Background: Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is the most common vasculitis of childhood and affects the small blood vessels. Pulmonary involvement is a rare complication of HSP and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is the most frequent clinical presentation. Little is known about the real incidence of lung involvement during HSP in the pediatric age and about its diagnosis, management and outcome.Methods: In order to discuss the main clinical findings and the diagnosis and management of lung involvement in children with HSP, we performed a review of the literature of the last 40 years.Results: We identified 23 pediatric cases of HSP with lung involvement. DAH was the most frequent clinical presentation of the disease. Although it can be identified by chest x-ray (CXR), bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is the gold standard for diagnosis. Pulse methylprednisolone is the first-line of therapy in children with DAH. An immunosuppressive regimen consisting of cyclophosphamide or azathioprine plus corticosteroids is required when respiratory failure occurs. Four of the twenty-three patients died, while 18 children had a resolution of the pulmonary involvement.Conclusions: DAH is a life-threatening complication of HSP. Prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential in order to achieve the best outcome.

Background: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is one of the major virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) that might be associated with invasive life-threating infections. A prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential in achieving the best outcome and avoiding serious sequelae. We describe a case of severe invasive PVL-SA infection in an infant. A literature review starting from 2010 was also performed in order to discuss clinical presentations, radiological findings, treatment and outcome. Case presentation: This is a case of a 6-month-old boy who rapidly developed high fever and poor general condition. He was diagnosed as having multiple muscular abscesses, multiple foci of osteomyelitis and bloodstream infections caused by Panton-Valentine leukocidin Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. He received intravenous antibiotics and surgical drainage of the abscess with progressive recovery. Conclusion: Our report highlights the importance of improving awareness of this severe infection, as a prompt diagnosis and adequate manage is essential in order to save life and to prevent serious complications.

Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitidis; 13 serogroups have been identified and differentiated from each other through their capsular polysaccharide. Serotypes A, B, C, W, X, and Y are responsible for nearly all infections worldwide. The most common clinical manifestations are meningitis and invasive meningococcal disease, both characterized by high mortality and long-term sequelae. The infection rate is higher in children younger than 1 year and in adolescents, who are frequently asymptomatic carriers. Vaccination is the most effective method of preventing infection and transmission. Currently, both monovalent meningococcal vaccines (against A, B, and C serotypes) and quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines (against serogroups ACYW) are available and recommended according to local epidemiology. The purpose of this article is to describe the meningococcal vaccines and to identify instruments that are useful for reducing transmission and implementing the vaccination coverage. This aim could be reached by switching from the monovalent to the quadrivalent vaccine in the first year of life, increasing vaccine promotion against ACYW serotypes among adolescents, and extending the free offer of the anti-meningococcal B vaccine to teens, co-administering it with others proposed in the same age group. Greater awareness of the severity of the disease and increased health education through web and social networks could represent the best strategies for promoting adhesion and active participation in the vaccination campaign. Finally, the development of a licensed universal meningococcal vaccine should be another important objective.

Septic arthritis is an inflammatory process usually generated by a bacterial infection. The knee is one of the most frequently involved joints. The etiology varies depending on age, and hematogenous spread remains the primary cause in children. Herein, we report a case of a previously healthy three-year-old female who was referred to our institution for acute swelling of her right knee. After a clinical and radiological diagnosis of septic arthritis, an empirical treatment with a combination of cefotaxime and clindamycin was initiated. The isolation of a multi-sensitive Streptococcus pyogenes strain from the joint’s effusion prompted the discontinuation of clindamycin and the usage of cefotaxime alone. One week later, an ultrasound was executed due to worsening in the patient’s clinical conditions, and an organized corpuscular intra-articular effusion with diffuse synovial thickening was revealed. Cefotaxime was therefore replaced with clindamycin, which improved the symptoms. Despite the antibiotic sensitivity test having revealed a microorganism with sensitivity to both cephalosporin and clindamycin, clinical resistance to cefotaxime was encountered and a shift in the antimicrobial treatment was necessary to ensure a full recovery. This case study confirms that an antibiotic regimen based solely on a susceptibility test may be ineffective for such cases.