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van der Velden FJS, Lim E, Smith H, Walsh R, Emonts M. Quantifying the costs of hospital admission for families of children with a febrile illness in the North East of England. BMJ Paediatr Open 2024; 8:e002489. [PMID: 38844385 PMCID: PMC11163670 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-002489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the financial non-medical out-of-pocket costs of hospital admissions for children with a febrile illness. DESIGN Single-centre survey-based study conducted between March and November 2022. SETTING Tertiary level children's hospital in the North East of England. PARTICIPANTS Families of patients with febrile illness attending the paediatric emergency department MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Non-medical out-of-pocket costs for the admission were estimated by participants including: transport, food and drinks, child care, miscellaneous costs and loss of earnings. RESULTS 83 families completed the survey. 79 families (95.2%) reported non-medical out-of-pocket costs and 19 (22.9%) reported financial hardship following their child's admission.Total costs per day of admission were median £56.25 (IQR £32.10-157.25). The majority of families reported incurring transport (N=75) and food and drinks (N=71) costs. CONCLUSIONS A child's hospital admission for fever can incur significant financial costs for their family. One in five participating families reported financial hardship following their child's admission. Self-employed and single parents were disadvantaged by unplanned hospital admissions and at an increased risk of financial hardship. Local hospital policies should be improved to support families in the current financial climate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Johannes Stanislaus van der Velden
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Allergy, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Emma Lim
- General Paediatrics & Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Holly Smith
- General Paediatrics, Great North Children's Hospital, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rebecca Walsh
- General Paediatrics, Great North Children's Hospital, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Marieke Emonts
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases and Allergy, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
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Borensztajn DM, Tan CD, de Rijke Y, Hagedoorn NN, Verbruggen SC, Moll HA, Vermont CL. Elevated High-Sensitivity Troponin and NT-proBNP Values in Febrile Children. Pediatr Emerg Care 2024; 40:108-113. [PMID: 38113471 DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000003097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent rise of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children have raised interest in high-sensitivity troponin (hs-TnT) and N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) because these have been found to be elevated in many cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Our aim was to study hs-TnT and NT-proBNP concentrations in febrile children not affected by COVID-19. METHODS We retrospectively measured cardiac markers, hs-TnT, and NT-proBNP in leftover blood samples of febrile children (0-18 years) diagnosed and treated in a single-center emergency department (ED) (N = 67) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) (N = 19) that participated in a multicenter, prospective study of infection biomarkers (PERFORM). RESULTS Concentrations of hs-TnT, median 1.8 ng/L (interquartile range [IQR], 0.0-15.1), and NT-proBNP, 194 pg/mL (IQR, 54.9-706), were higher in febrile children than in controls (N = 25, hs-TnT 0.0 [IQR, 0-0]; NT-proBNP 56.3 [IQR, 29.7-109], both P < 0.001), whereas PICU patients had higher concentrations (hs-TnT 15.1 [IQR, 10.3-102] and NT-proBNP 828 [IQR, 657-4712], both P < 0.001) than ED patients (hs-TnT 0 [IQR, 0-7.4] and NT-proBNP 104 [IQR, 39.5-363]). No differences were found between viral and bacterial infections. Highest concentrations were found in children with either comorbidity predisposing to elevated concentrations (eg, chronic cardiac or renal disease) or children with critical illness or multiorgan failure such as those with septic shock. CONCLUSIONS Concentrations of hs-TnT and NT-proBNP are often elevated in febrile children with different causes of fever. Concentrations were higher in children admitted to the PICU than in children attending the ED, and seem to reflect disease severity rather than the underlying cause of fever.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chantal D Tan
- From the Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yolanda de Rijke
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nienke N Hagedoorn
- From the Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sascha C Verbruggen
- Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, Erasmus MC - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Henriette A Moll
- From the Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Clementien L Vermont
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Erasmus MC Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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Nijman RG, Tan CD, Hagedoorn NN, Nieboer D, Herberg JA, Balode A, von Both U, Carrol ED, Eleftheriou I, Emonts M, van der Flier M, de Groot R, Kohlmaier B, Lim E, Martinón-Torres F, Pokorn M, Strle F, Tsolia M, Yeung S, Zachariasse JM, Zavadska D, Zenz W, Levin M, Vermont CL, Moll HA, Maconochie IK. Are children with prolonged fever at a higher risk for serious illness? A prospective observational study. Arch Dis Child 2023:archdischild-2023-325343. [PMID: 37185174 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2023-325343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the characteristics and clinical outcomes of children with fever ≥5 days presenting to emergency departments (EDs). DESIGN Prospective observational study. SETTING 12 European EDs. PATIENTS Consecutive febrile children <18 years between January 2017 and April 2018. INTERVENTIONS Children with fever ≥5 days and their risks for serious bacterial infection (SBI) were compared with children with fever <5 days, including diagnostic accuracy of non-specific symptoms, warning signs and C-reactive protein (CRP; mg/L). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES SBI and other non-infectious serious illness. RESULTS 3778/35 705 (10.6%) of febrile children had fever ≥5 days. Incidence of SBI in children with fever ≥5 days was higher than in those with fever <5 days (8.4% vs 5.7%). Triage urgency, life-saving interventions and intensive care admissions were similar for fever ≥5 days and <5 days. Several warning signs had good rule in value for SBI with specificities >0.90, but were observed infrequently (range: 0.4%-17%). Absence of warning signs was not sufficiently reliable to rule out SBI (sensitivity 0.92 (95% CI 0.87-0.95), negative likelihood ratio (LR) 0.34 (0.22-0.54)). CRP <20 mg/L was useful for ruling out SBI (negative LR 0.16 (0.11-0.24)). There were 66 cases (1.7%) of non-infectious serious illnesses, including 21 cases of Kawasaki disease (0.6%), 28 inflammatory conditions (0.7%) and 4 malignancies. CONCLUSION Children with prolonged fever have a higher risk of SBI, warranting a careful clinical assessment and diagnostic workup. Warning signs of SBI occurred infrequently but, if present, increased the likelihood of SBI. Although rare, clinicians should consider important non-infectious causes of prolonged fever.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud G Nijman
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Division of Medicine, St. Mary's hospital - Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Chantal D Tan
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Nienke N Hagedoorn
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Daan Nieboer
- Department of Public Health, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jethro Adam Herberg
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anda Balode
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Clinical University Hospital, Rīgas Stradiņa Universitāte, Riga, Latvia
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
- Partner site Munich, German Centre for Infection Research, Munich, Germany
| | - Enitan D Carrol
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Irini Eleftheriou
- Second Department of Paediatrics, P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marieke Emonts
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michiel van der Flier
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Section Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Ronald de Groot
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Section Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Benno Kohlmaier
- Department of General Paediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Emma Lim
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Genetics, Vaccines, Infections and Paediatrics Research group (GENVIP), Hospital Clinico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Marko Pokorn
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Franc Strle
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maria Tsolia
- Second Department of Paediatrics, P & A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Tropical and Infectious Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joany M Zachariasse
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dace Zavadska
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Clinical University Hospital, Rīgas Stradiņa Universitāte, Riga, Latvia
| | - Werner Zenz
- Department of General Paediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Michael Levin
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Section of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Clementien L Vermont
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Henriette A Moll
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ian K Maconochie
- Department of Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Division of Medicine, St. Mary's hospital - Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, London, UK
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van der Velden FJS, de Vries G, Martin A, Lim E, von Both U, Kolberg L, Carrol ED, Khanijau A, Herberg JA, De T, Galassini R, Kuijpers TW, Martinón-Torres F, Rivero-Calle I, Vermont CL, Hagedoorn NN, Pokorn M, Pollard AJ, Schlapbach LJ, Tsolia M, Elefhteriou I, Yeung S, Zavadska D, Fink C, Voice M, Zenz W, Kohlmaier B, Agyeman PKA, Usuf E, Secka F, de Groot R, Levin M, van der Flier M, Emonts M. Febrile illness in high-risk children: a prospective, international observational study. Eur J Pediatr 2023; 182:543-554. [PMID: 36243780 PMCID: PMC9899189 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-022-04642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
To assess and describe the aetiology and management of febrile illness in children with primary or acquired immunodeficiency at high risk of serious bacterial infection, as seen in emergency departments in tertiary hospitals. Prospective data on demographics, presenting features, investigations, microbiology, management, and outcome of patients within the 'Biomarker Validation in HR patients' database in PERFORM, were analysed. Immunocompromised children (< 18 years old) presented to fifteen European hospitals in nine countries, and one Gambian hospital, with fever or suspected infection and clinical indication for blood investigations. Febrile episodes were assigned clinical phenotypes using the validated PERFORM algorithm. Logistic regression was used to assess the effect size of predictive features of proven/presumed bacterial or viral infection. A total of 599 episodes in 482 children were analysed. Seventy-eight episodes (13.0%) were definite bacterial, 67 episodes probable bacterial (11.2%), and 29 bacterial syndrome (4.8%). Fifty-five were definite viral (9.2%), 49 probable viral (8.2%), and 23 viral syndrome (3.8%). One hundred ninety were unknown bacterial or viral infections (31.7%), and 108 had inflammatory or other non-infectious causes of fever (18.1%). Predictive features of proven/presumed bacterial infection were ill appearance (OR 3.1 (95% CI 2.1-4.6)) and HIV (OR 10.4 (95% CI 2.0-54.4)). Ill appearance reduced the odds of having a proven/presumed viral infection (OR 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.9)). A total of 82.1% had new empirical antibiotics started on admission (N = 492); 94.3% proven/presumed bacterial (N = 164), 66.1% proven/presumed viral (N = 84), and 93.2% unknown bacterial or viral infections (N = 177). Mortality was 1.9% (N = 11) and 87.1% made full recovery (N = 522). Conclusion: The aetiology of febrile illness in immunocompromised children is diverse. In one-third of cases, no cause for the fever will be identified. Justification for standard intravenous antibiotic treatment for every febrile immunocompromised child is debatable, yet effective. Better clinical decision-making tools and new biomarkers are needed for this population. What is Known: • Immunosuppressed children are at high risk for morbidity and mortality of serious bacterial and viral infection, but often present with fever as only clinical symptom. • Current diagnostic measures in this group are not specific to rule out bacterial infection, and positivity rates of microbiological cultures are low. What is New: • Febrile illness and infectious complications remain a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in HR children, yet management is effective. • The aetiology of febrile illness in immunocompromised children is diverse, and development of pathways for early discharge or cessation of intravenous antibiotics is debatable, and requires better clinical decision-making tools and biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian J S van der Velden
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Gabriella de Vries
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alexander Martin
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Emma Lim
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Ulrich von Both
- Division Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura Kolberg
- Division Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Dr. Von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Enitan D Carrol
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Aakash Khanijau
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.,Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jethro A Herberg
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Tisham De
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel Galassini
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Taco W Kuijpers
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Pediatrics Department, Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Grupo de Genetica, Vacunas, Infecciones y Pediatria, Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago, Universidad de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.,Consorcio Centro de Investigacion Biomedicaen Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Rivero-Calle
- Pediatrics Department, Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Clementien L Vermont
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nienke N Hagedoorn
- Department of General Paediatrics, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marko Pokorn
- University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Luregn J Schlapbach
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zürich, University of Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Tsolia
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Children's Hospital 'P, and A. Kyriakou', Athens, Greece
| | - Irini Elefhteriou
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Children's Hospital 'P, and A. Kyriakou', Athens, Greece
| | - Shunmay Yeung
- Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Dace Zavadska
- Department of Pediatrics, Rīgas Stradina Universitāte, Children's Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
| | - Colin Fink
- Micropathology Ltd, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Marie Voice
- Micropathology Ltd, University of Warwick, Warwick, UK
| | - Werner Zenz
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Benno Kohlmaier
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of General Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Philipp K A Agyeman
- Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Effua Usuf
- Medical Research Council Unit, Serrekunda, The Gambia
| | - Fatou Secka
- Medical Research Council Unit, Serrekunda, The Gambia
| | - Ronald de Groot
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Levin
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Michiel van der Flier
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Emonts
- Paediatric Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. .,Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. .,NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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