Clinical characteristics of rotavirus enteritis were evaluated by comparison with acute diarrhea of other etiologies. We reviewed the medical records of children (aged 0-12 months) admitted with acute diarrhea in our hospital between January and December 2011. Of the 839 patients, 49.3% had rotavirus diarrhea. The incidence of severe disease was significantly higher for rotavirus diarrhea (65.2%, P < 0.01) than for other types of diarrheal disease.

Chest pain in children is a common referral for emergency examination, although it is believed that the underlying condition is not a serious event. The authors present the case of a 17 years old male with complaints of chest pain with a very recent onset, constant, experienced after physical effort. All medical history and physical examination findings were normal, the poster-anterior chest X-ray revealed a heterogenous opacity in the middle third of the right hemithorax confirmed on computerized tomography as a large solid anterior mediastinal mass with a diameter of 7.5/10.3 cm. By thorax surgery the mass was identified in the anterior and superior mediastinum and total resection was achieved for the tumor mass and thymus. Pathology examination showed poor small and medium epithelial cells proliferation and the tumor was classified as thymoma type 1B. Mediastinum is a rare location of space occupying processes in children. Also, there is a high rate of asymptomatic lesions in this area, considering that half of them are incidentally discovered for various chest X ray examinations. Many causes of chest pain in children are benign; nonetheless, some serious events do exist sometimes and pediatricians must pay attention to identify and manage those cases.

Introduction. Infestation with the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most prevalent helminthic diseases belonging to the soil-transmitted helminths class. Infections are especially affecting children in tropical countries and low and middle-income countries but also may occur in developing countries where sanitation and hygiene are poor. We aim to present a case report to sound the alarm on this widespread pathology. Case presentation. We report the case of a 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome and duodenal stenosis admitted to our hospital with recurrent bouts of pancreatitis secondary to ascariasis. Child is living in poor sanitation conditions. The first episode of pancreatitis was at the age of seven. The abdominal ultrasound shows enlargement and heterogeneity of the head and body of the pancreas, and multiple images of "the strip sign" in the duodenum, suggesting the presence of Ascaris lumbricoides. Live worms were expelled several times. During the next two years, this child was admitted for similar episodes suggesting re-infection with the soil-transmitted helminths, repeated courses of albendazole were administered to the patient and to his close relatives contact. Conclusions. Ascaris lumbricoides infection is rarely a direct cause of mortality, but it contributes to overwhelming morbidity. Periodically repeated de-worming treatment and additional preventive measures such as improvements to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) could ensure high rates of eradication.

Sindromul Münchausen (SM) şi Münchausen prin transfer (SMPT) aparţin afecţiunilor numite „Factitious disorder şi reprezintă tulburări mentale severe care au ca „scop“ situaţia de a deveni pacient respectiv de a „fabrica“ o boală unei alte persoane, aflată în îngrijire, solicitând sau necesitând intervenţie medicală pentru aceasta. Sindromul Münchausen prin transfer nu este rar, dar este dificil de recunoscut şi de confirmat, este o formă de abuz, în special asupra copilului, potenţial letală, frecvent neînţeleasă şi nedepistată. Metodele folosite de adulţii falsificatori pentru a induce o afecţiune falsă copilului sunt variate: otrăvire, rănire, producerea de sângerări, infectare. Acuzele expuse de mamă ca aparţinând copilului nu au drept scop obţinerea de avantaje personale, ci sunt alimentate de dorinţa mamelor de a le fi acordat rolul de „erou“ şi de a fi recunoscute ca fiind persoanele ce acordă cea mai mare grijă copilului lor. Diagnosticul trebuie să includă evaluarea copilului, a părinţilor şi a familiei, unele elemente fiind sugestive: copil cu multiple probleme de sănătate, care nu răspunde la tratament sau reapar sub terapie adecvată, cu investigaţii paraclinice discrepante şi semne şi simptome ce dispar în absenţa părintelui. Afecţiunea falsă a copilului, descrisă intenţionat denaturat de către adult, nu-l afectează negativ pe acesta, dar procesul medical de diagnostic şi tratament poate produce durere şi disconfort. Aspectele etice şi legale asociate SMPT implică şi personalul medical, prin consecinţele actului medical asupra copilului, ca urmare a falsificării realităţii de către părinte. Educaţia pacientului, familiei şi personalului medical reprezintă o etapă foarte importantă în recunoaşterea, prevenirea şi tratamentul SMPT.

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