Immunogenicity, reactogenicity and safety of the 10-valent pneumococcal nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) in Mexican infants

The immunogenicity and safety of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PHiD-CV, have been documented in European and Asian studies. In this open study conducted in Mexico (NCT00489554), 230 healthy infants received three doses of PHiD-CV and DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccines at 2, 4 and 6 months of age and two doses of oral human rotavirus vaccine at 2 and 4 months. Serotype-specific pneumococcal responses and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) were measured one month post-dose 3. PHiD-CV's primary vaccination course was highly immunogenic against each of the 10 pneumococcal vaccine serotypes and carrier protein D. Antibody responses against pneumococcal serotypes and protein D were generally higher in Mexican infants compared with European antibody responses, and functional OPA responses were also higher or in the same range. The most frequent solicited local symptom was pain, with high but similar incidences of grade 3 pain reported at both injection sites (up to 15% of all doses). PHiD-CV was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events considered as causally related to vaccination. Most solicited symptoms were mild and there was no increase in incidence of solicited symptoms with successive vaccine doses.

Subhepatic appendicitis with subdiaphragmatic abscess in a pediatric patient without intestinal malrotation: case report

BACKGROUND

Acute subhepatic appendicitis in children is an uncommon presentation. It is usually associated with intestinal malrotation. When these conditions are met, accurate diagnosis and early management decisions are delayed.

CLINICAL CASE

We present the case of a 10-year-old male who had diarrhea without mucus or blood for 5 days. He was treated with antibiotics. Afterwards, he presented with vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever. Physical examination of the abdomen demonstrated a soft and depressible mass and pain in the lower right abdomen. Abdominal ultrasound and tomography reported image of subdiaphragmatic abscess. Percutaneous puncture and drainage were performed without results. Exploratory laparotomy was then performed, revealing a subhepatic perforation of the appendix. The patient evolved with abdominal sepsis and septic shock, resulting in a new surgical intervention for drainage of serohematic fluid. The patient improved and was discharged on day 40.

DISCUSSION

It is very important to consider the position of the anatomic appendix during appendicitis because it contributes to the various clinical symptoms, of which 30% are atypical. Diagnosis is masked, leading to complications such as perforations and/or abscesses that extend the hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute subhepatic appendicitis in children is an uncommon presentation. It is usually associated with intestinal malrotation. Delay in treatment due to atypical symptoms caused by the abnormal position of the appendix conditioned complications that implied a prolonged hospital stay, with the risk of increasing morbidity and mortality of the patient.

[Blindness due to head injury in an adolescent patient]

We describe the case of a 15 year old male adolescent with blindness of the right eye secondary to frontal head injury and blindness as the sole complication. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging studies were both normal. We postulate a non anatomical severing of the optic nerve as the etiological cause for blindness. Clinical management included intraocular steroids. The patient was discharged with unilateral blindness and followed-up in outpatient care.

[Acute appendicitis in children. Experience at a general hospital]

In order to establish a guide for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, we reviewed the charts of patients with appendectomy. In a 7-year period, 385 patients were studied. The age range was 3 to 15 years. In 53% there was an administration of medications prior to surgery. Perforated appendicitis was found in the majority (53%) of the cases. We could not find any association between age and perforation. Only localized, persistent abdominal pain, peritoneal irritation, anorexia, and vomiting were useful for differential diagnosis. In patients with acute appendicitis (p greater than 0.05), leukocytosis (greater than 10,000/mm3), neutrophilia (greater than 70%) and bands (greater than 3%) were observed in 80% of the cases. The frequency of complications was elevated (39.5%), and the mortality was five times higher than referred in other studies. We propose an algorithm for both opportune diagnosis and treatment of the disease.