Objectives: To investigate the incidence, clinical characteristics and cost associated with pertussis in Thai children with persistent cough. Methods: A prospective study was conducted among children aged 0-18 years with persistent cough for 7 days with at least one of the following: paroxysm, inspiratory whooping, or post-tussive emesis. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained and tested for pertussis real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: 19.6% of children (28 out of 143) had pertussis confirmed by RT-PCR, 75% of cases occurred in children who were too young to complete their primary series of vaccine. Paroxysm and post-tussive emesis were the most consistent clinical features, identified in 96% and 93% of cases, respectively, whooping was found in only 18%. Pertussis cases were more likely to have household cough contact (64% versus 30%, p < 0.001), be hospitalized (79% versus 58%, p = 0.048) and experience protracted duration of cough (47 vs. 20 days, p < 0.001) compare to their counterpart. Conclusion: Pertussis in Thai children is not infrequent and the common age group is young infant before completion of primary series of pertussis vaccine at six months of age, underline the importance of maternal pertussis immunization.

A case of a term female newborn, 40-week gestational age (by ultrasound (US)) with prenatal diagnosis of situs inversus and levocardia is reported. Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and irregular fetal bradycardia were prenatally detected. Immediately after birth, electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring revealed a complete heart block with no sign of hemodynamic compromise. The patient was then transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for ventilatory support. Close observation and further investigation with echocardiogram were undertaken. The patient was transferred by air at the age of 4 days to the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health for definitive cardiovascular treatments. This paper describes how to overcome the challenges of transporting a very young neonate with complex cardiac problems.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 0.5% Timolol eye drop monotherapy as a first-line treatment for capillary hemangioma. Methods: Retrospective, consecutive, clinical case series Results: Medical records, including consequent photographs of children with capillary hemangioma treated consecutively with 0.5% timolol solution from October 1 st , 2017 to July 31 st , 2018 were reviewed.11 cases of capillary hemangioma, age 0-8 months, were treated with 0.5% Timolol eye drops applied to the lesions twice a day as monotherapy for at least one month. General physical examination, included vital signs, respiratory rate, skin lesions, and eye examination before treatment were performed at every follow-up visit.Eight of 11 cases showed improvement in size, thickness, and coloration of the lesions without any complications. All 8 cases showed clinical improvement within 2 months of treatment. One case had relapsed after treatment cessation and got better after re-treatment. One case was lost to follow up. One case failed the monotherapy and needed additive treatment with propranolol and vinblastine. Conclusion: 0.5% Timolol eye drop monotherapy can be used safely as a first-line treatment for capillary hemangioma, especially uncomplicated cases. Conflicts of interest:The authors report no confilcts of interest.