Journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
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J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Jan 2012
Pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with acute leukemia: a single-center experience.
In English literature, there are only 2 specific series of pandemic H1N1 influenza infection in children with leukemia. To increase knowledge about pandemic influenza in children with leukemia and better understand the risk factors for severe disease, we have presented the clinical characteristics of 8 children with acute leukemia and pandemic influenza treated at our center. The mean age of the children (4 girls and 4 boys) was 6.7±2.0 years (range, 4 to 10 y). ⋯ She developed acute respiratory distress syndrome within a short time after the symptoms commenced and she died within 4 days. In conclusion, the clinical course of H1N1 infection may be fatal in rare cases of leukemic children receiving chemotherapy. Thus, vaccination is advisable for all leukemic children, especially for those under maintenance chemotherapy, as it might be life saving during such pandemics.
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Bacteremia is one of the most feared infectious complications of sickle cell disease, and it is associated with a high mortality rate in children. The objective of our study was to investigate the proportion of bacteremia among febrile children with sickle hemoglobinopathies and the clinical factors associated with bacteremia. ⋯ Approximately 1% of children with sickle hemoglobinopathies with fever have bacteremia despite current penicillin prophylaxis and pneumococcal immunization, although most episodes are due to nonpneumococcal pathogens. Prompt evaluation of such febrile children with sickle hemoglobinopathies remains warranted.
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J. Pediatr. Hematol. Oncol. · Jan 2012
Case ReportsGilbert syndrome increasing unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in a child with hereditary spherocytosis.
Hemolytic anemia usually gives rise to only a modest elevation of serum bilirubin. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia of an extreme degree should raise suspicion of additional factors. We describe a 10-year-old child suffering from hereditary spherocytosis, who had unusually high levels of unconjugated serum bilirubin and was diagnosed to have Gilbert syndrome on the basis of genetic analysis.