Rotavirus gastroenteritis in children in 4 regions in Brazil: a hospital-based surveillance study.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is a major cause of gastroenteritis in children. Knowledge of rotavirus genotypes is important for vaccination strategies. METHODS: During 2005-2006, rotavirus surveillance studies were conducted in São Paulo, Salvador, Goiânia, and Porto Alegre, Brazil. Stool samples were collected from children <5 years of age who had diarrhea and were screened by the Rotaclone Enzyme Immunoassay for the presence of rotavirus. Confirmed rotavirus-positive samples were characterized for P and G genotypes by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: A total of 510 stool samples were collected. Of these, 221 (43.3%) were positive for rotavirus. Overall, G9 was the predominant G type, followed by G2, and G1; P[4] and P[8] were the predominant P types. The most frequent G/P genotype combination detected was G2P[4], followed by G9P[8], G9P[4], and G1P[8]. G2P[4] was the predominant type in Goiânia and Salvador; G9P[8] and G1P[8] were predominant in São Paulo and Porto Alegre, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence, seasonality, and genotype distribution of rotavirus infection varied in different regions in Brazil. With immunization programs, continuous monitoring of rotavirus types is important to detect novel and emerging strains.

Barriers for HIV testing during pregnancy in Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess HIV testing rate and determine risk factors for not have been tested during pregnancy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from December 2000 to February 2001. Socioeconomic, maternal and healthcare variables were obtained by means of a standardized questionnaire. Crude and adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals were obtained in logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 1,642 mothers were interviewed. Of them, 94.3% reported being offered HIV testing before or during pregnancy or during labor; 89 mothers (5.4%) were not tested or did not know if they were tested. Attending fewer than six prenatal visits, being single and younger than 18 years old were relevant barriers preventing HIV testing. There was found a relationship between maternal schooling and the category of prenatal care provider. Having low 22.20 (12.43-39.67) or high 3.38 (1.86-7.68). schooling and being cared in the private sector strongly reduced the likelihood of being HIV tested. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian Health Ministry's recommendation for universal counseling and HIV testing has been successfully implemented in the public sector. In order to improve HIV testing coverage, new strategies need to target women cared in the private sector especially those of low schooling.

Barriers for HIV testing during pregnancy in Southern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão de realização do teste para a detecção do HIV e os fatores de risco para a sua não realização durante a gestação. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em Porto Alegre, de dezembro de 2000 a fevereiro de 2001. Foram obtidas de puérperas variáveis biológicas, demográficas e sociais por meio de questionário padronizado. Foi elaborado modelo de regressão logística para determinar os fatores risco para não ser testada para a detecção do HIV. RESULTADOS: Foram entrevistadas 1.642 mães. Destas, 94,3 por cento informaram testadas para o HIV. Oitenta e nove (5,4 por cento) não foram testadas para HIV ou não sabiam se haviam feito o teste. Realizar menos do que seis consultas pré-natais, ausência de companheiro e idade inferior a 18 anos foram fatores de risco para não realização do teste. Houve interação entre escolaridade materna e categoria do atendimento pré-natal. Baixa escolaridade 22,20 (12,43-39,67) e alta escolaridade 3,38 (1,86-7,68) com acompanhamento pré-natal no setor privado foram condições preponderantes para não realização do teste de detecção do HIV. CONCLUSÕES: A testagem universal para a detecção do HIV durante o pré-natal no setor público foi implementada com sucesso pelo Ministério da Saúde. Contudo, novas intervenções e estratégias necessitam ser direcionadas objetivando ampliar o acesso ao diagnóstico da infecção por HIV no setor privado.

Voluntary HIV counseling and testing during prenatal care in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Voluntary HIV counseling and testing are provided to all Brazilian pregnant women with the purpose of reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission. The purpose of the study was to assess characteristics of HIV testing and identify factors associated with HIV counseling and testing. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 1,658 mothers living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Biological, reproductive and social variables were obtained from mothers by means of a standardized questionnaire. Being counseling about HIV testing was the dependent variable. Confidence intervals, chi-square test and hierarchical logistic model were used to determine the association between counseling and maternal variables. RESULTS: Of 1,658 mothers interviewed, 1,603 or 96.7% (95% CI: 95.7-97.5) underwent HIV testing, and 51 or 3.1% (95% CI: 2.3-4.0) were not tested. Four (0.2%) refused to undergo testing after counseling. Of 51 women not tested in this study, 30 had undergone the testing previously. Of 1,603 women tested, 630 or 39.3% (95% CI: 36.9-41.7) received counseling, 947 or 59.2% (95% CI: 56.6-61.5) did not, and 26 (1.6%) did not inform. Low income, lack of prenatal care, late beginning of prenatal care, use of rapid testing, and receiving prenatal in the public sector were variables independently associated with a lower probability of getting counseling about HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings confirmed the high rate of prenatal HIV testing in Porto Alegre. However, women coming from less privileged social groups were less likely to receive information and benefit from counseling.

Voluntary HIV counseling and testing during prenatal care in Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Voluntary HIV counseling and testing are provided to all Brazilian pregnant women with the purpose of reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission. The purpose of the study was to assess characteristics of HIV testing and identify factors associated with HIV counseling and testing. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out comprising 1,658 mothers living in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Biological, reproductive and social variables were obtained from mothers by means of a standardized questionnaire. Being counseling about HIV testing was the dependent variable. Confidence intervals, chi-square test and hierarchical logistic model were used to determine the association between counseling and maternal variables. RESULTS: Of 1,658 mothers interviewed, 1,603 or 96.7 percent (95 percent CI: 95.7-97.5) underwent HIV testing, and 51 or 3.1 percent (95 percent CI: 2.3-4.0) were not tested. Four (0.2 percent) refused to undergo testing after counseling. Of 51 women not tested in this study, 30 had undergone the testing previously. Of 1,603 women tested, 630 or 39.3 percent (95 percent CI: 36.9-41.7) received counseling, 947 or 59.2 percent (95 percent CI: 56.6-61.5) did not, and 26 (1.6 percent) did not inform. Low income, lack of prenatal care, late beginning of prenatal care, use of rapid testing, and receiving prenatal in the public sector were variables independently associated with a lower probability of getting counseling about HIV testing. CONCLUSIONS: The study findings confirmed the high rate of prenatal HIV testing in Porto Alegre. However, women coming from less privileged social groups were less likely to receive information and benefit from counseling.

Tosse na criança / Cough in children

A tosse crônica é um problema bastante freqüente no consultório do pediatra generalista. A tosse näo é uma doença, mas apenas um sintoma de alguma patologia subjacente e a busca de um diagnóstico etiológico específico é de vital importância nesses casos. Os autores propöem uma abordagem eminentemente clínica que facilita a elucidaçäo diagnóstica e o tratamento específico de causa básica, enfatizando o papel limitado dos medicamentos sintomáticos

Pulsoterapia com metilprednisolona em dermatomiosite infantil / Pulsotherapy with methylprednisolone in infantile dermatomyositis

O presente trabalho refere-se a caso de dermatomiosite infantil refratária à terapêutica convencional, que foi controlada com pulsoterapia de metilprednisolona. A paciente permanece em controle ambulatorial no Serviço de Reumatologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, estando há quase quatro anos sem qualquer medicaçäo

A criança espancada: um alerta para o diagnóstico / Battered child: a warning for the diagnosis

Revisam-se aspectos característicos da Síndrome da Criança Espancada, apresentando dois casos em que estäo presentes maus tratos, negaçäo do espancamento, história contraditória e fraturas múltiplas. Visando padronizar o atendimento da criança espancada propöe-se que os casos suspeitos sejam acompanhados através de um roteiro previamente determinado e seja adotada uma rotina para o manejo imediato dos casos diagnosticados