Acta paediatrica
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To document the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in Flemish adolescents and to recognize the association between perceived social support and affect and medical consultation and reduction of activities. ⋯ The results of the present study encourage further research on the role of pain perception and the influence of psychosocial factors on back pain in adolescents.
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Comparative Study
Procalcitonin and interleukin-6 in the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis of the neonate.
The reliability of procalcitonin (PCT) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was determined and compared with that of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis of the neonate within the first 12 h of life. ROC analysis of values of 41 neonates with blood-cultures-positive and clinical sepsis compared with those of 27 uninfected neonates revealed sensitivities for PCT (> or = 6 ng/mL), IL-6 (> or = 60 pg/mL), and CRP (> or = 2.5 mg/L) of 77%, 54%, and 69% and specificities of 91%, 100% and 96%, respectively. Sensitivity of CRP at > or = 8 mg/L was 49% (p = 0.012 compared to PCT). ⋯ PCT was the most sensitive diagnostic parameter in the diagnosis of early-onset sepsis within 12 h of life.
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To present a possible association between cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and infection with Escherichia coli. ⋯ E. coli infections in neonates may predispose to CVT, a finding that has clinical implications.
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To investigate whether the serum levels of interleukin-1beta, 6, 8, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and the soluble receptor of IL-2 are useful in the diagnosis of neonatal sepsis, and whether their diagnostic power is increased when in combination with classical markers such as C-reactive protein and white blood cell count. ⋯ Our study suggests that no individual test can on its own identify infected neonates, and that although the combination of C-reactive protein, interleukin-8 and the soluble receptor of interleukin-2 exhibits a high specificity, its sensitivity is limited.
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To highlight the diagnostic difficulties involved in elucidating the aetiology of recurrent abdominal pain and to evaluate the use of special premises and criteria for the diagnosis of psychosomatic pain. ⋯ The presented premises and criteria for the diagnosis of psychosomatic pain can be helpful when diagnosing recurrent abdominal pain, but further validation is needed. According to these criteria, a psychosomatic diagnosis was common in this series, accounting for nearly half of the cases. A medical diagnosis was evident in a quarter of the cases.