The DM Paediatrics programme began in 1972 and has fulfilled its mandate to train paediatricians for the Caribbean. These 159 paediatricians are located in the Caribbean and worldwide and deliver appropriate health-care to the region’s children.

The DM Paediatrics programme began in 1972 and has fulfilled its mandate to train paediatricians for the Caribbean. These 159 paediatricians are located in the Caribbean and worldwide and deliver appropriate health-care to the region’s children.

Newborns with the characteristics of congenital syndrome associated with Zika virus (CSAZ) are being born in urban hospitals after the 2016 Zika virus epidemic in Jamaica. Phenotypic features include microcephaly, craniofacial disproportion, neuro-imaging and neuro-pathological findings and arthrogryposis. A trend towards babies being delivered with small head circumferences, but not yet in the range of microcephaly and others with normal head sizes who were born to women who were symptomatic in pregnancy is also being observed. While, most babies with probable CSAZ are being born to asymptomatic women who did not report any symptoms related to arbovirus illness in pregnancy. Diagnosis is challenged by serological cross-reactivity between circulating flaviviruses. Team management is multidisciplinary to maximize the neuro-developmental potential of this vulnerable patient population.

The Chikungunya Fever epidemic had significant public health and economic impact in Jamaica. In children, there were characteristic presentations in neonates and young infants and in children six months to six years. Neurologic involvement was common but other organ dysfunction was rare.

This case series suggests a unique clinical pattern of neuro-inflammation in Jamaican adolescents occurring during the ZIKV epidemic and questions the role of the three circulating arboviruses in the pathogenesis.

Epilepsy in children at UHWI was reviewed in 63 children. No sex predilection was observed. Focal seizures were the most common overall. Carbamazepine was the drug of choice for treatment of focal seizures initially whilst valproic acid for generalized seizures.

Fifty-nine children, aged 6 months to eight years, who presented with fever and seizures were reviewed. There was no laboratory abnormalities significantly associated with a bacterial infection. Routine laboratory investigations in children with seizures and fever were of limited usefulness.