Browsing by Author "Rocha, Cristina"
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- Acute Campylobacter spp. gastroenteritis in the Pediatric Emergency Department of a level II hospitalPublication . Sá, Liliana; Pinheiro, Teresa; Silva, Joana; Pedrosa, Adriana; Soares, Laura; Costa, Miguel; Rocha, CristinaIntroduction: Campylobacter spp. is the main cause of pediatric acute bacterial gastroenteritis (ABG) in the European Union, with greater incidence in children under five years old. Most patients present complete recovery within days of infection, with no associated comorbidities. Antibiotic therapy should be reserved for severe cases. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, symptoms, treatment, and complications of Campylobacter spp. infection in pediatric patients with ABG. Material and methods: Case-by-case review of the clinical records of patients evaluated in the Pediatric Emergency Department of a level II hospital with a diagnosis of ABG and Campylobacter spp. isolated from stool samples over a five-year period (2013-2017). Results: Of the 1990 stool tests performed, 637 (32%) were positive for the presence of bacteria. Campylobacter spp. was identified in the samples of 459 patients (72%). Eighteen patients were excluded for insufficient data, making up a final sample of 441 patients, with a mean age of three years old. Clinically, patients presented with aqueous diarrhea (59.6%), bloody diarrhea (43.8%), bloody and mucus diarrhea (15.4%), mucus diarrhea (3.9%), vomiting (36.3%), abdominal pain (24.3%), fever (63%), seizures (0.9%), and rash (0.2%). Eighty-nine patients were hospitalized. Eleven patients received antibiotic therapy. Discussion: This study represents the largest national case-by-case review of ABG by Campylobacter spp. in the pediatric population. Campylobacter was the main bacteria identified, mostly associated with self-limited disease. Conclusion: A judicious use of stool tests allows etiological identification in ABG. The growing number of cases of ABG by Campylobacter spp. reinforces the need for better hygiene procedures.
- Hypoxemia in an adolescent: when the cause is between the linesPublication . Pereira, Tatiana; Loureiro, Graça; Pereira, Sandra; Rocha, Cristina; Guimarães, Paulo; Oliveira, SaraSpontaneous pneumomediastinum is a rare entity in pediatric age, with multifactorial etiology. A 16-year-old male with multiple allergies (mites, dogs, cats, and grasses), daily smoker (one pack/day for one year), and regular cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine consumer went to the Emergency Department of the local hospital with cough, dyspnea, chest pain, and fever with 12 hours of evolution. On physical examination, the boy presented facies complaints, polypnea, shortness of breath, extensive subcutaneous emphysema in the cervical region and right hemithorax, and diminished vesicular murmur bilaterally with expiratory wheezing. Chest x-ray was performed, revealing alterations compatible with pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema in the cervical region. Urine test was positive for tetrahydrocannabinoids. Atopy (IgE levels) study was performed, with positive result, and serological testing was performed for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, showing IgM of 33U/mL and IgG of 25U/mL. In this clinical case, multiple pneumomediastinum triggering/predisposing factors can be identified, including marked smoking habits, acute mycoplasma infection, and inhaled and smoked drug consumption. The aim of this study was to review the pathophysiology/semiology of pneumomediastinum and emphasize the importance of clinical suspicion.
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with hypobetalipoproteinemia: report of three cases and a novel mutation in APOB genePublication . Rodrigues, Joana; Azevedo, Ana; Tavares, Susana; Rocha, Cristina; Silva, Ermelinda SantosBackground: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the leading cause of chronic liver disease in children, is defined by hepatic fat infiltration >5% of hepatocytes, in the absence of excessive alcohol intake, evidence of viral, autoimmune or drug-induced liver disease. Conditions like rare genetic disorders must be considered in the differential diagnosis. Case Report: Two male brothers, and a non-related girl, all overweight, had liver steatosis. One of the brothers and the girl had elevated transaminases; all three presented with low total cholesterol, low density lipoproteins and very low density lipoproteins cholesterol levels, hypotriglyceridemia and low apolipoprotein B. A liver biopsy performed in the brother with citolysis confirmed steatohepatitis and the molecular study of apolipoprotein B gene showed a novel homozygous mutation (c.9353dup p.Asn3118Lysfs17). Patients with cytolysis lost weight, however liver steatosis persists. Conclusion: Fatty liver disease might be a consequence of hypobetalipoproteinemia. Evidence is scarce due to low number of reported cases.
- Tumefação craniana de novo – um desafio diagnósticoPublication . Ferreira, Ana Maria; Silva, Joana; Monteiro, Virginia; Tavares, Susana; Araújo, Ricardo; Rocha, CristinaA Coleção Líquida Subaponevrótica (CLS) é uma tumefação craniana benigna e, provavelmente, subdiagnosticada, que surge poucas semanas após o nascimento. Descreve-se o caso de uma lactente com antecedentes de parto distócico por ventosa e cefalohematoma occipitoparietal reabsorvido no período neonatal. Aos dois meses de idade, desenvolve, de novo, uma tumefação occipitoparietal direita de consistência mole e móvel nos planos superficiais, transluzente, indolor e sem sinais inflamatórios. Manteve-se clinicamente estável, sem outras alterações ao exame físico e no estudo analítico sumário. A ressonância magnética nuclear cranioencefálica evidenciou uma coleção líquida subgaleal. Foi postulado o diagnóstico de CLS e, com atitude conservadora expectante verificou-se reabsorção total após dois meses. Apesar do impacto da sua apresentação clínica, trata-se de uma entidade benigna que os prestadores de cuidados de saúde devem estar aptos a identificar e orientar.