[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in preschool age children. Its epidemiological prevalence in Navarra and La Rioja, Spain]. / Trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad en niños en edad preescolar. Prevalencia epidemiologica en Navarra y La Rioja, España.

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies about preschool attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) prevalence. AIM: To study the prevalence of ADHD in preschoolers using an specific scale (ADHD-RS-IV-P-Es) developed for this age range. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the prevalence of possible ADHD in a representative sample of preschoolers in Navarra and La Rioja, Spain. RESULTS: We find a range of prevalence between 2.5-4.1% depending on the criteria that was used (more or less strict). CONCLUSIONS: There are specific tools that can be use in preschool ADHD study. The prevalence of preschool ADHD in Spain is similar than in other countries. The frequency of symptoms in this age range is similar to the found in school age children.

TITLE: Trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad en niños en edad preescolar. Prevalencia epidemiologica en Navarra y La Rioja, España.Introduccion. La prevalencia del trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad (TDAH) esta en constante estudio, y hay pocas publicaciones sobre la prevalencia en niños preescolares. Objetivo. Estudiar la prevalencia de sintomas de TDAH en niños preescolares usando una escala especifica (ADHD Rating Scale-IV, version preescolar, validada para España) desarrollada para esta franja de edad. Sujetos y metodos. Se evalua la prevalencia de posible TDAH en una muestra representativa de preescolares en Navarra y La Rioja usando diferentes puntos de corte. Resultados. Se encuentra un rango de prevalencia de sintomas de TDAH del 2,5-4,1% segun el criterio usado (mas o menos estricto). Conclusiones. Existen herramientas especificas que pueden usarse para evaluar el TDAH en preescolares. La prevalencia de posible TDAH en preescolares en España es similar a la encontrada en otros paises. La frecuencia de sintomas en esta franja de edad no es mas alta que en otras edades, por lo que no es cierto que los sintomas de TDAH sean muy prevalentes en la poblacion general de niños preescolares.

Psychomotor development and learning difficulties in preschool children with probable attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: An epidemiological study in Navarre and La Rioja. / Desarrollo psicomotor y dificultades del aprendizaje en preescolares con probable trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad. Estudio epidemiológico en Navarra y La Rioja.

INTRODUCTION: ADHD symptoms begin to appear at preschool age. ADHD may have a significant negative impact on academic performance. In Spain, there are no standardized tools for detecting ADHD at preschool age, nor is there data about the incidence of this disorder. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate developmental factors and learning difficulties associated with probable ADHD and to assess the impact of ADHD in school performance. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study with a stratified multistage proportional cluster sample design. RESULTS: We found significant differences between probable ADHD and parents' perception of difficulties in expressive language, comprehension, and fine motor skills, as well as in emotions, concentration, behaviour, and relationships. Around 34% of preschool children with probable ADHD showed global learning difficulties, mainly in patients with the inattentive type. According to the multivariate analysis, learning difficulties were significantly associated with both delayed psychomotor development during the first 3 years of life (OR: 5.57) as assessed by parents, and probable ADHD (OR: 2.34) CONCLUSIONS: There is a connection between probable ADHD in preschool children and parents' perception of difficulties in several dimensions of development and learning. Early detection of ADHD at preschool ages is necessary to start prompt and effective clinical and educational interventions.

Parkinsonian syndrome in childhood after sodium valproate administration.

Among the side effects attributed to sodium valproate administration, the production of a parkinsonian syndrome is very uncommon, particularly in children. We report a 12-year-old girl with secondary epilepsy; 7 days after the initiation of valproate therapy she developed parkinsonism that disappeared completely when valproate was replaced by carbamazepine. We discuss the possible role of alterations in GABAergic neurotransmission in the extrapyramidal syndrome that developed.

[Gastroesophageal reflux in pediatric neurologic patients]. / Reflujo gastroesofágico en pacientes neurológicos pediátricos.

With the aim of evaluating the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in neurologic pediatric patients with severe motor and/or psychiatric involvement, a retrospective study of 140 infants followed at the Neuropediatric Unit was realized. Forty-five patients (32.1%) had moderate to severe mental retardation (ms RR), 21 of these patients had associated tetraparetic cerebral palsy (T-CP). The rest of the infants presented variable degrees of neurologic involvement: 25 diplegic (D-CP), 27 hemiparetic (H-CP), 22 with slight mental retardation or borderline IQ without motor deficit (SMR), and 21 had attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD-H). The diagnosis of GER was based on clinical symptomatology and barium ingestion with fluoroscopy and/or esophagoscopy. GER was confirmed in 27 patients: 19 (90.5%) with T-CP, 6 (25%) with ms-MR and 2 (8%) with D-CP. The rest of the infants did not have GER. There was a very significant difference in the frequency of GER in the T-CP group with respect to the other groups (p < 0.001) and a significant difference in the ms-MR patients with respect to the other groups (p < 0.05). The treatment of GER was surgical in ten patients (37%), after failure of medical treatment in 8; exclusively medical treatment in 10 cases (37%) and postural and dietetic treatment in 7 (26%) patients. Good control of GER, resulting in an improvement in the quality of life, occurred in 90% of the patients treated surgically and only in 55% of the patients treated medically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Chronologic study of signs of myocardiopathy in progressive muscular dystrophy]. / Estudio cronológico de los signos de miocardiopatía en las distrofias musculares progresivas.

In order to analyze the evolution of cardiomyopathy in progressive muscular dystrophies, thirty-three patients (17 with Duchenne type, 11 with Becker type and 5 with the autosomal recessive type dystrophy) were studied retrospectively. Cardiac and systemic follow-up every 3-6 months was made in 29 patients. The electrocardiogram was the first test that became altered, followed by the echocardiogram and thoracic radiograph and finally heart failure manifestations. There was a direct correlation between age and the appearance of abnormal cardiac tests. Electrocardiographic alterations, in patients who were less than 12.5 years of age, were significantly more frequent in the group with Duchenne dystrophy that in the no-Duchenne group. In regards to the appearance of the echocardiographic and radiographic abnormalities, there were no significant differences between the two groups. However, we have noticed a trend towards a more frequent and earlier presentation of these abnormalities in the Duchenne's muscular dystrophy than in the no-Duchenne group.

[Alternating hemiplegia. Partial effectiveness of treatment with flunarizine]. / Hemiplejía alternante. Efectividad parcial del tratamiento con flunarizina.

A case of alternating hemiplegia in a young girl is presented. The partial benefits of treatment with a calcium antagonist Flunarizine in this patient and in those reported in literature are reviewed. The onset of the disease in this girl was at three months of age with several episodes that were diagnosed as seizures; afterwards she presented, besides, repeated attacks of hemiplegia involving both sides of her body in an alternating way each time with daily frequency and hours of days of duration accompanied of bad mood and irritability as well as autonomic disturbances, oculomotor abnormalities, acquired mental retardation and residual focal neurological abnormalities. After one year of treatment with a calcium-entry blocker: Flunarizine, there was a 30% reduction in the attacks frequency as well as in its severity and stop of the progression of mental retardation. So we report the consequence of precocious diagnosis and treatment of this not well known entity whose clinical signs resemble paroxistic vascular anomalies in the brainstem territory.