We report a case of meningitis and one of fatal septicaemia in neonates due to Burkholderia pseudomallei and review the literature on neonatal melioidosis. Pneumonia was the primary presentation and was complicated by shock in the latter case. The epidemiological findings suggest that the cases reported from Malaysia were community-acquired in contrast with those from the USA and Thailand.
A hospital study was carried out to compare parenting stress among 87 Malaysian mothers of children with cerebral palsy and a control group (comprising 87 mothers of children without disability who attended the walk-in paediatric clinic), using the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine socio-demographic and medical factors associated with child-domain stress (CDS) and parent-domain stress (PDS). Mothers of children with cerebral palsy scored significantly higher than control subjects on all sub-scales of CDS and PDS (p < 0.01), except for the sub-scale of 'role restriction'. The presence of cerebral palsy (p < 0.001) and activities of daily living (ADL) scores (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with CDS. Factors predictive of PDS were ADL scores (p < 0.001), number of hospitalizations over the past year (p = 0.024), level of maternal education (p = 0.018) and Chinese mothers (p < 0.001). Although this study demonstrated that Malaysian mothers of children with cerebral palsy experienced higher levels of stress than controls, the impact of cerebral palsy per se on parenting stress was modified by other factors such as increased care-giving demands, low maternal education and ethnic background. Habilitation should be directed at easing the burden of daily care, minimizing hospital re-admissions and targeting appropriate psychosocial support at specific subgroups to change parental perception and expectations.
Study site: neurology clinics or physiotherapy department or inpatients, Paediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We describe a 7-year-old child who presented with a soft fluctuant swelling on the neck which became more prominent during the Valsalva manoeuvre. He underwent adeno-tonsillectomy based on a mistaken diagnosis of ballooning of the pharynx secondary to enlarged adenoids and tonsils obstructing the nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways. Investigations revealed the swelling to be a markedly dilated internal jugular vein. We discuss the diagnostic features and mode of treatment of this condition so as to avoid unnecessary and dangerous surgical intervention.
Extra-intestinal non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections are uncommon in developed countries but common in developing ones. The risk factors, clinical features and outcome of children admitted to the Department of Paediatrics, University of Malaya Medical Center, Kuala Lumpur from 1978 to 1998 with extra-intestinal NTS infections were reviewed. All positive cultures of NTS, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, synovial, pericardial and other body secretions (except stools), were included. Of the 98 cases reviewed, 56 were boys and 42 girls. The mean age was 2.1 years (range: newborn to 14 years). Twenty-seven children were severely immunocompromised and 21 had underlying chronic medical disorders. Bacteraemia was the most commonly detected type of infection and meningitis the commonest focal infection. The overall mortality rate was 15%. An immunocompromised state or underlying chronic medical disorder was associated with increased mortality. The three serotypes most commonly isolated were S. enteritidis, S. paratyphi B and S. typhimurium. Most isolates were sensitive to antibiotics commonly used in salmonellosis.
A descriptive study using data from the medical records of 448 children with febrile convulsion was carried out to determine the seizure characteristics and use of anti-convulsant therapy for febrile convulsions in a Malaysian hospital. There was a higher incidence of multiple seizures and a lower incidence of focal seizures in the local population than in studies done among Western populations. The majority of initial seizures occurred within 24 h of fever onset. Transient neurological abnormalities following an acute seizure were common. A quarter of children referred by general practitioners had been given anti-convulsants prior to referral but up to 20% of general practitioners had used ineffective routes for administering diazepam. However, diazepam used in the hospital was found to be effective in controlling acute febrile seizures.
We report a full-term baby boy who presented soon after birth with severe congenital rickets. Maternal and neonatal vitamin D levels were very low and the infant responded well to oral vitamin D. Transient secondary hyperparathyroidism normalised on treatment. The mother's vitamin D deficiency was attributed to the region's cultural dress code which prevents exposure to sunlight. There has not been a previous report of severe congenital rickets from this region.
A 7-year-old boy, referred with lymphoma, presented with prolonged fever and intra-abdominal lymphadenopathy demonstrated on computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen. Blood culture isolated Penicillium marneffei. The patient was subsequently proven serologically to be positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Treatment with amphotericin B followed by itraconazole was successful. A high level of clinical suspicion and awareness is necessary for early diagnosis of penicilliosis, especially in an era of an increasing prevalence of HIV in this region.
There are few data on paediatric melioidosis in endemic areas outside rural north-eastern Thailand and northern Australia. This study reports 16 culture-confirmed cases of melioidosis in children aged < or = 15 years seen between 1976 and 2005 at an urban teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Seven (43.8%) patients had septicaemic melioidosis (with three known deaths) and nine (56.2%) had localised disease (one death). Eleven (68.8%) patients had underlying diseases, including five with haematological malignancies. Skin, soft tissue and lymph nodes were most commonly affected. There were no cases of parotitis or pharyngocervical disease (seen in Thailand), or encephalomyelitis (seen in Australia). The differences in disease seen in this study compared with the mostly rural patients described in previous studies might be owing to a different patient population in an urban environment. Septicaemic melioidosis has a high mortality, but localised disease has a good prognosis, and selected cases may be cured without the full recommended treatment regimen.
The majority of cases of purpura fulminans are associated with Neisseria meningitidis sepsis. However, other bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae, can also be the cause. Underlying predisposing conditions are immunodeficiencies and splenic dysfunction, the latter being the most frequent in the paediatric age group. Purpura fulminans secondary to pneumococcal sepsis in a healthy infant is described.
Orbital myositis in children is uncommon. Recurrence is a major challenge in management. An 11-year-old Malay girl who presented with bilateral orbital myositis with recurrent attacks of diplopia is reported.