Archives of disease in childhood
-
To determine whether abused and non-abused children differ in the extent and pattern of bruising, and whether any differences which exist are sufficiently great to develop a score to assist in the diagnosis of abuse. ⋯ The scoring system provides a measure that discriminates between abused and non-abused children, which should be straightforward to implement, though the results must be interpreted carefully. We do not see this score as replacing the complex qualitative analysis of the diagnosis of abuse. This clearly includes history as well as examination, but rather as the beginning of the development of an important aid in this process.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Rapid skin anaesthesia using high velocity lignocaine particles: a prospective placebo controlled trial.
Local anaesthetic creams (EMLA and Ametop) are used widely to provide pain free intravenous cannulation. However, they take a minimum of 45 minutes to become effective. ⋯ This prototype device appears to provide significant skin anaesthesia at the antecubital fossa, but not at the back of hand. The device is not painful to use and causes only minor short term skin changes.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Short term effects of adrenaline in bronchiolitis: a randomised controlled trial.
Airway narrowing in acute bronchiolitis does not respond to inhaled bronchodilators but does to adrenaline when compared to bronchodilators. Influences of supportive care were not considered in previous treatment studies. ⋯ No improvement was shown with inhaled adrenaline in acute bronchiolitis, when compared with supportive care or placebo. Improvements noted pretreatment question whether prior noted improvements were through supportive care or pharmacological interventions.
-
Procalcitonin (PCT), a precursor of calcitonin, is a recognised marker of bacterial sepsis, and high concentrations correlate with the severity of sepsis. PCT has been proposed as an earlier and better diagnostic marker than C reactive protein (CRP) and white cell count (WCC). This comparison has never been reported in the differentiation of meningococcal disease (MCD) in children presenting with a fever and rash. ⋯ PCT is a more sensitive and specific predictor of MCD than CRP and WCC in children presenting with fever and a rash.
-
To determine the prevalence of petechial spots in well babies. ⋯ Many well infants examined in the community are likely to have petechial spots. In this setting one or two petechiae are common and their presence should not be taken as pathological without other clinical signs. Recognition of this fact may also be helpful when examining otherwise well infants with petechiae in a secondary care setting.