Medicinski pregled
-
About 20% of fevers in childhood have no apparent cause. A small, but significant number of these children may have a seroius bacterial infection. Fever without a focus of infection is an acute febrile illness with rectal temperature of 38 degrees C or higher in children younger than 36 months, without localizing signs or symptoms. ⋯ In this article, practical recommendations for medical care of febrile children 0-36 months of age are given, bearing in mind children's age, clinical presentation (toxic manifestations) and risk for serious bacterial infection (sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection...). Toxic appearance is a clinical presentation characterized by lethargy, poor perfusion, marked hypo/hyperventilation and cyanosis. All febrile children under 36 months of age, who are appearing toxic, require hospitalization, evaluation for sepsis and administration of empiricial antibiotic therapy. All febrile neonates, however, must be hospitalized; cultures of blood, urine and spinal fluid should be taken and empirical antibiotic therapy administered immediately. Febrile infants, 28 to 90 days of age, need to be evaluated in order to determine whether they are in the low-risk group for serious bacterial infections (Rochester Criteria). Yale Observation Scale is recommended to assess febrile children aged 3-36 months, and the risk of occult bacteriemia. Febrile children, 3-36 months of age who appear well, with temperature of less than 39 degrees C without focus, should be closely followed up without laboratory tests and antibiotics and 2-3 days later reexamined. In febrile children, 3-36 months old, with temperature of 39 degrees C and above, without toxic manifestations, blood culture should be taken and ceftriaxone 50 mg/kg/in a single dose should be given, if leukocyte count is 15000/mm3 or absolute neutrophil count is over 10.000/mm3.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
[Quality of life in patients with subacute low back pain treated with physiotherapy rehabilitation].
Low back pain is one of the most frequent health problems. The aim of the study was to investigate clinical effects of complex rehabilitation programs on quality of life of patients with subacute lumbar pain, and also to investigate the relationship between quality of life and the intensity of pain and local functional status of the lumbar spine. ⋯ Results of this study showed that better results were achieved in group treated with complex rehabilitation methods in comparison with patients treated only with anti-inflammatory drugs. Also, the 12-item health survey (SF-12) has shown positive correlation with intensity of pain reduction and with Oswestry disability score and so it is valid for measuring the effectiveness of therapeutic modalities in subacute lumbar pain.
-
Case Reports
[Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome--a rare manifestation of paraneoplastic syndrome in ovarian cancer--case report].
Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes are rare non-metastatic complications of cancer that have an immune-mediated etiology. The Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is a neuromuscular disorder, often associated with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), which is characterized by reduced quantal release of acetylcholine from the motor nerve terminals. LAMBERT-EATON MYASTHENIC SYNDROME: The Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS) is characterized by proximal muscle weakness initially affecting gait, autonomic symptoms (dry mouth, constipation, erectile failure) and augmentation of strength during initial voluntary activation. Symptomatic treatment of the junctional disorder is based on cholinergic drugs, immunosuppression, immunomodulation and physical therapy useful in case of unsuccessful antineoplastic therapy. ⋯ A rare case of ovarian cancer with Eaton-Lambert syndrome is reported. A 50-year-old woman was admitted to the gynecologic department, complaining of weakness and pain in her arms and shoulders. Physical therapy resulted in partial improvement. Treatment of paraneoplastic syndrome markedly improves the quality of life of cancer patients. Patients presenting with this syndrome should undergo a careful evaluation for the presence of an occult malignancy.
-
Dysphagia aortica is a swallowing condition caused by external compression of the esophagus due to aortic aneurysm or atherosclerotic changes affecting the aorta. The case report on this rare cause of dysphagia should contribute to better diagnosis of dysphagia aortica and swallowing difficulties in general. ⋯ Aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is a very rare cause of dysphagia. Mild to moderate symptoms can be in great disproportion with the severe condition which causes them.
-
Health-related quality of life in interstitial lung diseases, especially in sarcoidosis, has hardly received appropriate attention in clinical studies due to lack of validated methods of measurement. Until now, in patients with sarcoidosis and interstitial lung diseases, several generic and respiratory specific quality-of-life instruments were used in order to discover the most valid and reliable quality-of-life instrument. Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease that affects quality of life in many different ways. ⋯ The first sarcoidosis specific questionnaire shows perfect correlation with the possible clinical course in patients with sarcoidosis.