Pediatrics

Presenters

Yemisi Jones, MD; Mirna Giordano, MD

Session title

Pediatric Clinical Conundrums

Session summary

Dr. Mirna Giordano of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, and Dr. Yemisi Jones of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, moderated the Pediatric Clinical Conundrums session at HM19. After reviewing multiple submissions, they invited four trainees to present their interesting cases.

Malignancy or infection? Dr. Jeremy Brown, a resident at the University of Louisville, presented a case of a 15-year-old male with right upper quadrant abdominal pain with associated weight loss and intermittent fevers, over the course of several weeks. CT revealed multiple liver lesions, providing concern for possible malignancy, although liver biopsy proved otherwise, with mostly liquefactive tissue and benign liver parenchyma. After a large infectious work-up ensued, the patient was diagnosed with disseminated Bartonella. He was treated with a 10-day course of azithromycin, and his symptoms resolved.

Leg blisters as an uncommon manifestation of a common childhood disease. Dr. Stefan Mammele, a resident at Kapi’olani Medical Center in Honolulu, and the University of Hawaii, presented a case of an 11-year-old boy with a painful and pruritic rash associated with multiple 5- to 10-mm tense bullae located on the patient’s bilateral lower extremities with extension to the trunk. The patient was also found to have hematuria and proteinuria. The bullae drained both serosanguinous and purulent material. Fluid culture grew group A Streptococcus and skin biopsy confirmed IgA vasculitis. Bullae are a rare characteristic of Henoch Schönlein pupura in children, but are more commonly seen as a disease manifestation in adults. The patient was treated with cefazolin, and his lesions improved over the course of several weeks with resolution of his hematuria by 6 months.

Is she crying blood? Dr. Joshua Price, a resident at Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Mass., described a 12-year-old female who presented with 7 days of left-sided hemolacria with acute vision loss and unilateral eye pain. This patient did not respond to outpatient topical steroids and antibiotics, as prescribed by ophthalmology. For this reason, she underwent further work-up and imaging. MRI of the head and orbits revealed left maxillary sinus disease. She was treated with antibiotics for acute left maxillary sinusitis and her hemolacria resolved within 24 hours. While the differential diagnosis for hemolacria is broad, rarely acute sinusitis has been reported as a cause in medical literature.

Recurrent bronchiolitis or something more? Dr. Moira Black, a resident at Children’s Memorial Hermann in Houston, presented a case of a 7-month-old female with a history of recurrent admissions for increased work of breathing believed to be secondary to viral bronchiolitis. Her first hospitalization occurred at 7 weeks of age and was complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement. She was again hospitalized at 5 months of age with resolution of her increased work of breathing with high-flow nasal cannula. She presented again at 7 months of age with presumed bronchiolitis, however, she decompensated and required intubation on the 5th day of hospitalization. A bronchoscopy was performed and revealed a significantly narrowed left bronchus at the carina and a blind pouch on the right with notable pulsation of the walls. She underwent further imaging and was ultimately diagnosed with a left pulmonary artery sling. Left pulmonary artery slings are a rare, but potentially fatal anomaly that can present with wheezing, stridor, and recurrent respiratory infections. Patient underwent correction by cardiovascular surgery and has since been doing well.
 

Key takeaways for HM

• Bartonella is a common cause of fever of unknown origin, and should be considered in unusual presentations of febrile illnesses.

• Bullae in IgA vasculitis are rare in children and do not have prognostic value, but streptococcal infection may be a trigger for IgA vasculitis.

• Hemolacria is an atypical presentation of rare and common diagnoses that should prompt further work-up.

• Acute respiratory distress can be caused by underlying cardiac or vascular anomalies and can be mistaken for common viral illnesses.

Dr. Marsicek is a pediatric hospital medicine fellow at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla. Dr. Wysocka is a pediatric resident at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Presenters

Yemisi Jones, MD; Mirna Giordano, MD

Session title

Pediatric Clinical Conundrums

Session summary

Dr. Mirna Giordano of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, and Dr. Yemisi Jones of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, moderated the Pediatric Clinical Conundrums session at HM19. After reviewing multiple submissions, they invited four trainees to present their interesting cases.

Malignancy or infection? Dr. Jeremy Brown, a resident at the University of Louisville, presented a case of a 15-year-old male with right upper quadrant abdominal pain with associated weight loss and intermittent fevers, over the course of several weeks. CT revealed multiple liver lesions, providing concern for possible malignancy, although liver biopsy proved otherwise, with mostly liquefactive tissue and benign liver parenchyma. After a large infectious work-up ensued, the patient was diagnosed with disseminated Bartonella. He was treated with a 10-day course of azithromycin, and his symptoms resolved.

Leg blisters as an uncommon manifestation of a common childhood disease. Dr. Stefan Mammele, a resident at Kapi’olani Medical Center in Honolulu, and the University of Hawaii, presented a case of an 11-year-old boy with a painful and pruritic rash associated with multiple 5- to 10-mm tense bullae located on the patient’s bilateral lower extremities with extension to the trunk. The patient was also found to have hematuria and proteinuria. The bullae drained both serosanguinous and purulent material. Fluid culture grew group A Streptococcus and skin biopsy confirmed IgA vasculitis. Bullae are a rare characteristic of Henoch Schönlein pupura in children, but are more commonly seen as a disease manifestation in adults. The patient was treated with cefazolin, and his lesions improved over the course of several weeks with resolution of his hematuria by 6 months.

Is she crying blood? Dr. Joshua Price, a resident at Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Mass., described a 12-year-old female who presented with 7 days of left-sided hemolacria with acute vision loss and unilateral eye pain. This patient did not respond to outpatient topical steroids and antibiotics, as prescribed by ophthalmology. For this reason, she underwent further work-up and imaging. MRI of the head and orbits revealed left maxillary sinus disease. She was treated with antibiotics for acute left maxillary sinusitis and her hemolacria resolved within 24 hours. While the differential diagnosis for hemolacria is broad, rarely acute sinusitis has been reported as a cause in medical literature.

Recurrent bronchiolitis or something more? Dr. Moira Black, a resident at Children’s Memorial Hermann in Houston, presented a case of a 7-month-old female with a history of recurrent admissions for increased work of breathing believed to be secondary to viral bronchiolitis. Her first hospitalization occurred at 7 weeks of age and was complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement. She was again hospitalized at 5 months of age with resolution of her increased work of breathing with high-flow nasal cannula. She presented again at 7 months of age with presumed bronchiolitis, however, she decompensated and required intubation on the 5th day of hospitalization. A bronchoscopy was performed and revealed a significantly narrowed left bronchus at the carina and a blind pouch on the right with notable pulsation of the walls. She underwent further imaging and was ultimately diagnosed with a left pulmonary artery sling. Left pulmonary artery slings are a rare, but potentially fatal anomaly that can present with wheezing, stridor, and recurrent respiratory infections. Patient underwent correction by cardiovascular surgery and has since been doing well.
 

Key takeaways for HM

• Bartonella is a common cause of fever of unknown origin, and should be considered in unusual presentations of febrile illnesses.

• Bullae in IgA vasculitis are rare in children and do not have prognostic value, but streptococcal infection may be a trigger for IgA vasculitis.

• Hemolacria is an atypical presentation of rare and common diagnoses that should prompt further work-up.

• Acute respiratory distress can be caused by underlying cardiac or vascular anomalies and can be mistaken for common viral illnesses.

Dr. Marsicek is a pediatric hospital medicine fellow at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla. Dr. Wysocka is a pediatric resident at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

Presenters

Yemisi Jones, MD; Mirna Giordano, MD

Session title

Pediatric Clinical Conundrums

Session summary

Dr. Mirna Giordano of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, and Dr. Yemisi Jones of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, moderated the Pediatric Clinical Conundrums session at HM19. After reviewing multiple submissions, they invited four trainees to present their interesting cases.

Malignancy or infection? Dr. Jeremy Brown, a resident at the University of Louisville, presented a case of a 15-year-old male with right upper quadrant abdominal pain with associated weight loss and intermittent fevers, over the course of several weeks. CT revealed multiple liver lesions, providing concern for possible malignancy, although liver biopsy proved otherwise, with mostly liquefactive tissue and benign liver parenchyma. After a large infectious work-up ensued, the patient was diagnosed with disseminated Bartonella. He was treated with a 10-day course of azithromycin, and his symptoms resolved.

Leg blisters as an uncommon manifestation of a common childhood disease. Dr. Stefan Mammele, a resident at Kapi’olani Medical Center in Honolulu, and the University of Hawaii, presented a case of an 11-year-old boy with a painful and pruritic rash associated with multiple 5- to 10-mm tense bullae located on the patient’s bilateral lower extremities with extension to the trunk. The patient was also found to have hematuria and proteinuria. The bullae drained both serosanguinous and purulent material. Fluid culture grew group A Streptococcus and skin biopsy confirmed IgA vasculitis. Bullae are a rare characteristic of Henoch Schönlein pupura in children, but are more commonly seen as a disease manifestation in adults. The patient was treated with cefazolin, and his lesions improved over the course of several weeks with resolution of his hematuria by 6 months.

Is she crying blood? Dr. Joshua Price, a resident at Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Mass., described a 12-year-old female who presented with 7 days of left-sided hemolacria with acute vision loss and unilateral eye pain. This patient did not respond to outpatient topical steroids and antibiotics, as prescribed by ophthalmology. For this reason, she underwent further work-up and imaging. MRI of the head and orbits revealed left maxillary sinus disease. She was treated with antibiotics for acute left maxillary sinusitis and her hemolacria resolved within 24 hours. While the differential diagnosis for hemolacria is broad, rarely acute sinusitis has been reported as a cause in medical literature.

Recurrent bronchiolitis or something more? Dr. Moira Black, a resident at Children’s Memorial Hermann in Houston, presented a case of a 7-month-old female with a history of recurrent admissions for increased work of breathing believed to be secondary to viral bronchiolitis. Her first hospitalization occurred at 7 weeks of age and was complicated by spontaneous pneumothorax requiring chest tube placement. She was again hospitalized at 5 months of age with resolution of her increased work of breathing with high-flow nasal cannula. She presented again at 7 months of age with presumed bronchiolitis, however, she decompensated and required intubation on the 5th day of hospitalization. A bronchoscopy was performed and revealed a significantly narrowed left bronchus at the carina and a blind pouch on the right with notable pulsation of the walls. She underwent further imaging and was ultimately diagnosed with a left pulmonary artery sling. Left pulmonary artery slings are a rare, but potentially fatal anomaly that can present with wheezing, stridor, and recurrent respiratory infections. Patient underwent correction by cardiovascular surgery and has since been doing well.
 

Key takeaways for HM

• Bartonella is a common cause of fever of unknown origin, and should be considered in unusual presentations of febrile illnesses.

• Bullae in IgA vasculitis are rare in children and do not have prognostic value, but streptococcal infection may be a trigger for IgA vasculitis.

• Hemolacria is an atypical presentation of rare and common diagnoses that should prompt further work-up.

• Acute respiratory distress can be caused by underlying cardiac or vascular anomalies and can be mistaken for common viral illnesses.

Dr. Marsicek is a pediatric hospital medicine fellow at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla. Dr. Wysocka is a pediatric resident at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

BALTIMORE – In children with pharyngitis, it’s safe to skip group A Streptococcus testing if there are no exudates, children are 11 years or older, and there is either no cervical adenopathy or adenopathy without fever, according to a Boston Children’s Hospital investigation.

LightFieldStudios/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The prevalence of group A Streptococcus among children who meet those criteria is 13%, less than the estimated asymptomatic carriage rate of about 15%. Among 67,127 children tested for strep and treated for sore throats in a network of retail health clinics across the United States, 35% fit the profile.

Investigators led by Daniel Shapiro, MD, a pediatrics fellow at Boston Children’s, concluded that “laboratory testing for GAS [group A Streptococcus] might be safely avoided in a large proportion of patients with sore throats. In doing so, we may avoid some of the downstream effects of unnecessary antibiotic use.” Incorporating the rules into EHRs “might help physicians identify patients who are at low risk of GAS pharyngitis.”

The study team tackled a long-standing and vexing problem in general pediatrics: how to distinguish viral from GAS pharyngitis. They often present the same way, so it’s difficult to tell them apart, but important to do so to prevent misuse of antibiotics. Health care providers generally rely on rapid strep tests and other assays to make the call, but they have to be used cautiously, because asymptomatic carriers also will test positive and be at risk for unnecessary treatment, Dr. Shapiro said at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting.

To try to prevent that, the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) recommends against strep testing in children who present with overt viral signs, including cough, rhinorrhea, oral ulcers, and hoarseness (Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Nov 15;55[10]:1279-82).

In a previous study at Boston Children’s ED, however, Dr. Shapiro and his colleagues found that 29% of children with overt viral features were positive for GAS, suggesting that the IDSA guidelines probably go too far (Pediatrics. 2017 May;139[5]. pii: e20163403).

“One might conclude that while it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid testing patients with viral features, some of the patients with viral features really do have GAS pharyngitis, so the recommendation to forgo testing in all these kids needs a little bit of refinement,” he said.

That was the goal of the new study; the team sought to identify viral features that signaled a low risk of GAS pharyngitis and, therefore, no need for testing. Low risk was defined as less than 15%, in keeping with the asymptomatic carriage rate.

The 67,127 patients were aged 3-21 years. Their signs and symptoms were collected at the retail clinics in a standardized form. The subjects had rapid strep tests, with negative results confirmed by DNA probe or culture.

Fifty-four percent had viral features, defined in the study as cough, runny nose, or hoarseness (oral ulcers weren’t collected on the form). The overall prevalence of GAS was 35%, similar to previous studies; 39% of children with no viral features tested positive for GAS versus 26% of children with all three. Exudates and age below 11 years were strongly associated with GAS among patients with viral features.

It turned out that just 23% of children without exudates were GAS positive; the number fell to 15% when limited to children 11 years or older, and to 13% when either no cervical adenopathy or adenopathy without fever were added to the mix. So skip the strep test in pharyngitis when there are no exudates in children 11 years or older lacking cervical adenopathy or who have adenopathy without fever.

There was no industry funding, and Dr. Shapiro didn’t have any disclosures.

[email protected]

BALTIMORE – In children with pharyngitis, it’s safe to skip group A Streptococcus testing if there are no exudates, children are 11 years or older, and there is either no cervical adenopathy or adenopathy without fever, according to a Boston Children’s Hospital investigation.

LightFieldStudios/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The prevalence of group A Streptococcus among children who meet those criteria is 13%, less than the estimated asymptomatic carriage rate of about 15%. Among 67,127 children tested for strep and treated for sore throats in a network of retail health clinics across the United States, 35% fit the profile.

Investigators led by Daniel Shapiro, MD, a pediatrics fellow at Boston Children’s, concluded that “laboratory testing for GAS [group A Streptococcus] might be safely avoided in a large proportion of patients with sore throats. In doing so, we may avoid some of the downstream effects of unnecessary antibiotic use.” Incorporating the rules into EHRs “might help physicians identify patients who are at low risk of GAS pharyngitis.”

The study team tackled a long-standing and vexing problem in general pediatrics: how to distinguish viral from GAS pharyngitis. They often present the same way, so it’s difficult to tell them apart, but important to do so to prevent misuse of antibiotics. Health care providers generally rely on rapid strep tests and other assays to make the call, but they have to be used cautiously, because asymptomatic carriers also will test positive and be at risk for unnecessary treatment, Dr. Shapiro said at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting.

To try to prevent that, the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) recommends against strep testing in children who present with overt viral signs, including cough, rhinorrhea, oral ulcers, and hoarseness (Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Nov 15;55[10]:1279-82).

In a previous study at Boston Children’s ED, however, Dr. Shapiro and his colleagues found that 29% of children with overt viral features were positive for GAS, suggesting that the IDSA guidelines probably go too far (Pediatrics. 2017 May;139[5]. pii: e20163403).

“One might conclude that while it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid testing patients with viral features, some of the patients with viral features really do have GAS pharyngitis, so the recommendation to forgo testing in all these kids needs a little bit of refinement,” he said.

That was the goal of the new study; the team sought to identify viral features that signaled a low risk of GAS pharyngitis and, therefore, no need for testing. Low risk was defined as less than 15%, in keeping with the asymptomatic carriage rate.

The 67,127 patients were aged 3-21 years. Their signs and symptoms were collected at the retail clinics in a standardized form. The subjects had rapid strep tests, with negative results confirmed by DNA probe or culture.

Fifty-four percent had viral features, defined in the study as cough, runny nose, or hoarseness (oral ulcers weren’t collected on the form). The overall prevalence of GAS was 35%, similar to previous studies; 39% of children with no viral features tested positive for GAS versus 26% of children with all three. Exudates and age below 11 years were strongly associated with GAS among patients with viral features.

It turned out that just 23% of children without exudates were GAS positive; the number fell to 15% when limited to children 11 years or older, and to 13% when either no cervical adenopathy or adenopathy without fever were added to the mix. So skip the strep test in pharyngitis when there are no exudates in children 11 years or older lacking cervical adenopathy or who have adenopathy without fever.

There was no industry funding, and Dr. Shapiro didn’t have any disclosures.

[email protected]

BALTIMORE – In children with pharyngitis, it’s safe to skip group A Streptococcus testing if there are no exudates, children are 11 years or older, and there is either no cervical adenopathy or adenopathy without fever, according to a Boston Children’s Hospital investigation.

LightFieldStudios/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The prevalence of group A Streptococcus among children who meet those criteria is 13%, less than the estimated asymptomatic carriage rate of about 15%. Among 67,127 children tested for strep and treated for sore throats in a network of retail health clinics across the United States, 35% fit the profile.

Investigators led by Daniel Shapiro, MD, a pediatrics fellow at Boston Children’s, concluded that “laboratory testing for GAS [group A Streptococcus] might be safely avoided in a large proportion of patients with sore throats. In doing so, we may avoid some of the downstream effects of unnecessary antibiotic use.” Incorporating the rules into EHRs “might help physicians identify patients who are at low risk of GAS pharyngitis.”

The study team tackled a long-standing and vexing problem in general pediatrics: how to distinguish viral from GAS pharyngitis. They often present the same way, so it’s difficult to tell them apart, but important to do so to prevent misuse of antibiotics. Health care providers generally rely on rapid strep tests and other assays to make the call, but they have to be used cautiously, because asymptomatic carriers also will test positive and be at risk for unnecessary treatment, Dr. Shapiro said at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting.

To try to prevent that, the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) recommends against strep testing in children who present with overt viral signs, including cough, rhinorrhea, oral ulcers, and hoarseness (Clin Infect Dis. 2012 Nov 15;55[10]:1279-82).

In a previous study at Boston Children’s ED, however, Dr. Shapiro and his colleagues found that 29% of children with overt viral features were positive for GAS, suggesting that the IDSA guidelines probably go too far (Pediatrics. 2017 May;139[5]. pii: e20163403).

“One might conclude that while it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid testing patients with viral features, some of the patients with viral features really do have GAS pharyngitis, so the recommendation to forgo testing in all these kids needs a little bit of refinement,” he said.

That was the goal of the new study; the team sought to identify viral features that signaled a low risk of GAS pharyngitis and, therefore, no need for testing. Low risk was defined as less than 15%, in keeping with the asymptomatic carriage rate.

The 67,127 patients were aged 3-21 years. Their signs and symptoms were collected at the retail clinics in a standardized form. The subjects had rapid strep tests, with negative results confirmed by DNA probe or culture.

Fifty-four percent had viral features, defined in the study as cough, runny nose, or hoarseness (oral ulcers weren’t collected on the form). The overall prevalence of GAS was 35%, similar to previous studies; 39% of children with no viral features tested positive for GAS versus 26% of children with all three. Exudates and age below 11 years were strongly associated with GAS among patients with viral features.

It turned out that just 23% of children without exudates were GAS positive; the number fell to 15% when limited to children 11 years or older, and to 13% when either no cervical adenopathy or adenopathy without fever were added to the mix. So skip the strep test in pharyngitis when there are no exudates in children 11 years or older lacking cervical adenopathy or who have adenopathy without fever.

There was no industry funding, and Dr. Shapiro didn’t have any disclosures.

[email protected]

Development and use of a specific protocol significantly increased the likelihood of children with elevated blood lead levels receiving standardized care, according to current guidelines, reported Courtney M. Brown, MD, and associates at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati.

The study protocol, undertaken at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s pediatric primary care center, consisted of ordering multivitamins with iron and follow-up lead testing, educating families about identifying and reducing sources of lead exposure, and referring to a specialty environmental health clinic when indicated. Quality improvement and a real-time decision support program called Epic SmartPhrase was used to increase provider adherence. Results from patients aged 9-27 months who were seen at the hospital from February 2016 to June 2018 were included, according to the researchers. Their findings were published in Pediatrics.

Over the study period, 634 elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) were recorded. Between February 2016 – when the protocol was distributed – and May 2017 – when Epic SmartPhrase was introduced – a mean of 5% of cases received protocol-based care. After introduction of Epic Smartphase, the rate of adherence to protocol increased to 90%, which was maintained for the rest of the study.

“A reliable system for responding to BLLs is critical for optimizing outcomes for individuals, as well as activating public health systems to reduce environmental lead sources. Using tools within the EHR, we increased provider adherence with published guidelines. Our Epic SmartPhrase could be easily reproduced by other practices using EHRs. Similar strategies could be applied for standardizing the response to other laboratory tests,” the investigators wrote. “This type of intervention could ensure that screenings of all kinds trigger meaningful interventions.”

The study was supported by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center through the All Children Thrive community health initiative; the study authors had no relevant financial disclosures.

[email protected]

SOURCE: Brown CM et al. Pediatrics. 2019 May 9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3085.

Development and use of a specific protocol significantly increased the likelihood of children with elevated blood lead levels receiving standardized care, according to current guidelines, reported Courtney M. Brown, MD, and associates at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati.

The study protocol, undertaken at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s pediatric primary care center, consisted of ordering multivitamins with iron and follow-up lead testing, educating families about identifying and reducing sources of lead exposure, and referring to a specialty environmental health clinic when indicated. Quality improvement and a real-time decision support program called Epic SmartPhrase was used to increase provider adherence. Results from patients aged 9-27 months who were seen at the hospital from February 2016 to June 2018 were included, according to the researchers. Their findings were published in Pediatrics.

Over the study period, 634 elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) were recorded. Between February 2016 – when the protocol was distributed – and May 2017 – when Epic SmartPhrase was introduced – a mean of 5% of cases received protocol-based care. After introduction of Epic Smartphase, the rate of adherence to protocol increased to 90%, which was maintained for the rest of the study.

“A reliable system for responding to BLLs is critical for optimizing outcomes for individuals, as well as activating public health systems to reduce environmental lead sources. Using tools within the EHR, we increased provider adherence with published guidelines. Our Epic SmartPhrase could be easily reproduced by other practices using EHRs. Similar strategies could be applied for standardizing the response to other laboratory tests,” the investigators wrote. “This type of intervention could ensure that screenings of all kinds trigger meaningful interventions.”

The study was supported by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center through the All Children Thrive community health initiative; the study authors had no relevant financial disclosures.

[email protected]

SOURCE: Brown CM et al. Pediatrics. 2019 May 9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3085.

Development and use of a specific protocol significantly increased the likelihood of children with elevated blood lead levels receiving standardized care, according to current guidelines, reported Courtney M. Brown, MD, and associates at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the University of Cincinnati.

The study protocol, undertaken at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s pediatric primary care center, consisted of ordering multivitamins with iron and follow-up lead testing, educating families about identifying and reducing sources of lead exposure, and referring to a specialty environmental health clinic when indicated. Quality improvement and a real-time decision support program called Epic SmartPhrase was used to increase provider adherence. Results from patients aged 9-27 months who were seen at the hospital from February 2016 to June 2018 were included, according to the researchers. Their findings were published in Pediatrics.

Over the study period, 634 elevated blood lead levels (BLLs) were recorded. Between February 2016 – when the protocol was distributed – and May 2017 – when Epic SmartPhrase was introduced – a mean of 5% of cases received protocol-based care. After introduction of Epic Smartphase, the rate of adherence to protocol increased to 90%, which was maintained for the rest of the study.

“A reliable system for responding to BLLs is critical for optimizing outcomes for individuals, as well as activating public health systems to reduce environmental lead sources. Using tools within the EHR, we increased provider adherence with published guidelines. Our Epic SmartPhrase could be easily reproduced by other practices using EHRs. Similar strategies could be applied for standardizing the response to other laboratory tests,” the investigators wrote. “This type of intervention could ensure that screenings of all kinds trigger meaningful interventions.”

The study was supported by the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center through the All Children Thrive community health initiative; the study authors had no relevant financial disclosures.

[email protected]

SOURCE: Brown CM et al. Pediatrics. 2019 May 9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-3085.

Oral rotavirus vaccination had a strong protective effect against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infection in the first 2 years of the U.K. infant immunization program, investigators are reporting.

CDC/Dr. Erskine Palmer

The estimated effectiveness was 77% for all infants with confirmed infection, and greater than 80% for those under 12 months of age, according to the report. The vaccine did not demonstrate efficacy against all-cause acute gastroenteritis, although this was likely because of high, sustained vaccine coverage coupled with the “substantial impact” of the rotavirus vaccine, wrote investigators led by Sara L. Thomas, MB BS, PhD, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Taken together, these findings provide “reassurance” that rotavirus vaccine is effective in a real-world setting and set the stage for future analyses of cost effectiveness, Dr. Thomas and coauthors said in a report on the study appearing in Vaccine: X, the open access mirror journal of Vaccine.

“As data accumulate in the post-vaccination era, more detailed assessment of waning of effectiveness over time can be undertaken, and investigation of rotavirus strain-specific protection,” they wrote.

Oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) was introduced in the U.K. in 2013 as a two-dose schedule at 2 and 3 months of age. Vaccine uptake by the age of 25 weeks was rapid and sustained, exceeding 90%, according to previous reports. Declines in hospital admissions and primary care for all-cause acute gastroenteritis were substantial, associated with an estimated reduction of £12.5 million in health care costs in the first year of the program for children 5 years of age and younger.

To assess rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in the public health setting, Dr. Thomas and colleagues conducted a pair of studies: one designed to evaluate vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections using laboratory surveillance data for 1,869 children and 1,032 controls and another to estimate vaccine effectiveness against all-cause acute gastroenteritis using electronic health data on 40,723 children.

In U.K. children with confirmed wild-type rotavirus infection aged 5 years and under, vaccine effectiveness was 69% for one dose and 77% for two doses. Stratified by age, the data showed that vaccine effectiveness was 85% in those younger than 12 months, and 54% for older children.

By contrast, they found no evidence that the rotavirus vaccine protected against all-cause acute gastroenteritis in an analysis that adjusted for age and other factors. Analysis also suggested a lack of effectiveness against hospitalized acute gastroenteritis, according to the study authors.

In prelicensure trials, oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine in middle- and high-income settings had efficacy against severe rotavirus-confirmed gastroenteritis of greater than 85% and efficacy against severe all-cause gastroenteritis up to 40%, investigators noted.

The lack of vaccine efficacy on all-cause acute gastroenteritis is likely because of “highly effective implementation” of the vaccine program and rapid attainment of coverage, plus high vaccine effectiveness against rotavirus-specific acute gastroenteritis, the investigators said.

“As a result, almost all AGE in the study population in the post-vaccine era was likely to have been due to nonrotavirus organisms or non-infectious causes,” said Dr. Thomas and coauthors.

This highlights the importance of choosing “specific outcomes” to study when vaccine coverage and effectiveness are both high, they concluded.

Funding for this research came from the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Immunisation at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in partnership with Public Health England. The Immunisation and Countermeasures Division of Public Health England provided vaccine manufacturers with postmarketing surveillance reports, according to the article’s disclosure section.

SOURCE: Walker JL et al. Vaccine: X. 2019 Apr 11. doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2019.100005.
 

Oral rotavirus vaccination had a strong protective effect against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infection in the first 2 years of the U.K. infant immunization program, investigators are reporting.

CDC/Dr. Erskine Palmer

The estimated effectiveness was 77% for all infants with confirmed infection, and greater than 80% for those under 12 months of age, according to the report. The vaccine did not demonstrate efficacy against all-cause acute gastroenteritis, although this was likely because of high, sustained vaccine coverage coupled with the “substantial impact” of the rotavirus vaccine, wrote investigators led by Sara L. Thomas, MB BS, PhD, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Taken together, these findings provide “reassurance” that rotavirus vaccine is effective in a real-world setting and set the stage for future analyses of cost effectiveness, Dr. Thomas and coauthors said in a report on the study appearing in Vaccine: X, the open access mirror journal of Vaccine.

“As data accumulate in the post-vaccination era, more detailed assessment of waning of effectiveness over time can be undertaken, and investigation of rotavirus strain-specific protection,” they wrote.

Oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) was introduced in the U.K. in 2013 as a two-dose schedule at 2 and 3 months of age. Vaccine uptake by the age of 25 weeks was rapid and sustained, exceeding 90%, according to previous reports. Declines in hospital admissions and primary care for all-cause acute gastroenteritis were substantial, associated with an estimated reduction of £12.5 million in health care costs in the first year of the program for children 5 years of age and younger.

To assess rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in the public health setting, Dr. Thomas and colleagues conducted a pair of studies: one designed to evaluate vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections using laboratory surveillance data for 1,869 children and 1,032 controls and another to estimate vaccine effectiveness against all-cause acute gastroenteritis using electronic health data on 40,723 children.

In U.K. children with confirmed wild-type rotavirus infection aged 5 years and under, vaccine effectiveness was 69% for one dose and 77% for two doses. Stratified by age, the data showed that vaccine effectiveness was 85% in those younger than 12 months, and 54% for older children.

By contrast, they found no evidence that the rotavirus vaccine protected against all-cause acute gastroenteritis in an analysis that adjusted for age and other factors. Analysis also suggested a lack of effectiveness against hospitalized acute gastroenteritis, according to the study authors.

In prelicensure trials, oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine in middle- and high-income settings had efficacy against severe rotavirus-confirmed gastroenteritis of greater than 85% and efficacy against severe all-cause gastroenteritis up to 40%, investigators noted.

The lack of vaccine efficacy on all-cause acute gastroenteritis is likely because of “highly effective implementation” of the vaccine program and rapid attainment of coverage, plus high vaccine effectiveness against rotavirus-specific acute gastroenteritis, the investigators said.

“As a result, almost all AGE in the study population in the post-vaccine era was likely to have been due to nonrotavirus organisms or non-infectious causes,” said Dr. Thomas and coauthors.

This highlights the importance of choosing “specific outcomes” to study when vaccine coverage and effectiveness are both high, they concluded.

Funding for this research came from the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Immunisation at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in partnership with Public Health England. The Immunisation and Countermeasures Division of Public Health England provided vaccine manufacturers with postmarketing surveillance reports, according to the article’s disclosure section.

SOURCE: Walker JL et al. Vaccine: X. 2019 Apr 11. doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2019.100005.
 

Oral rotavirus vaccination had a strong protective effect against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infection in the first 2 years of the U.K. infant immunization program, investigators are reporting.

CDC/Dr. Erskine Palmer

The estimated effectiveness was 77% for all infants with confirmed infection, and greater than 80% for those under 12 months of age, according to the report. The vaccine did not demonstrate efficacy against all-cause acute gastroenteritis, although this was likely because of high, sustained vaccine coverage coupled with the “substantial impact” of the rotavirus vaccine, wrote investigators led by Sara L. Thomas, MB BS, PhD, of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Taken together, these findings provide “reassurance” that rotavirus vaccine is effective in a real-world setting and set the stage for future analyses of cost effectiveness, Dr. Thomas and coauthors said in a report on the study appearing in Vaccine: X, the open access mirror journal of Vaccine.

“As data accumulate in the post-vaccination era, more detailed assessment of waning of effectiveness over time can be undertaken, and investigation of rotavirus strain-specific protection,” they wrote.

Oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix) was introduced in the U.K. in 2013 as a two-dose schedule at 2 and 3 months of age. Vaccine uptake by the age of 25 weeks was rapid and sustained, exceeding 90%, according to previous reports. Declines in hospital admissions and primary care for all-cause acute gastroenteritis were substantial, associated with an estimated reduction of £12.5 million in health care costs in the first year of the program for children 5 years of age and younger.

To assess rotavirus vaccine effectiveness in the public health setting, Dr. Thomas and colleagues conducted a pair of studies: one designed to evaluate vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed rotavirus infections using laboratory surveillance data for 1,869 children and 1,032 controls and another to estimate vaccine effectiveness against all-cause acute gastroenteritis using electronic health data on 40,723 children.

In U.K. children with confirmed wild-type rotavirus infection aged 5 years and under, vaccine effectiveness was 69% for one dose and 77% for two doses. Stratified by age, the data showed that vaccine effectiveness was 85% in those younger than 12 months, and 54% for older children.

By contrast, they found no evidence that the rotavirus vaccine protected against all-cause acute gastroenteritis in an analysis that adjusted for age and other factors. Analysis also suggested a lack of effectiveness against hospitalized acute gastroenteritis, according to the study authors.

In prelicensure trials, oral live-attenuated rotavirus vaccine in middle- and high-income settings had efficacy against severe rotavirus-confirmed gastroenteritis of greater than 85% and efficacy against severe all-cause gastroenteritis up to 40%, investigators noted.

The lack of vaccine efficacy on all-cause acute gastroenteritis is likely because of “highly effective implementation” of the vaccine program and rapid attainment of coverage, plus high vaccine effectiveness against rotavirus-specific acute gastroenteritis, the investigators said.

“As a result, almost all AGE in the study population in the post-vaccine era was likely to have been due to nonrotavirus organisms or non-infectious causes,” said Dr. Thomas and coauthors.

This highlights the importance of choosing “specific outcomes” to study when vaccine coverage and effectiveness are both high, they concluded.

Funding for this research came from the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Immunisation at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in partnership with Public Health England. The Immunisation and Countermeasures Division of Public Health England provided vaccine manufacturers with postmarketing surveillance reports, according to the article’s disclosure section.

SOURCE: Walker JL et al. Vaccine: X. 2019 Apr 11. doi: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2019.100005.
 

THE CASE

A 29-year-old G7P2315 woman gave birth to a girl at 37 weeks via spontaneous vaginal delivery. APGAR scores were 9 and 9. Birth weight was 2760 g. Cardiovascular and pulmonary examinations were normal (heart rate, 154 beats/min; respiratory rate, 52 breaths/min). Following delivery, the neonate appeared healthy, had a lusty cry, and had no visible craniofacial or cutaneous abnormalities; however, the bilateral knees were hyperextended to 90° to 110° (FIGURE 1A).

The mother had started prenatal care at 7 weeks with 10 total visits to her family physician (JD) throughout the pregnancy. Routine laboratory screening and prenatal ultrasounds (including an anatomy scan) were normal. She had a history of 3 preterm deliveries at 35 weeks, 36 weeks, and 36 weeks, respectively, and had been on progesterone shots once weekly starting at 18 weeks during the current pregnancy. She had no history of infections or recent travel. Her family history was remarkable for a sister who gave birth to a child with thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome.

THE DIAGNOSIS

The neonate tolerated passive flexion of the knees to a neutral position. Hip examination demonstrated appropriate range of movement with negative Ortolani and Barlow tests. The infant’s feet aligned correctly, with toes in the front and heels in the back, and an x-ray of the bilateral knees showed no fractures or dislocation.

Based on the clinical examination and x-ray findings, we made a diagnosis of congenital genu recurvatum. A pediatric orthopedics consultation was obtained, and the knees were placed in short leg splints in comfortable flexion to neutral on Day 1 of life. She was discharged the next day.

DISCUSSION

Congenital genu recurvatum, also known as congenital dislocation of the knee, is a rare condition involving abnormal hyperextension of the unilateral or bilateral knees with limited flexion.¹ Reports in the literature are limited, but there seems to be a female predominance among known cases of congenital genu recurvatum.² The clinical presentation varies. Finding may be isolated to the knee(s) but also can present in association with other congenital abnormalities, such as developmental dysplasia of the hip, clubfoot, and hindfoot and forefoot deformities.^3,4

Diagnosis is made clinically with radiographic imaging

Diagnosis of congenital genu recurvatum is made clinically and can be confirmed via radiographic imaging of the knees.5 Clinical diagnosis requires assessment of the degree of hyperextension and palpation of the femoral condyles, which become more prominent as the severity of the hyperextension increases.⁶ X-rays help assess if a true dislocation or subluxation of the tibia on the femur has occurred. Based on the clinical and radiographic findings, congenital genu recurvatum typically is classified according to 3 levels of severity: grade 1 classification only involves hyperextension of the knees without dislocation or subluxation, grade 2 involves the same characteristic hyperextension along with  anterior subluxation of the tibia on the femur, and grade 3 includes hyperextension with true dislocation of the tibia on the femur.¹ Grades 1 and 2 on this spectrum technically are diagnosed as congenital genu recurvatum while grade 3 is diagnosed as a congenital dislocation of the knee,⁷ although the 2 terms are used interchangeably in the literature. We classified our case as a grade 1 congenital genu recurvatum based on the clinical and radiographic findings.

Congenital knee hyperextension has intrinsic and extrinsic causes

Hyperextension of the knees at birth may be caused by various intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic causes may include breech position, lack of intrauterine space, trauma to the mother, quadriceps contracture or fibrosis, absence of the suprapatellar pouch, deficient or hypoplastic anterior cruciate ligament, pathological tissues, arthrogryposis, or genetic disorders such as Larsen syndrome or achondroplasia.⁶

Continue to: Extrinsic causes...

Extrinsic causes may include traumatic dislocation during the birthing process³ or intrauterine pressure leading to malposition of the joints. When intrauterine pressure is combined with reduced intrauterine space, this phenomenon is known as packaging disorder.⁶ Entanglement of the umbilical cord around the legs of the fetus during development may be another potential factor.¹Of note: Cases involving both extrinsic or intrinsic etiologies can present with associated abnormalities that include congenital dislocation of the hip, congenital hip dysplasia, spina bifida, and/or cleft palate—in addition to knee hyperextension.

The exact etiology in our patient was unknown, but we determined the cause was extrinsic based on the lack of other genetic abnormalities. We initially considered a possible connection between our patient’s diagnosis and her family history of thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome, but it was later determined that both were isolated cases and the limb abnormalities were coincidental.

Treatment options and outcomes for extrinsic and intrinsic etiologies depend on the severity of the hyperextension and any associated abnormalities, as well as the time in which therapy is initiated.¹ Reduction of the hyperextension within 24 hours of birth has been associated with excellent outcomes.⁸ Regardless of the cause, all cases of congenital genu recurvatum should first be treated conservatively. Evidence has suggested that conservative therapy involving early gentle manipulation of the knee combined with serial splinting and casting should be the first line of treatment.⁶ If initial treatment attempts fail or in cases occurring later in life, surgical interventions (eg, quadriceps release procedures such as percutaneous quadriceps recession or V-Y quadricepsplasty, proximal tibial closing-wedge, anterior displacement osteotomy) likely is warranted.^6,9

Our patient. At 1 week of life, our patient’s short leg splints were replaced with long leg splints with a maximal flexion of 20° to 30° (FIGURE 1B). Weekly follow-ups with serial casting were initiated in the pediatric orthopedics clinic. At 3 weeks of life, the patient’s knee flexion had improved and the splints were removed (FIGURE 1C). Upon clinical examination, the bilateral knees were extended to a neutral position, and both could be actively and passively flexed to 90°. The patient was referred to Physical Therapy to perform range of movement exercises on the knees.

IMAGE COURTESY OF: METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO

At 8 weeks of life, the bilateral legs were in full extension, and knee flexion was up to 130°. Physical therapy for knee range of movement exercise was continued on a weekly basis until 6 months of life, then twice monthly until the patient was 1 year old. Ultimately, the hyperextension was corrected, and the patient started walking at around 16 months of age. Her prognosis is good, and she will be able to participate in low-impact sports, after consulting with her orthopedist.

IMAGE COURTESY OF: METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO

Continue to: THE TAKEAWAY

THE TAKEAWAY

Congenital genu recurvatum is a rare condition that presents with abnormal hyperextension of the knee(s) with limited flexion. Early diagnosis and assessment of the severity of the hyperextension is crucial in determining the type of intervention to pursue. Conservative management entails serial casting and splinting to increase knee flexion. If conservative management fails or if the diagnosis is made later in life, surgical options often are pursued.

CORRESPONDENCE
Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP, 2500 MetroHealth Medical Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109; [email protected]

THE CASE

A 29-year-old G7P2315 woman gave birth to a girl at 37 weeks via spontaneous vaginal delivery. APGAR scores were 9 and 9. Birth weight was 2760 g. Cardiovascular and pulmonary examinations were normal (heart rate, 154 beats/min; respiratory rate, 52 breaths/min). Following delivery, the neonate appeared healthy, had a lusty cry, and had no visible craniofacial or cutaneous abnormalities; however, the bilateral knees were hyperextended to 90° to 110° (FIGURE 1A).

The mother had started prenatal care at 7 weeks with 10 total visits to her family physician (JD) throughout the pregnancy. Routine laboratory screening and prenatal ultrasounds (including an anatomy scan) were normal. She had a history of 3 preterm deliveries at 35 weeks, 36 weeks, and 36 weeks, respectively, and had been on progesterone shots once weekly starting at 18 weeks during the current pregnancy. She had no history of infections or recent travel. Her family history was remarkable for a sister who gave birth to a child with thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome.

THE DIAGNOSIS

The neonate tolerated passive flexion of the knees to a neutral position. Hip examination demonstrated appropriate range of movement with negative Ortolani and Barlow tests. The infant’s feet aligned correctly, with toes in the front and heels in the back, and an x-ray of the bilateral knees showed no fractures or dislocation.

Based on the clinical examination and x-ray findings, we made a diagnosis of congenital genu recurvatum. A pediatric orthopedics consultation was obtained, and the knees were placed in short leg splints in comfortable flexion to neutral on Day 1 of life. She was discharged the next day.

DISCUSSION

Congenital genu recurvatum, also known as congenital dislocation of the knee, is a rare condition involving abnormal hyperextension of the unilateral or bilateral knees with limited flexion.¹ Reports in the literature are limited, but there seems to be a female predominance among known cases of congenital genu recurvatum.² The clinical presentation varies. Finding may be isolated to the knee(s) but also can present in association with other congenital abnormalities, such as developmental dysplasia of the hip, clubfoot, and hindfoot and forefoot deformities.^3,4

Diagnosis is made clinically with radiographic imaging

Diagnosis of congenital genu recurvatum is made clinically and can be confirmed via radiographic imaging of the knees.5 Clinical diagnosis requires assessment of the degree of hyperextension and palpation of the femoral condyles, which become more prominent as the severity of the hyperextension increases.⁶ X-rays help assess if a true dislocation or subluxation of the tibia on the femur has occurred. Based on the clinical and radiographic findings, congenital genu recurvatum typically is classified according to 3 levels of severity: grade 1 classification only involves hyperextension of the knees without dislocation or subluxation, grade 2 involves the same characteristic hyperextension along with  anterior subluxation of the tibia on the femur, and grade 3 includes hyperextension with true dislocation of the tibia on the femur.¹ Grades 1 and 2 on this spectrum technically are diagnosed as congenital genu recurvatum while grade 3 is diagnosed as a congenital dislocation of the knee,⁷ although the 2 terms are used interchangeably in the literature. We classified our case as a grade 1 congenital genu recurvatum based on the clinical and radiographic findings.

Congenital knee hyperextension has intrinsic and extrinsic causes

Hyperextension of the knees at birth may be caused by various intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic causes may include breech position, lack of intrauterine space, trauma to the mother, quadriceps contracture or fibrosis, absence of the suprapatellar pouch, deficient or hypoplastic anterior cruciate ligament, pathological tissues, arthrogryposis, or genetic disorders such as Larsen syndrome or achondroplasia.⁶

Continue to: Extrinsic causes...

Extrinsic causes may include traumatic dislocation during the birthing process³ or intrauterine pressure leading to malposition of the joints. When intrauterine pressure is combined with reduced intrauterine space, this phenomenon is known as packaging disorder.⁶ Entanglement of the umbilical cord around the legs of the fetus during development may be another potential factor.¹Of note: Cases involving both extrinsic or intrinsic etiologies can present with associated abnormalities that include congenital dislocation of the hip, congenital hip dysplasia, spina bifida, and/or cleft palate—in addition to knee hyperextension.

The exact etiology in our patient was unknown, but we determined the cause was extrinsic based on the lack of other genetic abnormalities. We initially considered a possible connection between our patient’s diagnosis and her family history of thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome, but it was later determined that both were isolated cases and the limb abnormalities were coincidental.

Treatment options and outcomes for extrinsic and intrinsic etiologies depend on the severity of the hyperextension and any associated abnormalities, as well as the time in which therapy is initiated.¹ Reduction of the hyperextension within 24 hours of birth has been associated with excellent outcomes.⁸ Regardless of the cause, all cases of congenital genu recurvatum should first be treated conservatively. Evidence has suggested that conservative therapy involving early gentle manipulation of the knee combined with serial splinting and casting should be the first line of treatment.⁶ If initial treatment attempts fail or in cases occurring later in life, surgical interventions (eg, quadriceps release procedures such as percutaneous quadriceps recession or V-Y quadricepsplasty, proximal tibial closing-wedge, anterior displacement osteotomy) likely is warranted.^6,9

Our patient. At 1 week of life, our patient’s short leg splints were replaced with long leg splints with a maximal flexion of 20° to 30° (FIGURE 1B). Weekly follow-ups with serial casting were initiated in the pediatric orthopedics clinic. At 3 weeks of life, the patient’s knee flexion had improved and the splints were removed (FIGURE 1C). Upon clinical examination, the bilateral knees were extended to a neutral position, and both could be actively and passively flexed to 90°. The patient was referred to Physical Therapy to perform range of movement exercises on the knees.

IMAGE COURTESY OF: METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO

At 8 weeks of life, the bilateral legs were in full extension, and knee flexion was up to 130°. Physical therapy for knee range of movement exercise was continued on a weekly basis until 6 months of life, then twice monthly until the patient was 1 year old. Ultimately, the hyperextension was corrected, and the patient started walking at around 16 months of age. Her prognosis is good, and she will be able to participate in low-impact sports, after consulting with her orthopedist.

IMAGE COURTESY OF: METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO

Continue to: THE TAKEAWAY

THE TAKEAWAY

Congenital genu recurvatum is a rare condition that presents with abnormal hyperextension of the knee(s) with limited flexion. Early diagnosis and assessment of the severity of the hyperextension is crucial in determining the type of intervention to pursue. Conservative management entails serial casting and splinting to increase knee flexion. If conservative management fails or if the diagnosis is made later in life, surgical options often are pursued.

CORRESPONDENCE
Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP, 2500 MetroHealth Medical Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109; [email protected]

THE CASE

A 29-year-old G7P2315 woman gave birth to a girl at 37 weeks via spontaneous vaginal delivery. APGAR scores were 9 and 9. Birth weight was 2760 g. Cardiovascular and pulmonary examinations were normal (heart rate, 154 beats/min; respiratory rate, 52 breaths/min). Following delivery, the neonate appeared healthy, had a lusty cry, and had no visible craniofacial or cutaneous abnormalities; however, the bilateral knees were hyperextended to 90° to 110° (FIGURE 1A).

The mother had started prenatal care at 7 weeks with 10 total visits to her family physician (JD) throughout the pregnancy. Routine laboratory screening and prenatal ultrasounds (including an anatomy scan) were normal. She had a history of 3 preterm deliveries at 35 weeks, 36 weeks, and 36 weeks, respectively, and had been on progesterone shots once weekly starting at 18 weeks during the current pregnancy. She had no history of infections or recent travel. Her family history was remarkable for a sister who gave birth to a child with thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome.

THE DIAGNOSIS

The neonate tolerated passive flexion of the knees to a neutral position. Hip examination demonstrated appropriate range of movement with negative Ortolani and Barlow tests. The infant’s feet aligned correctly, with toes in the front and heels in the back, and an x-ray of the bilateral knees showed no fractures or dislocation.

Based on the clinical examination and x-ray findings, we made a diagnosis of congenital genu recurvatum. A pediatric orthopedics consultation was obtained, and the knees were placed in short leg splints in comfortable flexion to neutral on Day 1 of life. She was discharged the next day.

DISCUSSION

Congenital genu recurvatum, also known as congenital dislocation of the knee, is a rare condition involving abnormal hyperextension of the unilateral or bilateral knees with limited flexion.¹ Reports in the literature are limited, but there seems to be a female predominance among known cases of congenital genu recurvatum.² The clinical presentation varies. Finding may be isolated to the knee(s) but also can present in association with other congenital abnormalities, such as developmental dysplasia of the hip, clubfoot, and hindfoot and forefoot deformities.^3,4

Diagnosis is made clinically with radiographic imaging

Diagnosis of congenital genu recurvatum is made clinically and can be confirmed via radiographic imaging of the knees.5 Clinical diagnosis requires assessment of the degree of hyperextension and palpation of the femoral condyles, which become more prominent as the severity of the hyperextension increases.⁶ X-rays help assess if a true dislocation or subluxation of the tibia on the femur has occurred. Based on the clinical and radiographic findings, congenital genu recurvatum typically is classified according to 3 levels of severity: grade 1 classification only involves hyperextension of the knees without dislocation or subluxation, grade 2 involves the same characteristic hyperextension along with  anterior subluxation of the tibia on the femur, and grade 3 includes hyperextension with true dislocation of the tibia on the femur.¹ Grades 1 and 2 on this spectrum technically are diagnosed as congenital genu recurvatum while grade 3 is diagnosed as a congenital dislocation of the knee,⁷ although the 2 terms are used interchangeably in the literature. We classified our case as a grade 1 congenital genu recurvatum based on the clinical and radiographic findings.

Congenital knee hyperextension has intrinsic and extrinsic causes

Hyperextension of the knees at birth may be caused by various intrinsic or extrinsic factors. Intrinsic causes may include breech position, lack of intrauterine space, trauma to the mother, quadriceps contracture or fibrosis, absence of the suprapatellar pouch, deficient or hypoplastic anterior cruciate ligament, pathological tissues, arthrogryposis, or genetic disorders such as Larsen syndrome or achondroplasia.⁶

Continue to: Extrinsic causes...

Extrinsic causes may include traumatic dislocation during the birthing process³ or intrauterine pressure leading to malposition of the joints. When intrauterine pressure is combined with reduced intrauterine space, this phenomenon is known as packaging disorder.⁶ Entanglement of the umbilical cord around the legs of the fetus during development may be another potential factor.¹Of note: Cases involving both extrinsic or intrinsic etiologies can present with associated abnormalities that include congenital dislocation of the hip, congenital hip dysplasia, spina bifida, and/or cleft palate—in addition to knee hyperextension.

The exact etiology in our patient was unknown, but we determined the cause was extrinsic based on the lack of other genetic abnormalities. We initially considered a possible connection between our patient’s diagnosis and her family history of thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome, but it was later determined that both were isolated cases and the limb abnormalities were coincidental.

Treatment options and outcomes for extrinsic and intrinsic etiologies depend on the severity of the hyperextension and any associated abnormalities, as well as the time in which therapy is initiated.¹ Reduction of the hyperextension within 24 hours of birth has been associated with excellent outcomes.⁸ Regardless of the cause, all cases of congenital genu recurvatum should first be treated conservatively. Evidence has suggested that conservative therapy involving early gentle manipulation of the knee combined with serial splinting and casting should be the first line of treatment.⁶ If initial treatment attempts fail or in cases occurring later in life, surgical interventions (eg, quadriceps release procedures such as percutaneous quadriceps recession or V-Y quadricepsplasty, proximal tibial closing-wedge, anterior displacement osteotomy) likely is warranted.^6,9

Our patient. At 1 week of life, our patient’s short leg splints were replaced with long leg splints with a maximal flexion of 20° to 30° (FIGURE 1B). Weekly follow-ups with serial casting were initiated in the pediatric orthopedics clinic. At 3 weeks of life, the patient’s knee flexion had improved and the splints were removed (FIGURE 1C). Upon clinical examination, the bilateral knees were extended to a neutral position, and both could be actively and passively flexed to 90°. The patient was referred to Physical Therapy to perform range of movement exercises on the knees.

IMAGE COURTESY OF: METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO

At 8 weeks of life, the bilateral legs were in full extension, and knee flexion was up to 130°. Physical therapy for knee range of movement exercise was continued on a weekly basis until 6 months of life, then twice monthly until the patient was 1 year old. Ultimately, the hyperextension was corrected, and the patient started walking at around 16 months of age. Her prognosis is good, and she will be able to participate in low-impact sports, after consulting with her orthopedist.

IMAGE COURTESY OF: METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER, CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY, CLEVELAND, OHIO

Continue to: THE TAKEAWAY

THE TAKEAWAY

Congenital genu recurvatum is a rare condition that presents with abnormal hyperextension of the knee(s) with limited flexion. Early diagnosis and assessment of the severity of the hyperextension is crucial in determining the type of intervention to pursue. Conservative management entails serial casting and splinting to increase knee flexion. If conservative management fails or if the diagnosis is made later in life, surgical options often are pursued.

CORRESPONDENCE
Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP, 2500 MetroHealth Medical Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109; [email protected]

THE CASE

A primiparous mother gave birth to a girl at 38 and 4/7 weeks via uncomplicated vaginal delivery. Prenatal labs were normal. Neonatal physical examination was normal and the child’s birth weight was in the 33rd percentile. APGAR scores were 8 and 9. The neonate was afebrile during hospitalization, with a heart rate of 120 to 150 beats/min and a respiratory rate of 30 to 48 breaths/min. Her preductal and postductal oxygen saturations were 100% and 98%, respectively. She was discharged on Day 2 of life, having lost only 3% of her birth weight.

The patient was seen in clinic on Day 6 of life for a well-child exam and was in the 17th percentile for weight. At another visit for a well-child exam on Day 14 of life, she had not fully regained her birth weight. At both visits, the mother reported no issues with breastfeeding and said she was supplementing with formula. The patient was seen again for follow-up on Days 16 and 21 of life and demonstrated no weight gain despite close follow-up with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which determined the newborn had some breastfeeding issues but seemed to be consuming adequate calories. However, WIC assessments revealed that during feeding, the child was expending too many calories and had nasal congestion. The patient was admitted to the hospital on Day 21 of life with a diagnosis of failure to thrive (FTT), at which point she was in the 12th percentile for weight.

THE DIAGNOSIS

Shortly after the infant was admitted, she showed signs of respiratory distress. On physical examination, the on-call resident noted intermittent retractions with inspiratory stridor, and the patient demonstrated intermittent severe oxygen desaturations into the 70s. She also was sucking her pacifier furiously, which appeared to provide some relief from the respiratory distress. The child’s parents noted that she had demonstrated intermittent periods of respiratory distress since shortly after birth that seemed to be increasing in frequency.

Upon careful examination, the on-call resident identified a cystic lesion at the base of the child’s tongue. The otolaryngologist on call was brought in for an urgent consultation but was unable to visualize the lesion on physical examination and did not recommend further intervention at that time. The patient continued to demonstrate respiratory distress with hypoxia and was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for close monitoring.

The next morning a second otolaryngology consultation was requested. A computed tomography scan of the neck demonstrated a 1.5-cm cystic-appearing mass at the base of the tongue that was obstructing the patient’s airway. Direct flexible bronchoscopy confirmed the radiographic findings. The patient underwent immediate surgical resection of the lesion using a laser. A clear and milky gray cystic fluid exuded from the cyst when the lesion was pierced. The otolaryngologist visualized a widely patent airway following excision of the lesion (FIGURE).

Pathology results revealed no evidence of malignancy. The final diagnosis was a simple base-of-tongue cyst.

DISCUSSION

Failure to thrive is common in neonates and occurs most often due to inadequate caloric intake; however, it also can be caused by systemic disease associated with inadequate gastrointestinal absorption or increased caloric expenditure, such as congenital heart disease, renal disease (eg, renal tubular acidosis), chronic pulmonary disease (eg, cystic fibrosis), laryngomalacia, malignancy, immunodeficiency, or thyroid disease.¹

Continue to: Respiratory distress

Respiratory distress in neonates also is common but tends to occur shortly after birth.² Conditions associated with respiratory distress in neonates include transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, pneumonia, and meconium aspiration syndrome.² Interestingly, there are additional reports in the literature of FTT and respiratory distress in neonates caused by obstructive pharyngeal lesions.^3-5

Mechanical obstruction should be considered in neonates with failure to thrive and respiratory distress.

Base-of-tongue cysts are rare in infants. Fewer than 50 cases were reported prior to 2011, with many being described as asymptomatic nonpainful lesions.⁶ Given the anatomic location of base-of-tongue cysts, the differential diagnosis should also include mucoceles, thyroglossal duct cysts, dermoid cysts, epidermoid cysts, vallecular cysts, hemangiomas, cystic hygromas, lymphangiomas, thyroid remnant cysts, teratomas, and hamartomas.^4,7,8 When tongue cysts are initially discovered, inspiratory stridor, FTT, swallowing deficits, oxygen desaturation, respiratory failure, and/or acute life-threatening events have been reported.^6,9,10

One important clinical observation made in our case was the use of an external apparatus to relieve the neonate’s respiratory distress. During physical examination, the on-call resident noted the patient was furiously sucking her pacifier, which seemed to reduce the respiratory difficulty and desaturations. It is known that non-nutritive sucking (NNS) can provide provisions for stress relief, improve oxygenation, and provide proprioceptive positioning of key anatomical structures within the oral cavity.¹¹ Without the use of an external apparatus like a pacifier during restful states, neonates may develop vacuum-glossoptosis syndrome, in which the dorsum of the tongue and the soft palate adhere to the posterior pharyngeal wall and obstruct the airway.¹² Our patient may have used the pacifier as an NNS task to move the tongue forward and break the glossoptosis-pharyngeal seal by sucking hard and fast during periods of respiratory distress, which reduced the potential for a vacuum-glossoptosis phenomenon that was likely created by the cyst during restful states.

Our patient was seen in clinic for follow-up after surgery on Day 35 of life. She was thriving and her weight was in the 24th percentile. She was seen again on Day 67 of life for a well-child exam and was in the 43rd percentile for weight.

THE TAKEAWAY

Non-nutritive sucking with a pacifier may relieve airway obstruction caused by base-of-tongue cysts.

There is a sizeable list of possible diagnoses to consider when a neonate presents with FTT and respiratory distress. It is important to consider mechanical obstruction as a possible diagnosis and one which, if identified early, may be lifesaving. Our case demonstrates a proposed mechanism by which a mechanical obstruction such as a base-of-tongue cyst can cause the vacuum-glossoptosis syndrome; it also highlights NNS as a potential means of overcoming this phenomenon.

CORRESPONDENCE
Benjamin P. Hansen, MD, Renown Medical Group, 4796 Caughlin Pkwy, Ste 108, Reno, NV 89519; [email protected]

THE CASE

A primiparous mother gave birth to a girl at 38 and 4/7 weeks via uncomplicated vaginal delivery. Prenatal labs were normal. Neonatal physical examination was normal and the child’s birth weight was in the 33rd percentile. APGAR scores were 8 and 9. The neonate was afebrile during hospitalization, with a heart rate of 120 to 150 beats/min and a respiratory rate of 30 to 48 breaths/min. Her preductal and postductal oxygen saturations were 100% and 98%, respectively. She was discharged on Day 2 of life, having lost only 3% of her birth weight.

The patient was seen in clinic on Day 6 of life for a well-child exam and was in the 17th percentile for weight. At another visit for a well-child exam on Day 14 of life, she had not fully regained her birth weight. At both visits, the mother reported no issues with breastfeeding and said she was supplementing with formula. The patient was seen again for follow-up on Days 16 and 21 of life and demonstrated no weight gain despite close follow-up with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which determined the newborn had some breastfeeding issues but seemed to be consuming adequate calories. However, WIC assessments revealed that during feeding, the child was expending too many calories and had nasal congestion. The patient was admitted to the hospital on Day 21 of life with a diagnosis of failure to thrive (FTT), at which point she was in the 12th percentile for weight.

THE DIAGNOSIS

Shortly after the infant was admitted, she showed signs of respiratory distress. On physical examination, the on-call resident noted intermittent retractions with inspiratory stridor, and the patient demonstrated intermittent severe oxygen desaturations into the 70s. She also was sucking her pacifier furiously, which appeared to provide some relief from the respiratory distress. The child’s parents noted that she had demonstrated intermittent periods of respiratory distress since shortly after birth that seemed to be increasing in frequency.

Upon careful examination, the on-call resident identified a cystic lesion at the base of the child’s tongue. The otolaryngologist on call was brought in for an urgent consultation but was unable to visualize the lesion on physical examination and did not recommend further intervention at that time. The patient continued to demonstrate respiratory distress with hypoxia and was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for close monitoring.

The next morning a second otolaryngology consultation was requested. A computed tomography scan of the neck demonstrated a 1.5-cm cystic-appearing mass at the base of the tongue that was obstructing the patient’s airway. Direct flexible bronchoscopy confirmed the radiographic findings. The patient underwent immediate surgical resection of the lesion using a laser. A clear and milky gray cystic fluid exuded from the cyst when the lesion was pierced. The otolaryngologist visualized a widely patent airway following excision of the lesion (FIGURE).

Pathology results revealed no evidence of malignancy. The final diagnosis was a simple base-of-tongue cyst.

DISCUSSION

Failure to thrive is common in neonates and occurs most often due to inadequate caloric intake; however, it also can be caused by systemic disease associated with inadequate gastrointestinal absorption or increased caloric expenditure, such as congenital heart disease, renal disease (eg, renal tubular acidosis), chronic pulmonary disease (eg, cystic fibrosis), laryngomalacia, malignancy, immunodeficiency, or thyroid disease.¹

Continue to: Respiratory distress

Respiratory distress in neonates also is common but tends to occur shortly after birth.² Conditions associated with respiratory distress in neonates include transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, pneumonia, and meconium aspiration syndrome.² Interestingly, there are additional reports in the literature of FTT and respiratory distress in neonates caused by obstructive pharyngeal lesions.^3-5

Mechanical obstruction should be considered in neonates with failure to thrive and respiratory distress.

Base-of-tongue cysts are rare in infants. Fewer than 50 cases were reported prior to 2011, with many being described as asymptomatic nonpainful lesions.⁶ Given the anatomic location of base-of-tongue cysts, the differential diagnosis should also include mucoceles, thyroglossal duct cysts, dermoid cysts, epidermoid cysts, vallecular cysts, hemangiomas, cystic hygromas, lymphangiomas, thyroid remnant cysts, teratomas, and hamartomas.^4,7,8 When tongue cysts are initially discovered, inspiratory stridor, FTT, swallowing deficits, oxygen desaturation, respiratory failure, and/or acute life-threatening events have been reported.^6,9,10

One important clinical observation made in our case was the use of an external apparatus to relieve the neonate’s respiratory distress. During physical examination, the on-call resident noted the patient was furiously sucking her pacifier, which seemed to reduce the respiratory difficulty and desaturations. It is known that non-nutritive sucking (NNS) can provide provisions for stress relief, improve oxygenation, and provide proprioceptive positioning of key anatomical structures within the oral cavity.¹¹ Without the use of an external apparatus like a pacifier during restful states, neonates may develop vacuum-glossoptosis syndrome, in which the dorsum of the tongue and the soft palate adhere to the posterior pharyngeal wall and obstruct the airway.¹² Our patient may have used the pacifier as an NNS task to move the tongue forward and break the glossoptosis-pharyngeal seal by sucking hard and fast during periods of respiratory distress, which reduced the potential for a vacuum-glossoptosis phenomenon that was likely created by the cyst during restful states.

Our patient was seen in clinic for follow-up after surgery on Day 35 of life. She was thriving and her weight was in the 24th percentile. She was seen again on Day 67 of life for a well-child exam and was in the 43rd percentile for weight.

THE TAKEAWAY

Non-nutritive sucking with a pacifier may relieve airway obstruction caused by base-of-tongue cysts.

There is a sizeable list of possible diagnoses to consider when a neonate presents with FTT and respiratory distress. It is important to consider mechanical obstruction as a possible diagnosis and one which, if identified early, may be lifesaving. Our case demonstrates a proposed mechanism by which a mechanical obstruction such as a base-of-tongue cyst can cause the vacuum-glossoptosis syndrome; it also highlights NNS as a potential means of overcoming this phenomenon.

CORRESPONDENCE
Benjamin P. Hansen, MD, Renown Medical Group, 4796 Caughlin Pkwy, Ste 108, Reno, NV 89519; [email protected]

THE CASE

A primiparous mother gave birth to a girl at 38 and 4/7 weeks via uncomplicated vaginal delivery. Prenatal labs were normal. Neonatal physical examination was normal and the child’s birth weight was in the 33rd percentile. APGAR scores were 8 and 9. The neonate was afebrile during hospitalization, with a heart rate of 120 to 150 beats/min and a respiratory rate of 30 to 48 breaths/min. Her preductal and postductal oxygen saturations were 100% and 98%, respectively. She was discharged on Day 2 of life, having lost only 3% of her birth weight.

The patient was seen in clinic on Day 6 of life for a well-child exam and was in the 17th percentile for weight. At another visit for a well-child exam on Day 14 of life, she had not fully regained her birth weight. At both visits, the mother reported no issues with breastfeeding and said she was supplementing with formula. The patient was seen again for follow-up on Days 16 and 21 of life and demonstrated no weight gain despite close follow-up with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which determined the newborn had some breastfeeding issues but seemed to be consuming adequate calories. However, WIC assessments revealed that during feeding, the child was expending too many calories and had nasal congestion. The patient was admitted to the hospital on Day 21 of life with a diagnosis of failure to thrive (FTT), at which point she was in the 12th percentile for weight.

THE DIAGNOSIS

Shortly after the infant was admitted, she showed signs of respiratory distress. On physical examination, the on-call resident noted intermittent retractions with inspiratory stridor, and the patient demonstrated intermittent severe oxygen desaturations into the 70s. She also was sucking her pacifier furiously, which appeared to provide some relief from the respiratory distress. The child’s parents noted that she had demonstrated intermittent periods of respiratory distress since shortly after birth that seemed to be increasing in frequency.

Upon careful examination, the on-call resident identified a cystic lesion at the base of the child’s tongue. The otolaryngologist on call was brought in for an urgent consultation but was unable to visualize the lesion on physical examination and did not recommend further intervention at that time. The patient continued to demonstrate respiratory distress with hypoxia and was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit for close monitoring.

The next morning a second otolaryngology consultation was requested. A computed tomography scan of the neck demonstrated a 1.5-cm cystic-appearing mass at the base of the tongue that was obstructing the patient’s airway. Direct flexible bronchoscopy confirmed the radiographic findings. The patient underwent immediate surgical resection of the lesion using a laser. A clear and milky gray cystic fluid exuded from the cyst when the lesion was pierced. The otolaryngologist visualized a widely patent airway following excision of the lesion (FIGURE).

Pathology results revealed no evidence of malignancy. The final diagnosis was a simple base-of-tongue cyst.

DISCUSSION

Failure to thrive is common in neonates and occurs most often due to inadequate caloric intake; however, it also can be caused by systemic disease associated with inadequate gastrointestinal absorption or increased caloric expenditure, such as congenital heart disease, renal disease (eg, renal tubular acidosis), chronic pulmonary disease (eg, cystic fibrosis), laryngomalacia, malignancy, immunodeficiency, or thyroid disease.¹

Continue to: Respiratory distress

Respiratory distress in neonates also is common but tends to occur shortly after birth.² Conditions associated with respiratory distress in neonates include transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumothorax, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, pneumonia, and meconium aspiration syndrome.² Interestingly, there are additional reports in the literature of FTT and respiratory distress in neonates caused by obstructive pharyngeal lesions.^3-5

Mechanical obstruction should be considered in neonates with failure to thrive and respiratory distress.

Base-of-tongue cysts are rare in infants. Fewer than 50 cases were reported prior to 2011, with many being described as asymptomatic nonpainful lesions.⁶ Given the anatomic location of base-of-tongue cysts, the differential diagnosis should also include mucoceles, thyroglossal duct cysts, dermoid cysts, epidermoid cysts, vallecular cysts, hemangiomas, cystic hygromas, lymphangiomas, thyroid remnant cysts, teratomas, and hamartomas.^4,7,8 When tongue cysts are initially discovered, inspiratory stridor, FTT, swallowing deficits, oxygen desaturation, respiratory failure, and/or acute life-threatening events have been reported.^6,9,10

One important clinical observation made in our case was the use of an external apparatus to relieve the neonate’s respiratory distress. During physical examination, the on-call resident noted the patient was furiously sucking her pacifier, which seemed to reduce the respiratory difficulty and desaturations. It is known that non-nutritive sucking (NNS) can provide provisions for stress relief, improve oxygenation, and provide proprioceptive positioning of key anatomical structures within the oral cavity.¹¹ Without the use of an external apparatus like a pacifier during restful states, neonates may develop vacuum-glossoptosis syndrome, in which the dorsum of the tongue and the soft palate adhere to the posterior pharyngeal wall and obstruct the airway.¹² Our patient may have used the pacifier as an NNS task to move the tongue forward and break the glossoptosis-pharyngeal seal by sucking hard and fast during periods of respiratory distress, which reduced the potential for a vacuum-glossoptosis phenomenon that was likely created by the cyst during restful states.

Our patient was seen in clinic for follow-up after surgery on Day 35 of life. She was thriving and her weight was in the 24th percentile. She was seen again on Day 67 of life for a well-child exam and was in the 43rd percentile for weight.

THE TAKEAWAY

Non-nutritive sucking with a pacifier may relieve airway obstruction caused by base-of-tongue cysts.

There is a sizeable list of possible diagnoses to consider when a neonate presents with FTT and respiratory distress. It is important to consider mechanical obstruction as a possible diagnosis and one which, if identified early, may be lifesaving. Our case demonstrates a proposed mechanism by which a mechanical obstruction such as a base-of-tongue cyst can cause the vacuum-glossoptosis syndrome; it also highlights NNS as a potential means of overcoming this phenomenon.

CORRESPONDENCE
Benjamin P. Hansen, MD, Renown Medical Group, 4796 Caughlin Pkwy, Ste 108, Reno, NV 89519; [email protected]

Over the past year through early 2019, the US Preventive Services Task Force made 34 recommendations on 19 different topics. Twenty-six were reaffirmations of recommendations made in previous years (TABLE 1¹); the Task Force attempts to reassess topics every 7 years. Two new topics were addressed with 2 new recommendations, and 6 previous recommendations were revised or reversed (TABLE 2^2-9).

This Practice Alert discusses the new and the changed recommendations. (In 2018, the Practice Alert podcast series covered screening for ovarian cancer [April], prostate cancer [June], and cervical cancer [October], and EKG screening for cardiovascular disease [November].) All current Task Force recommendations are available on the USPSTF Web site.¹

New topics

Perinatal depression prevention

The Task Force recommends that clinicians counsel pregnant women and women in the first year postpartum who are at increased risk for perinatal depression, or refer for such services. The recommendation applies to those who are not diagnosed with depression but are at increased risk.

Perinatal depression can negatively affect both mother and child in several ways and occurs at a rate close to 9% during pregnancy and 37% during the first year postpartum.² The interventions studied by the Task Force included cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy; most sessions were initiated in the second trimester of pregnancy and varied in number of sessions and intensity. The Task Force includes the following in the list of risks that should prompt a referral: a history of depression, current depressive symptoms that fall short of that needed for a depression diagnosis, low income, adolescent or single parenthood, recent intimate partner violence, elevated anxiety symptoms, physical or sexual abuse, or a history of significant negative life events. (See “Postpartum anxiety: More common than you think,” in the April issue.)

Atrial fibrillation

The Task Force found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of electrocardiography (EKG) to screen for atrial fibrillation (AF).³ Atrial fibrillation is common, affecting 3% of men and 2% of women between the ages of 65 and 69 years, and it increases in prevalence with age.⁴ It is a major risk factor for stroke, although it is commonly first diagnosed after a stroke. Treatment with anticoagulant therapy reduces the incidence of stroke in patients with symptomatic AF, but this treatment is associated with the risk of major bleeding. The problem in screening for AF with EKG is that it is associated with misdiagnosis, over-treatment, and further testing. The Task Force could not find any direct evidence of the totality of benefits and harms of screening asymptomatic adults with EKG, and it raised the possibility that benefit with less harm might be achieved by screening with pulse palpation and heart auscultation, followed by EKG testing of those with an irregular pulse.

Revisions of previous recommendations

Cervical cancer screening

The Task Force continues to recommend screening for cervical cancer in women 21 to 65 years of age.⁵ The major change in the current recommendation is for women ages 30 to 65 years. For this group, the Task Force now recommends screening every 5 years with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing alone as a possible alternative to screening every 3 years with cytology alone. They also halfheartedly endorse co-testing as an option, even though it may result in more tests and procedures compared with either cytology or hrHPV testing alone, with equal effectiveness. For women ages 21 to 29 years, cervical cytology alone every 3 years is still the only recommended regimen.

Skin cancer prevention

The Task Force made 2 revisions to the 2012 recommendation on preventing skin cancer through behavioral counseling to avoid ultraviolet (UV) radiation.⁶ These recommendations continue to focus on those with fair skin. The first revision: The earliest age at which children (through their guardians) can benefit from counseling on UV avoidance has been lowered from age 10 years to 6 months. The second revision: Some adults older than age 24 can also benefit from such counseling if they have fair skin and other skin cancer risks such as using tanning beds, having a history of sunburns or previous skin cancer, having an increased number of nevi (moles) and atypical nevi, having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, having received an organ transplant, or having a family history of skin cancer.

Continue to: Those at risk...

Those at risk can reduce their chances of skin cancer by using broad-spectrum sunscreens and sun-protective clothing, and by avoiding sun exposure and indoor tanning beds.

Fall prevention

In a reversal of its 2012 recommendation, the Task Force now recommends against the use of vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older.⁷ In a reanalysis of previous studies on this topic, along with new evidence, the Task Force concluded that vitamin D supplementation offers no benefit for preventing falls in adults who are not vitamin D deficient.

Screening for scoliosis in adolescents

In 2004 the USPSTF recommended against screening for idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age. In its most recent review, the Task Force continued to find no direct evidence of the benefit of screening and inadequate evidence on the long-term benefits of reduction in spinal curvature through exercise, surgery, and bracing. However, following a reanalysis of the potential harms of these treatments and the use of a new analytic framework, the Task Force concluded it is not possible at this time to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening.⁸

Prostate cancer screening

In its most controversial action, the Task Force reversed its 2012 recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen–based screening for prostate cancer in men ages 55 to 69 years and now lists this as a “C” recommendation.⁹ The potential benefits of screening include preventing 1.3 deaths from prostate cancer per 1000 men screened over 13 years and approximately 3 cases of metastatic prostate cancer. However, no trials have found a reduction in all-cause mortality from screening. Contrast that with the known harms of screening: 15% false positive results over 10 years; 1% hospitalization rate among those undergoing a prostate biopsy; over-diagnosis and resultant treatment of 20% to 50% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer through screening; and incontinence and erectile dysfunction in 20% and 67%, respectively, of men following prostatectomy.⁹

Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of electrocardiography in screening for atrial fibrillation.

Based on these outcomes, the Task Force “does not recommend screening for prostate cancer unless men express a preference for screening after being informed of and understanding the benefits and risks.”⁹ The Task Force continues to recommend against screening men ages 70 years and older.

Continue to: The change in this recommendation...

The change in this recommendation and its wording present dilemmas for family physicians: whether to discuss potential screening with all men ages 55 to 69; to selectively discuss it with those at high risk (principally African Americans and those with a strong family history of prostate cancer); or to address the issue only if a patient asks about it. In addition, if a man requests screening, how often should it be performed? Most clinical trials have found equal benefit from testing less frequently than every year, with fewer harms. The Task Force provided little or no guidance on these issues.

Final advice: D recommendations

The Task Force reaffirmed that 7 services have either no benefit or cause more harm than benefit (TABLE 1¹). Family physicians should be familiar with these services, as well as all Task Force D recommendations, and avoid recommending them or providing them. High quality preventive care involves both providing services of proven benefit and avoiding those that do not.

Over the past year through early 2019, the US Preventive Services Task Force made 34 recommendations on 19 different topics. Twenty-six were reaffirmations of recommendations made in previous years (TABLE 1¹); the Task Force attempts to reassess topics every 7 years. Two new topics were addressed with 2 new recommendations, and 6 previous recommendations were revised or reversed (TABLE 2^2-9).

This Practice Alert discusses the new and the changed recommendations. (In 2018, the Practice Alert podcast series covered screening for ovarian cancer [April], prostate cancer [June], and cervical cancer [October], and EKG screening for cardiovascular disease [November].) All current Task Force recommendations are available on the USPSTF Web site.¹

New topics

Perinatal depression prevention

The Task Force recommends that clinicians counsel pregnant women and women in the first year postpartum who are at increased risk for perinatal depression, or refer for such services. The recommendation applies to those who are not diagnosed with depression but are at increased risk.

Perinatal depression can negatively affect both mother and child in several ways and occurs at a rate close to 9% during pregnancy and 37% during the first year postpartum.² The interventions studied by the Task Force included cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy; most sessions were initiated in the second trimester of pregnancy and varied in number of sessions and intensity. The Task Force includes the following in the list of risks that should prompt a referral: a history of depression, current depressive symptoms that fall short of that needed for a depression diagnosis, low income, adolescent or single parenthood, recent intimate partner violence, elevated anxiety symptoms, physical or sexual abuse, or a history of significant negative life events. (See “Postpartum anxiety: More common than you think,” in the April issue.)

Atrial fibrillation

The Task Force found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of electrocardiography (EKG) to screen for atrial fibrillation (AF).³ Atrial fibrillation is common, affecting 3% of men and 2% of women between the ages of 65 and 69 years, and it increases in prevalence with age.⁴ It is a major risk factor for stroke, although it is commonly first diagnosed after a stroke. Treatment with anticoagulant therapy reduces the incidence of stroke in patients with symptomatic AF, but this treatment is associated with the risk of major bleeding. The problem in screening for AF with EKG is that it is associated with misdiagnosis, over-treatment, and further testing. The Task Force could not find any direct evidence of the totality of benefits and harms of screening asymptomatic adults with EKG, and it raised the possibility that benefit with less harm might be achieved by screening with pulse palpation and heart auscultation, followed by EKG testing of those with an irregular pulse.

Revisions of previous recommendations

Cervical cancer screening

The Task Force continues to recommend screening for cervical cancer in women 21 to 65 years of age.⁵ The major change in the current recommendation is for women ages 30 to 65 years. For this group, the Task Force now recommends screening every 5 years with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing alone as a possible alternative to screening every 3 years with cytology alone. They also halfheartedly endorse co-testing as an option, even though it may result in more tests and procedures compared with either cytology or hrHPV testing alone, with equal effectiveness. For women ages 21 to 29 years, cervical cytology alone every 3 years is still the only recommended regimen.

Skin cancer prevention

The Task Force made 2 revisions to the 2012 recommendation on preventing skin cancer through behavioral counseling to avoid ultraviolet (UV) radiation.⁶ These recommendations continue to focus on those with fair skin. The first revision: The earliest age at which children (through their guardians) can benefit from counseling on UV avoidance has been lowered from age 10 years to 6 months. The second revision: Some adults older than age 24 can also benefit from such counseling if they have fair skin and other skin cancer risks such as using tanning beds, having a history of sunburns or previous skin cancer, having an increased number of nevi (moles) and atypical nevi, having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, having received an organ transplant, or having a family history of skin cancer.

Continue to: Those at risk...

Those at risk can reduce their chances of skin cancer by using broad-spectrum sunscreens and sun-protective clothing, and by avoiding sun exposure and indoor tanning beds.

Fall prevention

In a reversal of its 2012 recommendation, the Task Force now recommends against the use of vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older.⁷ In a reanalysis of previous studies on this topic, along with new evidence, the Task Force concluded that vitamin D supplementation offers no benefit for preventing falls in adults who are not vitamin D deficient.

Screening for scoliosis in adolescents

In 2004 the USPSTF recommended against screening for idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age. In its most recent review, the Task Force continued to find no direct evidence of the benefit of screening and inadequate evidence on the long-term benefits of reduction in spinal curvature through exercise, surgery, and bracing. However, following a reanalysis of the potential harms of these treatments and the use of a new analytic framework, the Task Force concluded it is not possible at this time to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening.⁸

Prostate cancer screening

In its most controversial action, the Task Force reversed its 2012 recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen–based screening for prostate cancer in men ages 55 to 69 years and now lists this as a “C” recommendation.⁹ The potential benefits of screening include preventing 1.3 deaths from prostate cancer per 1000 men screened over 13 years and approximately 3 cases of metastatic prostate cancer. However, no trials have found a reduction in all-cause mortality from screening. Contrast that with the known harms of screening: 15% false positive results over 10 years; 1% hospitalization rate among those undergoing a prostate biopsy; over-diagnosis and resultant treatment of 20% to 50% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer through screening; and incontinence and erectile dysfunction in 20% and 67%, respectively, of men following prostatectomy.⁹

Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of electrocardiography in screening for atrial fibrillation.

Based on these outcomes, the Task Force “does not recommend screening for prostate cancer unless men express a preference for screening after being informed of and understanding the benefits and risks.”⁹ The Task Force continues to recommend against screening men ages 70 years and older.

Continue to: The change in this recommendation...

The change in this recommendation and its wording present dilemmas for family physicians: whether to discuss potential screening with all men ages 55 to 69; to selectively discuss it with those at high risk (principally African Americans and those with a strong family history of prostate cancer); or to address the issue only if a patient asks about it. In addition, if a man requests screening, how often should it be performed? Most clinical trials have found equal benefit from testing less frequently than every year, with fewer harms. The Task Force provided little or no guidance on these issues.

Final advice: D recommendations

The Task Force reaffirmed that 7 services have either no benefit or cause more harm than benefit (TABLE 1¹). Family physicians should be familiar with these services, as well as all Task Force D recommendations, and avoid recommending them or providing them. High quality preventive care involves both providing services of proven benefit and avoiding those that do not.

Over the past year through early 2019, the US Preventive Services Task Force made 34 recommendations on 19 different topics. Twenty-six were reaffirmations of recommendations made in previous years (TABLE 1¹); the Task Force attempts to reassess topics every 7 years. Two new topics were addressed with 2 new recommendations, and 6 previous recommendations were revised or reversed (TABLE 2^2-9).

This Practice Alert discusses the new and the changed recommendations. (In 2018, the Practice Alert podcast series covered screening for ovarian cancer [April], prostate cancer [June], and cervical cancer [October], and EKG screening for cardiovascular disease [November].) All current Task Force recommendations are available on the USPSTF Web site.¹

New topics

Perinatal depression prevention

The Task Force recommends that clinicians counsel pregnant women and women in the first year postpartum who are at increased risk for perinatal depression, or refer for such services. The recommendation applies to those who are not diagnosed with depression but are at increased risk.

Perinatal depression can negatively affect both mother and child in several ways and occurs at a rate close to 9% during pregnancy and 37% during the first year postpartum.² The interventions studied by the Task Force included cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy; most sessions were initiated in the second trimester of pregnancy and varied in number of sessions and intensity. The Task Force includes the following in the list of risks that should prompt a referral: a history of depression, current depressive symptoms that fall short of that needed for a depression diagnosis, low income, adolescent or single parenthood, recent intimate partner violence, elevated anxiety symptoms, physical or sexual abuse, or a history of significant negative life events. (See “Postpartum anxiety: More common than you think,” in the April issue.)

Atrial fibrillation

The Task Force found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against the use of electrocardiography (EKG) to screen for atrial fibrillation (AF).³ Atrial fibrillation is common, affecting 3% of men and 2% of women between the ages of 65 and 69 years, and it increases in prevalence with age.⁴ It is a major risk factor for stroke, although it is commonly first diagnosed after a stroke. Treatment with anticoagulant therapy reduces the incidence of stroke in patients with symptomatic AF, but this treatment is associated with the risk of major bleeding. The problem in screening for AF with EKG is that it is associated with misdiagnosis, over-treatment, and further testing. The Task Force could not find any direct evidence of the totality of benefits and harms of screening asymptomatic adults with EKG, and it raised the possibility that benefit with less harm might be achieved by screening with pulse palpation and heart auscultation, followed by EKG testing of those with an irregular pulse.

Revisions of previous recommendations

Cervical cancer screening

The Task Force continues to recommend screening for cervical cancer in women 21 to 65 years of age.⁵ The major change in the current recommendation is for women ages 30 to 65 years. For this group, the Task Force now recommends screening every 5 years with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) testing alone as a possible alternative to screening every 3 years with cytology alone. They also halfheartedly endorse co-testing as an option, even though it may result in more tests and procedures compared with either cytology or hrHPV testing alone, with equal effectiveness. For women ages 21 to 29 years, cervical cytology alone every 3 years is still the only recommended regimen.

Skin cancer prevention

The Task Force made 2 revisions to the 2012 recommendation on preventing skin cancer through behavioral counseling to avoid ultraviolet (UV) radiation.⁶ These recommendations continue to focus on those with fair skin. The first revision: The earliest age at which children (through their guardians) can benefit from counseling on UV avoidance has been lowered from age 10 years to 6 months. The second revision: Some adults older than age 24 can also benefit from such counseling if they have fair skin and other skin cancer risks such as using tanning beds, having a history of sunburns or previous skin cancer, having an increased number of nevi (moles) and atypical nevi, having human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, having received an organ transplant, or having a family history of skin cancer.

Continue to: Those at risk...

Those at risk can reduce their chances of skin cancer by using broad-spectrum sunscreens and sun-protective clothing, and by avoiding sun exposure and indoor tanning beds.

Fall prevention

In a reversal of its 2012 recommendation, the Task Force now recommends against the use of vitamin D supplementation to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults 65 years or older.⁷ In a reanalysis of previous studies on this topic, along with new evidence, the Task Force concluded that vitamin D supplementation offers no benefit for preventing falls in adults who are not vitamin D deficient.

Screening for scoliosis in adolescents

In 2004 the USPSTF recommended against screening for idiopathic scoliosis in children and adolescents 10 to 18 years of age. In its most recent review, the Task Force continued to find no direct evidence of the benefit of screening and inadequate evidence on the long-term benefits of reduction in spinal curvature through exercise, surgery, and bracing. However, following a reanalysis of the potential harms of these treatments and the use of a new analytic framework, the Task Force concluded it is not possible at this time to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening.⁸

Prostate cancer screening

In its most controversial action, the Task Force reversed its 2012 recommendation against routine prostate-specific antigen–based screening for prostate cancer in men ages 55 to 69 years and now lists this as a “C” recommendation.⁹ The potential benefits of screening include preventing 1.3 deaths from prostate cancer per 1000 men screened over 13 years and approximately 3 cases of metastatic prostate cancer. However, no trials have found a reduction in all-cause mortality from screening. Contrast that with the known harms of screening: 15% false positive results over 10 years; 1% hospitalization rate among those undergoing a prostate biopsy; over-diagnosis and resultant treatment of 20% to 50% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer through screening; and incontinence and erectile dysfunction in 20% and 67%, respectively, of men following prostatectomy.⁹

Evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against the use of electrocardiography in screening for atrial fibrillation.

Based on these outcomes, the Task Force “does not recommend screening for prostate cancer unless men express a preference for screening after being informed of and understanding the benefits and risks.”⁹ The Task Force continues to recommend against screening men ages 70 years and older.

Continue to: The change in this recommendation...

The change in this recommendation and its wording present dilemmas for family physicians: whether to discuss potential screening with all men ages 55 to 69; to selectively discuss it with those at high risk (principally African Americans and those with a strong family history of prostate cancer); or to address the issue only if a patient asks about it. In addition, if a man requests screening, how often should it be performed? Most clinical trials have found equal benefit from testing less frequently than every year, with fewer harms. The Task Force provided little or no guidance on these issues.

Final advice: D recommendations

The Task Force reaffirmed that 7 services have either no benefit or cause more harm than benefit (TABLE 1¹). Family physicians should be familiar with these services, as well as all Task Force D recommendations, and avoid recommending them or providing them. High quality preventive care involves both providing services of proven benefit and avoiding those that do not.

WAIKOLOA, HAWAII – The prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis is elevated among patients with atopic dermatitis – and it pays to know their major sources of risk, according to Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD.

photorobot/Getty Images

“What are atopic dermatitis patients allergic to? It’s all coming from their personal care products and the things being used to treat their atopic dermatitis,” Dr. Silverberg said at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar provided by the Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation.

Dr. Silverberg, of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago, coauthored a systematic review and meta-analysis that examined the association between AD and contact sensitization. In their examination of 74 published studies, the investigators found that the likelihood of allergic contact dermatitis was 1.5-fold greater in adults and children with AD than in healthy individuals from the general population (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77[1]:70-8).

This finding is at odds with an earlier widespread belief that AD patients should not be at increased risk because the immune profile of their primarily Th2-mediated disease would have a suppressant effect on Th1-mediated hypersensitivity.

“Recent data are calling into question old dogmas and reshaping the way we think about this. And this is not just an academic exercise, this is highly clinically relevant,” the dermatologist asserted.

The results of the meta-analysis prompted Dr. Silverberg and colleagues to conduct a retrospective study of more than 500 adults patch tested to an expanded allergen series at Northwestern’s patch test clinic with the purpose of identifying the common offending allergens in patients with AD. The key finding: The patients with AD were significantly more likely to have positive patch test reactions to ingredients in their repetitively used personal care products, topical corticosteroids, and topical antibiotics than the individuals without AD. The probable explanation for this results is that the skin barrier disruption inherent in AD allows for easier passage of weak allergens through the skin (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Dec;79[6]:1028-33.e6).

Bruce Jancin/MDedge News

Lanolin was identified as a particularly common allergen in the AD group. “Lanolin is found in one of the most commonly used moisturizers we recommend to patients: Aquaphor. It’s also found in tons of lip balms and emollients. Pretty much every soft soap out there contains lanolin, and it’s in a variety of other personal care products,” Dr. Silverberg noted.

Other common offenders in the AD population included fragrance mix II, cinnamal, quaternium-15, budesonide, tixocortol, carba mix, neomycin, bacitracin, rubber mix, and chlorhexidine. Relevance was established in more than 90% of the positive reactions.

“You can patch test them directly to their personal care products and make that connection beautifully and see how they’re reacting to them,” he said.


 

When to patch test atopic dermatitis patients

Dr. Silverberg was a coauthor of multidisciplinary expert consensus guidelines on when to consider patch testing in AD (Dermatitis. 2016 Jul-Aug;27[4]:186-92). “We had to go consensus because we don’t have nearly enough studies to provide true evidence-based recommendations,” he explained.

Because allergic contact dermatitis is a potentially curable comorbid condition in AD patients, it’s important to recognize the scenarios in which patch testing should be considered. These include AD refractory to topical therapy; adolescent- or adult-onset atopic dermatitis; and in AD patients with an atypical or evolving lesional distribution, such as localized dermatitis on the eyelids, head and neck, or hands and feet. Patch testing is also warranted before initiating systemic therapy for AD.

“If you’re about to put a patient on a biologic or phototherapy and step them up to a whole new class of risk of adverse events, that’s an ideal time to think about reversible options,” Dr. Silverberg advised.

Another situation in which he considers patch testing advisable, although this one isn’t covered in the consensus guidelines, is in AD patients with prominent nummular eczema lesions. “Widespread nummular eczema lesions may be a sign of allergic contact dermatitis in atopic dermatitis patients. I’m not saying everyone with nummular lesions is going to have a positive patch test, but it’s definitely a situation you want to think about,” he said.
 

How to patch test atopic dermatitis patients

Most of the common topical allergens in AD patients are not included in the T.R.U.E. Test. An expanded allergen series, such as the American Contact Dermatitis Society core 80 series, is the better way to go.

Once the dermatologist determines that a patient’s positive patch test reaction is relevant, it’s important to recommend the use of personal care products that are “pretty clean,” Dr. Silverberg said.

“Clean in my opinion is not a matter of ‘It should be all organic and all natural,’ ” he emphasized. “I’m not anti- any of that, but clean means having the fewest ingredients possible and trying to steer clear of those really common allergens that patients are highly likely to have been exposed to and potentially sensitized to over the many years of their tenure of atopic dermatitis.”

Dr. Silverberg reported receiving research grants from Galderma and GlaxoSmithKline and serving as a consultant to more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies.

SDEF/Global Academy for Medical Education and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

[email protected]

WAIKOLOA, HAWAII – The prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis is elevated among patients with atopic dermatitis – and it pays to know their major sources of risk, according to Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD.

photorobot/Getty Images

“What are atopic dermatitis patients allergic to? It’s all coming from their personal care products and the things being used to treat their atopic dermatitis,” Dr. Silverberg said at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar provided by the Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation.

Dr. Silverberg, of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago, coauthored a systematic review and meta-analysis that examined the association between AD and contact sensitization. In their examination of 74 published studies, the investigators found that the likelihood of allergic contact dermatitis was 1.5-fold greater in adults and children with AD than in healthy individuals from the general population (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77[1]:70-8).

This finding is at odds with an earlier widespread belief that AD patients should not be at increased risk because the immune profile of their primarily Th2-mediated disease would have a suppressant effect on Th1-mediated hypersensitivity.

“Recent data are calling into question old dogmas and reshaping the way we think about this. And this is not just an academic exercise, this is highly clinically relevant,” the dermatologist asserted.

The results of the meta-analysis prompted Dr. Silverberg and colleagues to conduct a retrospective study of more than 500 adults patch tested to an expanded allergen series at Northwestern’s patch test clinic with the purpose of identifying the common offending allergens in patients with AD. The key finding: The patients with AD were significantly more likely to have positive patch test reactions to ingredients in their repetitively used personal care products, topical corticosteroids, and topical antibiotics than the individuals without AD. The probable explanation for this results is that the skin barrier disruption inherent in AD allows for easier passage of weak allergens through the skin (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Dec;79[6]:1028-33.e6).

Bruce Jancin/MDedge News

Lanolin was identified as a particularly common allergen in the AD group. “Lanolin is found in one of the most commonly used moisturizers we recommend to patients: Aquaphor. It’s also found in tons of lip balms and emollients. Pretty much every soft soap out there contains lanolin, and it’s in a variety of other personal care products,” Dr. Silverberg noted.

Other common offenders in the AD population included fragrance mix II, cinnamal, quaternium-15, budesonide, tixocortol, carba mix, neomycin, bacitracin, rubber mix, and chlorhexidine. Relevance was established in more than 90% of the positive reactions.

“You can patch test them directly to their personal care products and make that connection beautifully and see how they’re reacting to them,” he said.


 

When to patch test atopic dermatitis patients

Dr. Silverberg was a coauthor of multidisciplinary expert consensus guidelines on when to consider patch testing in AD (Dermatitis. 2016 Jul-Aug;27[4]:186-92). “We had to go consensus because we don’t have nearly enough studies to provide true evidence-based recommendations,” he explained.

Because allergic contact dermatitis is a potentially curable comorbid condition in AD patients, it’s important to recognize the scenarios in which patch testing should be considered. These include AD refractory to topical therapy; adolescent- or adult-onset atopic dermatitis; and in AD patients with an atypical or evolving lesional distribution, such as localized dermatitis on the eyelids, head and neck, or hands and feet. Patch testing is also warranted before initiating systemic therapy for AD.

“If you’re about to put a patient on a biologic or phototherapy and step them up to a whole new class of risk of adverse events, that’s an ideal time to think about reversible options,” Dr. Silverberg advised.

Another situation in which he considers patch testing advisable, although this one isn’t covered in the consensus guidelines, is in AD patients with prominent nummular eczema lesions. “Widespread nummular eczema lesions may be a sign of allergic contact dermatitis in atopic dermatitis patients. I’m not saying everyone with nummular lesions is going to have a positive patch test, but it’s definitely a situation you want to think about,” he said.
 

How to patch test atopic dermatitis patients

Most of the common topical allergens in AD patients are not included in the T.R.U.E. Test. An expanded allergen series, such as the American Contact Dermatitis Society core 80 series, is the better way to go.

Once the dermatologist determines that a patient’s positive patch test reaction is relevant, it’s important to recommend the use of personal care products that are “pretty clean,” Dr. Silverberg said.

“Clean in my opinion is not a matter of ‘It should be all organic and all natural,’ ” he emphasized. “I’m not anti- any of that, but clean means having the fewest ingredients possible and trying to steer clear of those really common allergens that patients are highly likely to have been exposed to and potentially sensitized to over the many years of their tenure of atopic dermatitis.”

Dr. Silverberg reported receiving research grants from Galderma and GlaxoSmithKline and serving as a consultant to more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies.

SDEF/Global Academy for Medical Education and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

[email protected]

WAIKOLOA, HAWAII – The prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis is elevated among patients with atopic dermatitis – and it pays to know their major sources of risk, according to Jonathan I. Silverberg, MD, PhD.

photorobot/Getty Images

“What are atopic dermatitis patients allergic to? It’s all coming from their personal care products and the things being used to treat their atopic dermatitis,” Dr. Silverberg said at the Hawaii Dermatology Seminar provided by the Global Academy for Medical Education/Skin Disease Education Foundation.

Dr. Silverberg, of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University, Chicago, coauthored a systematic review and meta-analysis that examined the association between AD and contact sensitization. In their examination of 74 published studies, the investigators found that the likelihood of allergic contact dermatitis was 1.5-fold greater in adults and children with AD than in healthy individuals from the general population (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77[1]:70-8).

This finding is at odds with an earlier widespread belief that AD patients should not be at increased risk because the immune profile of their primarily Th2-mediated disease would have a suppressant effect on Th1-mediated hypersensitivity.

“Recent data are calling into question old dogmas and reshaping the way we think about this. And this is not just an academic exercise, this is highly clinically relevant,” the dermatologist asserted.

The results of the meta-analysis prompted Dr. Silverberg and colleagues to conduct a retrospective study of more than 500 adults patch tested to an expanded allergen series at Northwestern’s patch test clinic with the purpose of identifying the common offending allergens in patients with AD. The key finding: The patients with AD were significantly more likely to have positive patch test reactions to ingredients in their repetitively used personal care products, topical corticosteroids, and topical antibiotics than the individuals without AD. The probable explanation for this results is that the skin barrier disruption inherent in AD allows for easier passage of weak allergens through the skin (J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018 Dec;79[6]:1028-33.e6).

Bruce Jancin/MDedge News

Lanolin was identified as a particularly common allergen in the AD group. “Lanolin is found in one of the most commonly used moisturizers we recommend to patients: Aquaphor. It’s also found in tons of lip balms and emollients. Pretty much every soft soap out there contains lanolin, and it’s in a variety of other personal care products,” Dr. Silverberg noted.

Other common offenders in the AD population included fragrance mix II, cinnamal, quaternium-15, budesonide, tixocortol, carba mix, neomycin, bacitracin, rubber mix, and chlorhexidine. Relevance was established in more than 90% of the positive reactions.

“You can patch test them directly to their personal care products and make that connection beautifully and see how they’re reacting to them,” he said.


 

When to patch test atopic dermatitis patients

Dr. Silverberg was a coauthor of multidisciplinary expert consensus guidelines on when to consider patch testing in AD (Dermatitis. 2016 Jul-Aug;27[4]:186-92). “We had to go consensus because we don’t have nearly enough studies to provide true evidence-based recommendations,” he explained.

Because allergic contact dermatitis is a potentially curable comorbid condition in AD patients, it’s important to recognize the scenarios in which patch testing should be considered. These include AD refractory to topical therapy; adolescent- or adult-onset atopic dermatitis; and in AD patients with an atypical or evolving lesional distribution, such as localized dermatitis on the eyelids, head and neck, or hands and feet. Patch testing is also warranted before initiating systemic therapy for AD.

“If you’re about to put a patient on a biologic or phototherapy and step them up to a whole new class of risk of adverse events, that’s an ideal time to think about reversible options,” Dr. Silverberg advised.

Another situation in which he considers patch testing advisable, although this one isn’t covered in the consensus guidelines, is in AD patients with prominent nummular eczema lesions. “Widespread nummular eczema lesions may be a sign of allergic contact dermatitis in atopic dermatitis patients. I’m not saying everyone with nummular lesions is going to have a positive patch test, but it’s definitely a situation you want to think about,” he said.
 

How to patch test atopic dermatitis patients

Most of the common topical allergens in AD patients are not included in the T.R.U.E. Test. An expanded allergen series, such as the American Contact Dermatitis Society core 80 series, is the better way to go.

Once the dermatologist determines that a patient’s positive patch test reaction is relevant, it’s important to recommend the use of personal care products that are “pretty clean,” Dr. Silverberg said.

“Clean in my opinion is not a matter of ‘It should be all organic and all natural,’ ” he emphasized. “I’m not anti- any of that, but clean means having the fewest ingredients possible and trying to steer clear of those really common allergens that patients are highly likely to have been exposed to and potentially sensitized to over the many years of their tenure of atopic dermatitis.”

Dr. Silverberg reported receiving research grants from Galderma and GlaxoSmithKline and serving as a consultant to more than a dozen pharmaceutical companies.

SDEF/Global Academy for Medical Education and this news organization are owned by the same parent company.

[email protected]

The mean number of office visits for otitis media in children younger than 5 years dropped significantly after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, according to findings published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Thinkstock

Previous studies have shown that more than half of children with otitis media (OM) have serotypes included in the PCV7 vaccine (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F), wrote Xiaofeng Zhou, MD, of Pfizer, New York, and colleagues.

To assess the impact of PCV13, with the additional serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A, the researchers analyzed data from the U.S. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for three time periods: pre-PCV7 (1997-1999), after the introduction of PCV7 (2001-2009), and after the introduction of PCV13 (2011-2013).

Between the pre-PCV7 and PCV13 time periods, the researchers found significant reductions in the mean rates of OM visits of 48% and 41% among children younger than 2 years and younger than 5 years, respectively; reductions were 24% and 22%, respectively, when comparing PCV13 and PCV7. Ambulatory care visits for skin rash and trauma were not significantly different among the study periods.

Comparing the PCV7 and PCV13 time periods, the mean number of OM visits per 100 children declined from 84 to 64 per 100 children younger than 2 years, 41 to 34 per 100 children between ages 2 and 5 years, and from 59 to 46 per 100 children younger than 5 years.

The study findings were limited by several factors including the use of an ecologic study design, which was chosen to help reduce selection bias, but that did not show evidence of the field effectiveness of the PCV13 vaccine. Another limitation was the potential misclassification of patients with OM given clinician variability in diagnostic criteria, the researchers noted.

“Our results in this study, while not providing direct evidence of causality, nonetheless suggest a significant and positive impact of the PCV13 vaccination program on otitis media for children less than 5 years of age in the U.S., with further reductions in OM visits observed in PCV13 period following a decade of PCV7 use,” Dr. Zhou and associates said.

The investigators are employed by Pfizer, which funded the study.

SOURCE: Zhou X et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Apr. 119:96-102.

The mean number of office visits for otitis media in children younger than 5 years dropped significantly after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, according to findings published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Thinkstock

Previous studies have shown that more than half of children with otitis media (OM) have serotypes included in the PCV7 vaccine (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F), wrote Xiaofeng Zhou, MD, of Pfizer, New York, and colleagues.

To assess the impact of PCV13, with the additional serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A, the researchers analyzed data from the U.S. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for three time periods: pre-PCV7 (1997-1999), after the introduction of PCV7 (2001-2009), and after the introduction of PCV13 (2011-2013).

Between the pre-PCV7 and PCV13 time periods, the researchers found significant reductions in the mean rates of OM visits of 48% and 41% among children younger than 2 years and younger than 5 years, respectively; reductions were 24% and 22%, respectively, when comparing PCV13 and PCV7. Ambulatory care visits for skin rash and trauma were not significantly different among the study periods.

Comparing the PCV7 and PCV13 time periods, the mean number of OM visits per 100 children declined from 84 to 64 per 100 children younger than 2 years, 41 to 34 per 100 children between ages 2 and 5 years, and from 59 to 46 per 100 children younger than 5 years.

The study findings were limited by several factors including the use of an ecologic study design, which was chosen to help reduce selection bias, but that did not show evidence of the field effectiveness of the PCV13 vaccine. Another limitation was the potential misclassification of patients with OM given clinician variability in diagnostic criteria, the researchers noted.

“Our results in this study, while not providing direct evidence of causality, nonetheless suggest a significant and positive impact of the PCV13 vaccination program on otitis media for children less than 5 years of age in the U.S., with further reductions in OM visits observed in PCV13 period following a decade of PCV7 use,” Dr. Zhou and associates said.

The investigators are employed by Pfizer, which funded the study.

SOURCE: Zhou X et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Apr. 119:96-102.

The mean number of office visits for otitis media in children younger than 5 years dropped significantly after the introduction of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, according to findings published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology.

KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Thinkstock

Previous studies have shown that more than half of children with otitis media (OM) have serotypes included in the PCV7 vaccine (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, and 23F), wrote Xiaofeng Zhou, MD, of Pfizer, New York, and colleagues.

To assess the impact of PCV13, with the additional serotypes 1, 3, 5, 6A, 7F, and 19A, the researchers analyzed data from the U.S. National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey for three time periods: pre-PCV7 (1997-1999), after the introduction of PCV7 (2001-2009), and after the introduction of PCV13 (2011-2013).

Between the pre-PCV7 and PCV13 time periods, the researchers found significant reductions in the mean rates of OM visits of 48% and 41% among children younger than 2 years and younger than 5 years, respectively; reductions were 24% and 22%, respectively, when comparing PCV13 and PCV7. Ambulatory care visits for skin rash and trauma were not significantly different among the study periods.

Comparing the PCV7 and PCV13 time periods, the mean number of OM visits per 100 children declined from 84 to 64 per 100 children younger than 2 years, 41 to 34 per 100 children between ages 2 and 5 years, and from 59 to 46 per 100 children younger than 5 years.

The study findings were limited by several factors including the use of an ecologic study design, which was chosen to help reduce selection bias, but that did not show evidence of the field effectiveness of the PCV13 vaccine. Another limitation was the potential misclassification of patients with OM given clinician variability in diagnostic criteria, the researchers noted.

“Our results in this study, while not providing direct evidence of causality, nonetheless suggest a significant and positive impact of the PCV13 vaccination program on otitis media for children less than 5 years of age in the U.S., with further reductions in OM visits observed in PCV13 period following a decade of PCV7 use,” Dr. Zhou and associates said.

The investigators are employed by Pfizer, which funded the study.

SOURCE: Zhou X et al. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2019 Apr. 119:96-102.

BALTIMORE – A pediatric primary care practice saw anxiety diagnoses in teens increase by nearly four percentage points a year after implementing universal anxiety screening, according to a new study.

AndreaObzerova/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The findings suggest that implementing a universal anxiety screening for teen patients is feasible and improves detection of patients with anxiety.

“Our providers were able to act on these positive screens and are able to catch a really serious entry-level condition that may have otherwise been missed,” presenter Sarah Malik, MD, a resident at Penn State Children’s Hospital, told attendees at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting. “Hopefully, this will make a really meaningful difference in these kids’ lives, which is, of course, what we all want.”

An estimated 32% of U.S. teens have anxiety, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and “8.3% of adolescents with anxiety have severe impairment defined by DSM­4 criteria,” according to the study’s background information. Yet neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued recommendations regarding screening for anxiety in teens.

“For this reason, we developed a study in which we implemented and measured the effect of a universal anxiety screening program in the pediatric primary care setting,” Dr Malik said.

The screening intervention took place in a single Penn State Health Children’s Hospital primary care practice in Hershey, Pa., that typically received 37,000 visits a year from 12,500 patients. The practice has 19 attending physicians, 4 nurse practitioners, and 21 residents.

Providers asked patients aged 11-18 years to fill out a nine-question Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) during their well-child visits from April 2017 to March 2018. Two-thirds of the patients had private insurance, 80% were white and 8% were black; 10% were Hispanic.

Providers had access to the screening results after nurses transcribed them into electronic medical records. The researchers used EMRs to determine how many patients completed a SCARED at their well-child visit and how many screened positive for anxiety, defined as a score of at least 9/18.

Then the providers compared the prevalence of anxiety 1 year after implementing the routine screening with the prevalence of teens with an ICD-10 anxiety diagnosis within the 36 months before the screening was implemented. The practice’s prevalence of adolescent anxiety was 13.3% 1 year after implementing universal anxiety screening, compared with 9.6% in the previous 3 years (P less than .0001).

Among 2,276 well-child visits for adolescents during the study period, 80% completed a SCARED. Of those who completed the screening, 17% screened positive. The physicians identified 70% of those patients with positive screens (214/306) as having anxiety, and 82% of those patients (n = 176) were diagnosed with anxiety.

About half of those diagnosed with anxiety (n = 93) received one or more interventions: 77 received referrals for counseling, 15 received psychiatric referrals, and 20 were prescribed new anxiety medication.

“We did find that a universal screening program for anxiety is very useful to implement in the primary care setting, and it’s also really effective at identifying adolescents with anxiety symptoms,” Dr. Malik said.

The study’s generalizability is limited by its implementation at a single academic center with integrated behavioral health, and the use of the SCARED, a portion of the GAD scale, is not considered a standard of care.

The researchers used no external funding, and they had no disclosures.
 

BALTIMORE – A pediatric primary care practice saw anxiety diagnoses in teens increase by nearly four percentage points a year after implementing universal anxiety screening, according to a new study.

AndreaObzerova/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The findings suggest that implementing a universal anxiety screening for teen patients is feasible and improves detection of patients with anxiety.

“Our providers were able to act on these positive screens and are able to catch a really serious entry-level condition that may have otherwise been missed,” presenter Sarah Malik, MD, a resident at Penn State Children’s Hospital, told attendees at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting. “Hopefully, this will make a really meaningful difference in these kids’ lives, which is, of course, what we all want.”

An estimated 32% of U.S. teens have anxiety, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and “8.3% of adolescents with anxiety have severe impairment defined by DSM­4 criteria,” according to the study’s background information. Yet neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued recommendations regarding screening for anxiety in teens.

“For this reason, we developed a study in which we implemented and measured the effect of a universal anxiety screening program in the pediatric primary care setting,” Dr Malik said.

The screening intervention took place in a single Penn State Health Children’s Hospital primary care practice in Hershey, Pa., that typically received 37,000 visits a year from 12,500 patients. The practice has 19 attending physicians, 4 nurse practitioners, and 21 residents.

Providers asked patients aged 11-18 years to fill out a nine-question Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) during their well-child visits from April 2017 to March 2018. Two-thirds of the patients had private insurance, 80% were white and 8% were black; 10% were Hispanic.

Providers had access to the screening results after nurses transcribed them into electronic medical records. The researchers used EMRs to determine how many patients completed a SCARED at their well-child visit and how many screened positive for anxiety, defined as a score of at least 9/18.

Then the providers compared the prevalence of anxiety 1 year after implementing the routine screening with the prevalence of teens with an ICD-10 anxiety diagnosis within the 36 months before the screening was implemented. The practice’s prevalence of adolescent anxiety was 13.3% 1 year after implementing universal anxiety screening, compared with 9.6% in the previous 3 years (P less than .0001).

Among 2,276 well-child visits for adolescents during the study period, 80% completed a SCARED. Of those who completed the screening, 17% screened positive. The physicians identified 70% of those patients with positive screens (214/306) as having anxiety, and 82% of those patients (n = 176) were diagnosed with anxiety.

About half of those diagnosed with anxiety (n = 93) received one or more interventions: 77 received referrals for counseling, 15 received psychiatric referrals, and 20 were prescribed new anxiety medication.

“We did find that a universal screening program for anxiety is very useful to implement in the primary care setting, and it’s also really effective at identifying adolescents with anxiety symptoms,” Dr. Malik said.

The study’s generalizability is limited by its implementation at a single academic center with integrated behavioral health, and the use of the SCARED, a portion of the GAD scale, is not considered a standard of care.

The researchers used no external funding, and they had no disclosures.
 

BALTIMORE – A pediatric primary care practice saw anxiety diagnoses in teens increase by nearly four percentage points a year after implementing universal anxiety screening, according to a new study.

AndreaObzerova/iStock/Getty Images Plus

The findings suggest that implementing a universal anxiety screening for teen patients is feasible and improves detection of patients with anxiety.

“Our providers were able to act on these positive screens and are able to catch a really serious entry-level condition that may have otherwise been missed,” presenter Sarah Malik, MD, a resident at Penn State Children’s Hospital, told attendees at the Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting. “Hopefully, this will make a really meaningful difference in these kids’ lives, which is, of course, what we all want.”

An estimated 32% of U.S. teens have anxiety, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, and “8.3% of adolescents with anxiety have severe impairment defined by DSM­4 criteria,” according to the study’s background information. Yet neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued recommendations regarding screening for anxiety in teens.

“For this reason, we developed a study in which we implemented and measured the effect of a universal anxiety screening program in the pediatric primary care setting,” Dr Malik said.

The screening intervention took place in a single Penn State Health Children’s Hospital primary care practice in Hershey, Pa., that typically received 37,000 visits a year from 12,500 patients. The practice has 19 attending physicians, 4 nurse practitioners, and 21 residents.

Providers asked patients aged 11-18 years to fill out a nine-question Generalized Anxiety Disorder subscale of the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders (SCARED) during their well-child visits from April 2017 to March 2018. Two-thirds of the patients had private insurance, 80% were white and 8% were black; 10% were Hispanic.

Providers had access to the screening results after nurses transcribed them into electronic medical records. The researchers used EMRs to determine how many patients completed a SCARED at their well-child visit and how many screened positive for anxiety, defined as a score of at least 9/18.

Then the providers compared the prevalence of anxiety 1 year after implementing the routine screening with the prevalence of teens with an ICD-10 anxiety diagnosis within the 36 months before the screening was implemented. The practice’s prevalence of adolescent anxiety was 13.3% 1 year after implementing universal anxiety screening, compared with 9.6% in the previous 3 years (P less than .0001).

Among 2,276 well-child visits for adolescents during the study period, 80% completed a SCARED. Of those who completed the screening, 17% screened positive. The physicians identified 70% of those patients with positive screens (214/306) as having anxiety, and 82% of those patients (n = 176) were diagnosed with anxiety.

About half of those diagnosed with anxiety (n = 93) received one or more interventions: 77 received referrals for counseling, 15 received psychiatric referrals, and 20 were prescribed new anxiety medication.

“We did find that a universal screening program for anxiety is very useful to implement in the primary care setting, and it’s also really effective at identifying adolescents with anxiety symptoms,” Dr. Malik said.

The study’s generalizability is limited by its implementation at a single academic center with integrated behavioral health, and the use of the SCARED, a portion of the GAD scale, is not considered a standard of care.

The researchers used no external funding, and they had no disclosures.