[Consumption of medicinal herbs in patients attending a gastroenterology outpatient clinic]. / Consumo de hierbas medicinales en los pacientes de consultas externas de digestivo.

The consumption of medicinal herbs is one of the most important topics in alternative and complementary medicine. The widespread use of these substances among the general population gives rise to the possibility of therapeutic or toxic effects in patients seeking conventional medical assistance. To determine the frequency of medicinal herb use, the species consumed and the profile of medicinal herb consumers among patients with gastrointestinal disorders, patients attending the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of the Francesc de Borja district hospital (Gandía, Spain) over a 5-month period were interviewed and 539 valid questionnaires were obtained. A total of 34.7% of the interviewees had taken medicinal herbs at some time and 26.9% had used them in the last year. Self-prescription was reported by 67.1%. Medicinal herbs were mainly obtained in the pharmacy or herbalist's (74.7%). The results of medicinal herb therapy were considered good or excellent by 80.3% of the interviewees, average by 18.6% and poor by 1.1%. In the univariate analysis, medicinal herb consumption was positively associated with female sex (p < 0.001), a university education (p < 0.05), consumption of psychotropic drugs (p < 0.005), use of trencar l'enfit (TE, a common practice of magic medicine in Valencia) (p < 0.001), functional gastrointestinal disorders (p < 0.005) and a diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal disorder (p < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the variables that remained statistically significant were female sex (p < 0.005), university education (p < 0.01), use of TE and a diagnosis of lower gastrointestinal disorder. Fifty-seven botanical varieties were used. The most frequent varieties were Santolina chamaecyparissus (18.8%), Tilia platyphyllos (6.5%), Thymus vulgaris (6%), Equisetum ramosissimum (4.7%), Mentha pulegium (4.4%) and Valeriana officinalis (4.4%). The results show that consumption of medicinal herbs is frequent among patients attending the gastroenterology outpatient clinic of a district hospital. The probable profile of those showing maximum consumption is: female sex, university education, lower gastrointestinal disorder, functional gastrointestinal disorder, psychotropic drug consumption and use of TE.

[Rotavirus infection: clinical characteristics and time of elimination of the rotavirus antigen in the feces]. / Infección por rotavirus: características clínicas y tiempo de eliminación del antígeno de rotavirus en heces.

BACKGROUND: A prospective study was performed during three years with 76 children hospitalized with the diagnose of rotaviral gastroenteritis. The aim of our study were to evaluate the clinical features of the rotaviral gastroenteritis, the excretion time of rotavirus in stools and the nosocomial rotavirus infection. METHODS: The detection of the rotaviral antigen in stool was performed using a rapid test based on latex aglutination (Rotalex). For the determination of the excretion time of rotavirus in stools the test was performed daily in 69 children until the results was negative. Furthermore, a clinical study of the patients was carried out. RESULTS: In 39 cases (51.3%) the gastroenteritis was acquired in the community and 37 cases (48.7%) were nosocomially acquired. The most frequent clinical presentation was an acute diarrhea (96%) with vomiting (63.2%) and fever (63.2%). Only three patients did not have diarrhea. The mean duration of diarrhea was between 3-4 days with a highest duration of 10 days. Most of the patients (58%) had an excretion time of rotaviral antigen lower or equal than 3 days, with an extreme value of 14 days. CONCLUSIONS: In our study rotaviral infection occurred mainly in the cooler winter months and in children younger than 6 months of age. A high nosocomial infection level (48.7%) was detected. Vomiting often preceded the onset of diarrhea and fever. The excretion time of rotaviral antigen was independent of the clinical course.

Mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus in children: a comparative study of 124 cases.

We present 124 children who had mononucleosis. The patients were selected according to strict clinical features. Twenty (16.1%) of the 124 children were proved to have cytomegalovirus mononucleosis and 104 (83.8%) children had Epstein-Barr virus mononucleosis. The symptoms were similar in both groups. Significant differences were found only for the presence of cervical lymphadenopathy, which was more frequent in the Epstein-Barr group (83.2%) compared with the cytomegalovirus group (75%). Fever was the most frequent symptom in both groups. Cytomegalovirus mononucleosis was significantly more frequent in children younger than 4 years.

[Infectious mononucleosis in children]. / Mononucleosis infecciosa en el niño.

50 cases of infectious mononucleosis by Epstein-Barr virus were studied in patients over and under 4 years age. Clinical evolution did not show any statistical differences between both age groups, except for splenomegalia which was more common in children under 4. Serology was divided into 3 groups: children under 4 year, between 4 and 5 and those over 5 years of age. First group exhibited a positive Davinsonh test in 15.3% of cases; second group in 33.3% and third in 80%. IgG antibodies against virus capsid were positive in 86% of cases with an equal distribution according to age groups. IgM antibodies were positive in 66%, not exhibiting any disparity in age groups.

[Natural history of urinary tract infection in children]. / Historia natural de las infecciones del tracto urinario en niños

Urinary tract infection was studied in 61 children whose ages ranged between 6 months and 9 years. History, symptoms, urine cultures and renal function are compared between those with normal radiology and those with pyelonephritis and/or reflux and obstructive lesions. Prognosis was analized in these two groups.

[Urinary tract infection in early infancy, study of 15 cases]. / Infección urinaria sintomática en el lactante pequeño. Anánisis de 15 casos

Urinary tract infection in the newborn shows peculiar characteristics not found in older children. 15 cases of urinary tract infection in infants aged 7 days to 2 months are presented. There is higher incidence in males (11 m./4 f.). Severe clinical picture diverse and undefined clinical course, incidence of jaundice radiological findings and posterior evolution are specially noted. Early diagnosis and effective management lined in base to evolution and prognosis. Hospital stay varied between 2 and 12 weeks. No deaths were registered.