Pertussis symptoms in adolescents and children versus infants: the influence of vaccination and age

This study compared the influence of age and immunization status on symptoms in pediatric patients with pertussis. The files of 60 children, aged 7 to 18 years and 20 infants aged up to 6 months, admitted to our pediatric hospital with a diagnosis of pertussis were reviewed. There were no between-group differences in day and night cough or vomiting. The older group had a longer mean interval to diagnosis than the infants, and the infant group had more symptoms of whooping cough, facial redness during cough, cyanosis, a higher white blood count, a higher percentage of lymphocytes, and more abnormal chest X-rays. Statistically significant differences were found between vaccinated and unvaccinated older children for whooping cough and white blood cell count. Daytime and nighttime coughs are common symptoms of pertussis in all pediatric age groups, regardless of vaccination status. High white blood count is related to immunization status, and percentage of lymphocytes is related to age. In infants, symptoms are more grave but are typical, leading to early diagnosis.     

Osteoporosis in children and adolescents: diagnosis, risk factors, and prevention

Bone mass acquired during childhood and adolescence is a key determinant of adult bone health. Peak bone mass, which is achieved in late adolescence, is a main determinant of osteoporosis in adulthood. Therefore, any factor adversely impacting on bone acquisition during childhood or adolescence can potentially have long-standing detrimental effects on bone health predisposing to osteoporosis and fracture risk. Thus, osteoporosis can well have its origin in childhood and adolescence. Pediatricians should be playing an active role in osteoporosis diagnosis and prevention. It is increasingly recognized that osteoporosis may occur in some disorders of children and adolescents. In this paper we review the diagnostic criteria of osteopenia/osteoporosis by densitometric assessment of bone mineral density, the contributing factors, and the mechanisms whereby several disorders may affect the acquisition of bone mass in children and adolescents. Finally, some recommendations to optimize peak bone mass in order to prevent osteopenia/osteoporosis are suggested.     

Toxoplasmosis: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention in congenitally exposed infants

Toxoplasmosis is a rare disease caused by the obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. Most persons with toxoplasmosis in the United States are asymptomatic, but if a woman is infected during pregnancy, the parasite can cross the placenta and cause congenital toxoplasmosis in the fetus. The severity of congenital toxoplasmosis depends on when in the pregnancy the mother is exposed, but it can cause ocular and central nervous system disease as well as lead to growth failure and hearing and vision abnormalities. Congenital toxoplasmosis is treated with a combination of pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and leucovorin. It is important for pediatric nurse practitioners to be aware of the clinical presentation and treatment of congenital toxoplasmosis.     

Pertussis: review of epidemiology, diagnosis, management and prevention

Bordetella pertussis--the cause of pertussis or whooping cough--is an exclusively human pathogen. Disease elimination by vaccination should, therefore, be possible, but has proved elusive. Many industrialised countries with long established immunisation programs are currently seeing a resurgence of pertussis, despite universal vaccination with high uptake, with the highest burden in the least immunised age groups (infants under 6 months of age and persons over 10 years old). However, low recognition and reporting and insensitive diagnostic tests mean that the true burden of pertussis is still underestimated. Recently, efforts to improve diagnostic yield include the expanded use of polymerase chain reaction and serological tests but both have significant limitations. The range of antibiotics available for treatment and prophylaxis has expanded to include the newer macrolides, azithromycin and clarithromycin, and a range of universal and targeted vaccination strategies have been implemented or proposed. This paper reviews the current epidemiology of pertussis in developed countries, including modes of clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and potential vaccination strategies.     

Recurrent headaches in children and adolescents: diagnosis and treatment

Recurrent headache is a frequent problem in children and adolescents. With a careful history and physical examination few errors in diagnosis will be made. Fortunately, few headaches are of pathological origin. The most common headaches are migraine and muscle contraction headaches. For many sufferers, a few simple suggestions and proper use of analgesics will provide effective management. The best documented treatments for more difficult headaches are stress management therapies. Recently stress management treatments that can be administered by professionals not trained in psychology have made these approaches more accessible.     

Cholelithiasis in infants, children, and adolescents

During the past two decades, cholelithiasis has been recognized in increasing numbers of pediatric patients. This diagnosis should be considered in the event of upper abdominal complaints, particularly when one or more risk factors are evident. The etiology may be unknown or may be related to risk factors, including hemolytic conditions. In recent years, it has become evident that approximately 80% of gallstones in children are not due to hemolytic disease and that the remaining 20% are related to recurring hemolysis. The diagnosis of gallstones is best confirmed with ultrasonography. Routine ultrasonographic evaluation should be performed at intervals for all children who received TPA for more than 4 weeks, particularly those who have had ileal resection or have had chronic enteritis (Crohn disease). Cholecystectomy is the procedure of choice for symptomatic children with cholelithiasis, regardless of age. Cholecystectomy is recommended for the asymptomatic child younger than 3 years of age when echogenic shadows have been present for at least 12 months following resumption of oral feedings or when the gallstones are radiopaque. Also, cholecystectomy is advised for asymptomatic children who are older than 3 years of age if ultrasonographic studies confirm that echogenic foci with shadowing are true stones and not echogenic sludge. Complications of common bile duct obstruction, pancreatitis, perforation with bile peritonitis, and life-threatening sepsis may thus be prevented. Morbidity and mortality following cholecystectomy are expected to be relatively low in the pediatric age group.     

Lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition presents an updated review of lactose intolerance in infants, children, and adolescents. Differences between primary, secondary, congenital, and developmental lactase deficiency that may result in lactose intolerance are discussed. Children with suspected lactose intolerance can be assessed clinically by dietary lactose elimination or by tests including noninvasive hydrogen breath testing or invasive intestinal biopsy determination of lactase (and other disaccharidase) concentrations. Treatment consists of use of lactase-treated dairy products or oral lactase supplementation, limitation of lactose-containing foods, or dairy elimination. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports use of dairy foods as an important source of calcium for bone mineral health and of other nutrients that facilitate growth in children and adolescents. If dairy products are eliminated, other dietary sources of calcium or calcium supplements need to be provided.     

婴儿过敏性疾病预防、诊断和治疗专家共识

一、一般内容 1.适用年龄范围:0～1岁婴儿. 2.定义: (1)过敏原(allergen):是指可以引起过敏反应的抗原.与IgE和IgG抗体反应的过敏原大多数是蛋白质. (2)过敏体质(atopy):也称特应性体质,是指个人或家族对小剂量的过敏原(通常是蛋白质)能产生特异性IgE(sIgE)抗体."过敏体质"应慎重定义,需要证实患儿存在sIgE抗体.     

Prevention of drowning in infants,children, and adolescents

Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related death in children. In 2000, more than 1400 US children younger than 20 years drowned. Most (91%) of these deaths were unintentional and were not related to boating. For each drowning death, it is estimated that at least 1 to 4 children suffer a serious nonfatal submersion event, many of which leave children with permanent disabilities. Environmental strategies, such as installation of 4-sided fences around swimming pools, and behavioral strategies, such as increased supervision of children while around water, are needed to prevent these tragedies.     

Sudden cardiac death in infants, children, and adolescents

Although SCD is relatively uncommon, its psychosocial impact is devastating. This article has reviewed the potential causes of SCD in infants, children, and adolescents. Many patients who die from SCD have identifiable cardiac disease and are known to have been at risk; however, the existence of other cardiac abnormalities, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or long QT syndrome, may not be known, and SCD may be the first symptom. The authors' contention is that many of the patients in this latter group (e.g., patients who have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or LQLTS but who have no symptoms) can be screened with a careful, accurate, and detailed history, including family history and review of systems, and physical examination. Any patient with a positive family history, positive review of systems, or positive physical examination should receive further in-depth evaluation, such as an ECG and echocardiogram. These studies permit the detection of most, if not all, of the entities potentially associated with SCD in the pediatric population.     

Improving substance abuse prevention, assessment, and treatment financing for children and adolescents

The numbers of children, adolescents, and families affected by substance abuse have sharply increased since the early 1990s. The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes the scope and urgency of this problem and has developed this policy statement for consideration by Congress, federal and state agencies, employers, national organizations, health care professionals, health insurers, managed care organizations, advocacy groups, and families.