Aim: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C) may cause shock and even death in children. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical features, laboratory characteristics and outcome of children diagnosed with MIS‐C in 25 different hospitals in Turkey.Methods: The retrospective study was conducted between 8 April and 28 October 2020 in 25 different hospitals from 17 cities. Data were collected from patients' medical records using a standardised form. Clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes according to different age groups, gender and body mass index percentiles were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results: The study comprised 101 patients, median age 7 years (interquartile range (IQR) 4.6–9.3); 51 (50.5%) were boys. Reverse‐transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was positive in 21/100 (21%) patients; 62/83 (74.6%) patients had positive serology for SARS‐CoV‐2. The predominant complaints were fever (100%), fatigue (n = 90, 89.1%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (n = 81, 80.2%). Serum C‐reactive protein (in 101 patients, median 165 mg/L; range 112–228), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (73/84, median 53 mm/s; IQR 30–84) and procalcitonin levels (86/89, median 5 μg/L; IQR 0.58–20.2) were elevated. Thirty‐eight patients (37.6%) required admission to intensive care. Kawasaki disease (KD) was diagnosed in 70 (69.3%) patients, 40 of whom had classical KD. Most patients were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 92, 91%) and glucocorticoids (n = 59, 58.4%). Seven patients (6.9%) died.Conclusion: The clinical spectrum of MIS‐C is broad, but clinicians should consider MIS‐C in the differential diagnosis when persistent fever, fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms are prominent. Most patients diagnosed with MIS‐C were previously healthy. Immunomodulatory treatment and supportive intensive care are important in the management of cases with MIS‐C. Glucocorticoids and intravenous immunoglobulins are the most common immunomodulatory treatment options for MIS‐C. Prompt diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential for optimal management.

The frequency of bacterial factors causing central nervous system infections has decreased as a result of the development of our national immunization program. In this study, it is aimed to obtain the data of our local surveillance by defining the viral etiology in cases diagnosed with meningoencephalitis for 1 year. Previously healhty 186 children, who applied with findings suggesting viral meningoencephalitis to 8 different tertiary health centers between August 2018 and August 2019, in Istanbul, were included. The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction. The M:F ratio was 1.24 in the patient group, whose age ranged from 1 to 216 months (mean 40.2 ± 48.7). Viral factor was detected in 26.8%. Enterovirus was the most common agent (24%) and followed by Adenovirus (22%) and HHV type 6 (22%). In the rest of the samples revealed HHV type 7 (10%), EBV (6%), CMV (6%), HSV type 1 (6%), Parvovirus (4%) and VZV (2%). The most common symptoms were fever (79%) and convulsions (45.7%). Antibiotherapy and antiviral therapy was started 48.6% and 4% respectively. Mortality and sequela rate resulted 0.53% and 3.7%, respectively. This highlights the importance of monitoring trends in encephalitis in Turkey with aview to improving pathogen diagnosis for encephalitis and rapidly identifying novel emerging encephalitis-causing pathogens that demand public health action especially in national immunisation programme.

Health care workers (HCWs) are disproportionately exposed to infectious diseases and play a role in nosocomial transmission, making them a key demographic for vaccination. HCW vaccination rates are...

Although COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease-2019) is observed to be milder in children, it has been observed that the symptoms continue for a long time in many people after the acute period of the disease, especially the multisystemic inflammatory syndrome (MISC) that developed after COVID-19 with the progression of the pandemic. Although it was first defined by different names such as long COVID and post COVID in adults, it has been observed in studies that similar complaints such as cough, fatigue and difficulty in concentrating continue for a long time in children, just as in adults. In our study, we aimed to evaluate the status of long COVID in childhood. Our study included patients aged from one month to 18 years with moderate and severe symptoms who were hospitalized and discharged for SARS-CoV-2 infection in İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine between November 1, 2020 and November 1, 2021. A questionnaire form was created to learn about the complaints of the patients and their ongoing complaints. The patients/parents were called by phone and their complaints were recorded in the questionnaire. The patients were classified according to the definitions in the guidelines published by NICE, RCGP and SIGN. In total, 116 patients were included; 57.8% (n= 64) male, 42.5% (n= 49) female; 53.4% (n= 62) 0-9, 46.6% (n= 54) 10-18 years old. Comorbid conditions were found in 64 (55.2%) patients. The mean follow-up period was 5.90 ± 3.61 [min-max (1-12)] months; longest symptom durations: decrease in effort loss/fatigue 19.25 ± 74.56 (0-365) days, concentration difficulties 11.12 ± 49.75 (0-365) days, fatigue 9.61 ± 34.96 (0-365) days and cough were 8.34 ± 35.37 (0-365) days. The percentage of the patients who met the definition of subacute/ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 was 37.9% (n= 44). The most common symptoms were the decrease of effort capacity/fatigue 12.1% (n= 14) and the concentration difficulties 10.3% (n= 12) in subacute symptomatic patients. The percentage of patients matching the definition of chronic/post COVID-19 was 11.2% (n= 13). In the first year of the disease, ongoing complaints such as fatigue and concentration difficulties were observed in eight patients. The rate of concentration difficulties in the 10-18 age group was statistically significantly higher than the 0-9 age group (p= 0.037). In terms of other symptoms, no significant difference was found according to age, gender and concomitant disease status. Out of these, one patient was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus during the acute illness, and two patients were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis after COVID-19. A statistically significant difference was found in the rates of concentration disorders according to age groups with subacute/ongoing symptoms. Although only the hospitalized patients were included, fatigue and difficulty in concentration were among the most common ongoing symptoms in our study, similar to the literature, and they were seen to be more common in older children. It is important both for early diagnosis and awareness to follow up children with COVID-19 in terms of symptoms, not only in terms of prolonged symptoms but also in terms of new diseases.

Objective: In the early stages of any epidemic caused by new emerging pathogens healthcare personnel is subject to a great risk. Pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, proved to be no exception. Many healthcare workers died in the early stages of pandemic due to inadequate precautions and insufficient protection. It is essential to protect and maintain the safety of healthcare personnel for the confinement of pandemic as well as continuity of qualified healthcare services which is already under strain. Educating healthcare personnel on appropiate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is as essential as procuring them. Material and Methods: A survey is conducted on 4927 healthcare personnel working solely with pediatric patients from 32 different centers. Education given on PPE usage were questioned and analyzed depending on age, sex, occupation and region. Results: Among four thousand nine hundred twelve healthcare personnel from 32 different centers 91% (n= 4457) received education on PPE usage. Of those who received education only 36% was given both theoretical and applied education. Although there was no differences among different occupation groups, receiving education depended on regions. Conclusion: It is essential to educate healthcare personnel appropiately nationwidely for the continuity of qualified healthcare services during the pandemic.