[Otitis media in childhood: a critical review of the literature]. / L'otite media nell'età pediatrica: revisione critica della letteratura.

Infection of the middle ear is one of the most common childhood illnesses accounting for one-third of the pediatrics practice during the first five years of life. Therefore treatment and prevention of the otitis media are of considerable importance. A review of the literature of the otitis media during the pediatric age is reported. In fact in the last years a large amount of knowledge, sometimes referring discordant opinions, has been acquired. The Authors report epidemiology, anatomy, pathology, physiology, microbiology, classification, clinical data diagnosis and therapy of the otitis media. Common conditions of the middle ear (normal, acute otitis media, chronic otitis media, recurrent otitis media) are described. In particular acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, perforation of the tympanic membrane, fluid level in the middle ear, severe retraction or bulging of the tympanic membrane are pointed out in color-photographs.

[Implementation of a computerized pharmacological database for pediatric use]. / Realizzazione di un archivio farmacologico computerizzato ad uso pediatrico.

The authors present a pharmacological database to support teaching and care activity carried out in the Divisional Paediatric Ambulatory of the Catholic University of Rome. This database is included in a integrated system, ARPIA (Ambulatory and Research in Pediatric by Information Assistance), devoted to manage ambulatory paediatric data. ARPIA has been implemented by using a relational DBMS, very cheap and highly diffused on personal computers. The database specifies: active ingredient and code number related to it, clinical uses, doses, contra-indications and precautions, adverse effects, besides the possible wrapping available on the market. All this is showed on a single for that appears on the screen and allows a fast reading of the most important elements characterizing every drug. The search of the included drugs can be made on the basis of three different detailed lists: active ingredient, proprietary preparation and clinical use. It is, besides, possible to have a complete report about the drugs requested by the user. This system allows the user, without modifying the program, to interact with the included data modifying each element of the form. In the system there is also a fast consultation handbook containing for every active ingredient, the complete list of italian proprietary medicines. This system aims to give a better knowledge of the most commonly used drugs, not only limited to the paediatrician but also to the ambulatory health staff; an improvement of the therapy furthering, a more effective use of several pharmacological agents and first of all a training device not only to specialists but also to students.