physical and mental health of children in foster care

To evaluate physical and mental health in children in foster care and comparison with general population. The study is carried out between September 2011 and April 2012 into nine group homes in Rome. It involved 112 children ranging in age 2-17 years, living in temporary care facilities or institutes. All data came out of clinical history and physical exams, validated by a pediatrician. Such data were being then compared with samples of general population. Significant themes were high percentage of children with psychiatric disorders in foster care [22.3%]; high percentage of psychiatric disorders diagnosed immediately while arriving at the foster care [56%]; no significant differences in weight, height and BMI between children in foster care and general population; significant differences [P<0.05] for allergy, gastrointestinal diseases and caries between children in foster care and general population. The results suggest that the physical health of children in group homes is no worse than that of children living care in their own homes and that the foster care provides necessary conditions to support the growth of the children and their physical, mental and social needs

Efficacy and safety of dimeticone in the treatment of lice infestation through prophylaxis of classmates

We conducted a study to evaluate efficacy and safety of dimeticone 4%, a lotion with no conventional insecticide activity, to cure lice infection and to prevent spread of infestation/reinfestation by prophylaxis of classmates. The study is carried out between April 2008 and June 2008 in Petranova International Institute in Rome. A total of 131 children, aged 3 to 13 years [median age: 7 years] were included in the study. All participants received treatment with dimeticone 4% that was applied both to children with the infestation, to cure it, and to all classmates, to prevent the spreading of the infestation. They have been controlled after 7 and 30 days from the application of dimeticone. At baseline we found a positivity of lice infestation in 23/131 children [17.6%], whereas 108/131 [82.4%] children were free from lice. After 7 days of treatment with dimeticone 4%, 7/23 [30.4%] positive children still had lice infestation, with a cure rate of 69.6% [16/23]. At 30 days 26/131 children [19.9%] were infested: 15 children were lice free at baseline whereas 11 had lice at both evaluations; the cure rate amounted to 52.2% [12/23]. The reinfestation rate [percentage of positive children that showed negativity at baseline] was 5.3% [7/131] at 7 days and 11.5% [15/131] at 30 days. The lower reinfestation rate showed in our trial suggests that this approach could be effective in reducing spreading of head lice in small communities. More studies are needed to confirm our findings

Nephrotic syndrome following H1N1 influenza in a 3-year-old boy

The pandemic influenza A/H1N1, spread through the world in 2009, producing a serious epidemic in Italy. Complications are generally limited to patients at the extremes of ages [<6 months or >65 years] and those with comorbid medical illness. The most frequent complications of influenza involve the respiratory system. A 3-year-old boy with a recent history of upper respiratory tract infection developed a nephritic syndrome. Together with prednisone, furosemide and albumin bolus, a therapy with oseltamivir was started since the nasopharyngeal swab resulted positive for influenza A/H1N1. Clinical conditions and laboratory findings progressively improved during hospitalization, becoming normal during a 2 month follow up. The possibility of a renal involvement after influenza A/H1N1 infection should be considered