Estudio piloto de seguridad y eficacia descongestiva del ácido hialurónico al 0.2% / Pilot study of safety and decongestant efficacy of 0.2% hyaluronic acid

Introducción: Los síntomas de congestión nasal tienen una influencia negativa en la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Los tratamientos disponibles son parcialmente eficaces, por lo que es deseable el desarrollo de productos que ayuden a aliviar estos síntomas. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la efectividad y la tolerabilidad de un inhalador con ácido hialurónico en niños. Material y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio piloto, prospectivo, multicéntrico, no comparativo, con un inhalador con ácido hialurónico al 0,2%, en niños de 2-11 años de edad que presentaban congestión nasal. El inhalador se administró durante 7 días, con dos visitas, una de inicio (día 0) y otra final (día 7), y un registro domiciliario diario de los síntomas. Se evaluaron la efectividad, la tolerabilidad, la facilidad de uso y la satisfacción de los usuarios. Resultados: El estudio se realizó en 99 pacientes. Se observaron mejoras estadísticamente significativas (p <0,001) entre la visita inicial y la final, así como en las valoraciones al tercer y sexto días, en cuanto a congestión nasal, dificultad para respirar por la nariz, moqueo, respiración bucal de día y de noche y dificultad para dormir, comer y realizar una actividad física. La satisfacción de los usuarios e investigadores fue mayor del 80%. Conclusiones: El inhalador con ácido hialurónico tuvo gran efectividad y buena tolerabilidad en niños con síntomas de congestión nasal, y fue valorado muy positivamente por parte de los investigadores, los padres y los niños mayores de 8 años

Background: Persistent congestive nasal symptoms have a negative influence on patients' quality of life, daily activities and sleep. The current available treatments are partly effective, and it would be desirable to develop products which help to relieve these symptoms. The purpose of this study was to research into the effectiveness and safety of a nasal spray with hyaluronic acid in children. Methods: This was a pilot, prospective, multicentric, uncontrolled study with a 0.2% hyaluronic acid nasal spray, tested in children aged from 2 to 11 with nasal congestion. The spray was used for 7 days, with two visits, basal (day 0) and final (day 7), and a daily record of symptoms by parents. Effectiveness, safety, ease of use and users’ satisfaction were assessed. Results: 99 patients were included. Statistically significant improvements (p <0.001) were observed in the parameters studied between basal and final visits, and at the third and sixth day: nasal congestion, difficulty in breathing through the nose, runny nose, breathing through the mouth during the day and during the night, and difficulty in sleeping, eating and performing physical activities. Satisfaction of users and researchers was greater than 80%. Conclusions: The nasal spray with hyaluronic acid had high effectiveness and safety in children with nasal congestion symptoms, and was evaluated very positively by researchers, parents and children older than 8

[Acute ethmoiditis. A review of 38 cases]. / Etmoiditis aguda. Revisión de 38 casos.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of computerized tomography (CT) scan in the diagnosis and management of the complications of acute ethmoiditis in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective revision of the records of pediatric patients admitted to Sant Joan de Déu Hospital from January 1985 to June 1994 was performed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight children (22 males and 16 females) between the ages of 18 months and 15 years (mean age 6.5 years) were studied. All of the patients had eyelid afflictions; 5 (13.2%) with eyelid edema and 33 (86.8%) with periorbital cellulitis. All of them were unilateral without side predominance. The signs and symptoms included fever (37) and orbital pain and headache (24), with 28 patients presenting other forms of sinusitis. CT scan was applied in 24 children (63%). Thirteen of these patients demonstrated complications of the orbit, 6 with orbital cellulitis, 4 subperiosteal abscess and 3 orbital abscesses. Surgery was performed in 3 cases. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the CT scan is a radiological procedure that must be applied when there are signs or symptoms compatible with orbital complications. Patients should also be scanned if their exam is worse or unchanged after 24-48 hours of antibiotic therapy. Early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment can prevent complications subsidiary of surgery.