[Acute otitis media in a pediatric primary care unit]. / Otitis media aguda en un centro de salud.

BACKGROUND: Acute otitis media (AOM) is a serious public health problem and is considered one of the most common diagnoses in pediatric outpatient units. The aim of this study was to asses the incidence and distribution of AOM by age, sex, number of visits per episode, and the most frequent symptoms and signs in four pediatric primary care units. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 12-month (1 September 2000 to 31 August 2001), prospective study was carried out in a primary care center on the outskirts of Madrid. RESULTS: During the study period there were 1,098 consultations for AOM in 521 patients. The overall incidence per 100,000 children aged less than 14 years was 12,080 cases (95 % CI: 11,120-13,090). The highest incidence per 100,000 children was in children aged 12-23 months with 38,780 cases (95 % CI: 33,340-44,430). A total of 34.5 % of the children diagnosed with AOM were aged less than 2 years. Ninety-six percent of the children received antibiotics. Most (81.4 %) of the children were completely cured while symptoms persisted in 15.4 %. A minority of the children (3.5 %) were referred to the otolaryngology department.

Otitis media aguda en un centro de salud / Acute otitis media in a pediatric primary care unit

Antecedentes: La otitis media aguda (OMA) supone un importante problema de salud pública debido a su alta frecuencia, y se considera un diagnóstico muy frecuente en las consultas de Pediatría. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer la incidencia de OMA atendidas en cuatro consultas de Pediatría, así como conocer su distribución por edad y sexo, número de visitas realizadas por episodio, y síntomas y signos otoscópicos más frecuentes. Pacientes y métodos: Se trata de un estudio de casos clínicos prospectivos realizado en un Centro de Salud periurbano de Madrid durante un período de 12 meses (septiembre 2000-agosto 2001). Resultados: Durante el período de estudio se atendieron 1.098 visitas motivadas por OMA en 521 pacientes. La incidencia total fue de 12.080 casos por cada 100.000 menores de 14 años (intervalo de confianza del 95 por ciento [IC 95 por ciento], 11.120-13.090). Con una incidencia máxima entre los 12 y los 23 meses de edad con 38.780 casos por cada 100.000 niños (IC 95 por ciento, 33.340-44.430). Un 34,5 por ciento de los niños diagnosticados de OMA eran menores de 2 años de edad. El 96 por ciento de los pacientes recibieron tratamiento antibiótico. El 81,4 por ciento de los niños presentaron una curación completa, mientras que en el 15,4 por ciento de los casos se observó persistencia de la sintomatología. El 3,5 por ciento de los niños fueron derivados al otorrinolaringólogo (AU)

[Prevalence of hepatitis caused by A, B and D virus in children]. / Prevalencia de hepatitis por virus A, B y D en niños.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence due to hepatitis A, B and D viruses infection in children. A total of 286 children from Madrid area with ages ranging between 0 and 13 years were included. The sample was randomized with respect to the sex and age referring to the total population of Madrid. The anti-HAV was positive in 15.16% of cases, with an increasing lineal correlation with age. Any marker of HBV infection was found in 6.6% and HBsAg in 1.4%. There was an exponential correlation between the carrier state and the age, with a maximum at the first year and diminishing thereafter with age. The 21% of the cases with positive HBV-markers were HBsAg carriers. A predominant perinatal and intrafamiliar transmission of HBV was detected. Our results indicate a intermediate prevalence of HBV infection in Spain, suggesting the importance of HBsAg detection in pregnant women. None of the HBV-infected cases had anti-HD.

[Infectious complications of parenteral nutrition in infants (author's transl)]. / Complicaciones infecciosas de la alimentación parenteraln lactantes

Infectious complications found in twenty five infants with parenteral nutrition secondary to gastrointestinal problems are presented. The mean age was of 3.5 months, being mean duration of treatment 39 days/infant and mean weight increment of 19.3 g./day. In two infants a central catheter was used and peripheric veins in the rest using the three elemental nutrients. Clinical, analytic and bacteriologic studies were made during parenteral nutrition. Hemocultives, five of nutrients rests and in four catheters were positive. Three of septicemias were in direct relation with parenteral nutrition, two via central catheter and one by peripheric vein. Finally some rules to avoid infectious complications are pointed out.