Prevalence of epilepsy amongst adolescents in Huesca, Spain: a community-based study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of this work was to investigate the prevalence of epilepsy in adolescence in the province of Huesca, a region situated in the north of Spain, and to compare the findings with other studies. METHODS: All patients aged 10-19 with epilepsy on January 2003 residing in this area, were identified from multiple sources. We followed the guidelines of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) for epidemiological studies. Collected data were examined by experts in the field of epilepsy, and all the patients were reevaluated using a diagnostic questionnaire. We identified the type of epilepsy, age at onset, duration, etiological agents and development. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-two cases of active epilepsy were found, and 23 in remission. The prevalence for active epilepsy was 6.3/1000 (95% CI 5.2-7.4); slightly higher in women and the 15-19 age group. We observed a predominance of generalized seizures. The age of onset ranged from 7 months to 16 years. Duration ranged from 1 to 18 years. Eighty percentage of cases were classified as idiopathic or cryptogenic and 19.7% as symptomatic. CONCLUSION: Our results are comparable with the majority of studies carried out in industrialized countries.

[Validity of a score of clinical parameters as a screening method in acute bacterial diarrhea in childhood]. / Validez de una escala de puntuación de parámetros clínicos como método screening de diarrea aguda bacteriana en la infancia.

We report a prospective study of the cases of acute diarrhea admitted to our pediatric service during one year (n = 172) to elaborate a screening method to identify patients with bacterial diarrhea. A bacterial causative organism was identified in 31.4%. The most common species was Salmonella, followed by Campylobacter. We evaluated the clinical presentation parameters, looking for differences between the group were a bacterial organism was isolated and in the group where it was not. We designated a score valid as a first level screening for bacterial diarrhea. With a score greater than or equal to 7 the sensitivity was 81.5% and the specificity 60.2%. The latter increased to 95% when occult blood in feces was associated with the greater than or equal to 7 score (second screening level). We propose this clinical score as a criterion for the indication of fecal cultures in children with acute gastroenteritis.

[Visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis in Huesca. Epidemiologic aspects]. / Leishmaniosis visceral y cutánea en Huesca. Aspectos epidemiológicos.

The authors present a study of twelve children affected with leishmaniasis, observed in the province of Huesca (Spain). Three of the patients presented visceral form and the other nine cutaneous form. The clinical, evolutive and therapeutic aspects of this disease are analyzed, with special reference to the epidemiological aspects, since the incidence has been found to be high in an area in which the disease is not considered endemic.

[Mucolipidosis III. Apropos of a case]. / Mucolipidosis III. A propósito de un caso.

Authors present a case of mucolipidosis III diagnosed in a boy suffering from articular retractions, platyspondylia and a normal mucolysacchariduria. Biochemical characteristics of the lisosomial enzyme, reduced in fibroblasts in culture and increased in biological fluids allow such diagnose. Primary enzyme lack being not yet explained, authors comment upon the hypothesis trying to explain biochemical findings.