Formed in 1986, the BPSU is a activity supported by Public Health England, UCL Institute of Child Health and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
The unit aims to:
- facilitate research into uncommon childhood infections and disorders for the advancement of knowledge and to effect practical improvement in prevention, treatment and service planning
- allow paediatricians to participate in surveillance of uncommon disorders and to lessen the burden on reporting doctors of such requests arising from numerous different sources
- increase awareness within the medical profession and public of the less common disorders studied and respond rapidly to public health emergencies
- collaborate with our link surveillance units in the UK and across the world.
Phone: +44 (0)20 7092 6173/74
Email: bpsu@rcpch.ac.uk
Recent content
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BPSU study - Glucocorticoid induced adrenal suppression
BPSU surveillance of outcome of symptomatic glucocorticoid induced adrenal suppression commenced in September 2020. This study will estimate how many people are presenting to healthcare providers with adrenal suppression causing symptoms because of them currently or previously taking glucocorticoid ...
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BPSU study - Outcome of resuscitated term babies with no heart rate detected at 10 minutes of age
This surveillance study commenced in November 2020. This study will identify the incidence of term babies who receive resuscitation following birth and have no heart rate detected at 10 minutes of age: describe the demographic characteristics, clinical features and initial management of this populat...
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BPSU study - Clinical characteristics of children with pneumococcal meningitis
BPSU surveillance of the clinical characteristics of children with pneumococcal meningitis is due to commence in January 2020. This study will estimate the incidence of childhood pneumococcal meningitis in the era of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines; describe symptoms and signs at presentation; descr...
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BPSU study - Button battery ingestion, inhalation or insertion
BPSU surveillance of the unintentional ingestion, inhalation or insertion of button batteries in children requiring removal or attempted removal commenced in February 2021. This study will help inform services for the prevention and treatment of children who have accidentally swallowed or choked on ...
News
BPSU surveillance of HIV infection and vertical HIV exposure now concluded
6 August 2019
Surveillance will continue through the National Surveillance of HIV in Pregnancy and Childhood (NSHPC) team at University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health.
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BPSU study - Herpes simplex virus
BPSU surveillance of neonatal herpes simplex virus disease in infants less than 90 days of ages commenced in July 2019 and will run for 4.5 years. This study will assess the current disease burden of HSV to inform future practice on detection, prevention and management of this dangerous disease.
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BPSU - 30th anniversary report (2016)
For over 30 years the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit has been facilitating research into childhood rare diseases and disorders. To mark this milestone and to celebrate the Unit's ongoing impact we published our 30 year anniversary report.
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BPSU study - Severe chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalitis (CFS/ME)
This BPSU study will collect information on all young people aged between five and 16 years who receive a diagnosis of severe Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalitis (CFS/ME). The study aims to explore how many young people across the UK and Ireland have severe CFS/ME, the length of time fr...
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BPSU study - Severe complications of enterovirus or human parechovirus infection
This BPSU study investigates severe complications of enterovirus (EV) or human parechovirus (HPeV). It is intended to improve our knowledge of the age-specific incidence, clinical presentation and management, as well describe the survival and rates of long-term complications of severe EV/HPeV infect...
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BPSU study - Food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES)
This BPSU study investigates food protein induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES), a rare delayed type of food allergy which leads to repeated vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms up to several hours after a problem food (or baby formula) is eaten. There is very limited data on FPIES in the U...