Nutritional counselling and risk factors for obesity: an observational study in toddlers.

Background: Nutrition exerts a fundamental role in the prevention of obesity (OB). The aim of this study was to assess the extent to which well recognized risk factors for early OB can be associated to overweight (OW) or OB under a standardized nutritional approach and surveillance in toddlers.

Methods: The eligible population was represented by 676 toddlers aged 24-36 months, assigned to 18 primary care pediatricians trained on nutritional issues who shared a standardized nutritional approach.

Clinical Improvement of Subacute and Chronic Otitis Media With Effusion Treated With Hyaluronic Acid Plus Hypertonic Solution via Nasal Lavage: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

. This study, a randomized controlled trial, aims to demonstrate a clinically significant improvement in subacute and chronic otitis media with effusion through the administration of hyaluronic acid associated with hypertonic solution compared with the administration of hypertonic solution alone. The setting was an outpatient clinic of 20 primary care pediatrician offices affiliated with the 3 Local Health Units (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) of Naples.

Decreased Antibiotic Prescription in an Italian Pediatric Population With Nonspecific and Persistent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections by Use of a Point-of-Care White Blood Cell Count, in Addition to Antibiotic Delayed Prescription Strategy.

The aim of this study was to test, in delayed antibiotic strategy, if the usages of a point-of-care leukocyte count would significantly decrease the prescription rate of antibiotics for children with nonspecific upper respiratory tract infections. A prospective clinical trial was performed in 23 primary care pediatric doctors' offices on children with nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection with fever for at least 48 hours. The children were randomized into 2 groups: one using a point-of-care white blood cell (WBC) count as guidance and the other prescribing antibiotics to all children, according to delayed antibiotics prescription strategy.

Desmopressin is a safe drug for the treatment of enuresis.

Objective: To verify the safety of desmopressin treatment and its associated side-effects in a large number of patients.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Italian Club for Nocturnal Enuresis, whose criteria are: age >5 years; absence of malformations and infections of the urinary tract; absence of psychological disorders or neurological alterations; number of "wet nights" >5-7; control of liquid intake during the afternoon and evening; monitoring of serum electrolytes before beginning treatment; control of body weight before the beginning of treatment and during the first 4-5 days of therapy; and the informed consent of the parents. The therapeutic regimen provided for a maximum dose of desmopressin of 40 microg/day (four puffs/nostril or two tablets), starting from an initial dosage of 20 microg/day (two puffs/nostril or one tablet) 1 h before going to bed.