Head trauma in the haemophilic child and management in a paediatric emergency department: Descriptive study.

INTRODUCTION: Haemophilia is one of the most common inherited bleeding disorders in the Emergency Department (ED). The most dangerous site of bleeding is the central nervous system. AIMS: To describe the characteristics of haemophiliacs arrived to our ED following a head trauma and to analyse the incidence of intracranial haemorrhage (ICH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective, analytical, observational study, conducted in a Paediatric ED. We included haemophilic patients aged from birth to 16 years who consulted after a head trauma over a 6-year period. Data collected included age, type of haemophilia and head trauma, symptoms, prophylaxis status, CT imaging, treatment and number of visits to the ED. RESULTS: About 46 males and 85 episodes were analysed. The median age was 2.38 years. Severe haemophilia A was the most frequent type of disease (50%). All head injuries were mild, and the most frequent mechanism was a collision with an object (38.8%). In 62 episodes (72.9%) the patients were asymptomatic. The rest 23 events had symptomatology, being the most common headache (26%), emesis (21.7%) and drowsiness (17.4%). Head CT was obtained in 31 episodes, founding altered results in 10 (6 of them corresponding to ICH). All the patients with ICH had symptomatology. About 37 episodes required admission. CONCLUSION: Intracranial haemorrhage is one of the most dangerous events in haemophiliacs and it may occur after a head trauma. Our study suggests that, in case of head trauma, CT must be obtained in symptomatic patients and in those with additional risk factors. Asymptomatic patients must have prolonged observation.

Los riesgos del empleo de reptiles como animales de compañía / Risk of use of reptiles as pets

En los últimos años se ha incrementado el número de familias que tienen animales exóticos como mascotas, que en ocasiones actúan como reservorio de subespecies poco habituales de patógenos gastrointestinales. Se presenta el caso de un niño con gastroenteritis aguda por Salmonella arizonae, una subespecie de la Salmonella enterica cuyo reservorio es principalmente los reptiles (AU)

In the last years the number of families who have exotic animals as pets has been increased, sometimes acting as a reservoir of rare subspecies of gastrointestinal pathogens. We present the case of a child with acute gastroenteritis caused by S. arizonae (Salmonella enterica subspecies), whose main reservoir are reptiles (AU)

Intoxicación por antitusivos: a propósito de un caso / Antitussives’ poisoning: a case report

Los medicamentos antitusivos son de uso habitual dentro del ámbito pediátrico, a pesar de que su eficacia no está claramente demostrada. La mayoría de las ingestas accidentales no suelen asociarse a complicaciones severas; sin embargo, en ocasiones pueden presentarse efectos secundarios potencialmente graves. Se presenta un caso de intoxicación con un producto antitusivo (AU)

Antitussive drugs are commonly used in Pediatrics, although their effectiveness is not clearly demonstrated. Most of the accidental intakes do not tend to be associated with severe complications; however sometimes potentially serious side effects may occur. A case of poisoning is presented with a cough suppressant product (AU)

Enfoque y manejo de la tartamudez / Approach and management of stuttering

La tartamudez es el trastorno del habla más frecuente en la edad pediátrica. Su etiología es multifactorial. El diagnóstico se basa en una correcta anamnesis y exploración clínica. Se describe un caso y se comentan los puntos clave de su manejo (AU)

Stuttering is the most common speech disorder in childhood. It has a multifactorial etiology. The diagnosis is based on clinical history and physical examination. A case is described and the key points of its management are discussed (AU)

[Inherited metabolic disorders in pediatric emergency services]. / Enfermedades metabólicas congénitas en un servicio de urgencias pediátricas.

INTRODUCTION: Advances in the early diagnosis and treatment have led to improved survival, and a better quality of life for patients with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD). They can go to the Pediatric Emergency Services (PES) for reasons unrelated to their disease. The purpose of this study was to review the characteristics of visitors to the PES of these patients in a tertiary hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted on all visits from patients with IMD to the PES of Hospital Infantil La Paz over the years 2011 and 2012. IMD type, complaint, duration of symptoms, need for hospitalization, and presence of metabolic decompensation was recorded. RESULTS: A total of 107 visits were analyzed, with the most frequent reason being for consultation of respiratory processes (30.8%). When the consultation was for vomiting, patients with protein-related disorders were those who delayed less in going to PES. One third of visitors were admitted, half of them due to metabolic decompensation of the underlying pathology. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IMD came to PES for many different reasons, which in some cases were the cause or consequence of an acute metabolic decompensation that led to hospitalization. Being diseases with low prevalence, it would be useful to have diagnostic and therapeutic protocols in order to provide optimal care.