of missing information ranging from 1,347 contacts (temperature >40°C as reported by the parents; 12.9%) to 8,647 contacts (parental concern; 82.5%).

CONCLUSION

Although the prevalence of specific alarming signs/symptoms is low in primary care, ≥50% of children have one or more alarming signs/symptoms. There is a need to determine the predictive value of alarming signs/symptoms not only for serious infections in primary care, but as well for increased risk of a complicated course of the illness.

Improving the Manchester Triage System for pediatric emergency care: an international multicenter study

Objectives

This multicenter study examines the performance of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) after changing discriminators, and with the addition use of abnormal vital sign in patients presenting to pediatric emergency departments (EDs).

Design

International multicenter study

Settings

EDs of two hospitals in The Netherlands (2006–2009), one in Portugal (November–December 2010), and one in UK (June–November 2010).

Patients

Children (<16years) triaged with the MTS who presented at the ED.

Methods

Changes to discriminators (MTS 1) and the value of including abnormal vital signs (MTS 2) were studied to test if this would decrease the number of incorrect assignment. Admission to hospital using the new MTS was compared with those in the original MTS. Likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratios (DORs), and c-statistics were calculated as measures for performance and compared with the original MTS. To calculate likelihood ratios and DORs, the MTS had to be dichotomized in low urgent and high urgent.

Results

60,375 patients were included, of whom 13% were admitted. When MTS 1 was used, admission to hospital increased from 25% to 29% for MTS ‘very urgent’ patients and remained similar in lower MTS urgency levels. The diagnostic odds ratio improved from 4.8 (95%CI 4.5–5.1) to 6.2 (95%CI 5.9–6.6) and the c-statistic remained 0.74. MTS 2 did not improve the performance of the MTS.

Conclusions

MTS 1 performed slightly better than the original MTS. The use of vital signs (MTS 2) did not improve the MTS performance.

[Rare disease: centre of expertise or care guideline?]

In the Netherlands, recommendations for managing rare diseases are developed by multidisciplinary teams working together in centres of expertise who form the core of the health care system for these patients. This is an excellent option, in which also transition from care for children to care for adults can be warranted. However, in a very rare and complex disease where the patient group consists of only a few patients, centres of expertise will not be established. A disease-specific and individual care standard should be developed for these patients which defines the special needs for this disease, patient's medical condition and best options for health care.

Use of alarm features in referral of febrile children to the emergency department: an observational study

BACKGROUND

The diagnostic value of alarm features of serious infections in low prevalence settings is unclear.

AIM

To explore to what extent alarm features play a role in referral to the emergency department (ED) by GPs who face a febrile child during out-of-hours care.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Observational study using semi-structured, routine clinical practice data of febrile children (<16 years) presenting to GP out-of-hours care.

METHOD

Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between alarm features of serious infections (selected from two guidelines and one systematic review) and referral to the ED. Adherence to the guideline was explored by a 2×2 contingency table.

RESULTS

In total 794 (8.1%) of 9794 eligible patients were referred to the ED. Alarm signs most strongly associated with referral were 'age <1 month', 'decreased consciousness', 'meningeal irritation', and 'signs of dehydration'. Nineteen percent of 3424 children with a positive referral indication according to the guideline were referred to the ED. The majority of those not referred had only one or two alarm features present. A negative referral indication was adhered to for the majority of children. Still, in 20% of referred children, alarm features were absent.

CONCLUSION

In contrast to guidance, GPs working in primary out-of-hours care seem more conservative in referring febrile children to the ED, especially if only one or two alarm features of serious infection are present. In addition, in 20% of referred children, alarm features were absent, which suggests that other factors may be important in decisions about referral of febrile children to the hospital ED.

Accuracy of triage for children with chronic illness and infectious symptoms

OBJECTIVE

This prospective observational study aimed to assess the validity of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) for children with chronic illnesses who presented to the emergency department (ED) with infectious symptoms.

METHODS

Children (<16 years old) presenting to the ED of a university hospital between 2008 and 2011 with dyspnea, diarrhea/vomiting, or fever were included. Chronic illness was classified on the basis of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes. The validity of the MTS was assessed by comparing the urgency categories of the MTS with an independent reference standard on the basis of abnormal vital signs, life-threatening working diagnosis, resource utilization, and follow-up. Overtriage, undertriage, and correct triage were calculated for children with and without a chronic illness. The performance was assessed by sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratios, which were calculated by dichotomizing the MTS into high and low urgency.

RESULTS

Of the 8592 children who presented to the ED with infectious symptoms, 2960 (35%) had a chronic illness. Undertriage occurred in 16% of children with chronic illnesses and in 11% of children without chronic illnesses (P < .001). Sensitivity of the MTS for children with chronic illnesses was 58% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 53%-62%) and was 74% (95% CI: 70%-78%) for children without chronic illnesses. There was no difference in specificity between the 2 groups. The diagnostic odds ratios for children with and without chronic illnesses were 4.8 (95% CI: 3.9-5.9) and 8.7 (95% CI: 7.1-11), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In children presenting with infectious symptoms, the performance of the MTS was lower for children with chronic illnesses than for children without chronic illnesses. Nurses should be particularly aware of undertriage in children with chronic illnesses.

Validity of different pediatric early warning scores in the emergency department

OBJECTIVE

Pediatric early warning scores (PEWS) are being advocated for use in the emergency department (ED). The goal of this study was to compare the validity of different PEWS in a pediatric ED.

METHODS

Ten different PEWS were evaluated in a large prospective cohort. We included children aged <16 years who had presented to the ED of a university hospital in The Netherlands (2009-2012). The validity of the PEWS for predicting ICU admission or hospitalization was expressed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

RESULTS

These PEWS were validated in 17 943 children. Two percent of these children were admitted to the ICU, and 16% were hospitalized. The areas under the ROC curves for predicting ICU admission, ranging from 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.57-0.62) to 0.82 (95% CI: 0.79-0.85), were moderate to good. The area under the ROC curves for predicting hospitalization was poor to moderate (range: 0.56 [95% CI: 0.55-0.58] to 0.68 [95% CI: 0.66-0.69]). The sensitivity and specificity derived from the ROC curves ranged widely for both ICU admission (sensitivity: 61.3%-94.4%; specificity: 25.2%-86.7%) and hospital admission (sensitivity: 36.4%-85.7%; specificity: 27.1%-90.5%). None of the PEWS had a high sensitivity as well as a high specificity.

CONCLUSIONS

PEWS can be used to detect children presenting to the ED who are in need of an ICU admission. Scoring systems, wherein the parameters are summed to a numeric value, were better able to identify patients at risk than triggering systems, which need 1 positive parameter.

Simvastatin for cognitive deficits and behavioural problems in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1-SIMCODA): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a common genetic disorder characterised by neurocutaneous manifestations and cognitive and behavioural problems. Statins were shown to reduce analogous learning deficits in a mouse model of the disease, but a short-term trial in humans was inconclusive. We aimed to assess the use of simvastatin for the improvement of cognitive and behavioural deficits in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 for 12 months.

METHODS

In this randomised, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited children with genetically confirmed neurofibromatosis type 1 aged 8-16 years from two national referral centres in the Netherlands and Belgium. Those with symptomatic CNS abnormalities or on neurotropic medication, including stimulants, were excluded. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (1:1) via a computer-generated, permuted-block list to simvastatin (10 mg per day in month 1, 20 mg per day in month 2, and 20-40 mg per day in months 3-12) or placebo for 12 months. Investigators, participants, and parents were masked to treatment assignment. Primary outcome measures were full-scale intelligence (Wechsler intelligence scale for children), attention problems (child behaviour checklist, parent-rated [CBCL]), and internalising behavioural problems (CBCL). We did intention-to-treat analyses (of all patients who had outcome data) using linear regression of the 12 month outcome scores, adjusted for baseline performance. This trial is registered with the Netherlands Trial Register, number NTR2150.

FINDINGS

We randomly assigned 84 children to a treatment group (43 to simvastatin, 41 to placebo) between March 9, 2010, and March 6, 2012. We did not assess outcomes in two patients in the placebo group because they needed additional drug therapy. Simvastatin for 12 months had no effect on full-scale intelligence (treatment effect compared with placebo -1·3 IQ points [95% CI -3·8 to 1·3]; p=0·33), attention problems (-1·6 T-score points [-4·3 to 1·0]; p=0·23), and internalising behavioural problems (-0·1 T-score points [-3·3 to 3·1]; p=0·96). 38 (88%) of 43 patients on simvastatin and 39 (95%) of 41 patients on placebo reported adverse events, which were serious in two and four patients, respectively.

INTERPRETATION

12 month simvastatin treatment did not ameliorate cognitive deficits or behavioural problems in children with neurofibromatosis type 1. The use of 20-40 mg simvastatin per day for cognitive enhancement in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 is not recommended.

FUNDING

The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), Research Foundation Flanders (FWO-Vlaanderen), Marguerite-Marie Delacroix Foundation, and the Dutch Neurofibromatosis Association (NFVN).

Influence of maternal and cord blood C-reactive protein on childhood respiratory symptoms and eczema

BACKGROUND

Inflammatory processes during pregnancy might affect fetal lung development and immune responses. We examined the associations of maternal and cord blood C-reactive protein levels with respiratory symptoms and eczema in preschool children.

METHODS

This study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study of 4984 children. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess the effect of C-reactive protein levels on respiratory symptoms or eczema. C-reactive protein levels were measured during early pregnancy and at birth. Wheezing, lower respiratory tract infections, and eczema until the age of 4 yr were annually obtained by questionnaires.

RESULTS

Maternal C-reactive protein was not associated with the risks of wheezing and lower respiratory tract infections. Compared to children with maternal C-reactive protein in the lowest quarter, children in the highest quarter had increased risks of eczema OR 1.20 (1.03, 1.40). Compared to children with cord blood C-reactive protein lower than 0.20 mg/l, those with levels higher than 0.20 mg/l had increased risks of wheezing, OR 1.21 (1.07, 1.36), and lower respiratory tract infections, OR 1.21 (1.05, 1.39), but not of eczema.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that elevated maternal C-reactive protein in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of eczema, and C-reactive protein in cord blood with a higher risk of wheezing and lower respiratory tract infections in the first 4 yrs.

Alarm signs and antibiotic prescription in febrile children in primary care: an observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Although fever in children is often self-limiting, antibiotics are frequently prescribed for febrile illnesses. GPs may consider treating serious infections by prescribing antibiotics.

AIM

To examine whether alarm signs and/or symptoms for serious infections are related to antibiotic prescription in febrile children in primary care.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Observational cohort study involving five GP out-of-hours services.

METHOD

Clinical information was registered and manually recoded. Children (<16 years) with fever having a face-to-face contact with a GP were included. Children who were already using antibiotics or referred to secondary care were excluded. The relation between alarm signs and/or symptoms for serious infections and antibiotic prescription was tested using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of the 8676 included patients (median age 2.4 years), antibiotics were prescribed in 3167 contacts (36.5%). Patient characteristics and alarm signs and/or symptoms positively related to antibiotic prescription were: increasing age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.03; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.02 to 1.05), temperature measured by GP (OR = 1.72; 95% CI = 1.59 to 1.86), ill appearance (OR = 3.93; 95% CI = 2.85 to 5.42), being inconsolable (OR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.58 to 3.22), shortness of breath (OR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.88 to 3.56), duration of fever (OR = 1.31; 95% CI = 1.26 to 1.35). Negative associations were found for neurological signs (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.27 to 0.76), signs of urinary tract infection (OR = 0.63; 95% CI = 0.49 to 0.82), and vomiting and diarrhoea (OR = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.74). These variables explained 19% of the antibiotic prescriptions.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotics are often prescribed for febrile children. These data suggest that treatment of a supposed serious bacterial infection is a consideration of GPs. However, the relatively low explained variation indicates that other considerations are also involved.

Alarming signs in the Manchester triage system: a tool to identify febrile children at risk of hospitalization

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether the flowcharts and discriminators of the Manchester Triage System (MTS) can be used as indicators of alarming signs of serious febrile illness to predict the risk of hospitalization for febrile children who present at the emergency department (ED).

STUDY DESIGN

Observational study, which included 2455 children (<16 years) who came to the ED of a university hospital with fever as their main complaint (May 2007-July 2009). Alarming signs for serious febrile illness were matched with MTS flowcharts and discriminators. At triage, the percentage of alarming signs positive was calculated. The diagnostic ability of the percentage of alarming signs positive to identify children at risk of hospitalization was assessed by calculating positive and negative likelihood ratios.

RESULTS

Thirty percent of children had at least 1 alarming sign positive at triage. Twenty-three percent were hospitalized. Positive likelihood ratios of hospitalization were 5.0 (95% CI: 3.9-6.5) for children with >20% of alarming signs positive at triage and 12.0 (95% CI: 5.2-27.6) for those with >40% of alarming signs positive. Negative likelihood ratios were 0.8 (95% CI: 0.8-0.8) and 1.0 (95% CI: 0.9-1.0), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

By alternatively using the flowcharts and discriminators of the MTS as alarming signs, rather than urgency classifiers, the MTS can function as a simple, readily available tool to identify febrile children at risk of hospitalization early in the care process. This knowledge may help to improve ED throughput times as well as admission and discharge management at pediatric EDs.

Air pollution, fetal and infant tobacco smoke exposure, and wheezing in preschool children: a population-based prospective birth cohort

BACKGROUND

Air pollution is associated with asthma exacerbations. We examined the associations of exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with the risk of wheezing in preschool children, and assessed whether these associations were modified by tobacco smoke exposure.

METHODS

This study was embedded in the Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study among 4,634 children. PM10 and NO2 levels were estimated for the home addresses using dispersion modeling. Annual parental reports of wheezing until the age of 3 years and fetal and infant tobacco smoke exposure was obtained by questionnaires.

RESULTS

Average annual PM10 or NO2 exposure levels per year were not associated with wheezing in the same year. Longitudinal analyses revealed non-significant tendencies towards positive associations of PM10 or NO2 exposure levels with wheezing during the first 3 years of life (overall odds ratios (95% confidence interval): 1.21 (0.79, 1.87) and 1.06 (0.92, 1.22)) per 10 μg/m3 increase PM10 and NO2, respectively). Stratified analyses showed that the associations were stronger and only significant among children who were exposed to both fetal and infant tobacco smoke (overall odds ratios 4.54 (1.17, 17.65) and 1.85 (1.15, 2.96)) per 10 μg/m3 increase PM10 and NO2, respectively (p-value for interactions <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that long term exposure to traffic-related air pollutants is associated with increased risks of wheezing in children exposed to tobacco smoke in fetal life and infancy. Smoke exposure in early life might lead to increased vulnerability of the lungs to air pollution.

The Generation R Study: design and cohort update 2012

The Generation R Study is a population-based prospective cohort study from fetal life until adulthood. The study is designed to identify early environmental and genetic causes and causal pathways leading to normal and abnormal growth, development and health during fetal life, childhood and adulthood. The study focuses on six areas of research: (1) maternal health; (2) growth and physical development; (3) behavioural and cognitive development; (4) respiratory health and allergies; (5) diseases in childhood; and (6) health and healthcare for children and their parents. Main exposures of interest include environmental, endocrine, genetic and epigenetic, lifestyle related, nutritional and socio-demographic determinants. In total, n = 9,778 mothers with a delivery date from April 2002 until January 2006 were enrolled in the study. Response at baseline was 61 %, and general follow-up rates until the age of 6 years exceed 80 %. Data collection in mothers, fathers and children include questionnaires, detailed physical and ultrasound examinations, behavioural observations, and biological samples. A genome and epigenome wide association screen is available in the participating children. From the age of 5 years, regular detailed hands-on assessments are performed in a dedicated research center including advanced imaging facilities such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Eventually, results forthcoming from the Generation R Study contribute to the development of strategies for optimizing health and healthcare for pregnant women and children.

Increased risk of exceeding entertainment-media guidelines in preschool children from low socioeconomic background: the Generation R Study

OBJECTIVE

To describe and explain the association between maternal educational level and television viewing time among preschool children.

METHOD

We analyzed data from 2786 preschoolers enrolled in a birth cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, between 2002 and 2006. Odds ratios of watching television ≥2 hours/day and ≥1 hour/day were calculated for children of mothers with low, mid-low, and mid-high educational level (reference group: high educational level), before and after adjustment for mediators.

RESULTS

Children of low, mid-low, and mid-high educated mothers were more likely to watch television ≥2 hours/day compared to children of high educated mothers, with children of low educated mother showing the highest risk (OR: 11.32; 95% CI: 6.58, 19.46). Adjustment for mediators (i.e. maternal body mass index, parental television viewing, presence of a television set in the child's bedroom, and financial difficulties) led to a nearly 50% reduction in odds ratio for the lowest educational group (OR: 6.61; 95% CI: 3.69, 11.84). A similar educational gradient was found for watching television ≥1 hour/day, although effect estimates were smaller.

CONCLUSION

Maternal education is inversely associated with preschoolers' television viewing time. This association was partly explained by known correlates of children's television viewing.

Effects of systematic screening and detection of child abuse in emergency departments

OBJECTIVE

Although systematic screening for child abuse of children presenting at emergency departments might increase the detection rate, studies to support this are scarce. This study investigates whether introducing screening, and training of emergency department nurses, increases the detection rate of child abuse.

METHODS

In an intervention cohort study, children aged 0 to 18 years visiting the emergency departments of 7 hospitals between February 2008 and December 2009 were enrolled. We developed a screening checklist for child abuse (the "Escape Form") and training sessions for nurses; these were implemented by using an interrupted time-series design. Cases of suspected child abuse were determined by an expert panel using predefined criteria. The effect of the interventions on the screening rate for child abuse was calculated by interrupted time-series analyses and by the odds ratios for detection of child abuse in screened children.

RESULTS

A total of 104028 children aged 18 years or younger were included. The screening rate increased from 20% in February 2008 to 67% in December 2009. Significant trend changes were observed after training the nurses and after the legal requirement of screening by the Dutch Health Care Inspectorate in 2009. The detection rate in children screened for child abuse was 5 times higher than that in children not screened (0.5% vs 0.1%, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that systematic screening for child abuse in emergency departments is effective in increasing the detection of suspected child abuse. Both a legal requirement and staff training are recommended to significantly increase the extent of screening.

The impact of preschool wheezing patterns on health-related quality of life at age 4 years

We assessed whether dynamic preschool wheezing patterns affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at age 4 years. The study included 3878 children participating a prospective cohort study. Information on preschool wheezing was obtained by questionnaire and children were categorised into: never, early, late and persistent wheezing. At age 4 years HRQOL was measured using the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ). Persistent wheezing was associated with reduced scores for nine out of 13 CHQ scales. No differences in psychosocial CHQ scores (p>0.05), but lower physical CHQ scores were found in children with late and persistent wheezing, compared to children who never wheezed (p<0.001). Mean scores on general health perceptions were, respectively, eight and 12 points lower (on a 0-100 scale) in children with late and persistent wheezing (p<0.001), and children with one to three episodes and four or more episodes of wheezing in the fourth year respectively scored seven and 24 points lower (p<0.001), compared to children who never wheezed. Persistent wheezing during preschool age independently affects a child's HRQOL, particularly general health perceptions and physical domains at age 4 years. HRQOL was more affected by frequent wheezing episodes in the fourth year of life, rather than by the duration of wheezing at age 0-4 years.

Derivation and validation of age and temperature specific reference values and centile charts to predict lower respiratory tract infection in children with fever: prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

To develop reference values and centile charts for respiratory rate based on age and body temperature, and to determine how well these reference values can predict the presence of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in children with fever.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

PARTICIPANTS

Febrile children aged at least 1 month to just under 16 years (derivation population, n = 1555; validation population, n = 671) selected from patients attending paediatric emergency departments or assessment units in hospitals.

SETTING

One hospital in the Netherlands in 2006 and 2008 (derivation population); one hospital in the Netherlands in 2003-05 and one hospital in the United Kingdom in 2005-06 (validation population).

INTERVENTION

We used the derivation population to produce respiratory rate centile charts, and calculated 50th, 75th, 90th, and 97th centiles of respiratory rate at a specific body temperature. Multivariable regression analysis explored associations between respiratory rate, age, and temperature; results were validated in the validation population by calculating diagnostic performance measures, z scores, and corresponding centiles of children with diagnoses of pneumonic LRTI (as confirmed by chest radiograph), non-pneumonic LRTI, and non-LRTI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Age, respiratory rate (breaths/min) and body temperature (°C), presence of LRTI.

RESULTS

Respiratory rate increased overall by 2.2 breaths/min per 1°C rise (standard error 0.2) after accounting for age and temperature in the model. We observed no interactions between age, temperature, and respiratory rates. Age and temperature dependent cut-off values at the 97th centile were more useful for ruling in LRTI (specificity 0.94 (95% confidence interval 0.92 to 0.96), positive likelihood ratio 3.66 (2.34 to 5.73)) than existing respiratory rate thresholds such as Advanced Pediatrics Life Support values (0.53 (0.48 to 0.57), 1.59 (1.41 to 1.80)). However, centile cut-offs could not discriminate between pneumonic LRTI and non-pneumonic LRTI.

CONCLUSIONS

Age specific and temperature dependent centile charts describe new reference values for respiratory rate in children with fever. Cut-off values at the 97th centile were more useful in detecting the presence of LRTI than existing respiratory rate thresholds.

Head circumference of infants born to mothers with different educational levels; the Generation R Study

OBJECTIVE

Head circumference (HC) reflect growth and development of the brain in early childhood. It is unknown whether socioeconomic differences in HC are present in early childhood. Therefore, we investigated the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and HC in early childhood, and potential underlying factors.

METHODS

The study focused on Dutch children born between April 2002 and January 2006 who participated in The Generation R Study, a population-based prospective cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Maternal educational level was used as indicator of SEP. HC measures were concentrated around 1, 3, 6 and 11 months. Associations and explanatory factors were investigated using linear regression analysis, adjusted for potential mediators.

RESULTS

The study included 3383 children. At 1, 3 and 6 months of age, children of mothers with a low education had a smaller HC than those with a high education (difference at 1 month: -0.42 SD; 95% CI: -0.54,-0.30; at 3 months: -0.27 SD; 95% CI -0.40,-0.15; and at 6 months: -0.13 SD; 95% CI -0.24,-0.02). Child's length and weight could only partially explain the smaller HC at 1 and 3 months of age. At 6 months, birth weight, gestational age and parental height explained the HC differences. At 11 months, no HC differences were found.

CONCLUSION

Educational inequalities in HC in the first 6 months of life can be mainly explained by pregnancy-related factors, such as birth weight and gestational age. These findings further support public health policies to prevent negative birth outcomes in lower socioeconomic groups.

Children of low socioeconomic status show accelerated linear growth in early childhood; results from the Generation R Study

OBJECTIVES

People of low socioeconomic status are shorter than those of high socioeconomic status. The first two years of life being critical for height development, we hypothesized that a low socioeconomic status is associated with a slower linear growth in early childhood. We studied maternal educational level (high, mid-high, mid-low, and low) as a measure of socioeconomic status and its association with repeatedly measured height in children aged 0-2 years, and also examined to what extent known determinants of postnatal growth contribute to this association.

METHODS

This study was based on data from 2972 mothers with a Dutch ethnicity, and their children participating in The Generation R Study, a population-based cohort study in Rotterdam, The Netherlands (participation rate 61%). All children were born between April 2002 and January 2006. Height was measured at 2 months (mid-90% range 1.0-3.9), 6 months (mid-90% range 5.6-11.4), 14 months (mid-90% range 13.7-17.9) and 25 months of age (mid-90% range 23.6-29.6).

RESULTS

At 2 months, children in the lowest educational subgroup were shorter than those in the highest (difference: -0.87 cm; 95% CI: -1.16, -0.58). Between 1 and 18 months, they grew faster than their counterparts. By 14 months, children in the lowest educational subgroup were taller than those in the highest (difference at 14 months: 0.40 cm; 95% CI: 0.08,0.72). Adjustment for other determinants of postnatal growth did not explain the taller height. On the contrary, the differences became even larger (difference at 14 months: 0.61 cm; 95% CI: 0.26,0.95; and at 25 months: 1.00 cm; 95% CI: 0.57,1.43)

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with children of high socioeconomic status, those of low socioeconomic status show an accelerated linear growth until the 18th month of life, leading to an overcompensation of their initial height deficit. The long-term consequences of these findings remain unclear and require further study.

Early respiratory morbidity in a multicultural birth cohort: the Generation R Study

Ethnic disparities in the prevalence of asthma symptoms in children have been described. We evaluated to what extent the association between ethnic background and respiratory symptoms during the first 2 years of life could be explained by the mediating effect of risk factors for respiratory morbidity. The Generation R Study is a multiethnic, population-based birth cohort study. Pre and postnatal risk factors for respiratory morbidity were prospectively assessed by questionnaires. Information about ethnicity was available for 5,684 infants. The associations between ethnic background and lower respiratory symptoms at 12 and 24 months were evaluated with log-binomial regression models. Relative risks and 95 % confidence intervals (RR [95 % CI]) were computed for Cape Verdean, Moroccan, Antillean, Surinamese and Turkish ethnicity with Dutch ethnicity as the reference category. We found an increased risk of lower respiratory symptoms at 24 months in Antillean infants (1.32 [95 % CI 1.12-1.57]) that was mediated by early postnatal exposures (pets keeping, siblings, breastfeeding, daycare attendance, smoke exposure). Turkish infants also had an increased risk of lower respiratory symptoms at 12 and 24 months (1.14 [95 % CI 1.02-1.27] and 1.21 [95 % CI 1.07-1.38], respectively), partly explained by previous morbidity (eczema, infections and upper respiratory symptoms). There were no differences for Cape Verdean, Moroccan or Surinamese, as compared to Dutch infants. Hence, ethnic background was associated with respiratory symptoms during the first 2 years of life and this association was largely explained by mediating effects of known pre and postnatal risk factors for respiratory morbidity.

Self-referral and serious illness in children with fever

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to evaluate parents' capability to assess their febrile child's severity of illness and decision to present to the emergency department. We compared children referred by a general practitioner (GP) with those self-referred on the basis of illness-severity markers.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional observational study conducted at the emergency departments of a university and a teaching hospital. GP-referred or self-referred children with fever (aged <16 years) who presented to the emergency department (2006-2008) were included. Markers for severity of illness were urgency according to the Manchester Triage System, diagnostic interventions, therapeutic interventions, and follow-up. Associations between markers and referral type were assessed by using logistic regression analysis. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with the most common presenting problems that accompanied the fever (ie, dyspnea, gastrointestinal complaints, neurologic symptoms, fever without specific symptoms).

RESULTS

Thirty-eight percent of 4609 children were referred by their GP and 62% were self-referred. GP-referred children were classified as high urgency (immediate/very urgent categories) in 46% of the cases and self-referrals in 45%. Forty-three percent of GP referrals versus 27% of self-referrals needed extensive diagnostic intervention, intravenous medication/aerosol treatment, hospitalization, or a combination of these (odds ratio: 2.0 [95% confidence interval: 1.75-2.27]). In all subgroups, high urgency was not associated with referral type. GP-referred and self-referred children with dyspnea had similar frequencies of illness-severity markers.

CONCLUSIONS

Although febrile self-referred children were less severely ill than GP-referred children, many parents properly judged and acted on the severity of their child's illness. To avoid delayed or missed diagnoses, recommendations regarding interventions that would discourage self-referral to the emergency department should be reconsidered.

The Manchester triage system: improvements for paediatric emergency care

OBJECTIVE

To improve the Manchester Triage System (MTS) in paediatric emergency care.

METHODS

The authors performed a prospective observational study at the emergency departments of a university and teaching hospital in The Netherlands and included children attending in 2007 and 2008. The authors developed and implemented specific age-dependent modifications for the MTS, based on patient groups where the system's performance was low. Nurses applied the modified system in 11,481 (84%) patients. The reference standard for urgency defined five levels based on a combination of vital signs at presentation, potentially life-threatening conditions, diagnostic resources, therapeutic interventions and follow-up. The reference standard for urgency was previously defined and available in 11,260/11,481 (96%) patients.

RESULTS

Compared with the original MTS specificity improved from 79% (95% CI 79% to 80%) to 87% (95% CI 86% to 87%) while sensitivity remained similar ((63%, 95% CI 59% to 66%) vs (64%, 95% CI 60% to 68%)). The diagnostic OR increased (4.1 vs 11).

CONCLUSIONS

Modifications of the MTS for paediatric emergency care resulted in an improved specificity while sensitivity remained unchanged. Further research should focus on the improvement of sensitivity.

The proxy problem anatomized: child-parent disagreement in health related quality of life reports of chronically ill adolescents

Background

Discrepancy between self-reports and parent-proxy reports of adolescent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been repeatedly acknowledged in the literature as the proxy problem. However, little is known about the extent and direction of this discrepancy. The purpose of this study is to explore to what extent and in what direction HRQoL self-reports of adolescents with chronic conditions and those of their parents differ.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adolescents suffering from chronic conditions and their parents. Socio-demographic and disease-related characteristics were collected and information about consequences of the chronic condition was assessed. HRQoL was measured with KIDSCREEN-10 and DISABKIDS condition generic measure (DCGM-10). Agreement was analysed through defining a threshold of agreement based on half of the standard deviation of the HRQoL score with the highest variance. Agreement occurred if the difference between adolescent and parent scores was less than or equal to half of the standard deviation. Intra-class correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plots were also computed. The characteristics associated with direction of disagreement were statistically tested with one-way ANOVA and Chi-square tests.

Results

584 paired HRQoL scores were obtained. Ratings from both adolescents and parents were high, compared to European norm data. Differences between adolescents and parents were statistically significant, yet relatively small. Disagreement existed in both directions: in 24.5% (KIDSCREEN-10) and 16.8% (DCGM-10) of the cases adolescents rated their HRQoL lower than did their parent, while in 32.2% (KIDSCREEN-10) and 31.7% (DCGM-10) of the cases the opposite was true. Adolescent's age, educational level and type of education, parent's educational level, number of hospital admissions and several other disease-related factors influenced direction of disagreement.

Conclusions

In a reasonable proportion of cases the adolescent and parent agreed on the adolescent's HRQoL (43-51% of the cases) and most disagreement tended to be minor. Thus, the proxy problem may be smaller than presented in the literature and its extent may differ per population. As adolescents are expected to become partners in their own health care, it is recommended to focus on adolescents' own perceptions of HRQoL.

Fetal and infant growth and asthma symptoms in preschool children: the Generation R Study

RATIONALE

Low birth weight is associated with an increased risk of wheezing in childhood.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the associations of longitudinally measured fetal and infant growth patterns with the risks of asthma symptoms in preschool children.

METHODS

This study was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study among 5,125 children. Second- and third-trimester fetal growth characteristics (head circumference, femur length, abdominal circumference, and weight) were estimated by repeated ultrasounds. Infant growth (head circumference, length, and weight) was measured at birth and at the ages of 3, 6, and 12 months. Parental report of asthma symptoms until the age of 4 years was yearly obtained by questionnaires.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Both fetal restricted and accelerated growth, defined as a negative or positive change of more than 0.67 standard deviation score, were not associated with asthma symptoms until the age of 4 years. Accelerated weight gain from birth to 3 months following normal fetal growth was associated with increased risks of asthma symptoms (overall odds ratio for wheezing: 1.44 [95% confidence interval: 1.22, 1.70]; shortness of breath: 1.32 [1.12, 1.56]; dry cough: 1.16 [1.01, 1.34]; persistent phlegm: 1.30 [1.07, 1.58]), but not with eczema (0.95 [0.80, 1.14]). These associations were independent of other fetal growth patterns and tended to be stronger for children of atopic mothers than for children of nonatopic mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Weight-gain acceleration in early infancy was associated with increased risks of asthma symptoms in preschool children, independent of fetal growth. Early infancy might be a critical period for the development of asthma.

The role of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors in the explanation of socioeconomic inequalities in preschool asthma symptoms: the Generation R Study

BACKGROUND

The authors assessed whether socioeconomic inequalities in asthma symptoms were already present in preschool children and to what extent prenatal, perinatal and postnatal risk factors for asthma symptoms mediate the effect of socioeconomic status (SES).

METHODS

The study included 3136 Dutch children participating in the Generation R Study, a prospective cohort study. Adjusted ORs of asthma symptoms for low and middle SES (household income and maternal education) compared to high SES were calculated after adjustment for potential confounders and also adjusted for prenatal, perinatal and postnatal mediators at preschool age.

RESULTS

At age 1 year, low-SES children had a 40% lower risk of asthma symptoms compared to high-SES children (p<0.01). However, the risk of asthma symptoms in 3- and 4-year-old low-SES children was 1.5 times higher compared to their high-SES age mates (p<0.05). The positive associations at age 1 year were particularly modified by postnatal factors (up to 38%). In toddlers, prenatal factors explained up to 58% of the negative associations between SES and asthma symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

SES indirectly affects asthma symptoms at preschool age. The inverse association between SES and asthma symptoms emerges at age 3 years. This is particularly due to a high level of adverse prenatal circumstances in low-SES toddlers. Future research should evaluate public health programs (during pregnancy) to reduce socioeconomic inequalities in childhood asthma.

An observational study on socio-economic and ethnic differences in indicators of sedentary behavior and physical activity in preschool children

OBJECTIVE

We studied associations between social disadvantage and indicators of sedentary behavior and physical activity at preschool age.

METHODS

Data from 4688 children enrolled in a birth cohort in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, between 2002 and 2006 were analyzed. Indicators of sedentary behavior (watching television ≥ 2 h/day and sitting in a buggy ≥ 0.5 h/day) and physical inactivity (playing outside < 3 h/day) were measured by a parent-reported questionnaire at age 3. Adjustments were made for social circumstances and indicators of health behaviors. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Children with low-educated mothers (OR: 3.27, 95% CI 2.12-5.05) and non-Dutch children (OR(nonWestern): 2.67, 95% CI 2.04-3.49, OR(Western): 2.09, 95% CI 1.42-3.0) were more likely to watch television for at least 2 h/day. Similar results were seen for sitting in a buggy for at least 0.5h/day. Non western children were more likely to play outside for less than 3 h/day (OR: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.39-2.73) than native Dutch children, while no differences were seen for other western children or children from mothers with a low educational level.

CONCLUSIONS

Socio-economic status and ethnicity are already associated with indicators of sedentary lifestyles at preschool age.