Emerging infectious diseases in children

Emerging infectious diseases in children

Emerging infectious diseases in children

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Emerging Infections - The New Challengers

  • COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2):
    • Key concern: MIS-C (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome), 2-6 weeks post-infection.
    • Features: Kawasaki-like presentation, myocarditis, shock.
  • Zika Virus:
    • Aedes vector.
    • Congenital Syndrome: Severe microcephaly, intracranial calcifications.
  • Nipah Virus:
    • Reservoir: Fruit bats. High mortality (>70%).
    • Presents as acute encephalitis.
  • Scrub Typhus:
    • Vector: Trombiculid mite (chigger).
    • Classic triad: Fever, rash, eschar.

⭐ A painless eschar with a black necrotic center at the chigger bite site is pathognomonic for Scrub Typhus.

Scrub typhus rash and eschar

Viral Threats - Fevers & Fear

  • Nipah Virus (NiV)

    • Reservoir: Fruit bats (Pteropus spp.); pigs are intermediate hosts.
    • Presents as fever, headache, myalgia → rapidly progressing to encephalitis, seizures, coma.
    • Features: Segmental myoclonus, areflexia, respiratory distress.
    • Dx: Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) on throat swab, CSF, urine, blood.
    • Rx: Supportive care; Ribavirin efficacy is debated.
  • Chandipura Virus (CHPV)

    • Vector: Sandfly (Phlebotomus spp.).
    • Affects children <15 years; presents as Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
    • Sudden onset high fever, vomiting, altered sensorium, seizures.

⭐ Chandipura Virus has a very high case fatality rate, often >75%, with death occurring within 24-48 hours of onset.

Nipah virus zoonotic transmission cycle

Bacterial & Rickettsial - Hidden Dangers

  • Kingella kingae: A leading cause of septic arthritis & osteomyelitis in children <4 years. Often culture-negative; diagnosis relies on NAAT/PCR of synovial fluid.
  • Capnocytophaga canimorsus: Fulminant sepsis following dog bites, particularly dangerous for asplenic individuals.
  • Scrub Typhus (Orientia tsutsugamushi): Transmitted by chiggers (larval mites). Presents with high fever, headache, and myalgia. A painless eschar with a black necrotic center is pathognomonic. Painless eschar of scrub typhus in different body locations
  • Indian Tick Typhus (Rickettsia conorii): Characterized by fever, maculopapular rash starting on palms/soles, and an inoculation eschar (tache noire).

⭐ In suspected rickettsial diseases (like Scrub or Tick Typhus), treatment with Doxycycline should be initiated empirically without waiting for lab confirmation. It is the drug of choice across all age groups.

Syndromic Approach - Clinical Detective Work

  • Prioritizes early, life-saving interventions based on recognizable clinical patterns (syndromes) before definitive diagnosis is available.

  • Crucial for outbreaks (e.g., COVID-19, Nipah) where rapid response is key.

  • Common Pediatric Syndromes & Differentials:

    • Fever + Rash: Measles, Dengue, Scrub Typhus, Chikungunya.
    • Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES): Japanese Encephalitis (JE), Herpes Simplex (HSV), Enteroviruses.
    • Hemorrhagic Fever: Dengue, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD).
    • Acute Respiratory Distress: Influenza (H1N1), COVID-19, Hantavirus.

⭐ A triad of fever, rash, and thrombocytopenia strongly suggests Dengue, but always consider other possibilities like scrub typhus or meningococcemia in the differential diagnosis.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Key COVID-19 complication is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), presenting weeks post-infection.
  • Zika virus infection during pregnancy is strongly linked to congenital microcephaly in the fetus.
  • Dengue warning signs (abdominal pain, persistent vomiting) precede the critical phase of plasma leakage.
  • Chikungunya is characterized by abrupt high fever and severe, often incapacitating, polyarthralgia.
  • Scrub typhus presents with fever, rash, and a pathognomonic eschar at the chigger bite site.
  • Nipah virus is a high-mortality zoonosis causing severe respiratory illness and encephalitis.

Practice Questions: Emerging infectious diseases in children

Test your understanding with these related questions

A previously healthy 6-year-old boy is brought to the physician because of a 3-day history of progressive rash. The rash started on his face and now involves the entire body. For the past week, he has had a cough and a runny nose. He is visiting from the Philippines with his family. He is in first grade and spends his afternoons at an after-school child care program. Immunization records are not available. His temperature is 39.5°C (103°F), pulse is 115/min, and blood pressure is 105/66 mm Hg. Examination shows generalized lymphadenopathy. There is an erythematous maculopapular, blanching, and partially confluent exanthem on his entire body. The remainder of the examination shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is most likely to confirm the diagnosis?

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Flashcards: Emerging infectious diseases in children

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What demographic is most susceptible to viral (aseptic) meningitis caused by enteroviruses?_____

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

What demographic is most susceptible to viral (aseptic) meningitis caused by enteroviruses?_____

Children

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