Human bocavirus (HBOV) has been reported as a worldwide distributed respiratory pathogen. It has also been associated with encephalitis recently by detection of the virus in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients presented with encephalitis. This retrospective study aimed to present clinical features of HBOV infections in children with respiratory symptoms and describe unexplained encephalopathy in a subgroup of these patients. Results of 1,143 pediatric nasal samples from mid-December 2013 to July 2014 were reviewed for detection of HBOV. A multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction assay was used for viral detection. Medical records of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. HBOV was detected in 30 patients (2.6%). Median age was 14 months (5-80). Clinical diagnoses were upper respiratory tract infection (n = 10), bronchopneumonia (n = 9), acute bronchiolitis (n = 5), pneumonia (n = 4), acute bronchitis (n = 1), and asthma execarbation (n = 1). Hospitalization was required in 16 (53.3%) patients and 10 (62.5%) of them admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Noninvasive mechanical ventilation modalities was applied to four patients and mechanical ventilation to four patients. Intractable seizures developed in four patients while mechanically ventilated on the 2nd-3rd days of PICU admission. No specific reason for encephalopathy was found after a thorough investigation. No mortality was observed, but two patients were discharged with neurological sequela. HBOV may lead to respiratory infections in a wide spectrum of severity. This report indicates its potential to cause severe respiratory infections requiring PICU admission and highlights possible clinical association of HBOV and encephalopathy, which developed during severe respiratory infection.

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Background: The study aims to define the efficacy of continuous renal replacement therapy in acute metabolic decompensation treatment of maple syrup urine disease (MSUD). Methods: All the neonates, infants and children who have had life threatening conditions due to MSUD and were treated with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Fourteen patients underwent 15 sessions of CVVHDF (age range 15 days to 87 months, mean 40.8 ± 31.4 months). One patient required additional CVVHDF 1 week after cessation of CVVHDF. Twenty seven percent (n = 4) of the patients were intubated and mechanically ventilated. Twelve patients responded to treatment and dramatic neurological improvement was observed within 24 h. Two of the 14 patients required 36 h of CVVHDF for neurological improvement. The mean duration of CVVHDF was 20.2 ± 8.6 (9-36) h. The mean leucine level was 1,648 ± 623.8 (714-2,768) μmol/l before and was 256.5 ± 150.6 (117-646) μmol/l at the end of treatment. No mortality was observed. Conclusion: Continuous hemodiafiltration is an effective and safe method in correcting metabolic disturbances in MSUD.

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is an effective treatment method in selective indications. Secondary to access and technical features, it is more difficult to apply in pediatric population than adults. The aim of this study is investigate safety, clinical indications, and results of this method in critically ill pediatric patients who need TPE treatment. All of the TPE procedures performed in a pediatric intensive care unit providing tertiary care during 4 years (2015–2019) were evaluated retrospectively. TPE procedures (635) were performed for 135 patients. Median age was 34 months (10‐108). Ninety‐seven patients had mechanical ventilation support. Sepsis with multiple organ failure was the most frequent indication and accounted for 44.4% (n = 60) of the indications followed by hematological and neurological diseases (19.2% and 9.6% respectively). TPE was performed alone in 469 cases (73.9%), in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy in 154 cases (24.2%), and additional to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in 12 cases (1.9%). Hematological disease and sepsis subgroups had the highest intubation rate, mechanical ventilation period, PRISM score, organ failure count, and mortality. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) was the most frequently used replacement fluid in 90.4% of the procedures. The most frequent anticoagulant used in TPE was acid citrate dextrose solution (79.3%). Procedural complications were detected in 104 cases (16.3%) and occurred during TPE sessions. Overall survival rate was 78.5%. We found that the non‐survivor group had significantly higher rates of organ failures (P = 0.0001), higher PRISM scores on admission (P = 0.0001), and higher rates of invasive ventilation support needed (P = 0.012). TPE is a treatment method which can be safely provided in healthcare facilities with necessary medical and technical requirements. Although it is riskier to provide such treatment to critically ill children, complications can be minimized in experienced healthcare facilities. Overall results are good and can vary depending on indication.