Paed Child Healt Can
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Paed Child Healt Can · May 2012
Prevalence of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis suppression in children treated for asthma with inhaled corticosteroid.
To determine the prevalence of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis suppression in asthmatic children on inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). ⋯ Laboratory evidence of HPA axis suppression exists in children taking ICS for asthma. Children should be regularly screened for the presence of HPA axis suppression when treated with high-dose ICS (>500 μg/day). Consideration should be given to screening children on medium-dose ICS.
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The concept of 'community paediatrics', as enunciated by Robert Haggerty in 1968, has informed and shaped many paediatric careers. The principle tenets of inclusiveness: attention to unmet needs; addressing common health problems of children and youth; using and applying preventive and harm-reduction strategies; and securing community input and control, were part of the Haggerty model. The present article revisits Haggerty's model and describes how the concepts have shaped contemporary paediatrics in North America.
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Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains a significant cause of mortality and long-term disability in late preterm and term infants. Mild therapeutic hypothermia to a rectal temperature of 34±0.5°C initiated as soon as possible within the first 6 h of life decreases mortality and severe long-term neurodevelopmental disabilities in infants with moderate HIE who are ≥36 weeks' gestational age. There are minimal side effects, and the incidence of disability in survivors is not increased. ⋯ Cooling may be achieved by either total body or selective head cooling. As cooling is now considered a standard of care, infants ≥36 weeks' gestational age who are depressed at birth should be assessed to determine whether they meet the criteria for cooling. There is currently no evidence that therapeutic hypothermia offers any benefit to infants <36 weeks' gestational age.
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The management of patients with headaches is a major component of every paediatric practice. In a nationally representative sample of Canadian adolescents, it was found that 26.6% of those 12 to 13 years of age and 31.2% of those 14 to 15 years of age reported that they experienced headaches at least once per week. The diagnosis of headaches in children and adolescents is established through a headache history in the vast majority of patients. ⋯ The optimal treatment of primary headaches should begin with nonpharmacological methods. Preventive pharmacological therapy should be considered when headaches significantly impair the patient's quality of life. Flunarizine may be valuable in paediatric headache prevention, and ibuprofen, acetaminophen and nasal sumatriptan may be effective in the acute management of headaches.
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Paed Child Healt Can · Jul 2008
Iatrogenic hyponatremia in hospitalized children: Can it be avoided?
Iatrogenic hyponatremia in hospitalized children is a common problem. It is usually caused by the administration of free water, either orally or through the prescription of hypotonic intravenous fluids. It can result in cerebral edema and death, and is most commonly reported in healthy children undergoing minor surgery. ⋯ There is no single fluid therapy that is optimal for all hospitalized children. A thorough assessment of the type of fluid, volume of fluid and electrolyte requirements based on individual patient requirements, plus rigorous monitoring, is required in any child receiving intravenous fluids. The present article reviews how hyponatremia occurs and makes recommendations for minimizing the risk of iatrogenic hyponatremia.