Language skills, peer rejection, and the development of externalizing behavior from kindergarten to fourth grade

Background: Children with poorer language skills are more likely to show externalizing behavior problems, as well as to become rejected by their peers. Peer rejection has also been found to affect the development of externalizing behavior. This study explored the role of peer rejection in the link between language skills and the development of externalizing behavior. Methods: Six hundred and fifteen (615) children were followed from kindergarten to grade 4. Receptive language skills were measured with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test in grade 2. Teachers reported externalizing behavior and peer reports of social rejection were measured annually. Results: Children with poorer receptive language skills showed increasing externalizing behavior, while children with better receptive language skills showed decreases in externalizing behavior. Children with poorer receptive language skills experienced peer rejection most frequently. The link between receptive language skills and the development of externalizing behavior was mediated by the development of peer rejection. Findings suggested that this mediational link applied mostly to boys. Conclusion: Children with poorer language skills are at increased risk of becoming rejected by mainstream peers, which adds to the development of externalizing behavior.     

Study of auditory function in children with chronic lung diseases

Objective

Chronic hypoxia has an evident effect on cochlear function and hearing sensitivity. Otoacoustic emissions’ testing is efficient in detecting subtle cochlear dysfunction. This cross sectional study was designed to assess the cochlear function in children with chronic lung diseases who were exposed to prolonged hypoxia and prolonged use of ototoxic drugs (as aminoglycosides) using basic audiological evaluation and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions testing.

Methods

The study was carried out on 30 Egyptian children with chronic lung disease recruited from the Pediatric Chest Clinic, Children's hospital, Ain Shams University. Twenty normal children were included as control.

Results

Six patients (20%) showed abnormal otoacoustic emissions. A significant effect of hypoxia on otoacoustic emissions findings was found (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant effect of inhaled aminoglycosides on auditory functions whether pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions testing.

Conclusions

Children with chronic lung diseases are liable to cochlear dysfunction due to prolonged hypoxia. Inhaled aminoglycosides in chronic lung diseases is relatively safe on auditory functions.     

Children's skin conductance level and reactivity: Are these measures stable over time and across tasks?

The stability of children's skin conductance level during baselines (SCL-B) and SCL reactivity (SCL-R) were examined longitudinally. During two laboratory sessions (T1 and T2), 2 years apart, children participated in procedures during which they were exposed to two stressors namely exposure to an audiotaped conflict between two adults, and a problem solving task. Children ranged in age between 6 and 13 years at T1. Measures of SCL-B and SCL-R during the two stressors were obtained. Findings illustrated the temporal stability of SCL-B and SCL-R to the star-tracing task over 2 years. Results also indicated stability in SCL-R to the two stressors (argument and problem-solving) examined within the same session at either T1 or T2. These results support the proposition that SCL-B and SCL-R constitute stable individual differences at the ages examined, and build on the scant longitudinal literature on psychophysiological development in children.     

No adverse effect of vincristine on handwriting in children after completion of therapy

BACKGROUND: Long-term writing difficulties in children after treatment with vincristine for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Wilms tumor, B non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and malignant mesenchymal tumors, were investigated. PROCEDURE: Handwriting of 33 survivors and 33 controls matched for age, sex, and grade, was assessed with the BHK-scale. The examiner was blinded for whether a child was a case or a control. RESULTS: No significant difference in writing speed was found. Mean difference in number of letters produced during 5 min was 6.4 (+/-67.1, range -103 to +169). No significant difference was found in quality of writing scores; mean difference in points was 1.5 (+/-7.7, range -19 to +22). Cumulative vincristine dose, age at diagnosis or time since completion of treatment did not affect writing speed or quality. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy, including vincristine, does not lead to long-term problems in speed or quality of writing in children treated for cancer.     

The laparoscopic spectrum of inguinal hernias and their recurrences

In a retrospective study, intraoperative photos and video documentations of 884 children demonstrate that inguinal hernias and their recurrences are aspects of a full spectrum, which ranges from fully closed internal inguinal rings (IIR) and small openings to all-the way-down-into-the-scrotum open processus; 92% of the children had indirect and 2% direct hernias, 4% had no open IIR, 1% was femoral, 2% were hernias en pantalon and 1% combinations of indirect, direct and femoral hernias; 3% were recurrences. Among the 28 children with recurrences, the IIR was fully open in only 36%, partially open in 25%, had only a small opening in 21% and even a closed IIR in 18%. The present paper demonstrates that the yes/no concept of inguinal hernia needs to be redefined. Hernias and their recurrences constitute a spectrum. There are hernias and recurrences without a laparoscopically visible open IIR.     

Compliance with fluoride supplements provided by a dental hygienist in homes of low-income parents of preschool children in Quebec

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the compliance with fluoride supplements provided at home by a dental hygienist to mothers of at-risk preschool children. METHODS: Participants were recruited during pregnancy of low-income women. On the first visit, the mothers of 60 infants aged 6 to 9 months were handed free fluoride supplements. A questionnaire was administered at that time and after 6 and 12 months to assess compliance during the preceding week. RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, none of the mothers reported having given fluoride supplements, in comparison with 73 percent of mothers of 44 infants who received all three visits at the end of follow-up; 48 percent reported fluoride supplement use on a daily basis. CONCLUSIONS: Removal of financial and physical barriers and personal professional involvement are good strategies to achieve compliance with fluoride supplements. Further assessment regarding the possible application of this intervention to other professional or cultural contexts is warranted.     

Clinical outcome of febrile neutropenia in children with cancer using ceftazidime and aminoglycosides

To determine treatment outcome using ceftazidime-aminoglycosides in febrile neutropenic children with cancer, the authors conducted a prospective cohort study in 216 episodes. Early and complete responses to antibiotics were 108/216 (50.0%) and 133/216 (61.6%) episodes, respectively. Death, a modification of antibiotic(s), and resistance to ceftazidime were 2/118 (1.7%), 73/216 (33.8%), and 4/216 (1.9%) episodes, respectively. Primary bacteremia and emerging bacteremia during treatment were 20/216 (9.3%) and 5/216 (2.3%) episodes. Ceftazidime-aminoglycosides was found to be a reasonable initial treatment of febrile neutropenia in the authors' institution. Imipenem is considered in patients who have clinical sepsis and who fail to respond to initial treatment.     

Fasting plasma glucose levels in healthy preschool children: effects of weight and lifestyle

AIM: To investigate whether a modern lifestyle, with a high-energy intake and a low level of physical activity, influences fasting plasma glucose concentration in healthy children. METHODS: As a part of the prospective study 'All Babies in Southeast Sweden', 127 children from six preschool units chose to participate. The children, 56% girls and 44% boys, were 5-7 years old. Parents answered a questionnaire about their children's heredity, and physical exercise and eating habits. In the morning, before the children ate breakfast, fasting plasma glucose levels and weight, height and waist circumference were measured. RESULTS: Fasting plasma glucose levels varied between 3.7 and 6.1 mmol/L, with both mean and median values of 4.7 mmol/L. There was no association between fasting plasma glucose level and body mass index (BMI), eating habits or degree of physical exercise. BMI and waist circumference were significantly correlated (p < 0.01). Children who play outdoors most frequently had a significantly lower BMI (p < 0.05) and waist circumference (p < 0.01), whereas children who more often watch TV had a significantly higher BMI (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A modern lifestyle, with low levels of exercise and high-energy consumption, may explain the increasing weight and even obesity of otherwise healthy, preschool children, but does not influence their fasting plasma glucose levels.     

Probiotics in paediatric gastrointestinal diseases

Probiotics have become increasingly popular and are now promoted as having a wide range of benefits. Probiotics are generally very well tolerated and safe but many of the purported uses are not yet well supported with adequate scientific evidence. Two well-established roles for probiotics in children are acute diarrhoeal illness and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea. This review summarises the evidence supporting probiotics for various gastrointestinal disorders with particular reference to their role in the management of acute diarrhoea and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in children.     

Seasonal variation in acute hospital admissions and emergency room presentations among children in the Australian Capital Territory

AIM: To examine seasonal variation in hospital use for five paediatric conditions of the Australian Capital Territory residents. METHODS: Hospital admissions (1993-2004) and emergency room (ER) presentations (1999-2004) for asthma, croup, bronchiolitis, other respiratory conditions and diarrhoea of children aged <5 years were compared by month and season. RESULTS: The five conditions comprised 14% of admissions and 24% of ER presentations of children aged <5 years. Bronchiolitis (both admissions and ER presentations) were the highest in the 0-1 year age group (>80%) and the other four conditions peaked at 1-2 years. Children aged 0-2 years contributed 66% of diarrhoea, 62% of croup and 44% of other respiratory admissions whereas ER presentations were higher for other respiratory conditions (57%) and lower for croup (47%). Boys showed higher rates of admissions and ER presentations for all conditions except diarrhoea. Strong seasonal associations were apparent. Incident rate ratios of admissions were significantly higher in autumn compared with summer for asthma and croup whereas bronchiolitis and other respiratory conditions admissions were the highest in winter. Diarrhoea admissions were the highest in spring. ER presentations of the five conditions also showed similar associations with season. CONCLUSION: Hospital admissions and ER presentations of these five conditions showed strong seasonal patterns, knowledge of which could contribute to improved resource planning (staffing) to meet expected increases in demand for services and scheduling of elective admissions. These findings could be extended to develop a model for forecasting hospital use and to explore the causes of these diseases to ameliorate seasonal effects.