Behavioural effects of phenobarbitone and phenytoin in small children.

Mothers of 56 children under 2 years old taking phenobarbitone and mothers of 55 children taking phenytoin recorded on questionnaires changes they had noted in the children's behaviour 3 and 9 weeks after starting the drug. Severe behavioural disturbance was noted by many, but the pattern and incidence was similar to that recorded by the mothers of 50 children starting a placebo, and we attribute it to the effect of a recent hospital admission. There was a small improvement in the behaviour of 20% of children who had been taking phenobarbitone for a year when they stopped it, but in this age group the disturbance caused by phenobarbitone did not appear to have been great.

Kidney size compared with vertebral height. Importance of possible variations in normal values.

Results are presented showing that the normal values derived in one research centre, for the relationship between kidney length and the heights of the first 3 lumbar vertebrae, are not applicable to children in another one. The girls who are the subject of this investigation are those taking part in the survey on asymptomatic bacteriuria in Newcastle upon Tyne.