[Growth and puberty in type 1 diabetes mellitus - experience from a pediatric endocrinology unit].

Background: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is the most common endocrine-metabolic disease in children. It is associated with vascular and neuropathic complications, and may also affect growth and development.

Objective: To correlate the metabolic control and disease duration with growth and puberty in patients with T1DM followed in a Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic.

[Perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus - Santo André Hospital, Leiria 2002-2006].

Background: Vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main route of infection in children, occurring in few cases (five percent). Current recommendations for HCV screening include first anti-HCV testing at age > 18 months, reducing false positives and false negatives. Positive results must be confirmed by the presence of HCV RNA on two different occasions.