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Current Pediatric Reviews
ISSN: 1573-3963
Current Pediatric Reviews
Volume 5, Number 4, November 2009
Contents
Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and its Pathogenetic Roles for
Human Diseases Pp. 192-197
Motohiko Okano
[Abstract] [Full
text article]
Burden of Bronchiectasis in Indigenous
Peoples - How Can it be Improved? Pp. 198-206
Karen Munro, Rosalyn J. Singleton, Elizabeth A. Edwards, Gregory
J. Redding, Anne B. Chang and Catherine
A. Byrnes
[Abstract] [Full
text article]
A Global Perspective of the Epidemiology and Burden of Varicella-Zoster
Virus Pp. 207-228
Nitu Sengupta and Judy Breuer
[Abstract] [Full
text article]
Challenges in the Management of Paediatric
Febrile Neutropenia Pp. 229-233
Bob Phillips, Roderick Skinner, Sheila M. Lane
and Julia C. Chisholm
[Abstract] [Full
text article]
Pediatric Health Effects of Chronic Exposure
to Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Pp.
234-240
Juan Antonio Ortega-Garcia, Marlene Martin, Enrique Navarro-Camba,
Julia Garcia-Castell, Offie P. Soldin and Josep Ferrís-Tortajada
[Abstract] [Full
text article]
Abstracts
[Back to top]
[Full
text article]
Epstein-Barr Virus Infection and its Pathogenetic
Roles for Human Diseases
Motohiko Okano
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), one of the eight known human
herpesviruses, generally infects subclinically. However, in
certain circumstances, EBV causes overt diseases such as infectious
mononucleosis (IM), usually a self-limiting disorder, by its
primary infection. Additionally, it associates the development
of various human malignancies including EBV genome-positive
Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) and undifferentiated nasopharyngeal
carcinoma (NPC). More recently, EBV infection has been thought
to be etiologically linked to the occurrence of lymphoproliferative
disease (LPD) in immunologically compromised individuals either
with hereditary or secondary condition, and the other life-threatening
diseases such as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
and chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV). This review mainly
introduces, focuses and discusses on the recent advances of
EBV infection regarding its pathogenetic mechanism(s), diagnosis
and treatment.
[Back to top] [Full
text article]
Burden of Bronchiectasis in Indigenous Peoples - How Can it
be Improved?
Karen Munro, Rosalyn J. Singleton, Elizabeth A. Edwards, Gregory
J. Redding, Anne B. Chang and Catherine
A. Byrnes
Bronchiectasis remains common in indigenous populations
as reported from Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. Each of
these countries has published incidence and prevalence estimates,
suggested aetiologies, clinical course and associated factors
which may contribute to the burden of disease. The purpose
of this collaborative review is to summarise literature on
bronchiectasis in indigenous peoples, discuss similarities
and differences between these groups and countries, and compare
these findings to recent reports on non-indigenous populations.
Difficulties in applying best management practice are highlighted,
including the difficult and confusing terminology, and suggestions
made to address the unmet healthcare needs in order to reduce
future respiratory morbidity and mortality in these populations.
[Back to top]
[Full
text article]
A Global Perspective of the Epidemiology and Burden
of Varicella-Zoster Virus
Nitu Sengupta and Judy Breuer
The global burden of disease associated with Varicella-Zoster
Virus (VZV), the aetiological agent of chickenpox and shingles,
can no longer be considered insignificant. This review provides
a comprehensive insight in to the epidemiology of VZV in different
settings. High childhood incidence rates are seen in temperate
climates and substantial evidence is presented regarding the
morbidity associated with primary infection both in children
and high risk groups. The increased adult prevalence of disease
in warmer countries is associated with significantly higher
rates of complications and death. The disparities in age specific
incidence of chickenpox maybe associated with decreased viral
transmission in warmer temperatures, in rural settings and
in high humidity. However, these factors were not always consistent
especially in Australia and South American countries. This
suggests the possible role of other undefined host and viral
factors. Universal childhood vaccination has resulted in a
dramatic decrease in incidence, hospitalisations and deaths
associated with VZV in the USA. A two dose schedule is now
recommended following evidence of increased incidence of breakthrough
disease in vaccine recipients over time. In addition a vaccine
to prevent zoster has recently been recommended for use in
the elderly to address the significant burden posed by this
illness on health resources in temperate countries.
[Back to top]
[Full
text article]
Challenges in the Management of Paediatric Febrile
Neutropenia
Bob Phillips, Roderick Skinner, Sheila M. Lane
and Julia C. Chisholm
Children undergoing treatment for malignancy have excellent
survival rates which now approach 75%. In most cases, children
who die following treatment for cancer do so of their disease,
but despite huge improvements in supportive care, one in six
of the deaths within 5 years of diagnosis are due to the complications
of therapy. One such life-threatening complication remains
infection, frequently presenting as the occurrence of fever
with neutropenia. This paper explores the issues around prevention
of febrile neutropenia and risk stratification of new episodes,
reviews recent advances in the field of febrile neutropenia
and highlights current research which may directly improve
patient care.
[Back to top]
[Full
text article]
Pediatric Health Effects of Chronic Exposure to Extremely
Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields
Juan Antonio Ortega-Garcia, Marlene Martin, Enrique Navarro-Camba,
Julia Garcia-Castell, Offie P. Soldin and Josep Ferrís-Tortajada
Extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation (ELF-EMR)
is an omnipresent component of electricity, with a frequency
of 3-30Hz, and wavelengths 3,450-5,996km long. We reviewed
the scientific literature regarding pediatric health effects
resulting from chronic exposure to ELF-EMR and compared these
with the international safety standards. Articles published
between 1980-2007 were identified using Medline, Cancerlite,
Science Citation Index, and EMBASE.
For the general population, the International Commission on
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection considers chronic exposure
to magnetic fields lower than 100µT to be safe. However,
even 0.3-0.4µT has been associated with an increased
risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children. Although
there is no experimental model to test the effects of ELF-EMR
on organic systems, the Precautionary Principle is fundamental
to the protection of children who are exposed to residential
radiation doses higher than 0.3µT.
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