Pneumococcal HUS after complicated pneumonia: 79% needed dialysis, and 43% of survivors were left with chronic kidney disease

The edition in brief

A New Zealand tertiary-centre series of 39 children with Streptococcus pneumoniae haemolytic uraemic syndrome, 2008–2024, found two-thirds of cases occurred from 2020 onwards. Median age was 18 months; 92% presented with complicated pneumonia; 90% needed intensive care and 79% kidney replacement therapy; 5% died and 43% of followed survivors had chronic kidney disease. Serotype 19A caused 84% of typed cases, including every case from 2020, and 79% of children had received pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has published a clinical report on caring for children whose parents use alcohol or drugs, covering screening, toxicology interpretation, anticipatory guidance and when to raise safeguarding concerns. In a UK pilot trial of 32 teenagers after a severe asthma attack, paying £1 per inhaler dose raised median adherence to 73% against 56% at 12 weeks, not significantly, and adherence fell in both groups once the payments stopped. A Pediatrics systematic review found educational interventions reduced stress and anxiety in parents of excessively crying babies, and infant probiotics improved parental quality of life but not depression, with studies at unclear to high risk of bias.