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BACKGROUND: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-associated diseases are a major problem for the swine industry worldwide. In addition to vaccines, the availability of antiviral polymers provides an efficient and safe option for reducing the impact of these diseases. By virtue of their molecular weight and repetitious structure, polymers possess properties not found in small-molecule drugs. In this perspective, we focus on chitosan, a ubiquitous biopolymer, that adjusts the molecular weight and sulfated-mediated functionality can act as an efficient antiviral polymer by mimicking PCV2-cell receptor interactions. METHODS: Sulfated chitosan (Chi-S) polymers of two molecular weights were synthesized and characterized by FTIR, SEM-EDS and elemental analysis. The Chi-S solutions were tested against PCV2 infection in PK15 cells in vitro and antiviral activity was evaluated by measuring the PCV2 DNA copy number, TCID50 and capsid protein expression, upon application of different molecular weights, sulfate functionalization, and concentrations of polymer. In addition, to explore the mode of action of the Chi-S against PCV2 infection, experiments were designed to elucidate whether the antiviral activity of the Chi-S would be influenced by when it was added to the cells, relative to the time and stage of viral infection. RESULTS: Chi-S significantly reduced genomic copies, TCID50 titers and capsid protein of PCV2, showing specific antiviral effects depending on its molecular weight, concentration, and chemical functionalization. Assays designed to explore the mode of action of the low molecular weight Chi-S revealed that it exerted antiviral activity through impeding viral attachment and penetration into cells. CONCLUSIONS: These findings help better understanding the interactions of PCV2 and porcine cells and reinforce the idea that sulfated polymers, such as Chi-S, represent a promising candidates for use in antiviral therapies against PCV2-associated diseases. Further studies in swine are warranted.

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Hypoalimentation is an important cause of hypernatremic dehydration in neonates; however, extreme values of plasma sodium make it necessary to investigate the differential diagnosis. We report the case of a 20-day-old newborn who was admitted with severe hypernatremic dehydration, with plasma sodium of 213 mEq/L and oliguric acute renal failure. The patient was treated with intravenous fluids for correction of dehydration and peritoneal dialysis for adequate sodium correction. During the etiological study, a 10-fold increase in the concentration of sodium in breast milk was detected. Peritoneal dialysis was an effective therapy in the management of the extreme hypernatremia with sodium correction within the recommended rate. At the 1-year follow-up appointment, the child had normal renal function, normal for age psychomotor development, and neurological physical was unremarkable. In conclusion, we report a case of an unusual extreme hypernatremia with discussion of the underlying pathophysiology and, more importantly, the effective treatment with a mixed approach with intravenous fluids and peritoneal dialysis.

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Resumen La peritonitis tuberculosa es una entidad infrecuente en la población pediátrica. Es una forma poco común de tuberculosis extrapulmonar y representa un muy bajo porcentaje de todos los casos de tuberculosis. Sus síntomas son inespecíficos, manifestándose usualmente con ascitis, dolor abdominal, fiebre y baja de peso. El retraso en su diagnóstico y tratamiento, dada su forma de presentación, puede incrementar su morbimortalidad. Se comunica el caso de una adolescente de 14 años, previamente sana, quien se presentó con fiebre y ascitis. La laparoscopia demostró múltiples nódulos en la cavidad abdominal compatibles con una tuberculosis peritoneal, la cual fue posteriormente confirmada por cultivo y biología molecular. La paciente completó su tratamiento antituberculoso recuperándose en forma satisfactoria.

Tuberculous peritonitis is an uncommon entity in the infant population. It is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and represents a very low percentage of all cases of tuberculosis. Its symptoms are nonspecific and usually manifesting with ascites, abdominal pain, fever and low weight. The delay in its diagnosis and treatment, originated by its form of presentation, can cause an increase in its morbidity and mortality. We report the case of a 14-year-old patient without concomitant disease or pulmonary tuberculosis, who presented with ascites and fever. Laparoscopy showed multiple nodules in the abdominal cavity compatible with peritoneal tuberculosis, which was subsequently confirmed by culture and molecular test. The patient completed her antituberculosis treatment recovering satisfactorily.

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Tuberculous peritonitis is an uncommon entity in the infant population. It is an uncommon form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and represents a very low percentage of all cases of tuberculosis. Its symptoms are nonspecific and usually manifesting with ascites, abdominal pain, fever and low weight. The delay in its diagnosis and treatment, originated by its form of presentation, can cause an increase in its morbidity and mortality. We report the case of a 14-year-old patient without concomitant disease or pulmonary tuberculosis, who presented with ascites and fever. Laparoscopy showed multiple nodules in the abdominal cavity compatible with peritoneal tuberculosis, which was subsequently confirmed by culture and molecular test. The patient completed her antituberculosis treatment recovering satisfactorily.

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La fiebre es un signo frecuente en el niño críticamente enfermo durante su estadía en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, y debe ser entendida como una respuesta biológica evolutiva, de carácter adaptativo normal del huésped al estrés fisiológico. Es el resultado de una compleja respuesta a estímulos pirogénicos, resultando en la generación de citocinas y prostaglandinas. Los mecanismos moleculares implicados en el inicio de la fiebre aún no están totalmente precisados, originando dificultades en el conocimiento de los procesos fisiopatológicos exactos involucrados y, por ende, necesarios para elaborar una adecuada y específica estrategia terapéutica. Estudios experimentales concluyen que la fiebre y la inflamación son benéficas para el huésped; no obstante, la terapia antipirética es comúnmente empleada y estudios en humanos sobre la presencia de fiebre y su tratamiento para el pronóstico del paciente crítico con sepsis no son concluyentes. Para el médico intensivista es esencial disponer de información actualizada referente a la fisiología de la termorregulación humana, el efecto de la temperatura en rango febril sobre múltiples procesos biológicos involucrados en la defensa del huésped y las intervenciones termorreguladoras en el paciente con sepsis.Fever is a very common sign to observe in critically ill children during their intensive care unit stay. This should be understood as an evolutionary biological response, of normal adaptive character, from the host to the physiological stress. It is the result of a complex response to pyrogenic stimuli, resulting in the generation of cytokines and prostaglandins. The molecular mechanisms involved in the onset of fever are not yet fully specified, thus creating difficulties in the knowledge of the exact pathophysiological processes involved and, therefore, necessary to elaborate an adequate and specific therapeutic strategy. Experimental studies conclude that fever and inflammation are beneficial to the host. However, antipyretic therapy is commonly employed and human studies on the presence of fever and its treatment for the prognosis of critically ill septic patients are inconclusive. Up-to-date information on the physiology of human thermoregulation, the effect of temperature on febrile range over multiple biological processes involved in host defense, and thermoregulatory interventions in the septic patient are essential to know by the critical care physician.

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Resumen La fiebre es un signo frecuente en el niño críticamente enfermo durante su estadía en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, y debe ser entendida como una respuesta biológica evolutiva, de carácter adaptativo normal del huésped al estrés fisiológico. Es el resultado de una compleja respuesta a estímulos pirogénicos, resultando en la generación de citocinas y prostaglandinas. Los mecanismos moleculares implicados en el inicio de la fiebre aún no están totalmente precisados, originando dificultades en el conocimiento de los procesos fisiopatológicos exactos involucrados y, por ende, necesarios para elaborar una adecuada y específica estrategia terapéutica. Estudios experimentales concluyen que la fiebre y la inflamación son benéficas para el huésped; no obstante, la terapia antipirética es comúnmente empleada y estudios en humanos sobre la presencia de fiebre y su tratamiento para el pronóstico del paciente crítico con sepsis no son concluyentes. Para el médico intensivista es esencial disponer de información actualizada referente a la fisiología de la termorregulación humana, el efecto de la temperatura en rango febril sobre múltiples procesos biológicos involucrados en la defensa del huésped y las intervenciones termorreguladoras en el paciente con sepsis.

Abstract Fever is a very common sign to observe in critically ill children during their intensive care unit stay. This should be understood as an evolutionary biological response, of normal adaptive character, from the host to the physiological stress. It is the result of a complex response to pyrogenic stimuli, resulting in the generation of cytokines and prostaglandins. The molecular mechanisms involved in the onset of fever are not yet fully specified, thus creating difficulties in the knowledge of the exact pathophysiological processes involved and, therefore, necessary to elaborate an adequate and specific therapeutic strategy. Experimental studies conclude that fever and inflammation are beneficial to the host. However, antipyretic therapy is commonly employed and human studies on the presence of fever and its treatment for the prognosis of critically ill septic patients are inconclusive. Up-to-date information on the physiology of human thermoregulation, the effect of temperature on febrile range over multiple biological processes involved in host defense, and thermoregulatory interventions in the septic patient are essential to know by the critical care physician.

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Resumen: La monitorización respiratoria representa un importante rol en el cuidado del niño con falla respiratoria aguda. Por tanto, su apropiado uso y correcta interpretación (reconociendo qué señales y variables deben ser priorizadas) deberían ayudar a un mejor entendimiento de la fisiopatología de la enfermedad y de los efectos de las intervenciones terapéuticas. Asimismo, la monitorización del paciente ventilado permite, entre otras determinaciones, evaluar diversos parámetros de la mecánica respiratoria, conocer el estado de los diferentes componentes del sistema respiratorio y guiar los ajustes de la terapia ventilatoria. En esta actualización se describe la utilidad de diversas técnicas de monitorización respiratoria (incluyendo métodos convencionales y otros más recientes), se definen conceptos básicos de mecánica ventilatoria, su interpretación y cómo el adecuado análisis de la información puede ocasionar un impacto en el manejo clínico del paciente.

Abstract: Respiratory monitoring plays an important role in the care of children with acute respiratory failure. Therefore, its proper use and correct interpretation (recognizing which signals and variables should be prioritized) should help to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and the effects of therapeutic interventions. In addition, ventilated patient monitoring, among other determinations, allows to evaluate various parameters of respiratory mechanics, know the status of the different components of the respiratory system and guide the adjustments of ventilatory therapy. In this update, the usefulness of several techniques of respiratory monitoring including conventional respiratory monitoring and more recent methods are described. Moreover, basic concepts of mechanical ventilation, their interpretation and how the appropriate analysis of the information obtained can cause an impact on the clinical management of the patient are defined.

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Respiratory monitoring plays an important role in the care of children with acute respiratory failure. Therefore, its proper use and correct interpretation (recognizing which signals and variables should be prioritized) should help to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease and the effects of therapeutic interventions. In addition, ventilated patient monitoring, among other determinations, allows to evaluate various parameters of respiratory mechanics, know the status of the different components of the respiratory system and guide the adjustments of ventilatory therapy. In this update, the usefulness of several techniques of respiratory monitoring including conventional respiratory monitoring and more recent methods are described. Moreover, basic concepts of mechanical ventilation, their interpretation and how the appropriate analysis of the information obtained can cause an impact on the clinical management of the patient are defined.

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In this review, we collect the fundamental concepts of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in children, particularly in acute respiratory failure. MV is a common practice in the ICU and must be understood as a therapeutic intervention to replace the work of breathing while restores the balance between ventilatory demand and the patient's ability to sustain it. It is essential for the clinician to recognize that the goal of mechanical ventilatory support is not to normalize the patient's blood gases but providing a reasonable gas exchange; the benefts are obtained if the safety thresholds are not exceeded. Thus, this strategy has become the only tool available to limit the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

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Heat stroke is a medical emergency characterized primarily by an elevated core temperature associated with a systemic inflammatory response, which causes multiple organ dysfunction in which encephalopathy predominates. If it is not early treated has high mortality. The Prader-Willi syndrome is a multisystem genetic disorder secondary to an abnormality in long arm chromosome 15 (15q11-q13), characterized by neonatal central hypotonia, developmental delay, hypogonadism, hyperphagia and obesity. These patients are susceptible to developing thermoregulatory problems. We report the case of a 5-month-old infant, in whom a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome was established in the course of a febrile episode without known focus, who developed multiorganic failure and rhabdomyolysis secondary to hyperthermia.

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En esta revisión se recogen los conceptos fundamentales del uso de la ventilación mecánica (VM) invasiva, principalmente en la insufciencia respiratoria aguda. La VM es una práctica común en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y debe ser entendida como una terapia de sostén destinada a sustituir el trabajo respiratorio mientras se restablece el balance entre la demanda ventilatoria y la capacidad del paciente para sostenerla. Se debe reconocer que el objetivo de la VM no es la normalización de los gases sanguíneos, sino obtener un intercambio gaseoso razonable, sin sobrepasar los umbrales de seguridad, lo que permite limitar el daño inducido por su uso.

In this review, we collect the fundamental concepts of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in children, particularly in acute respiratory failure. MV is a common practice in the ICU and must be understood as a therapeutic intervention to replace the work of breathing while restores the balance between ventilatory demand and the patient's ability to sustain it. It is essential for the clinician to recognize that the goal of mechanical ventilatory support is not to normalize the patient's blood gases but providing a reasonable gas exchange; the benefts are obtained if the safety thresholds are not exceeded. Thus, this strategy has become the only tool available to limit the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

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El golpe de calor es una emergencia médica y se debe entender como una forma de hipertermia asociada a una respuesta inflamatoria sistémica, que ocasiona falla multiorgánica y en la cual la disfunción del sistema nervioso central es predominante. Si no es tratada precozmente, puede ocasionar una alta mortalidad. El síndrome de Prader-Willi es un trastorno genético multisistémico secundario a una anormalidad en el brazo largo del cromosoma 15 (15q11-q13), caracterizado por hipotonía central neonatal, retraso del desarrollo psicomotor, hipogonadismo, hiperfagia y obesidad. Estos pacientes son proclives a presentar problemas de termorregulación. Se comunica el caso de una lactante de 5 meses en quien se estableció el diagnóstico de síndrome de Prader-Willi en el curso de un episodio febril sin foco conocido, que evolucionó con falla multiorgánica y rabdomiólisis secundaria a la hipertermia.

Heat stroke is a medical emergency characterized primarily by an elevated core temperature associated with a systemic inflammatory response, which causes multiple organ dysfunction in which encephalopathy predominates. If it is not early treated has high mortality. The Prader-Willi syndrome is a multisystem genetic disorder secondary to an abnormality in long arm chromosome 15 (15q11-q13), characterized by neonatal central hypotonia, developmental delay, hypogonadism, hyperphagia and obesity. These patients are susceptible to developing thermoregulatory problems. We report the case of a 5-month-old infant, in whom a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome was established in the course of a febrile episode without known focus, who developed multiorganic failure and rhabdomyolysis secondary to hyperthermia.

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En esta revisión se recogen los conceptos fundamentales del uso de la ventilación mecánica (VM) invasiva, principalmente en la insufciencia respiratoria aguda. La VM es una práctica común en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y debe ser entendida como una terapia de sostén destinada a sustituir el trabajo respiratorio mientras se restablece el balance entre la demanda ventilatoria y la capacidad del paciente para sostenerla. Se debe reconocer que el objetivo de la VM no es la normalización de los gases sanguíneos, sino obtener un intercambio gaseoso razonable, sin sobrepasar los umbrales de seguridad, lo que permite limitar el daño inducido por su uso.(AU)

In this review, we collect the fundamental concepts of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in children, particularly in acute respiratory failure. MV is a common practice in the ICU and must be understood as a therapeutic intervention to replace the work of breathing while restores the balance between ventilatory demand and the patients ability to sustain it. It is essential for the clinician to recognize that the goal of mechanical ventilatory support is not to normalize the patients blood gases but providing a reasonable gas exchange; the benefts are obtained if the safety thresholds are not exceeded. Thus, this strategy has become the only tool available to limit the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).(AU)

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El golpe de calor es una emergencia médica y se debe entender como una forma de hipertermia asociada a una respuesta inflamatoria sistémica, que ocasiona falla multiorgánica y en la cual la disfunción del sistema nervioso central es predominante. Si no es tratada precozmente, puede ocasionar una alta mortalidad. El síndrome de Prader-Willi es un trastorno genético multisistémico secundario a una anormalidad en el brazo largo del cromosoma 15 (15q11-q13), caracterizado por hipotonía central neonatal, retraso del desarrollo psicomotor, hipogonadismo, hiperfagia y obesidad. Estos pacientes son proclives a presentar problemas de termorregulación. Se comunica el caso de una lactante de 5 meses en quien se estableció el diagnóstico de síndrome de Prader-Willi en el curso de un episodio febril sin foco conocido, que evolucionó con falla multiorgánica y rabdomiólisis secundaria a la hipertermia.(AU)

Heat stroke is a medical emergency characterized primarily by an elevated core temperature associated with a systemic inflammatory response, which causes multiple organ dysfunction in which encephalopathy predominates. If it is not early treated has high mortality. The Prader-Willi syndrome is a multisystem genetic disorder secondary to an abnormality in long arm chromosome 15 (15q11-q13), characterized by neonatal central hypotonia, developmental delay, hypogonadism, hyperphagia and obesity. These patients are susceptible to developing thermoregulatory problems. We report the case of a 5-month-old infant, in whom a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome was established in the course of a febrile episode without known focus, who developed multiorganic failure and rhabdomyolysis secondary to hyperthermia.(AU)

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Si bien los principios básicos para el diagnóstico y la monitorización hemodinámica como los pilares terapéuticos del niño con choque séptico se mantienen en el tiempo, es innegable que en las últimas décadas se han incorporado nuevos y trascendentes conceptos, por lo que es importante que el médico tratante de las unidades de cuidados intensivos tenga conocimiento de ellos a cabalidad. La monitorización hemodinámica es una herramienta que no solamente permite detectar el origen de la inestabilidad hemodinámica sino también guiar el tratamiento y evaluar su efectividad. La resucitación con fluidos debe ser el primer paso en la reanimación del paciente hemodinámicamente inestable. Sin embargo, la determinación clínica del volumen intravascular puede ser, en ocasiones, difícil de establecer en el paciente crítico. Las presiones de llenado cardiaco no son capaces de predecir la respuesta a fluidos. Los indicadores dinámicos de respuesta a fluidos evalúan el cambio en el volumen eyectivo durante la ventilación mecánica; de este modo, se valora la curva de Frank-Starling del paciente. Mediante la prueba de fluido es posible evaluar el grado de la reserva de precarga que se puede utilizar para aumentar el volumen eyectivo. En esta revisión se actualiza la información disponible sobre la monitorización hemodinámica básica y funcional.

In recent decades, new and important concepts have emerged for the diagnosis and management of the pediatric patient with septic shock, although the basic principles have remained similar over time. Attending physicians in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) must be fully aware of these concepts in order to improve patient care in the critical care unit. Hemodynamic monitoring is a tool that not only allows detection of the source of hemodynamic instability but also guides treatment and assesses its effectiveness. Fluid loading is considered the first step in the resuscitation of hemodynamically unstable patients. Nevertheless, clinical determination of the intravascular volume can be extremely difficult in a critically ill patient. Studies performed have demonstrated that cardiac filling pressures are unable to predict fluid responsiveness. Dynamic tests of volume responsiveness use the change in stroke volume during mechanical ventilation assessing the patients' Frank-Starling curve. Through fluid challenge the clinician can assess whether the patient has a preload reserve that can be used to increase the stroke volume. In this review we updated the available information on basic and functional hemodynamic monitoring.

RESUMO

In this review, we collect the fundamental concepts of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) in children, particularly in acute respiratory failure. MV is a common practice in the ICU and must be understood as a therapeutic intervention to replace the work of breathing while restores the balance between ventilatory demand and the patients ability to sustain it. It is essential for the clinician to recognize that the goal of mechanical ventilatory support is not to normalize the patients blood gases but providing a reasonable gas exchange; the benefts are obtained if the safety thresholds are not exceeded. Thus, this strategy has become the only tool available to limit the development of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI).

Assuntos

RESUMO

Heat stroke is a medical emergency characterized primarily by an elevated core temperature associated with a systemic inflammatory response, which causes multiple organ dysfunction in which encephalopathy predominates. If it is not early treated has high mortality. The Prader-Willi syndrome is a multisystem genetic disorder secondary to an abnormality in long arm chromosome 15 (15q11-q13), characterized by neonatal central hypotonia, developmental delay, hypogonadism, hyperphagia and obesity. These patients are susceptible to developing thermoregulatory problems. We report the case of a 5-month-old infant, in whom a diagnosis of Prader-Willi syndrome was established in the course of a febrile episode without known focus, who developed multiorganic failure and rhabdomyolysis secondary to hyperthermia.

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Pertussis is a contagious disease that has reappeared in the recent years as a public health problem in our country. The clinical presentation has changed especially in the main risk group, children under one year old, evolving in occasions to a highly lethal course called malignant or severe Pertussis. The present review discusses the epidemiology and the mechanisms of pathogenicity, and also describes the risk factors, clinical features and pathophysiology of this particular form. The current evidence and effectiveness of new treatments are described, and a treatment algorithm is proposed.

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Clinical spectrum of congenital syphilis ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant sepsis. Treponema pallidum is acquired crossing the placenta from the mother to the fetus during maternal spirochetemia or through direct contact of the child with an infected lesion at delivery. We report a 27 days-old previously healthy girl diagnosed with congenital syphilis. Her mother had an unremarkable previous history, adequate obstetric care and negative prenatal screening test for syphilis. The patient was brought to the ER due to development of skin lesions and fever in the last 24 h. She was admitted to pediatric ICU lethargic and poorly responsive, with hepa-tosplenomegaly and perioral, palmoplantar erythematous desquamative scaly lesions. Laboratory data revealed anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and C-reactive protein of 183 mg/l. Soon after admission she developed septic shock with leukocytosis up to 45,800/mm3 and exacerbation of thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia and metabolic acidosis. Congenital syphilis was diagnosed at the second day of admission with VDRL titers of 1:128 in serum and 1:8 in cerebrospinal fluid. Maternal serum VDRL was positive with titers of 1:32. The patient was treated with penicillin for three weeks with adequate clinical and laboratory response. Congenital syphilis is a life threating infection, but cannot always be diagnosed at birth. Health care workers must be aware of the difficulties in obtaining a definitive diagnosis and must have a high index of suspicion, considering the possible errors of prenatal serology and the diverse possible clinical presentations, including neonatal sepsis during the first month of life.

El espectro clínico de la sífilis congénita varía desde la infección asintomática a una sepsis fulminante. Comunicamos el caso de un recién nacido de sexo femenino, de 27 días de edad, sano, sin antecedentes maternos, con adecuado control obstétrico y screening prenatal negativo. Consultó por fiebre y lesiones cutáneas de 24 h de evolución. Ingresó a unidad de cuidados intensivos con compromiso sensorial, hiporeactividad, con lesiones descamativas eritematosas peribucales, palmo-plantares y hepato-esplenomegalia. En los exámenes de laboratorio destacó la presencia de anemia, leucocitosis, trombo-citopenia y PCR elevada. Evolucionó con shock séptico, hipoalbuminemia y acidosis metabólica. Se diagnosticó sífilis congénita por VDRL con títulos 1:128 y VDRL en LCR con títulos 1:8; el VDRL materno fue 1:32. Completó terapia con penicilina G i.v. por tres semanas con adecuada respuesta clínica y de laboratorio. La sífilis congénita puede no ser diagnosticada al momento del nacimiento, por ende se debe tener un alto índice de sospecha, considerando los posibles errores en la serología prenatal y las variadas formas de presentación clínica, incluida la sepsis neonatal, durante el primer mes de vida.

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Clinical spectrum of congenital syphilis ranges from asymptomatic infection to fulminant sepsis. Treponema pallidum is acquired crossing the placenta from the mother to the fetus during maternal spirochetemia or through direct contact of the child with an infected lesion at delivery. We report a 27 days-old previously healthy girl diagnosed with congenital syphilis. Her mother had an unremarkable previous history, adequate obstetric care and negative prenatal screening test for syphilis. The patient was brought to the ER due to development of skin lesions and fever in the last 24 h. She was admitted to pediatric ICU lethargic and poorly responsive, with hepa-tosplenomegaly and perioral, palmoplantar erythematous desquamative scaly lesions. Laboratory data revealed anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and C-reactive protein of 183 mg/l. Soon after admission she developed septic shock with leukocytosis up to 45,800/mm3 and exacerbation of thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia and metabolic acidosis. Congenital syphilis was diagnosed at the second day of admission with VDRL titers of 1:128 in serum and 1:8 in cerebrospinal fluid. Maternal serum VDRL was positive with titers of 1:32. The patient was treated with penicillin for three weeks with adequate clinical and laboratory response. Congenital syphilis is a life threatening infection, but cannot always be diagnosed at birth. Health care workers must be aware of the difficulties in obtaining a definitive diagnosis and must have a high index of suspicion, considering the possible errors of prenatal serology and the diverse possible clinical presentations, including neonatal sepsis during the first month of life.

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