BPSU | RCPCH

BPSU

The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit is a world leading centre for rare paediatric disease surveillance. It enables doctors and researchers to investigate how many children in the UK and Republic of Ireland are affected by particular rare diseases, conditions or treatments each year.

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BPSU study - Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome

Surveillance of multisystem inflammatory syndrome has now commenced. Our aim is to understand the incidence, presenting features, laboratory features, management, clinical course and the outcome of this potentially new syndrome characterised by hyperinflammation which is temporally associated with C...

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BPSU 'snap-shot' survey - delayed presentations to hospitals

The COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns that children are, for various reasons, presenting late to emergency departments. This has led to delayed diagnosis and hence a delay in treatment. Such presentation delays are well known, but they appear to have increased during this pandemic. Unfortunately, th...

BPSU

COVID-19

Research

News

BPSU study to look at neonatal complications of COVID-19

1 April 2020

The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit has now started collecting data on neonatal complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the UK and Northern Ireland. This study is needed to understand the impact of Coronavirus infection in newborn babies and babies born to mothers with Coronavirus, s...

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BPSU study - Neonatal complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

Surveillance of the neonatal complications of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) commenced in March 2020. The study aims to find out how many babies develop coronavirus infection in the first month after birth, and how many babies born to women with coronavirus need neonatal care; describe which babies ...

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BPSU study - Conservative care in end-stage kidney disease

This surveillance study commenced in September 2020. This study aims to identify children with ESKD who receive conservative care, to understand how the decision not to start renal replacement therapy is made and important factors that are considered in this decision-making process.

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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...

Intensive care medicine

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Child Health Futures - Rare Disease Development Fund

Getting funding for research into rare diseases is still a challenge. The RCPCH, in collaboration with the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU), has set up this fund to support research and education in children’s rare diseases. Can you support us?

BPSU

Rare disease

Research

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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 ...

Area of medicine

Community child health

Ear nose and throat

Emergency medicine

General paediatrics

Intensive care medicine