Insecticide resistance in head lice: clinical,parasitological and genetic aspects

Insecticide treatment resistance is considered to be a major factor in the increasing number of infestations by head lice. The large insecticide selection pressure induced by conventional topical pediculicides has led to the emergence and spread of resistance in many parts of the world. Possible mechanisms of resistance include accelerated detoxification of insecticides by enzyme-mediated reduction, esterification, oxidation that may be overcome by synergistic agents such as piperonyl butoxide, alteration of the binding site, e.g. altered acetylcholinesterase or altered nerve voltage-gated sodium channel, and knockdown resistance (kdr). Clinical, parasitological and molecular data on resistance to conventional topical pediculicides show that treatments with neurotoxic insecticides have suffered considerable loss of activity worldwide. In particular, resistance to synthetic pyrethroids has become prominent, probably because of their extensive use. As other treatment options, including non-insecticidal pediculicides such as dimeticone, are now available, the use of older insecticides, such as lindane and carbaryl, should be minimized, owing to their loss of efficacy and safety concerns. The organophosphorus insecticide malathion remains effective, except in the UK, mostly in formulations that include terpineol.     

Red blood cell transfusion in newborn infants

Red blood cell transfusion is an important and frequent component of neonatal intensive care. The present position statement addresses the methods and indications for red blood cell transfusion of the newborn, based on a review of the current literature. The most frequent indications for blood transfusion in the newborn are the acute treatment of perinatal hemorrhagic shock and the recurrent correction of anemia of prematurity. Perinatal hemorrhagic shock requires immediate treatment with large quantities of red blood cells; the effects of massive transfusion on other blood components must be considered. Some guidelines are now available from clinical trials investigating transfusion in anemia of prematurity; however, considerable uncertainty remains. There is weak evidence that cognitive impairment may be more severe at follow-up in extremely low birth weight infants transfused at lower hemoglobin thresholds; therefore, these thresholds should be maintained by transfusion therapy. Although the risks of transfusion have declined considerably in recent years, they can be minimized further by carefully restricting neonatal blood sampling.     

Overweight and Obesity Among Hawai‘i Children Aged 4 to 5 Years Enrolled in Public Schools in 2007–2008 and Comparison with a Similar 2002–2003 Cohort

This assessment provides the most recent estimates of overweight and obesity among children 4 to 5 years old who were enrolled in public schools in the 2007–2008 school year, using data obtained from Student Health Records for 12,823 children, which represents 91% of the 14,070 children who were enrolled in kindergarten in 2007–2008. This assessment is a census of 4 to 5 year olds that entered public schools in Hawai‘i in 2007–2008 and represents approximately 38% of the total Hawai‘i population for those aged 4 to 5 years, since kindergarten is not a requirement. A limited data set with data on age, sex, height, and weight was used to calculate BMI (body mass index) percentiles. We compare this data with age and sex-specific BMI obtained from Student Health Records from 10,199 children aged 4 to 5 years entering public schools during 2002–2003. The results illustrate that like the 2002–2003 data (28.5%), over one in four (28.6%) of the children aged 4 to 5 years entering Hawai‘i public schools in 2007–2008 were either overweight or obese. Total proportions overweight and obese were persistently higher (32.5% or more in both 2002–2003 and 2007–2008) in some specific school complexes on O‘ahu as well as in some rural and Neighbor Island school complexes. Physicians, public health and school health professionals, advocates, schools, and communities should be vigilant about this persistent problem and seek to implement practices to combat overweight and obesity. In addition, the use of Student Health Records for on-going pediatric obesity surveillance should be explored more fully.     

An audit of first afebrile seizure management in an Irish tertiary pediatric setting

The objective of this study was to compare the first afebrile seizure management with internationally recognized standards in an Irish tertiary pediatric setting. Twenty-one management standards were derived from a combination of British (NICE 2004) and North American (AAN 2003) guidelines. Cases of first afebrile seizure presenting to a pediatric emergency department between July 2007 and June 2010 were assessed against the standards. On completion, the standards developed were presented to the relevant stakeholders, a nurse-developed parental advice sheet was introduced, and a re-audit was performed from July 2010 to June 2011. Forty children were identified in the initial audit period (A1) and 41 over the re-audit (A2). No case achieved full compliance with the devised standards in the audit period. A median compliance score of 15 (range 5–20) was achieved in A1 and 17 (range 11–21) in A2 [mean rank 31.93 versus 49.85; p(1,1)?<?0.0001]. Optimal compliance (total score of ≥17) with devised standards was achieved in 6/40 patients in A1 and in 21/41 patients in A2 [χ ²?=?11.95; p(1,1)?=?0.001]. Conclusion: We demonstrated an initial lack of compliance with international guidelines on management of a common medical presentation, first afebrile seizure, and demonstrated that improvements can be achieved by identification of appropriate standards and critical appraisal of the compliance with these standards through both formal and informal education.