RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To assess the side-effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy in children with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: This prospective study was performed on one hundred children by interviewing the patients and their parents; clinical examinations and laboratory investigations were performed during and after therapy. RESULTS: The most frequent side-effects of IFN-alpha therapy were fever, flu-like symptoms, and headaches. Lowering of the mean haemoglobin level, leukocyte and platelet count was significant, but transient during INF-alpha treatment. No increase in autoantibody titres or significant alterations in thyroid function was observed. Twelve months after treatment, hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) elimination and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization was achieved in 46% of the children; HBeAg and hepatatis B surface antigen (HBsAg) elimination, together with ALT normalization, was achieved in 14% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The side-effects of the IFN-alpha therapy in children such as fever, flu-like symptoms and bone marrow suppression are common, but transient and mild.
Assuntos
Antivirais/efeitos adversos , Hepatite B Crônica/tratamento farmacológico , Interferon-alfa/efeitos adversos , Adolescente , Alanina Transaminase/sangue , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Apetite/efeitos dos fármacos , Plaquetas/efeitos dos fármacos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Febre/induzido quimicamente , Cefaleia/induzido quimicamente , Humanos , Lactente , Interferon-alfa/uso terapêutico , Leucócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Estudos Prospectivos , Estatística como Assunto , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
The purpose of this review was to evaluate possible differentiation between various causes of different types of cholestatic jaundice in children. Analyses were performed in 33 infants from 3 weeks to 3.5 years old with symptoms of cholestatic jaundice. The most frequent causes of cholestasis were congenital atresia of extrahepatic bile ducts (30%) and the CMV infection (20%). On the basis of the performed examinations it should be concluded that in order to differentiate between the causes of cholestatic jaundice it is necessary to do a series of tests as there is no specific diagnostic method which would be effective.
Assuntos
Colestase/classificação , Colestase/diagnóstico , Ductos Biliares Extra-Hepáticos , Atresia Biliar/complicações , Atresia Biliar/diagnóstico , Colestase/etiologia , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/complicações , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/diagnóstico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Subdural empyemas are a rare, life-threatening complication of cerebrospinal meningitis. Two cases of subdural empyemas which occurred as early complications after cerebrospinal meningitis in infants are presented. Utilization of modern diagnostic methods, such as US and CT allowed to establish an early diagnosis, which made it possible to institute appropriate treatment, involving evacuation of the purulent content with local application of antibiotics followed by intravenous antibiotics well penetrating the fluid-filled compartments of the CNS. Early institution of treatment gave a chance of complete recovery in both presented cases.
