Archives of Disease in Childhood articles from January 2004

Archives of Disease in Childhood archives from January 2004

NHS Direct: commentary on the review by McLellan.(COMMENTARY)
January 1, 2004... As recognised by the National Audit Office, in just five years, NHS Direct has established an impressive track record for customer satisfaction and patient safety, empowering patients to make better informed choices about their own healthcare....

Colonic transit times and behaviour profiles in children with defecation disorders: commentary on the paper by Benninga et al.(COMMENTARY)
January 1, 2004... When the editorial committee discussed whether to accept the paper by Benninga et al for publication, (1) some members raised concerns over the propriety of undertaking rectal manometry on children with abdominal pain. In response, the authors...

Health economics in paediatrics: the literature is smaller in children than for adults.(COMMENTARY)
January 1, 2004... Health economics has developed on a truly massive scale in the past 20 years. As the pressure on health budgets has grown, so too has the "priesthood" seen by politicians and funding agencies as well equipped to answer key questions about what...

Blood transfusion: risks and benefits.(LEADING ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Transfusion of blood and blood products to infants and children is not without risk. In recent years, the risks of blood transfusion have been highlighted by the reports of the Serious Hazards of Transfusion scheme (SHOT), which collects data...

Massacre of the innocents.(IMAGES IN PAEDIATRICS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Sir Peter Paul Rubens' (1577-1640) recently discovered masterpiece "The Massacre of the Innocents" (1609-1611) has received transient notoriety as the world's most expensive painting. Rubens' striking depiction of state sponsored murder of...

Variations in neurodegenerative disease across the UK: findings from the national study of progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration (PIND).(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Aims: To identify any UK children with variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) and obtain information about the causes of progressive intellectual and neurological deterioration (PIND) and the geographical distribution of cases. Methods:...

Cochlear implants and meningitis.(ARCHIVIST)
January 1, 2004... Three firms in the USA make cochlear implants and nearly 10 000 American children have such a device. In June 2002 one of the manufacturers notified the US Food and Drug Administration of 15 reports of cochlear implant-associated bacterial...

Colonic transit times and behaviour profiles in children with defecation disorders.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Aims: To evaluate children referred for defecation disorders using the child behavioural checklist (CBCL). Methods: A total of 215 patients were divided into three groups: 135 (5-14 years of age) with paediatric constipation (PC), 56 (5-17...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
January 1, 2004... The authors of the paper by Feltbower et al in the August issue (Type 2 and other forms of diabetes in 0-30 year olds: a hospital-based study in Leeds, UK, Arch Dis Child 2003;87:679-9) would like to fully acknowledge the help and support of...

Personality functioning: the influence of stature.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Background: The Wessex Growth Study has monitored the psychological development of a large cohort of short normal and average height control participants since school entry. Aims: To examine the effect of stature on their personality...

Steroids for Kawasaki disease.(ARCHIVIST)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Standard initial treatment for Kawasaki disease in the USA is a single dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 2 gm/kg plus aspirin 80-100 mg/kg/day. The role of steroid treatment is controversial. Steroids have been used either as initial...

Comparison of evoked arousability in breast and formula fed infants.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Background: Currently, there is no consistent evidence that breast feeding reduces the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Arousal from sleep is believed to be an important survival mechanism that may be impaired in victims of SIDS....

Trends in paediatric health economic evaluation: 1980 to 1999.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Background: Although standard methods for conducting economic evaluations have evolved, little attention has been paid to their application in paediatrics. The Paediatric Economic Database Evaluation (PEDE) Project was conceived to promote...

Ethnic group differences in overweight and obese children and young people in England: cross sectional survey.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Aims: To determine the percentage of children and young adults who are obese or overweight within different ethnic and socioeconomic groups. Methods: Secondary analysis of data on 5689 children and young adults aged 2-20 years from the...

Soy formula complicates management of congenital hypothyroidism.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Aims: To test the hypothesis that feeding soy formula to infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH) leads to prolonged increase of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Methods: The study was a review of 78 patients seen during their first...

Retropharyngeal abscess.(ARCHIVIST)
January 1, 2004... Descriptions of the clinical features of retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) in textbooks and journals have been varied. Some have described a presentation similar to that of acute epiglottitis, with fever, stridor, and drooling. Others have...

Greek adolescents, fitness, fatness, fat intake, activity, and coronary heart disease risk.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Background: A dramatic increase in adult mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) in Greece, accompanied by increased prevalence of CHD risk factors in children, has been documented. However, there is controversy about the independent...

Progressive fibrosis of the quadriceps muscle.(IMAGES IN PAEDIATRICS)
January 1, 2004... This 15 year old boy presented when 3 years old because of maternal concern about "not walking right". He was born at term weighing 2.4 kg, was admitted to the special care baby unit, and treated for septicaemia with intramuscular...

Prevalence of tic disorders among primary school students in the city of Pavia, Italy.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Background: The prevalence of tic disorders in children varies from 1% to 29% depending on the characteristics of the study population, the diagnostic criteria, and the study design and methods. Aims: To calculate the prevalence of tic...

Ethnic differences in the rates of BCG vaccination.(AUDIT)
January 1, 2004... An audit of the selective neonatal BCG immunisation programme showed that only 51% of eligible infants received the vaccination. Infants of Indian subcontinental origin (ISC) were significantly more likely to have been vaccinated than non-ISC...

Nasal/buccal midazolam use in the community.(SHORT REPORT)
January 1, 2004... A telephone survey was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and convenience of nasal/buccal midazolam in terminating prolonged seizures in the community. A total of 33/40 (83%) families who had used it found it effective and easy to use;...

Bicycle helmet campaigns and poverty.(ARCHIVIST)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Bicycle helmet campaigns increase helmet use but there is uncertainty about their effect on head injuries. During and after a campaign in Quebec, Canada (Farley et al. J Epidemiol Community Health 2002;57:668-72) head injuries were reduced in...

The progression of maternal RSV antibodies in the offspring.(SHORT REPORT)
January 1, 2004... The concentrations of maternal anti-RSV IgG antibodies were followed in 49 healthy newborns over the first six months of life. At birth, 41 mothers (83%) tested positive for anti-RSV IgG and all of their babies carried maternal anti-RSV...

International parallels in leukaemia and diabetes epidemiology.(SHORT REPORT)
January 1, 2004... Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and type 1 diabetes have an environmental aetiology and common epidemiological features. Incidence rates and national characteristics of both conditions were investigated in 40 countries worldwide. There was...

NHS Direct: virtually engaged.(REVIEW)
January 1, 2004... In the five years since its launch in March 1998, NHS Direct in England and Wales has established itself as the world's largest provider of telephone healthcare advice. NHS Direct now handles over half a million telephone calls and NHS Direct...

The effect of asthma and its treatment on growth.(REVIEW)
January 1, 2004... Asthma has little, if any, significant effect on attained adult height. Untreated asthma results in a delay of puberty by approximately 1.3 years, and pubertal delay is likely to explain the majority of apparent growth failure in asthmatics....

Pacemaker twiddling.(IMAGES IN PAEDIATRICS)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A 10 year old boy with severe learning disabilities had a permanent subpectoral endocardial pacemaker for intermittent heart block. Twenty three months later, he presented with an episode of collapse associated with pacemaker failure. Chest x...

Pitfalls in the assessment of body composition in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Background: Body fat mass (FM) and fat free mass (FFM) in childhood are often estimated by conversion of a measured variable into compartmental body composition using constants or regression equations that have been previously derived in...

Performance of blood tests in diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease in a specialist clinic.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)
January 1, 2004... Aims: To determine the reliability of a panel of blood tests in screening for ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Methods: The subjects were 153 children referred to a paediatric gastroenterology department with possible inflammatory...

A randomised crossover trial of facemask efficacy.(SHORT REPORT)
January 1, 2004... The efficacy of different facemasks that can be used in the delivery of aerosol medication to children with recurrent wheeze or asthma was investigated. The results showed a statistically significant difference between some of the masks used,...

Fusidic acid resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.(REVIEW)
January 1, 2004... This review summarises current knowledge of the microbiological and clinical aspects of fusidic acid resistance in Staphylococcus aureus, and makes recommendations about fusidic acid prescribing and further research. Arch Dis Child...

End stage renal disease due to bilateral renal malakoplakia.(CASE REPORT)
January 1, 2004... Malakoplakia typically affects the bladders of immunocompromised adults who have defective intracellular killing of Escherichia coli. Renal malakoplakia is rare in children and generally has a good outcome. In the case presented, however, it...

Years of medical experience versus parental instinct.(BackChat)
January 1, 2004... When I was 12 our dog had puppies. From my point of view it was a happy accident, and I watched the birth with great interest. She had four puppies; to the human eye they looked virtually identical. To my surprise she accepted and cared for...

Towards evidence based medicine for paediatricians.(ARCHIMEDES)
January 1, 2004... In order to give the best care to patients and families, paediatricians need to integrate the highest quality scientific evidence with clinical expertise and the opinions of the family. (1) Archimedes seeks to assist practising clinicians by...

Does early administration of dexamethasone improve neurological outcome in children with meningococcal meningitis?(ARCHIMEDES)
January 1, 2004... A 6 month old boy was admitted to the paediatric ward with history of fever, non-blanching petechial rash, shrill cry, and poor capillary refill. He required 20 ml/kg of fluid bolus. After a full sepsis screening including a lumbar puncture, he...

Should nifedipine be used to counter low blood sugar levels in children with persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia?(ARCHIMEDES)
January 1, 2004... A 5 year old boy, suffering from hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia since infancy and arterial hypertension secondary to polycystic kidney disease, was given nifedipine (0.3 mg/kg three times a day) to treat his high blood pressure. Normotension...

Do steroids help children with acute urticaria?(ARCHIMEDES)
January 1, 2004... A 4 year old girl presents with an itchy urticarial rash. There were no other symptoms. Her general practitioner has prescribed an oral antihistamine but the rash has persisted. You wonder if there is a role for oral steroids in this otherwise...

Does prompt tympanostomy improve speech, language, and cognitive development?(PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE)
January 1, 2004... Pediatricians have been haunted by concerns that chronic middle-ear effusion (MEE)--prevalent during the critical period for speech and language development--causes later impairment in learning and language skills. Although current practice...

Gastroesophageal reflux.(PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE)
January 1, 2004... Faced with the common problem of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), pediatricians must often decide if medical evaluation is worthwhile or whether a tincture of time is all that is needed. The AAP has endorsed a guideline developed by the North...

Asthma: from childhood to adulthood.(PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE)
January 1, 2004... Parents often want to know how long asthma will persist in their children. In a longitudinal, population-based study from New Zealand, children were enrolled shortly after birth, and they or their parents were surveyed about respiratory events...

What's the solution when a newborn is hypotensive?(PEDIATRICS & ADOLESCENT MEDICINE)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... Hypotension is common during the first day of life in both term and preterm infants. Because the development of acute low blood pressure is unpredictable, general pediatricians--often the first responders--face a major decision about which...

Miconazole and clobazam; a useful interaction in Dravet's syndrome?(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... If you have a burning desire to respond to a paper published in ADC or F & N, why not make use of our "rapid response" option? Log onto our website (www.archdischild.com), find the paper that interests you, and send your response via email...

Fever phobia revisited.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... The National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment recently issued a commissioning brief calling for proposals to look at "the clinical effectiveness of paracetamol alone, ibuprofen alone, and paracetamol and ibuprofen in...

Juvenile myasthenia gravis mimicking recurrent VI nerve palsy of childhood.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... A 5 year old Asian boy presented to the paediatrician with diplopia following ear ache. Isolated VI nerve palsy was suspected. Full blood count, ESR, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ENT examination were normal. He recovered within a week,...

RCPCH guideline appraisal on EEG after first seizure.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... A recent RCPCH guideline appraisal asserted: "There is no need for an EEG following a first simple afebrile seizure". (1) This is puzzling. A "simple afebrile seizure" is not an entity recognised in the ILAE diagnostic scheme. (2) More...

Severe vitamin D deficient rickets in black Afro-Caribbean children.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... Concern has been raised over the past few years, at the prevalence of rickets in British Asian children (1) and recent immigrants to the UK. (2) Here we describe five cases of severe rickets in children of second generation Black-African or...

Hyperchloraemic acidosis consistent with ammonium chloride administration.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... We report an infant with recurrent self limiting hyperchloraemic acidosis. This 1 month old girl was admitted with vomiting, decreased feeding, and rapid breathing. On examination she was lethargic and tachypnoeic with normal blood pressure and...

Voiding dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... We read with interest the report by MacLeod et al who described urinary symptoms in 46 (62%) of 74 male children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). (1) The authors comment that "The neurological basis for this dysfunction is difficult...

Prevention of hyponatraemia.(LETTERS)
January 1, 2004... At least two children in Northern Ireland have died in recent years as a result of severe hyponatraemia (serum sodium <130 mmol/l). (1) Death or neurological morbidity related to this condition has been reported in more than 50 children. (2)...

Miliaria crystallina complicating staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.(IMAGES IN PAEDIATRICS)
January 1, 2004... A 7 year old male child was admitted to our hospital during the summer with staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS). After five days of appropriate treatment, he was to be discharged. Unexpectedly, while he was playing in the ward, his skin...