Mycoplasma pneumonia--associated mucocutaneous disease in children: dilemmas in classification

Infantile Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: A systematic review of clinical features and outcomes in children ages 12 months and under

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reactions that carry significant morbidity and mortality. While clinical features are well documented in adult and pediatric patients, infantile cases are rarely reported. Our objective was to synthesize clinical features and outcomes in this population.

METHODS

A literature search was performed from three large databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) to systematically identify reports of SJS/TEN in the infantile period (defined as less than 12 months of age) between 1962 and 2019. Cases determined to represent SJS/TEN based on defined criteria were included. Each case was scored based on Quality Rating Scheme for Studies and Other Evidence. The initial search yielded 4856 publications, of which 19 (n = 26) met final inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

All cases for which body surface area (BSA) involvement was available or able to be approximated (n = 18/26) met criteria for TEN. All cases (n = 26) had mucous membrane involvement, with the oral mucosa most commonly affected (85.7%). Mortality was high within our population with 39.1% of infants expiring, 77.8% secondary to bacterial sepsis. The most common triggers were medications (52.4%), infections (33.3%), and vaccinations (14.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights several unique clinical findings amongst infants with SJS/TEN, including increased BSA involvement, higher rates of bacterial sepsis, and higher mortality rates compared to older children and adults. Infants are more likely to present as TEN over SJS. More research is needed to identify triggers, successful treatments, and specific outcomes in this population.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections: Pathogenesis and Vaccine Development

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a major causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia which can lead to both acute upper and lower respiratory tract inflammation, and extrapulmonary syndromes. Refractory pneumonia caused by M. pneumonia can be life-threatening, especially in infants and the elderly. Here, based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature related to the respective area, we summarize the virulence factors of M. pneumoniae and the major pathogenic mechanisms mediated by the pathogen: adhesion to host cells, direct cytotoxicity against host cells, inflammatory response-induced immune injury, and immune evasion. The increasing rate of macrolide-resistant strains and the harmful side effects of other sensitive antibiotics (e.g., respiratory quinolones and tetracyclines) in young children make it difficult to treat, and increase the health risk or re-infections. Hence, there is an urgent need for development of an effective vaccine to prevent M. pneumoniae infections in children. Various types of M. pneumoniae vaccines have been reported, including whole-cell vaccines (inactivated and live-attenuated vaccines), subunit vaccines (involving M. pneumoniae protein P1, protein P30, protein P116 and CARDS toxin) and DNA vaccines. This narrative review summarizes the key pathogenic mechanisms underlying M. pneumoniae infection and highlights the relevant vaccines that have been developed and their reported effectiveness.

Infantile toxic epidermal necrolysis: Successful treatment of an 8-week-old with intravenous immunoglobulin and amniotic membrane transplant

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis comprise a spectrum of severe mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reactions. A paucity of data limits current understanding of the etiology, treatment options, and prognosis of this entity in the infantile population compared to that in the adult and pediatric literature. We describe the case of an 8-week-old male with toxic epidermal necrolysis treated successfully with intravenous immunoglobulin and amniotic membrane transplant. This patient is the youngest surviving infant with toxic epidermal necrolysis to be reported.

Effects of Aloe vera in adults with mucocutaneous problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

To analyse the different types of Aloe vera (AV) effects on various mucocutaneous problems among adults.

DESIGN

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

An exhaustive scanning of PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases was conducted from January 2000-December 2019.

REVIEW METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) publishing reports on the effects of AV in various mucocutaneous problems, psoriasis, burn, wound-healing were included. The standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence Intervals (CIs) were determined for the main outcomes, heterogeneity was analysed using the I² test and the risk of bias in the studies was reviewed by the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool.

RESULTS

The study included 23 trials with a total of 4,023 participants. Six trials were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated no significant differences in pain scores as assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI: -0.37 to 0.59). The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores were significantly lower following AV gel application in two of the studies (SMD = -1.32 95% CI: -1.86 to -0.78). Considering results in a systematic manner, AV accelerated tissue epithelialization and wound-healing process (N = 3), reduced oral mucositis (N = 3), and improved quality of life (N = 1).

CONCLUSION

AV might have beneficial effects in reducing pain scores and the severity of mucocutaneous problems compared with placebo, especially with limited mild to moderate adverse effects.

IMPACT

AV may be used as an alternative and integrative approach to reducing symptom severity in mucocutaneous problems and the wound-healing process. High quality and well-designed RCTs are still needed to elucidate the effects of AV in a variety of dosages and forms among adults with mucocutaneous problems.

Retrospective review of drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis cases at a pediatric tertiary care institution

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis represent important sources of potential mortality and morbidity in children. There is a need for more clinical data in this population to determine whether specific treatments preferentially improve outcomes.

METHODS

This was a single-center retrospective review of children admitted with drug-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap at a tertiary care pediatric institution in North America from 2008 to 2018. Patients without a dermatology assessment and diagnosis were excluded. Demographic, clinical, and treatment information were abstracted and reviewed for all included patients.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients were identified, 43% female (7/16), with a mean age at presentation of 10.4 ± 5.2 years. Antibiotics were implicated in 56.3% of patients (9/16) and anticonvulsants in 31.3% (5/16). Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was the triggering antibiotic in 31.3% of patients. The majority of patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin alone (50%, 8/16) or intravenous immunoglobulin with steroids (25%, 4/16). Etanercept was added to intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroid in a 2-year-old patient, resulting in clinical stabilization and halting of epidermolysis. No patients died. Clinical sequelae were noted in five patients, including ocular complications (n = 4), labial adhesions (n = 1), and persistent skin dyspigmentation (n = 3).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results highlight that sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim is an important cause of Stevens-Johnson syndrome-toxic epidermal necrolysis in children. Mortality was reassuringly low, but ocular sequelae were an important cause of morbidity. More data are needed to help determine whether specific treatments including etanercept may provide mortality or morbidity benefit in pediatric populations.

Triggers, clinical manifestations, and management of pediatric erythema multiforme: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute inflammatory mucocutaneous condition. EM is rarely described in children and infants.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the triggers, clinical manifestations, and treatment of pediatric EM.

METHODS

Systematic literature review of pediatric EM.

RESULTS

After full-text article review, we included 113 articles, representing 580 patients. The mean age was 5.6 years, ranging 0.1-17 years. Infectious agents were the main triggers: herpes simplex virus (HSV) in 104 patients (17.9%) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in 91 patients (15.7%). In total, 140 cases (24.1%) were drug-related and 89 cases (15.3%) had other triggers, such as vaccines (19 patients, 3.2%). In total, 229 patients had EM major (39.5%). Treatment was supportive care only (180 patients, 31.1%), systemic corticosteroids (115 patients, 19.8%), antivirals (85 patients, 14.6%), and antibiotics (66 patients, 11.3%), mostly macrolides (45 patients, 7.7%). Long-term sequelae were rare (1.3%). Pediatric EM was reported in 19 infants (3.2%). The main trigger was vaccination (9 patients). Infantile EM was EM major in 2 cases and EM minor in 17. Infants were less prone to develop EM major than older children (P < .01). Pediatric EM was recurrent in 83 cases (14.3%), which was triggered by HSV in 36 patients (61%). Recurrence affected older children.

LIMITATIONS

Potential confusion between Steven Johnson syndrome and EM major in addition to publication bias.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric EM is a rare disease, mainly triggered by infections. This condition can affect all mucosal surfaces, most commonly the oral mucosae. The diagnosis is clinical, and management relies on supportive care. Vaccines are a particular trigger in infants. Recurrent cases are most commonly linked to HSV. Dermatologists and pediatricians should be aware of this potentially recurrent and severe condition.

Analysis of clinical value of CT in the diagnosis of pediatric pneumonia and mycoplasma pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infectious disease of the lung causing mortality. Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) is an atypical bacterial pneumonia that damages several organs. Lung computed tomography (CT) has been utilized in its identification. The aim of the present study was to examine the value of computed tomography diagnosis for pediatric MP. The present study prospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging data of 1,280 cases of pediatric MP in the out- and inpatient departments from March, 2010 to March, 2014; analyzed the morphology and distribution of the pneumonic lesion in the lungs; and summarized the value of CT diagnosis for pediatric MP. In the included children, there were 688 cases of lesions in the unilateral lobe, 592 cases of lesions in the bilateral lobes, 1,101 cases of extensive patchy opacity, 496 cases of mottled opacity, 432 cases of increased lung marking, 256 cases of streak opacity, 192 cases of ground-glass opacity, 992 cases of thickened bronchial wall in the lesions, 128 cases of lymphadenopathy in the hilar lymph nodes and mediastinal lymph nodes, and the lung CT showed 32 cases of pulmonary cavity and 144 cases of pleural effusion. In conclusion, the CT signals of pediatric MP had several types with some children exhibiting complicated changes. The child's clinical manifestation and symptoms should thus be considered in the diagnosis to improve the diagnostic rate.

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis--A Comprehensive Review and Guide to Therapy. I. Systemic Disease

The intent of this review is to comprehensively appraise the state of the art with regard to Stevens Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), with particular attention to the ocular surface complications and their management. SJS and TEN represent two ends of a spectrum of immune-mediated, dermatobullous disease, characterized in the acute phase by a febrile illness followed by skin and mucous membrane necrosis and detachment. The widespread keratinocyte death seen in SJS/TEN is rapid and irreversible, and even with early and aggressive intervention, morbidity is severe and mortality not uncommon. We have divided this review into two parts. Part I summarizes the epidemiology and immunopathogenesis of SJS/TEN and discusses systemic therapy and its possible benefits. We hope this review will help the ophthalmologist better understand the mechanisms of disease in SJS/TEN and enhance their care of patients with this complex and often debilitating disease. Part II (April 2016 issue) will focus on ophthalmic manifestations.