Background/Objectives: Dengue is one of the leading causes of morbidity in children in endemic regions. Capillary leakage is the pathophysiological hallmark of severe dengue, and ultrasound has established as a sensitive tool for its early detection. However, evidence in the pediatric population remains limited. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of capillary leakage detected by ultrasound and its associations in children with dengue. Methods: Observational/descriptive/cross-sectional/retrospective study conducted in patients between 6 months and 14 years old with confirmed dengue and warning signs or severe dengue, treated at the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia, between July 2019 and June 2020. Ultrasound examinations were performed and interpreted by radiologists following an institutional standardized protocol. Associations with capillary leakage were evaluated using the chi-square test and their respective OR and 95% CI. Results: A total of 132 children were included. Ultrasound capillary leakage was identified in 95.5%, mainly ascites (83.3%), pleural effusion (46.2%), hepatomegaly (40.9%), and vesicular thickening (39.4%). Associated factors were belonging to school/adolescent group (OR = 13.52; 95% CI = 1.41–646.51; p = 0.0031), elevated alanine aminotransferase (OR = 11.06; 95% CI = 1.32–94.82; p = 0.0007), and aminotransferase levels grades C–D (OR = 6.87; 95% CI = 0.82–54.59; p = 0.0110). Thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia were common. Three deaths (0.9%) occurred in the initially confirmed cohort prior to ultrasound-based inclusion, all of whom presented multiple risk factors for capillary leakage. Conclusions: In this cohort ultrasound showed high sensitivity for detecting capillary leakage in pediatric dengue and was associated with school-age/adolescents and liver involvement. Its systematic use could improve early identification of severe forms and optimize clinical management in resource-limited settings.

Background/Objectives: Dengue is one of the leading causes of morbidity in children in endemic regions. Capillary leakage is the pathophysiological hallmark of severe dengue, and ultrasound has established as a sensitive tool for its early detection. However, evidence in pediatric population remains limited. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of capillary leakage detected by ultrasound and its associations in children with dengue. Methods: Observational/descriptive/cross-sectional/retrospective study conducted in patients between 6-months and 14-years-old with confirmed dengue and warning signs or severe dengue, treated at the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia, between July 2019 and June 2020. Ultrasound examinations were performed and interpreted by radiologists following an institutional standardized protocol. Associations with capillary leakage were evaluated using the chi-square test and their respective OR and 95%CI. Results: A total of 132 children were included. Ultrasound capillary leakage was identified in 95.5%, mainly ascites (83.3%), pleural effusion (46.2%), hepatomegaly (40.9%), and vesicular thickening (39.4%). Associated factors were belonging to school/adolescent group (OR=13.52; 95%CI=1.41–646.51; p=0.0031), elevated alanine aminotransferase (OR=11.06; 95%CI=1.32–94.82; p=0.0007), and aminotransferase levels grades C–D (OR=6.87; 95%CI=0.82–54.59; p=0.0110). Thrombocytopenia and hypoalbuminemia were common. Three deaths (0.9%) occurred in the initially confirmed cohort prior to ultrasound-based inclusion, all of whom presented multiple risk factors for capillary leakage. Conclusions: In this cohort ultrasound showed high sensitivity for detecting capillary leakage in pediatric dengue and was associated with school-age/adolescents and liver involvement. Its systematic use could improve early identification of severe forms and optimize clinical management in resource-limited settings.

Introduction: Proctalgia fugax (PF) is an anorectal disorder characterized by sudden, transient episodes of rectal pain. Although it has traditionally been described in adults, its recognition in pediatrics has gained relevance with its inclusion in the Rome V Criteria. Objective: To determine the prevalence of PF according to the Rome IV Criteria for adults modified for pediatrics, in schoolchildren and adolescents attending a Public School in Cali, Colombia. Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in schoolchildren and adolescents aged 10–18 years. Demographic, clinical, and socioaffective variables were collected. Questionnaires were administered to identify disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) (QPGS-IV), quality of life (PedsQL), and anx-iety/depression (PROMIS-Anxiety/PROMIS-Depression). PF was defined using the Rome IV Criteria for adults modified for pediatrics. Statistical analysis included measures of central tendency and the chi-square or Fisher's exact test, with p< 0.05 considered statis-tically significant. Results: A total of 199 schoolchildren and adolescents were included (mean age 14.3 ± 2.0 years; 75.4% adolescents; 53.8% male; 39.7% mixed race). Regarding socioaffective variables, 65.8% had separated or divorced parents; school and social ab-senteeism were present in 43.2% and 34.2%, respectively; impaired quality of life in 53.8%; anxiety in 35.2%; and depression in 37.2%. The prevalence of any DGBI was 28.1%, defecation-related DGBIs 16.6%, and PF 3.0%. None of the variables analyzed showed significant differences for PF, except anxiety (p=0.002). Conclusions: PF was identified in 3.0% of the participants, showing that it can occur in schoolchildren and adolescents, with anxiety being an important factor to consider.