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The current evidence indicates that the severity of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is lower in the pediatric population but local data are still limited. Objective: To characterize the clinical and epidemiological aspects of COVID-19 infection in patients younger than 18 years in Argentina.Cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study of confirmed COVID-19 patients aged 0-18 years seen between March 2020 and March 2021 at 19 referral children's hospitals of Argentina. A multivariate analysis was done to identify predictors of severe cases.A total of 2690 COVID-19 cases were included: 77.7% lived in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires; 50.1% were males; patients' median age was 5.6 years. Of them, 90% were seen during epidemiological weeks 20-47 of 2020; 60.4% had a history of contact with COVID-19 patients; and 96.6% in their family setting. Also, 51.4% had respiratory symptoms; 61.6%, general symptoms; 18.8%, gastrointestinal symptoms; 17.1%, neurological symptoms; 7.2%, other symptoms; and 21.5% were asymptomatic. In addition, 59.4% of patients were hospitalized and 7.4% had a severe or critical course. A total of 57 patients developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome. A history of asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, moderate to severe malnutrition, obesity, chronic neurological disease and/or age younger than 6 months were independent predictors of severity. Living in a vulnerable neighborhood was a protective factor.More than half of cases referred a history of contact with COVID-19 patients in the family setting. Hospitalization was not based on clinical criteria of severity. Severity was associated with the presence of certain comorbidities.Introducción. La evidencia actual indica que la gravedad de la enfermedad por el coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19, por su sigla en inglés) es menor en la población pediátrica, los datos locales aún son limitados.caracterizar los aspectos clínicos y epidemiológicos de la infección por COVID-19 en menores de 18 años en Argentina. Población y métodos. Estudio transversal, observacional y analítico de casos confirmados de COVID-19 entre 0 y 18 años asistidos entre marzo de 2020 y marzo de 2021 en 19 centros pediátricos de referencia de Argentina. Se realizó un análisis multivariado para identificar las variables predictoras de cuadros graves.Se incluyeron 2690 casos de COVID-19: 77,7 % residentes del área metropolitana de Buenos Aires, 50,1 % de sexo masculino, mediana de edad de 5,6 años. El 90 % ocurrió entre las semanas epidemiológicas 2047 del 2020; 60,4 % con antecedente de contacto con personas con COVID-19; y 96,6 % en el entorno familiar. El 51,4 % presentó síntomas respiratorios; 61,6 % síntomas generales; 18,8 % síntomas gastrointestinales; 17,1 % síntomas neurológicos; 7,2 % otros y 21,5 % fueron asintomáticos. El 59,4 % fue hospitalizado; 7,4 % fueron graves o críticos. Se registraron 57 casos de síndrome inflamatorio multisistémico. El antecedente de asma, displasia broncopulmonar, cardiopatía congénita, desnutrición moderada a grave, obesidad, enfermedad neurológica crónica y/o edad menor de 6 meses resultaron predictores independientes de gravedad. Residir en barrios vulnerables resultó protector.Más de la mitad de los casos refirieron antecedente de contacto con personas con COVID-19 en el entorno familiar. La hospitalización no respondió a criterios clínicos de gravedad. La gravedad se encuentra asociada a la existencia de ciertas comorbilidades.

Kawasaki disease (EK) is an acute systemic vasculitis with a risk of developing coronary aneurysms.To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with EK in Argentina and to analyse the risk factors for the development of coronary's complications (CC).Multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional, observational and analytical study. It included patients younger than 18 years of age diagnosed with EK in hospitals in Argentina, between January the 1st, 2010 and December the 31th, 2013.N = 193 subjects. Age: medium: 29 months. Total incidence 5 cases / 10,000 hospital discharges. CC was observed in 15.5% of patients. Increased risk factors for CC: Elevated number of days with fever at the time of treatment placement (p = 0.0033); Increased of: heart frequency (p = 0.0021), erythrosedimentation (ESR) (p = 0.005), C-reactive protein (CRP) (p0.0001), leukocytes (p = 0.0006), neutrophils (p = 0.0021); Decreased of hematocrit (p = 0.0007) and hemoglobin (p0.0001).Association with CC: non-coronary cardiological alterations (OR = 10,818); PCR greater than 68 mg /L (OR = 11,596); leukocytes greater than 20,000 / mm3 (OR = 4.316); and ESR greater than 64 mm / 1 hour (OR = 4.267).The most frequent form of presentation was complete EK, the risk of CC was higher in males, younger than 5 years old, the risk factors (clinical and laboratory) were similar to those described in the literature.

SUMMARY The influenza virus causes epidemics and pandemics with high morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization, this virus causes 3-5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths each year. The disease is mainly respiratory and the most common complications are pneumonia, exacerbation of underlying diseases and less frequently respiratory complications. We report a 6-year-old patient with meningoencephalitis due to a new influenza A (IA), strain pH1N1, with viral documentation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We provide detailed clinical, laboratory and imaging of the case, which responded favorably to sequels. Knowledge of this form of presentation is of great clinical and epidemiological significance due to the limited scientific evidence pub

The influenza virus causes epidemics and pandemics with high morbidity and mortality. According to the World Health Organization, this virus causes 3-5 million cases of severe illness and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths each year. The disease is mainly respiratory and the most common complications are pneumonia, exacerbation of underlying diseases and less frequently respiratory complications. We report a 6-year-old patient with meningoencephalitis due to a new influenza A (IA), strain pH1N1, with viral documentation in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We provide detailed clinical, laboratory and imaging of the case, which responded favorably to sequels. Knowledge of this form of presentation is of great clinical and epidemiological significance due to the limited scientific evidence published internationally.

interactions (both compliant and non-compliant) and was converted into a compliance rate. If a hospital-acquired infection (HAI) was identified, the interactions leading up to the event was reviewed to ascertain whether hand hygiene adherence played a possible role in transmission. The aggregated information was posted electronically on a monitor for real-time feedback to staff and included data on current usage and compliance rates and was also accessible by individual employees on the computer. Any of the data was able to be accessed with the click of a mouse for any defined time period. Data was able to be stratified by individual, unit, department, and discipline. EHHS was also able to send email reports regarding usage and rates to selective HCWs. Results: During the study period, hand hygiene compliance was as follows: 97% in 2011 (97,442 patient interactions); 94% in 2010 (9,788 interactions); 99% in 2009 (160 interactions); 98% in 2008 (102 interactions). Lesson Learned: Traditional data collection and extrapolation methods are time consuming and labor intensive to use. They tend to be biased by user subjectivity and offer a finite view of select patient interactions. EHHS reporting saves time and labor costs, objectively measures hand hygiene compliance continuously, presents information clearly and concisely, can be easily disseminated for real time feedback, and is available 24/7. Non-compliance can be addressed almost immediately. This newer technology allows for enhanced surveillance and improvement in both clinical outcomes and patient safety.