Archives of Disease in Childhood articles from November 2001

Archives of Disease in Childhood archives from November 2001

Archives this month.(Introductory page)(Improved outlook for meningococcaemia)(Prevention is better than cure)(Respectable, moi?)(How hard is soft?)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2001... Improved outlook for meningococcaemia About two years ago we published a paper from the paediatric intensive care unit at St Mary's Hospital, London on managing meningococcal disease. (1) It detailed the authors' personal practice, a type...

Reye syndrome--insights on causation and prognosis. (Leading articles).
November 1, 2001... Reye syndrome (RS) is an abrupt insult to mitochondria manifesting as acute encephalopathy, selective hepatic dysfunction, and fatty infiltration of the viscera--as originally described in 1963 (see Wood (1)). Causation, however, remains...

Continuing care--a continuing dilemma. (Leading article).(continuing care for children)
November 1, 2001... Medical advances in paediatric care have resulted in an increase in the number of children needing long term medical and nursing care. These children are dependent on complex technological devices such as mechanical ventilation, tracheostomies,...

Cerebral palsy: not always what it seems. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Cerebral palsy (CP) is an umbrella term that defines a group of non-progressive, but often changing, syndromes of motor impairment secondary to lesions or anomalies of the brain arising in the early stages of its development. (1 2) The...

Aetiology and clinical presentations of auditory processing disorders--a review. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Auditory processing disorders may have detrimental consequences on a child's life, if undiagnosed and untreated. We review causes of auditory processing disorders in order to raise clinical awareness. Auditory processing disorders...

Randomised controlled trial assessing the impact of increasing information to health visitors about children's injuries. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--To assess the effect on health visitor action of providing community health visitors with information on all injury attendances in children under 5 attending an accident and emergency (A&E) department and of providing...

Neurological soft signs in mainstream pupils. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--(1) To examine the relation between neurological soft signs and measures of cognition, coordination, and behaviour in mainstream schoolchildren. (2) To determine whether high soft sign scores may predict children with...

Sickle cell disease and age at menarche in Jamaican girls: Observations from a cohort study. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--(1) To investigate the distribution of age at menarche in a representative sample of 99 patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease, 69 with sickle cell haemoglobin C (SC) disease, and 100 controls with a normal...

The epidemiology of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in Sweden 1987-96. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--To find out whether the incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) has changed over the past decade, and if so, to investigate possible contributory factors. Methods--All infants undergoing pyloromyotomy...

Mortality in severe meningococcal disease. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aim--To evaluate mortality of critically ill children admitted with meningococcal disease. Methods--Prospective study of all children admitted to a regional paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between January 1995 and March...

Dummies. (Miscellaneous).(pacifier use and infant weaning)
November 1, 2001... There are some aspects of child rearing which are hardy perennials; they include teething, circumcision, thumb sucking, and dummies (pacifiers). Dummies have attracted their fair share of emotion, being regarded by some with disdain or even...

Reduction in case fatality rate from meningococcal disease associated with improved healthcare delivery. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Background and aims--The case fatality rate from meningococcal disease (MD) has remained relatively unchanged in the post antibiotic era, with 20-50% of patients who develop shock still dying. In 1992 a new paediatric intensive...

Safety of a new conjugate meningococcal C vaccine in infants. (Community child health, public health and epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Background--Group C conjugate meningococcal vaccines (Men C) were introduced into the UK primary immunisation schedule in November 1999. There has been extensive professional and public interest in their efficacy and safety. ...

Genes and environment in asthma: A study of 4 year old twins. (Community Child Health, Public Health and Epidemiology).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Background--Although the genetic and environmental factors of asthma have been investigated in adolescence and adulthood, no previous studies have focused on the early development of asthma. Aims--To test, in a large sample of...

Visual outcome of malignant hypertension in young people. (Acute paediatrics).
November 1, 2001... Abstract A retrospective review was carried out of patients under 16 years old with malignant hypertension, who had been referred to a teaching hospital ophthalmology department because of reduced visual acuity. Four patients (three girls,...

Double blind randomised controlled trial of topical glyceryl trinitrate in anal fissure. (Acute paediatrics).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--To determine the effectiveness and safety of topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in the management of acute anal fissure in children. Methods--Individual children were randomised to receive GTN paste or placebo for six...

Radial osteomyelitis as a complication of venous cannulation. (Acute paediatrics).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Venepuncture of the superficial veins in the forearm is considered a relatively safe procedure. We report two patients who presented with osteomyelitis of the proximal radius following venous cannulation of the median cubital...

Henna causes life threatening haemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. (Acute paediatrics).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Haemolytic crisis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient individuals following topical application of henna occured in four children: a female neonate (haemoglobin 50 g/l, serum bilirubin 700 [micro]mol/l), who recovered...

Reversal of bronchiectasis caused by chronic aspiration in cri du chat syndrome. (Images in paediatric medicine).
November 1, 2001... Bronchiectasis is a chronic lung disease whose pathophysiology is poorly understood. It has traditionally been considered "permanent and irreversible". (1) In addition to chronic airway inflammation and infection, chronic aspiration has been...

ARC syndrome: an expanding range of phenotypes. (Images in paediatric medicine).(arthrogryposis, renal tubular dysfunction, and cholestasis)
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aim--To describe the clinical phenotype in infants with ARC syndrome, the association of arthrogryposis, renal tubular acidosis, and cholestasis. Methods--The medical records for six patients with ARC syndrome were reviewed,...

Epilepsy and mortality. (Miscellaneous).
November 1, 2001... Children with epilepsy have an increased mortality rate but the increase is largely confined to those with symptomatic epilepsy and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) seems to be rare in childhood although adults with SUDEP often have...

Macrophage activation syndrome: a potentially fatal complication of rheumatic disorders. (Images in paediatric medicine).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--To review the precipitating events, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Methods--Retrospective review of cases of MAS from a prospectively collected database of children...

The significance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody in microscopic polyangitis and classic polyarteritis nodosa. (Images in paediatric medicine).
November 1, 2001... Abstract Aims--To describe the distribution and features of classic polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and microscopic polyarteritis (MPA) and the importance of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) in childhood PAN. Methods--Classic PAN...

Towards evidence based medicine for paediatricians. (Archimedes).
November 1, 2001... 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...

A problem of information. (Miscellaneous).
November 1, 2001... A general practitioner in Scotland (John S Millar. British Journal of General Practice 200 1;51:570) has told a story which will attract widespread sympathy and cries of "Well, you can't win, can you?" A man with a chest infection was...

Inflammatory bowel disease. (Recent Advances).
November 1, 2001... Abstract The epidemiology, aetiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in children are reviewed, and areas for further research identified. (Arch Dis Child 2001;85:435-437) ...

Use of cough swabs in a cystic fibrosis clinic. (Recent Advances).
November 1, 2001... Abstract We audited prospectively 322 cough swabs taken from cystic fibrosis children and compared cough swabs with concomitant sputum samples in 30 expectorating patients. A positive cough swab is a strong predictor of sputum culture....

York, Alcuin, and Sir George Newman. (Paediatric lessons from the past).
November 1, 2001... Abstract The history of medicine can give insights into past achievements and provide knowledge and even inspiration, a valuable commodity for young students and all doctors. The contribution of Alcuin of York to basic education, and its...

Letters to the editor. (Miscellaneous).(Life expectancy in cerebral palsy)(Evolving practice)(Fertility preservation in children--scientific advances, research dilemmas, and ethics of consent)(Life threatening airway obstruction in a newborn following ingestion of sterilising tablet)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2001... Life expectancy in cerebral palsy EDITOR,--The recent study by Hutton, Colver, and Mackie (1) is in some respects a useful addition to our knowledge of survival in cerebral palsy. Unfortunately there are substantial problems with the paper;...

Extremely low birthweight (1000g or less) infants born in the 1980s in the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the USA (Lancet 2001;357:1641-3) had similar behaviour problems at age 8-10 years. (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... Extremely low birthweight (1000g or less) infants born in the 1980s in the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, and the USA (Lancet 2001;357:1641-3) had similar behaviour problems at age 8-10 years. They had higher total problem scores than normal...

In a rural community in upstate New York in the 4 year period 1984-87, a total of 214 people developed chronic fatigue syndrome (Pediatrics 2001;107:994-8). (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... In a rural community in upstate New York in the 4 year period 1984-87, a total of 214 people developed chronic fatigue syndrome (Pediatrics 2001;107:994-8). Forty-six of them were children or adolescents and 35 of these were followed up for an...

Eighty-five children in North Carolina (Pediatrics 2001;107:1037-42) were followed up between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. (Lucina).(otitis media with effusion study)
November 1, 2001... Eighty-five children in North Carolina (Pediatrics 2001;107:1037-42) were followed up between the ages of 6 months and 4 years. On average they had bilateral or unilateral otitis media with effusion (OME) 30% of the time and hearing loss 20% of...

Watching television is thought to be an important factor in childhood obesity, and workers in New York state have come up with a novel solution (Pediatrics 2001;107:1043-8). (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... Watching television is thought to be an important factor in childhood obesity, and workers in New York state have come up with a novel solution (Pediatrics 2001;107:1043-8): they devised a television set which only works if you pedal a cycle...

Parent support groups develop a large experience of their particular conditions and may provide valuable information. (Lucina).(parent support group for esophageal atresia)
November 1, 2001... Parent support groups develop a large experience of their particular conditions and may provide valuable information. The largest support group for children with oesophageal atresia is in Germany (Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2001;36:605-10)...

Androgen treatment of boys with constitutionally delayed puberty speeds up growth but does not increase final height. (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... Androgen treatment of boys with constitutionally delayed puberty speeds up growth but does not increase final height. A study of 38 boys in Helsinki (Lancer 2001;357:1743-8) has shown that the addition of an inhibitor of oestrogen synthesis...

Data from Tigrai, Ethiopia (International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:447-55) illustrate the effects of war and famine and of parental education on early childhood mortality. (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... Data from Tigrai, Ethiopia (International Journal of Epidemiology 2001;30:447-55) illustrate the effects of war and famine and of parental education on early childhood mortality. Mortality in children up to the age of 5 years is high (15-20%)...

A systematic review (Archives of Pediarrics and Adolescent Medicine 2001;155:641-7) has led to the conclusion that oral steroid treatment. (Lucina).(otitis media with effusion therapy)
November 1, 2001... A systematic review (Archives of Pediarrics and Adolescent Medicine 2001;155:641-7) has led to the conclusion that oral steroid treatment may result in faster resolution of otitis media with effusion but there are no long-term benefits. The...

There is debate about whether childhood onset schizophrenia (COS) and adultonset schizophrenia (AOS) are basically the same disease. (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... There is debate about whether childhood onset schizophrenia (COS) and adultonset schizophrenia (AOS) are basically the same disease. Family data from a US study (Archives of General Psychiatry 2001;58:581-8) suggest that they are. Psychiatric...

Infection control measure in neonatal intensive care units may prevent normal bacterial colonisation as well as colonisation by pathogens. (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... Infection control measure in neonatal intensive care units may prevent normal bacterial colonisation as well as colonisation by pathogens. In Japan (Clinical Infectious Diseases 2001;32:1399-407) babies colonised with viridans group...

Of 97 children assessed 6 weeks after a road traffic accident in Bath (British Journal of Clinical Psychology 2001;40:197-208) 36 had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... Of 97 children assessed 6 weeks after a road traffic accident in Bath (British Journal of Clinical Psychology 2001;40:197-208) 36 had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sixteen of the 36 were reassessed at 8 months when eight of the 16...

If you have been worried that tympanic thermometry might be unreliable in children with otitis media with effusion worry no more. (Lucina).
November 1, 2001... If you have been worried that tympanic thermometry might be unreliable in children with otitis media with effusion worry no more. A study of 95 children having grommets inserted (International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolarynology...

A randomised controlled trial (Lancet 2001;357:1551-64) and a systematic review (Ibid: 1565-70, see also commentary Ibid: 1546), both sponsored by the World Health Organisation. (Lucina).(reduction of antenatal physician visits)
November 1, 2001... A randomised controlled trial (Lancet 2001;357:1551-64) and a systematic review (Ibid: 1565-70, see also commentary Ibid: 1546), both sponsored by the World Health Organisation, have given support to a move to reduce the number of routine...