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Infectious Diseases
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Infectious Diseases
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Excuse Me, Can You Remove Your Tie
Hand washing is a main method of tackling the problem of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria. There is also interest in the role of staff clothing in transmitting microbes. Neckties have recently attracted attention, particularly those of doctors in hospitals. . . .
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A Review of Community-Acquired Pneumonia
The term "community-acquired pneumonia" refers to a pneumonia in a previously healthy person who acquired the infection outside a hospital. Community-acquired pneumonia is one of the most common serious infections in children, with an incidence of 34 to 40 cases per 1,000 children. Determining the cause of pneumonia in a child is often difficult, but the patient's age and the season can help predict the likely etiology. . . .
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Update and New Treatment for C. difficile
The rising rate of hospitalization of children with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) remains a concern. Among groups of concern are children with inflammatory bowel disease who have higher rates of carriage of C. difficile and more recurrent CDI than the general pediatric population. . . .
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Kingella Kingae: A Pathogen to Recognize
Methods to culture bacteria and to identify them have improved with use of polymerase-chain-reaction assays (PCR). This technology has demonstrated that the pathogen, K kingae, is a common cause of several infections in young children. . . .
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Enlarged Tonsils Increase Spread of E-B Virus
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is spread person-to-person by saliva. Most primary EBV infections occur during young childhood years, and 90% of adults in industrialized countries are estimated to carry the virus. The palatine tonsils (visible at each side of the oral pharynx behind the mouth cavity) are the site of entry for EBV infection and serve as a reservoir with the potential of infecting others. . . .
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Debate about "Cat Scratch Disease" Transmission
Cat scratch disease is caused by a Gram-negative bacterium, Bartonella benselea. The typical presentation is tender, enlarged lymph nodes near a break in the skin from a cat or dog (vertebrate) scratch or bite. However, the condition has been diagnosed in the reported absence of contact. . . .
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Clostridium difficile Infecting More Children
The rate of hospitalizations for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in children is rising. Data (1997-2006) from the Kids' Inpatient Database (Health Care Cost and Utilization Project) and a 2006 cross-sectional analysis of the National Hospital Discharge Survey indicated that the number of cases nearly doubled, from 4626 in 1997 to 8417 cases in 2006. The hospitalization rates are highest in ages 1-4 years, followed by ages 5-9 years. . . .
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Cat Scratch Disease
Cat-scratch disease is a worldwide problem that has been prevalent in all areas of North America. There are an estimated 22,000 new cases per year in the United States. Bartonella henselae is the microorganism responsible for cat scratch disease. . . .
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Exclusion for Conjunctivitis? (2007)
Some professionals advocate excluding students with conjunctivitis to protect the student body (and by extension, the community at large). Others recommend allowing school attendance given that students with viral and bacterial respiratory infections are not excluded and are no less contagious. . . .
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Dengue Fever: Coming to a Community Near You? (2008)
Many diseases that caused havoc long ago are reemerging, with West Nile virus as an example. Can Dengue fever be next? Two authors from the NIH have reasons to believe it will. Dengue is caused by flaviviruses (the same family that causes yellow fever and West Nile virus). . . .
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Controlling Viral URIs at the Household Level (2007)
At least ten percent of work absences reportedly due to illness are attributed to influenza-like conditions. Public health nurses are in an ideal position to help control the household spread of viral upper respiratory infections (URIs), such as influenza and colds, with evidence-based interventions. . . .
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An Increasingly Resistant Infection (2006)
Staphyloccus aureus causes a wide array of infections in children, ranging from minor skin infections such as impetigo and furuncles (boils) to more serious conditions such as pneumonia, osteomyelitis, arthritis, endocarditis, and sepsis. . . .
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Treating Pink Eye
One in eight schoolchildren has an episode of acute infective conjunctivitis every year. Standard clinical practice is to prescribe a topical antibiotic, although the evidence to support this pr . . .
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Washing Those Hands
In Canadian child-care centers, handwashing has been shown to reduce colds and other upper-respiratory tract infections by 14%. A comparable decrease has been demonstrated in children under age 2 in Australia. In one U.S. child care center and in one U.S. elementary school, colds were reduced by 32% and 21% respectively from handwashing. . . .
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Steroids for Kids who have Mono and Sore Throat
Infectious Mononucleosis is accompanied by inflamed tonsils/throat in over 75% of those affected. In fact, severe sore throat is often the symptom that induces children to seek medical attention. Maximal pain lasts 5 to 7 days, with some pain persisting even longer. This study investigated the efficacy of corticosteroids (dexamethasone) to treat this symptom. . . .
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