Anales de pediatría : publicación oficial de la Asociación Española de Pediatría (A.E.P.)
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We present a review of the evidence on prognosis of acute bronchiolitis, risk factors for severe forms, symptom or severity scores and risk of post-bronchiolitis asthma. Documented risk factors of long stay or PICU admission in hospitalized patients are: bronchopulmonary dysplasia and/or chronic lung disease, prematurity, congenital heart disease and age less than 3 months. Other less well documented risk factors are: tobacco exposure, history of neonatal mechanical ventilation, breastfeeding for less than 4 months, viral co-infection and other chronic diseases. ⋯ While there are different symptom or severity scores, none has proven to be valid or accurate enough to recommend their preferable application in clinical practice. There seems to be a consistent and strong association between admission due to bronchiolitis and recurrent episodes of wheezing in the first five years of life. However it is unclear whether this association continues in subsequent years, as there are discordant data on the association between bronchiolitis and asthma.
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A review of the evidence on prevention of acute bronchiolitis is presented. Acute bronchiolitis prevention arises from three basic approaches: preventive treatment to reduce recurrent wheezing following an episode of acute bronchiolitis, preventive treatment to reduce the frequency and severity of RSV bronchiolitis in the population at risk (prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, congenital heart disease, etc.), and general preventive measures to reduce nosocomial infection with RSV. There is sufficient evidence on the lack of efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids, oral corticosteroids and montelukast. ⋯ Palivizumab is effective as preventive treatment of RSV infection in risk populations (high risk preterm infants and hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease), but not in the frequency and severity (ICU admission, need for mechanical ventilation and mortality) of the acute bronchiolitis. The benefits of palivizumab (less admissions) seem to be worth the adverse effects, but we do not know the cost-benefit ratio. The control and prevention measures of nosocomial transmission of RSV infection (isolation, hand washing, use of mask, gloves, cap and shoes) are based on indirect evidence.
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Visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in Spain. New diagnostic tools and shorter regimens of treatment are been increasingly being used in children. ⋯ Visceral leishmaniasis is still a common disease in our area. Clinical and laboratory findings of visceral leishmaniasis are similar to other Mediterranean area reports. PCR analysis of the bone marrow aspirate was more sensitive than traditional diagnostic techniques. Non-invasive diagnostic techniques may be used as an aid in the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in children. Short course treatment of visceral leishmaniasis with liposomal amphotericin B has been safe and effective.