A Survey on the Adolescent Health Care in Pediatric Practice

PURPOSE: This study was designed to establish standard guidelines to meet the growing health care needs of adolescents by direct assessment of pediatricians' current practices, attitude and obstacles to the primary care of adolescents. MEHTODS: A questionnaire consisting of 9 questions, including personal characteristics of respondents, current health care practice of adolescents, attitude, obstacles to providing adolescent care, interest in further training, roles of Korean Pediatric Society for adolescent medicine, etc., was completed by 214 pediatricians. RESULTS: Among the respondents, 87.4% were in the 4th or 5th decade of age, and 88.8% of respondents were working for private clicins. More than 60% of respondents were managing patients without age limits. Most of the respondents were interested in adolescent medicine. However, approximately one half of all respondents answered that they could not currently provide satisfactory care to their adolescent patients. Obstacles to providing adolescent care include : their image as "baby doctors", lack of knowledge and skills in adolescent medicine, lack of separate hours for adolescents and concern that parents would object to certain types of care. Among respondents who wanted to further training, many were interested in Continuing Medical Education(CME) course, lecture series, introducing reading lists and publishing textbooks, while others expressed their interest in a newsletter and mini-fellowship. Respondents expected the Korean Pediatric Society to play a role in activating the adolescent medicine as a field for pediatric practice through educating adolescents, pediatricians and advertising via mass media. CONCLUSION: Future policy decisions and medical education must respond to these realities in pediatric practice.

Acute Tyrosinemia Type 1 in a 5 Month Old Korean Boy

Tyrosinemia type 1 is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of the enzyme fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase(FAH). The disease is characterized by hepatic dysfuntion, hepatocellular carcinomas, renal tubular dysfunction, rickets, and neurologic crises. Two forms of the disease, acute and chronic, are thought to be from the residual enzyme activity in the liver. The diagnosis of the tyrosinemia type 1 is suggested by elevated plasma tyrosine, supported by increased urinary succinylacetone, and confirmed by reduced FAH activity in cultured fibroblasts. We had a 5 month old Korean boy with acute tyrosinemia type 1 who presented with recurrent sepsis-like episodes since 2 months of age, progressive liver dysfunction, and rickets. Plasma amino acid analysis showed markedly elevated tyrosine, methionine and urine amino acid analysis was suggestive of Fanconi syndrome showing generalized aminoaciduria. Organic acid analysis by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry detected large amount of succinylacetone excreted in the urine. Delta-aminolevulinic acid was elevated as well. X-ray findings were characteristics of rickets and abdominal sonogram, CT and MRI revealed cirrhotic liver with varying size of multiple nodules. Liver transplantation was strongly recommended throughout his clinical course but refused by parents, and he died of hepatic failure at the age of 8 months. Autospy was perfomed showing macro and micronodular liver cirrhosis. Kidney was markedly enlarged, however, glomeruli and tubules were relatively unaltered. Mutation analysis is under the study.

Anemia due to prolonged breast feeding without weaning diet or supplement food

The paramount importance of breast feeding for the health of the infants has been recognized by untritionists and physicians. Although many advantages of the breast feedng, exclusive breast feeding without weaning diet or supplement food during prolonged perind in infants may produce iron deficiencyh anemia. This study was conducted to find out the hematologic state in exclusively prolonged breast-fed infants among these anemic patients and the way of thinking about their baby's feeding method in their mothers. Mothers of the anemic patients has been surveyed with questionare. The results and problems obtained from this study are summerized as follows. 1) Among 40 patients of this study, 27 were male (67.5%) and 13 were female (32.5%). Mean age was 12.6+/-2.7 month and 9 & 11 month of age were the most common, respectively (15.0%). 2) Mean age of mothers was 29.5 year. The 25 34 year-old group was most common. 3) Education levels of mothers were primary 10%, middle 10%, high 60%, and college graduate 20%. 4) In motivatins of breast feeding. Persuasion of husband or the parent of husband' 19(47.5%). 'Convenience for use' 12 (30.0%), and 'Through mass media or public information' 9 (22.5%). 5) In the causes of prolonged breast feeding, 'Think that satisfactory nutrition for baby is possible with breast milk alone' 4(10.0%), 'Due to persuasion of husband or the parents of husband' 11 (27.5%), 'Baby did no suck milk bottle or eat other diet except breast milk' 25 (62.5%). 6) In whether or not acknowledgment of the necessity of weaning diet, 'Know it but not consider so important 22 (55.0)%, 'Do not know at all) 15 (37.5%), and 'Breast milk, that will do' 3(7.5%). 7) Hb level in patient group, from 6 to 6.9g/dl was 2 (50.0%), from 7 to 7.9g/dl was 3 (7.5%), from 8 to 8.9%g/dl was 15 (37.5%), and from 9 to 10 g/dl was 20 (50.0%). From 9 to 10g/dl was the most common. Hematologic findings were Hb 8.8+/-0.9g/dl, Hct 28.8+/-3.0%, MCV 64.7+/-6.7 fl, MCH 20.0+/-2.5pg, MCHC 30.8+/-1.5g/dl. Platelet 452.5+/-142.9x103/mm3, Reticulocyte count 1.4+/-0.6%, Fe 28.6+/-14.1 g/dl, TIBC 446.7+/-66.2 g/dl, Ferritin 10.5+/-7.0ng/ml. Transferrin saturation 6.6+/-3.5%. 8) In association with duration of breast milk feeding and hematologic findings, as duration was prolonged, Hb, Hct, MCV & MCH were significantly decreased (p<0.01).