ABSTRACT
The authors present five cases of large palatine ulcers of a traumatic nature in infants, with duration from two weeks to four months. Causal diagnosis was difficult at first until the possibility of trauma caused by non-orthodontic nipples (all cases) and dummies (4)--Bednar's aphthae--was considered. Other problems related to sucking were observed: a horizontal position for nursing (all) and very narrow nipple hole (4). The infants' mothers were advised to enlarge the orifice in the nipple and correct the position for nursing (3 cases) and, in addition, to suspend use of a dummy (1 case) and discontinue use of a bottle and dummy (1 case). All of the ulcers healed within a period from one to four weeks. Small scars remained in two of the children.
Subject(s)
Bottle Feeding/adverse effects , Stomatitis, Aphthous/diagnosis , Stomatitis, Aphthous/etiology , Bottle Feeding/methods , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Palate , Prognosis , Stomatitis, Aphthous/therapy , Wounds and InjuriesABSTRACT
82 febrile young infants were studied, prospectively, at the Emergency Service in Hospital Universitário-University of São Paulo. All the children were kept at the Emergency ward for 24 hours. Clinical and laboratory investigations were performed and when necessary, administration of antibiotic agents were started. 18 infants exhibited potentially severe bacterial infections (21.9%). Several important disorders were recognized in 40 infants (48.8%). All infants were followed until the end of the febrile episode: 20 children as inpatients and 62 as outpatients. 38 infants received antibiotic therapy (46.3%). Evolution was satisfactory in all patients. The authors detected in young febrile infants potentially dangerous clinical conditions that need close observation, laboratorial investigation and frequently antimicrobial therapy. The observation period at the Emergency ward was important to allow these procedures and to decide about hospitalization need.
