Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society
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Omalizumab is effective in children with severe asthma, but its impact on medical cost in Japan is not clear. We evaluated the impact of omalizumab on medical cost by comparing the pre- vs post-omalizumab-initiation medical costs of 12 children with severe asthma who received omalizumab for 2 years, and calculating incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for omalizumab therapy. Health outcome was measured as hospital-free days (HFD). ⋯ Omalizumab led to an estimated increase of 40.8 HFD per omalizumab responder patient per 2 years. The cost was JPY 20 868 per additional HFD. Omalizumab can therefore reduce hospitalization cost in children with severe asthma in Japan.
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Case Reports
Incomplete Kawasaki disease in a 12-month-old girl presenting with cardiac murmur and iron deficiency anemia.
Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute necrotizing vasculitis that occurs in children <5 years of age. The cause of KD remains unknown, but various complications, including dilatation of the coronary arteries, can occur. Coronary artery aneurysm or ectasia are the most important complications of KD. ⋯ Meanwhile, iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most prevalent micronutrient deficiencies in the world. Children with IDA are prone to infection and inflammation. We report the case of a 12-month-old girl with incomplete KD who presented with cardiac murmur and severe IDA.