Acute poisoning among children admitted to a regional university hospital in Northern Greece.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to elucidate the current pattern of acute poisoning among children admitted to a regional University Hospital in the prefecture of Evros in Northern Greece. We also compared the obtained findings with those of two previous studies performed in the same region.

Methods: Demographic and clinical data, management, and outcome of children with acute poisoning were recorded in our region, during the past 5-years (2005-2009, period C) and compared to similar studies carried out in the periods 1985-1989 (period A) and 1995-1999 (period B).

Lipoblastoma on the posterior side of the neck.

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign pediatric tumor derived from embryonic fat, and only two cases of lipoblastoma located on the posterior side of the neck have been reported in the literature. Here, we present the third case of posterior neck lipoblastoma in a 13-month-old healthy girl, who presented with a firm, posterior cervical mass. The tumor was completely resected following ultrasonography, computerized tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging evaluations.

Effect of passive smoking on lung function and respiratory infection.

Objective: To study the effect of environmental tobacco smoke to children's health and more specifically to the development of respiratory tract infections and also its influence to their respiratory function.

Methods: We studied 586 children from the district of west Thrace in Greece aged 5-14 years, randomly selected from 20 primary and 10 secondary schools in regards their exposure to tobacco smoke, and its possible relation with respiratory tract infections. We assessed respiratory function by spirometry.

Unusual retrograde movement of a safety-pin ingested by an infant.

Unlabelled: Here we present the first reported case of an ingested open safety-pin in a 7-mo-old boy that migrated from the stomach to the oesophagus.

Conclusion: This rare complication is probably due to a gastro-oesophageal reflux effect, and for this reason we propose that all infants with safety-pins and other sharp objects in the stomach should be positioned in a semi-upright position.

Colostomy type in anorectal malformations: 10-years experience.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of colostomy type on morbidity during the treatment of anorectal malformations.

Methods: Sixty-eight infants (male: female ratio 1.3:1) with anorectal malformations that required colostomy were treated in our clinics during the period 1991-2001.