Sudanese journal of paediatrics
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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now spreading as a pandemic ravaging the whole world. In the absence of a vaccine and an effective antiviral chemotherapy, there is currently an intense global interest in repositioning chloroquine (CQ) and its derivative hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to combat the pandemic. CQ has been used for decades for the treatment and prophylaxis against malaria in endemic countries. ⋯ This experience could be adapted to deploy CQ or HCQ for prophylaxis or treatment of COVID19 if strong evidence could be generated for these uses. We believe that well-designed drug trials should be initiated in malaria-endemic countries, taking into account the local context of the epidemic and the capacity of the health system in combating it. In this paper, we are presenting the current status of evidence for using CQ and HCQ against COVID19.
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Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is characterised by the combination of rapidly growing vascular tumour, thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and consumptive coagulopathy. The blood clotting disorder results from platelets and other clotting factors of the blood being used up within the tumor. We report a two- and- half month old Saudi female infant who presented with epistaxis, conjunctival haemorrage and bilateral periorbital ecchymosis.
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Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired hematological disorder that is developed secondary to the production of auto-antibodies against platelets leading to isolated thrombocytopenia, in the absence of other causes of thrombocytopenia such as drugs, infections, malignancy, or other autoimmune diseases [1-6]. ITP commonly affects children between one and seven years of age. Severe life threatening bleeding is rare (0.2-0.9%) [7-12]. ⋯ Initial management options for newly diagnosed childhood ITP include; observation only, the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), steroids, anti-D immunoglobulin, each alone or in combination [6, 19.] Children who develop chronic ITP may benefit from splenectomy [19, 20-24]. Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody (anti-CD20), may lead to complete remission, and defers the need for splenectomy [25-27]. Recently, the thrombopoietin (TPO) agonists (Romiplostim and Eltrombopag) produced very good response in adult and pediatric patients with severe chronic ITP [28-30].
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Craniopagus conjoined twins represent a rare phenom- enon of congenital malformation/ dysmorphism. The clinical pathology of this complex entity is reviewed and placed in perspective. ⋯ Successful separation of craniopagus twins remains a rarity, however modern neurosurgical tech- niques have created opportunities for successful sepa- ration and brought hope for a normal survival of these children who in the past were often left as historical footnotes or put on display as oddities of nature. We report on a craniopagus conjoined twins from Sudan who had been successfully separated.
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Case Reports
Chronic immune thrombocytopenia in a child responding only to thrombopoietin receptor agonist.
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired hematological disease in which the body produces antibodies against its own platelets leading to platelet destruction resulting in isolated thrombocytopenia. Childhood ITP may enter complete remission in the majority of cases within six months from diagnosis. However, 20-30% of affected children may develop chronic ITP (lasting for more than 12 months). ⋯ Here is a case report on an 8 ½ -year-old boy with refractory chronic ITP who failed therapy with IVIG, corticosteroids, splenectomy and Rituximab. He showed excellent response to treatment with TPO receptor agonist (Romiplostim). His platelet count increased from less than 10 x10(3)/dl and maintained between 100x10(3)/dl to 200x10(3)/dl after few weeks of starting Romiplostim therapy.