Scrub typhus usually presents as acute undifferentiated fever. This cross-sectional study included adult patients presenting with acute undifferentiated fever defined as any febrile illness for ≤ 14 days without evidence of localized infection. Scrub typhus cases were defined by an antibody titer of a ≥ fourfold increase in paired sera, a ≥ 1:160 in a single serum using indirect immunofluorescence assay, or a positive result of the immunochromatographic test. Multiple regression analysis identified predictors associated with scrub typhus to develop a prediction rule. Of 250 cases with known etiology of acute undifferentiated fever, influenza (28.0%), hepatitis A (25.2%), and scrub typhus (16.4%) were major causes. A prediction rule for identifying suspected cases of scrub typhus consisted of age ≥ 65 years (two points), recent fieldwork/outdoor activities (one point), onset of illness during an outbreak period (two points), myalgia (one point), and eschar (two points). The c statistic was 0.977 (95% confidence interval = 0.960–0.994). At a cutoff value ≥ 4, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.7% (79.0–98.1%) and 90.9% (86.0–94.3%), respectively. Scrub typhus, the third leading cause of acute undifferentiated fever in our region, can be identified early using the prediction rule.

Chon SB, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2011 Nov;26(11):1446-1453. http://dx.doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2011.26.11.1446

Objectives: The optimum chest compression site (P_optimum) in children is debated: European Resuscitation Council recommends one finger breadth above the xiphisternal joint, whereas American Heart Association proposes the lower sternal half. Using a coordinate system imposed on CT, we aimed to determine the pediatric P_optimum to maximize stroke volume, the key point for successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation, while minimizing hepatic injury. Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Setting: University hospital. Patients: Children 1–15 years old who underwent chest CT. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: We defined zero point (0, 0) as the center of the xiphisternal joint designating leftward and upward directions of the patients as positive on each axis. P_optimum (x_max. left ventricle, y_max. left ventricle) was defined as the center of the maximum diameter of the left ventricle, whereas P_aorta (x_aorta, y_aorta) as that of the aortic annulus. To compress the left ventricle exclusively, y_max. left ventricle should range above the y coordinate of hepatic dome (y_liver_dome) and below y_aorta. Data were presented as median (interquartile range) and compared among age groups 1.0–5.0, 5.1–10.0, and 10.1–15.0 years using Kruskal-Wallis test. For universal application regardless of age, y coordinates were converted into relative ones with unit of sternal top: 1 unit of sternal top was the y coordinate of the sternal top. A total of 163 patients were enrolled, median age 8.8 year (4.2–14.3 yr). Among age groups, no significant difference was observed in y_max. left ventricle, relative y_max. left ventricle, y_aorta, and y_liver_dome: 1.0 cm (0.1–1.9 cm), 0.10 unit of sternal top (0.01–0.18 unit of sternal top), 0.39 unit of sternal top (0.30–0.47 unit of sternal top), and –0.14 unit of sternal top (–0.25 to –0.03 unit of sternal top), respectively. The probability to compress the left ventricle exclusively was greater than or equal to 96% when placing hand at 0.05–0.20 unit of sternal top. Subgroup analysis demonstrated the following regression equation: x_max. left ventricle (mm) = 0.173 × (height in cm) + 13 (n = 106; p < 0.001; R ² = 0.278). Conclusions: Theoretically, pediatric P_optimum is located 1 cm (or 0.1 unit of sternal top) above the xiphisternal joint.