[A case of pseudomembranous colitis in childhood]. / Osservazione di un caso di colite pseudomembranosa in età pediatrica.

"Pseudomembranous colitis" is a disease which has gained importance in the last decades. It is caused by intestinal colonization by "Clostridium Difficilis" which in normal situations, especially in the evolutive age, is a component of the normal saprophytic flora. Antibiotic therapy, or reduction of the immunological defenses by surgical procedures, infections, weakening diseases or malnutrition states may produce an alteration of the intestinal flora with a prevalence of Clostridium Difficilis which causes, with its intestinal toxin, organic and functional damages. The diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and on endoscopic picture. The isolation of Clostridium Difficilis and its toxin in the patient's faeces is possible only in well-trained laboratories. The disease subsides with antibiotic interruption and with Vancomycin oral therapy. The Authors describe a paradigmatic case characterized by the simultaneous presence of antibiotic therapy, surgical procedure, characteristic endoscopic picture and by the prompt clinical and endoscopic recovery with Vancomycin.

[The prevention of caries in Alta Val di Cecina--Volterra: a longitudinal study]. / Prevenzione della carie in Alta Val di Cecina--Volterra: studio longitudinale.

The authors present the results of three years' activity relating to "caries' prevention" in comparison with data concerning the research of previous five years. The average and standard deviations of DMFT values with regard to the permanent teeth and dmft concerning the deciduous ones, obtained from the dental visit of 222 children attending the 1st and the 3rd class of the primary school and 1st class of the secondary school, has demonstrated a statistically significant reduction of caries, compared with data concerning 749 pupils of the same standards in the period from 1984 to 1988. This fact confirms that the programme defined by U.S.L. n. 15 "Alta Val di Cecina", including sanitary education for children of primary school with their parents and teachers, besides dental examinations to the filter classes, is a valid instrument to obtain the reduction of carious' pathology in evolutive age.

[Scoliosis: ten years' experience of screening]. / La scoliosi: esperienza di dieci anni di dépistage.

Scoliosis is a permanent lateral deflection of backbone, associated to a vertebra's rotation and twisting on their vertical axle, and it is one of more common diseases of pediatric age. It exist a great difference between the structural conformations, that are true pathologies, and the functional ones or paramorphisms, without bony alterations. Since about 80% of real scoliosis is idiopathic. The pediatrician's task is of precociously identify the appearance of a scoliotic bend and differentiate the structural and evolutive shapes from simple scoliotic posture. Therefore for ten years, in the preventive medicine programme of school age, we affected a scoliosis research in the secondary school using as clinical method the "bending test" that appraises three essential parameters: size's triangle, gibbus and limbs' asymmetry. Before examination an anamnestic form is compiled and the sexual maturity's degree is appraised. The subjects with suspect of scoliosis are asked to a subsequential control performed in our department's ambulatory service by a doctor of Scoliosis's Center of Pozzolatico (Florence), in order to decide whether to take radiographs and to define, if necessary, treatment. We verified 4453 pupils and of these the 8.9% has been asked to the specialist's control. Of these 106, namely the 2.8% of total pattern, have been X-rayed and 46, namely the 0.9% of total pattern, have been orthopaedically treated because affected by evolutive scoliosis. If we consider the last quinquennium's statistics, we remark that treatment's incidence is lower to 0.4% conforming to literature's data. We never observed false negatives whereas false positive have been only 0.8% of total pattern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The incidence of caries in a school-age population sample of U.S.L. n. 15 Alta Val di Cecina-Volterra]. / Incidenza della carie in un campione della popolazione scolastica dell'U.S.L. n. 15 Alta Val di Cecina-Volterra.

It was made a screening on children of some filter classes (1st and 3d class of primary school and 1st class of secondary school) of the Volterra's schools to estimate the incidence of caries and, if necessary, to activate programs for an adequate prevention. We examined 749 children arrived to the Dental Department of the Sanitary District owing an invitation letter; a set of question was given to their parents testing mainly alimentary and oral hygienic uses of the children examined by dentists. Elaboration of data obtained from replies and demonstrated that caries incidence in our population is of 65.29%, prevailing on male sex, and that this pathology is predominant on people taking insufficient care of oral hygiene, making no use of fluoridated toothpaste and eating any of cakes (especially between meals). These data show the high incidence of caries in evolutional age and how much this is strictly connected with wrong alimentary and hygienic uses. Therefore, to reduce this phenomenon, it's necessary to operate interventions of sanitary education and dental checking examinations, at least every 6-12 months, beginning in preschool age.

[A case of primary chronic osteomyelitis in a rare site (distal metaphysis of the radius)]. / Segnalazione di un caso di osteomielite cronica primitiva in sede rara (metafisi distale del radio).

A case of chronic primitive osteomyelitis (Brodie's abscess) in a little girl twelve years old, is reported. Clinical symptomatology, radiologic feature and pathological anatomy are typical of this disease. Peculiar is the uncommon localization at the distal metaphysis of radius, whose frequency is of 1.6% on 181 cases related by Rizzoli Institute of Bologna (Italy) which have largest casuistry on the subject, within fifty years.