Incidence, etiologies, and outcomes of severe pediatric community-acquired empyema before and after the pandemic: an Italian multicentric study.

Unlabelled: An increase in severe and invasive infections has been reported since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, most evidence comes from monocentric studies without nationwide representativeness. This multicenter, nationwide, retrospective study, conducted within the network of the Italian Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (SITIP), aimed to compare the severity of empyema at presentation in children (aged 1 month to 18 years) admitted to 19 Italian hospitals before, during, and after the pandemic.

Development and Validation of Multivariable Machine-Learning Models for the Prediction of Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome Outcomes in Latin American Children.

Aim: We aimed to develop and test machine learning algorithms for the prediction of severe outcomes associated with MIS-C.

Method: An observational ambispective cohort study was conducted including children aged from 1 month to 18 years old in 84 hospitals from the REKAMLATINA (Red de la Enfermedad de Kawasaki en America Latina) network diagnosed with MIS-C from 1st January 2020 to 31st June 2022. Multiple models were developed to predict four main outcomes: paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, need for inotropes, need for mechanical ventilation, and death.

Prognostic Factors of Late-onset Hearing Loss in Infants With Congenital Cytomegalovirus and Normal Audiologic Assessment at Birth.

Background And Aims: Children with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) can develop late-onset sensorineural hearing loss (LO-SNHL). In this study, we aim to assess the characteristics and predictors of LO-SNHL in infants with cCMV having normal hearing at the first neonatal assessment.

Methods: A retrospective study within the European Registry of Children with cCMV (www.

Acute otomastoiditis in children: a scoping review on diagnosis and antibiotic regimens.

The purpose of this study was to map current literature on the management of uncomplicated acute otomastoiditis (AM) with a focus on the antibiotic regimens and the role of imaging in diagnosis and complication detection. A systematic search was conducted across electronic databases for studies published between January 1, 2000 and May 31, 2025. Eligible studies included those involving pediatric patients under 18 years of age and published in English.

A core curriculum for pediatric lung ultrasound: an expert consensus.

Background: Lung ultrasound is a valuable tool for pediatricians, aiding in diagnosis and procedural safety while reducing radiation exposure. Its application has significantly increased. However, unlike some other medical specialties, structured ultrasound training is not consistently integrated into pediatric residency programs, resulting in variable skill acquisition among national practitioners.

Health Care and Access to Quality Social-Health Services of the Roma and Sinti: A Scoping Review.

Background: The aim of this scoping review is to analyze the health status of Roma and Sinti in Europe, highlighting the issues faced by children and women. In addition, we want to examine the access of these groups to health care services and to identify possible interventions to increase their use.

Methods: Our research was conducted on Pubmed, Google Scholar, and the Trip Database.

Mechanistic Insights Into Long Covid: Viral Persistence, Immune Dysregulation, and Multi-Organ Dysfunction.

Long Covid is a post-viral syndrome characterized by persistent symptoms targeting multiple organ systems after initial SARS-CoV-2 infection. Current literature suggests that the mechanisms causing Long Covid involve viral persistence, immune dysregulation, systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and metabolic disturbances. By forming reservoirs in the tissues of various organs, SARS-CoV-2 may evade immunological clearances while triggering immune responses and contributing to chronic symptoms through cytokine imbalances, T-cell exhaustion, and systemic inflammation.

Equity in research: a global consensus statement on the urgency of including children in long COVID clinical trials.

https://bit.ly/3RMGmYz

Clinical presentation, diagnostics, and outcomes of infants with congenital and postnatal tuberculosis: a multicentre cohort study of the Paediatric Tuberculosis Network European Trials Group (ptbnet).

Background: According to estimates, globally more than 200,000 pregnant women develop tuberculosis (TB) annually. Despite this, data on perinatal TB remain scarce. This study aimed to describe perinatal TB, comprising congenital (cTB) and postnatal (pTB) TB, in a European setting.

Long COVID clinical evaluation, research and impact on society: a global expert consensus.

Background: Long COVID is a complex, heterogeneous syndrome affecting over four hundred million people globally. There are few recommendations, and no formal training exists for medical professionals to assist with clinical evaluation and management of patients with Long COVID. More research into the pathology, cellular, and molecular mechanisms of Long COVID, and treatments is needed.

Role of nutrient supplements in children with post-COVID condition: a retrospective preliminary observation and narrative review.

Background: Post-COVID Condition (PCC), emerging as a significant long-term consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, affects not only adults but also the pediatric population. Despite ongoing research, the precise pathophysiology of PCC remains elusive. However, several putative mechanisms have been identified, leading to the exploration of various therapeutic strategies.

Neonatal Outcomes of Mothers with Syphilis During Pregnancy: A Retrospective Single Center Experience.

Background/objectives: Syphilis during pregnancy can be easily missed with potential severe outcomes of the newborns, including congenital syphilis (CS). We report the neonatal outcomes of a cohort of mothers with syphilis during pregnancy.

Methods: a retrospective cohort study in a referral university hospital in Rome, enrolling mother/newborn couples followed up from 2016 to 2023 by a multidisciplinary team including infectious disease specialists, obstetricians, microbiologists, neonatologists and pediatricians.

Prevalence and risk factors of anemia in internationally adopted children: a cohort study.

Background: Adoptive children, who have often experienced inadequate healthcare, malnutrition, and exposure to infectious diseases in their countries of origin, are vulnerable to a range of health problems among which anemia is a major one, potentially leading to long term sequelae. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with anemia in a cohort of internationally adopted children evaluated at the Pediatric Clinic of the Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli" in Rome.

Adolescents with Persistent Symptoms Following Acute SARS-CoV-2 Infection (Long-COVID): Symptom Profile, Clustering and Follow-Up Symptom Evaluation.

Background: Few studies have evaluated long-COVID in adolescents.

Methods: Cohort study. Demographics, clinical data, and the presence of 30 symptoms were collected with a modified WHO form.

Distinct pro-inflammatory/pro-angiogenetic signatures distinguish children with Long COVID from controls.

Background: Recent proteomic studies have documented that Long COVID in adults is characterized by a pro-inflammatory signature with thromboinflammation. However, if similar events happen also in children with Long COVID has never been investigated.

Methods: We performed an extensive protein analysis of blood plasma from pediatric patients younger than 19 years of age Long COVID and a control group of children with acute COVID-19, MIS-C, and healthy controls resulted similar for sex distribution and age.

Endocrinologic Dysfunctions and Neuropsychiatric Sequelae in Pediatric Patients With a History of Central Nervous System Infection (ENDLESS): A Prospective Monocentric Study.

Introduction: Central nervous system (CNS) infections represent some of the most critical pediatric health challenges, characterized by high mortality rates and a notable risk of long-term complications. Despite their significance, standardized guidelines for endocrinological follow-up of CNS infection survivors are lacking, leading to reliance on the expertise of individual centers and clinicians.

Materials And Methods: Prospective monocentric observational study conducted at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli in Rome, Italy.

Infectious Risk in Pediatric Emergency Departments in Italy: A Survey by the Italian Society for Pediatric Emergency and Urgent Medicine (SIMEUP) on Available Preventive and Diagnostic Tools.

The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the importance of preparedness in preventing the spread of infectious diseases, especially in Emergency Departments (EDs), where initial patient assessments and triage occur. This study aims to evaluate the current practices and available tools for infection control in Pediatric EDs across Italy, focusing on the differences between various hospital types and regional settings. A cross-sectional national survey was conducted in February 2022, targeting healthcare workers in Pediatric EDs across Italy.

Impact of social determinants of health on the outcomes of Latin American children with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C).

Importance: There is growing understanding that Social Determinants of Health (SDH) impact on the outcomes of different pediatric conditions. We aimed to determine whether SDH affect the severity of MIS-C.

Design: Retrospective cohort study, 2021-2023.