Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Cristina"
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- Behçet’s syndrome in pediatric agePublication . Mendes, Ana Raquel; Braga, Sandrina; Vilarinho, Catarina; Costa, Maria Antónia; Ferreira, Cristina; Simão, Teresa SãoIntroduction: Behçet´s syndrome is a systemic vasculitis characterized by recurrent oral and/or genital ulcers, and several systemic manifestations. The authors describe the case of a pediatric-onset Behçet´s syndrome. Case report: An 11-year-old boy was referred to the Pediatric consultation after two episodes of great saphenous vein thrombophlebitis. He had experienced daily oral aphthae for the past three years, and various episodes of folliculitis with pustule formation. Laboratory study was normal. The boy showed no signs of uveitis. The diagnosis of Behçet´s syndrome diagnosis was established according to the international criteria, with positive HLA- B51 testing. Colchicine was initiated, with favourable response. Conclusions: Due to clinical feature overlap with other conditions, Behçet’s syndrome diagnosis remains challenging. Consensus pediatric classification criteria developed in 2016 enabled greater sensitivity and earlier diagnosis.
- Enterococcus faecalis-associated lung abscess in a male adolescent- a case reportPublication . Mendes, Ana Raquel; Costa, António; Ferreira, Helena; Ferreira, CristinaBackground: Enterococci are rarely considered pulmonary pathogens; they are usually regarded as colonizers of the airway. The authors present the case of a previously healthy male adolescent, with complaints of fatigue and chest pain, who was diagnosed with Enterococcus faecalis-associated acute primary lung abscess. Case presentation: A previously healthy 17-year old boy was admitted to the pediatric ward due to a one-week history of fatigue, inspiratory left side chest pain, dry cough and nasal obstruction. On admission at the emergency department, he was afebrile, with no signs of respiratory distress, but with diminished breath sounds on the left side. A chest x-ray showed a round opacity on the posterior basal segment of the left lower lobe; he was discharged with oral amoxicillin 1000 mg three times a day with the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia. Due to the worsening of the productive cough with purulent stinking sputum he was re-evaluated after 4 days. Laboratory studies showed a leukocyte count of 15200/uL and a c-reactive protein of 172 mg/l. The chest computed tomography scan was suggestive of a consolidation of the left lower lobe base and a central abscess. An intravenous course of ceftriaxone and clindamycin was initiated, with a favourable clinical evolution. The bronchofibroscopy performed on day four after his admission revealed the presence of a tracheal bronchus and numerous purulent secretions. Culture examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples was positive (> 10^5) for Enterococcus faecalis. No complications were registered during his stay in the pediatric ward. He was discharged after a 14-day course of intravenous ceftriaxone and clindamycin, with the recommendation to complete a four-week course of oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. On his reevaluation 4 weeks after his discharge, he was asymptomatic. Conclusion: This case report highlights the importance of considering Enterococcus faecalis as an etiologic agent in cases of non-resolving or complicated cases of pneumonia, such as lung abscesses, even in young patients with no comorbidities or risk factors.
- Language regression as a manifestation of epilepsyPublication . Ferreira, Joana; Lopes, Sofia; Carmona Lopes, José; Ferreira, Cristina; Magalhães, CatarinaIntroduction: Childhood epileptic encephalopathies are age-dependent brain disorders in which ictal and interictal epileptogenic activity is the apparent cause of progressive cognitive and neuro-psychological impairment. Case report: A previously healthy four-year-old boy presented to the Emergency Department with a history of receptive and expressive language regression with four days of evolution, associated with seizure onset. Clinical features and electroencephalographic findings led to diagnosis of Landau-Kleffner syndrome. The boy was treated with valproate, clobazam, and prednisolone, with language improvement. Discussion/Conclusion: Landau-Kleffner syndrome is a rare epileptic encephalopathy with pathognomonic sudden aphasia, epilepsy, and paroxysmal electroencephalographic abnormalities. The condition should be suspected in children with normal development who show a deterioration of established language skills. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to improve outcome.