ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome in obese children and adolescents. SUBJECTS: The cohort consisted of 518 patients, 250 boys, 268 girls, age +/- sd: 11.8 +/- 3.2 years, BMIsds +/- sd: 2.94 +/- 0.5. A standard OGTT was performed. RESULTS: Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 9.4% of the boys and 5.5% of the girls. Impaired fasting glucose was found in 12.4% of the boys and 11.6% of the girls. The metabolic syndrome was present in 13.9% of children of 10 years or older. The proportion in which the metabolic syndrome was diagnosed was essentially not altered when pubertal groups were used instead of age groups. CONCLUSION: Both impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance as well as the metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent among obese children and adolescents.
Subject(s)
Insulin Resistance , Metabolic Syndrome/etiology , Obesity/complications , Adolescent , Age Factors , Child , Fasting/metabolism , Female , Glucose Intolerance , Humans , Male , Referral and ConsultationSubject(s)
Arachis/immunology , Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology , Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology , Skin/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Antibody Specificity , Child , Dermatitis, Atopic/blood , Humans , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Male , Milk Hypersensitivity/blood , Milk Hypersensitivity/immunology , Skin/cytologyABSTRACT
Constitutional eczema (late atopic dermatitis) is a frequent condition: some 30% of the skin diseases seen by the GP involve constitutional eczema. A number of links with (external) factors have meanwhile been established. Patients with constitutional eczema often suffer from food allergy (over 60% of the children with the eczema) and many are allergic to airborne allergens (especially housedust mite allergen). The skin of patients with constitutional eczema has a diminished barrier function against irritants (soaps, acids, bases, water, detergents, biological juices (fruit, meat, fish, vegetables). In 90% of the patients with constitutional eczema the skin contains colonies of Staphylococcus aureus (in 5% of people without eczema). S. aureus can influence the eczema through exoantigens (so-called superantigens) and through conventional antigens that may evoke an IgE-mediated immune response. Emotional stress may influence the eczema. The close anatomical relationship between mast cells and nerve endings and between Langerhans cells and nerve endings suggest that the autonomous nervous system can modulate the immune system of the skin and consequently, the eczema. These factors should be taken into account in the treatment: reduction of exposure to food and airborne allergens and to irritants, treatment and prevention of S. aureus infections and psychological support. New therapies include cyclosporine, autologous IgG antigen complexes and phototherapy.
Subject(s)
Eczema/immunology , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Adult , Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Autonomic Nervous System/immunology , Combined Modality Therapy , Eczema/diagnosis , Eczema/microbiology , Eczema/therapy , Food Hypersensitivity/immunology , Humans , Hypersensitivity/diagnosis , Infant , Skin/innervation , Staphylococcal Infections/prevention & control , Staphylococcus aureus/immunology , Superantigens/immunologySubject(s)
Edible Grain , Fluid Therapy , Hydroxides , Potassium Compounds , Potassium , Acute Disease , Diarrhea/therapy , Humans , NigeriaABSTRACT
Sixty four children between 2.5 months and 5 years of age were randomly treated in a country hospital in Jos, Nigeria, with either the oral rehydration solution (ORS) as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) or a cereal-based electrolyte solution, containing 60 g/l sorghum powder. Both groups were well comparable in many aspects, except for the nutritional status and the use of ORS before admission. In both aspects the sorghum-ORS group was at a disadvantage. During treatment there were no significant differences between the two groups in amount of fluid used, number of stools and duration of diarrhoea. Though weight gain in the two treatment groups was not significantly different, median weight gain in the sorghum-ORS group was 295 g, vs 155 in the WHO-ORS group. Seven children died, two (6%) in the sorghum-ORS group and five (17%) in the WHO-ORS group. Sorghum-ORS was well accepted and tolerated. This study suggests that sorghum-ORS can safely be used as an alternative in the treatment of diarrhoea.
Subject(s)
Diarrhea/therapy , Edible Grain , Fluid Therapy , Acute Disease , Body Weight , Child, Preschool , Diarrhea/diagnosis , Female , Fluid Therapy/methods , Humans , Male , Nigeria , Nutritional Status , Random AllocationABSTRACT
A girl with periodic weakness since the age of two, is presented. Not until four years after the first symptoms appeared hypokalaemic periodic paralysis was diagnosed. Some aspects of this disease are discussed.
Subject(s)
Hypokalemia/diagnosis , Paralyses, Familial Periodic/diagnosis , Child , Electrocardiography , Electromyography , Female , Humans , Hypokalemia/complications , Paralyses, Familial Periodic/drug therapy , Paralyses, Familial Periodic/etiology , Potassium/blood , Potassium/therapeutic useABSTRACT
The first case of Actinobacillus actinomycetem-comitans endocarditis in a child with a prosthetic cardiac valve is reported. Endocarditis was possibly caused by dental work done without antibiotic prophylaxis four weeks prior to admission.
